“Why have you decided to get a divorce?” Davids mother asks as if its her right to question Victoria. Victoria has no intention of living with her in-laws. It was David who persuaded her. He insisted that his mother wouldnt cope if he moved out. Hes thirty-four years old! Still, Victoria felt sorry for him.
“We just see life differently, thats all. It happens. Were not the first, we wont be the last,” she replies, though shed really like to say what she truly thinks.
But the real reason? David’s mother video calls him daily to check if Victoria is managing everything properly. On the days she can’t visit in person, she just monitors from afar. At their wedding, as she congratulated the newlyweds, she actually said:
“Im so glad my dear son is finally married. Of course, he could have made a better choice. But it is what it is. No hard feelings, dear.”
Victoria probably should have taken her things and left that day. Her mother-in-law had always wanted her gone and had done everything in her power to bring it about. David never once tried to stand up for his wife. And the day when they drove past his mums house and she refused to let Victoria come in, David simply fell silent. His mother insisted she had to talk to her son alone, and Victoria was left to wait outside for an hour.
And still, why didn’t she leave sooner? She really cant say. But now, shes made up her mind. “Dont start that line with me. Just different opinions, right? Thats only in the movies. Go on then, say itwhat is it you dislike about my son? I’ll be honest, you’re not the sort of woman I pictured for David. And now that things have come to this, you can’t just swan off. Tell me whats so wrong.”
Victoria grins slyly. Shes not waiting for anyones permission. Shes leaving because she wants to. She stayed in this house only for her husbands sake. And theres just one reason for the divorceher mother-in-law.
“I’m leaving,” Victoria says, quiet but certain.
“Youre not going anywhere,” comes the reply.
“Frankly, I dont care. You mean nothing to me,” Victoria says, deadly calm.
“Give me back half the price of the ring,” her mother-in-law demands, raising her voice.
“Excuse me?”
“I want half the cost of the ring back. The one my son bought you.”
Victoria bursts out laughing. “Is that what youre clinging to, the ring? The only decent thing your sons ever bought in his life? You keep it. I dont want it.”
And so they go their separate ways. Victoria tries to unravel how she ever agreed to marry a man like David. After all, his mother had shown her true colours well before the wedding. Why did Victoria agree? Only God knows.
“Im getting married too,” Victorias ex-colleague announces one day.
“Oh really, to whom?”
“Dont take this the wrong way…”
“You cant mean…” Victoria begins, her heart sinking as she realises.
“Yes, David. Your ex. I hope you dont mind?
“You must be joking. You know exactly how things ended between us.”
“I did, but its different for everyone. David is so caring, and his mums really helpful. Sometimes a bit too much, but its fine.”
“Well, thats up to you. Im just relieved its over.”
“By the way, look at the ring David got me. Look!”
Victoria knows even before she sees it. The same ring David once bought for her. Not even a new ringhow predictable.
“It even has ‘Forever together’ engraved on it. I just wish hed take that inscription off…”
