– Good evening, my names Claire, your neighbour from downstairs. Sorry to bother you.
– Oh, Ill turn my music down, no problem, replied the young woman in a light robe, holding a glass of wine.
– Oh, no, please, theres really no need. Its just my husbands work calledhes been summoned in, something urgent.
– Is everything alright? Is it his health?
– They didnt say, only that I should get there quickly. My mums too far away to help, and Im a bit of a wreck here. Would you mind keeping an eye on my son? Hes seven and a half, could cope alone, but honestly, Id worry myself to bits.
– Of course not, just let me get changed and Ill pop down straight away.
– Hes a quiet oneeither glued to his tablet or full of questions.
***
Later on, the young woman, now in a white vest and jeans, sat at the kitchen table, sipping her tea whilst on the phone.
– That Smith in accounts is a total cow. Its obvious how shes fluttering her lashes at Peter…
At that moment, a boy wandered into the kitchen with his tablet, the voices of Jamie and Adam from MythBusters bickering through the speakers. Across his t-shirt, bold letters read: The Future Belongs to Robots!
– Sorry, Ill ring you back. Im involved in a bit of charity work. she said, ending the call. Hi! Im Auntie Beth. Fancy a cup of tea?
– No, thank you. Im Charlie. Mum told me about you. Youre pretty Though Mum says pretty women are unlucky, and Dad tells her that, by her logic, shes either ugly or their marriage is a mistake.
– Youve got lively parents! Thank you for the compliment. Not sure about the unlucky part
– Wheres your husband?
– Oh, lets say off to the shops. About three years ago.
– Ah, gotcha! He left you!
– Tell you what, is there anything a bit stronger than tea in this place? These chats require fortification
– I think theres some wine in the fridge.
– Thanks, but Ill stick to tea. I am a guest, after all.
– Auntie Beth, you need a new husband.
– Charlie, Ill wait till youre grown up, shall I? But goodness knows where to find one
– What are you looking for? I saw this programme once, said you have to visualise exactly what you want.
– Send me a link to that show! I suppose rich, handsome, kind. Someone whod love me and look after me
– And what would you do for him?
– What do you mean, what? Id love him go to the spa, keep myself nice.
– But what does he get from you? If hes smart, hell want a partner, not just someone taking up space.
– Where did you say that wine was? Beth opened the fridge, poured her tea down the sink, and splashed wine into a mug.
– I also watched a thing on millionaires wivessaid theyre all wine-soaked, lonely in their mansions.
– That, darling Charlie, is called loneliness. Want to drink with me? Only joking!
– Do you know who Ill marry?
– Ive already told you me!
– In my dreams.
– Who, then?
– Annie. Were both in the school robotics club. Shes cleversmarter than me. Once, at a competition, our Bluetooth modules stopped talking. Proper panic, our robot wouldnt work. She kept her cool, took us outside to a nearby copseno other signals there. Suddenly, our modules found each other. We came back and won. Shes my teammate. I trust her. Shes worth loving.
Beth knocked back her mug and poured herself another.
– So Annies stitched me up and stolen my perfect man. So, youre saying I should look for a bloke at work?
– Strong ones will find you! No need to hunt for them as though its a sale on tomatoes at the market.
– Cheers, Freud, Im not sure I follow.
– Be rich, be kind, and be beautiful yourself! Got it?
– What would I want a bloke for then? Id travel, learn French, take up dancing, do a cookery course. Wouldnt mind cracking tacos one day!
– Whats stopping you now?
– No husband to pick up the tab.
– Well, then you are like a squatter. A parasite.
– Oi, enough with the insults. I just want a bit of typical girls happiness.
– Ease off the films! Youll waste your whole life looking for some make-believe idiot instead of actually living.
– Shut it, cheeky! What would you know, anyway? Off to your room clever clogs. Bedtime.
The boy disappeared and Beth found tears welling up. She finished her wine. Her phone rang, but she cancelled the call.
The front door opened and in burst the neighbour couple, tipsy and clearly delighted.
– Oh Beth, thank you so much for minding him! her neighbour sang.
– No trouble. I did help myself to your wine…
– Thats fine, really.
– I see your husbands absolutely fine?
– Oh, he put his colleagues up to it. Gits. Its our first-kiss anniversary. I turned up at his office, found him lying on the floor with a note on his chest: Sleeping Beauty Kiss Me! Afterwards, we picked up some wine and went to the cinema. Just like when we were students.
– Youre all getting together to mock me, arent you? Right, Id better go.
– How was Charlie? his mum asked as Beth put her shoes on.
– Terrible. Absolutely terrible. Mind if I babysit more often? I feel he could do with a bit of extra guidanceCharlie’s mum laughed, covering her mouth with her hand.
– Oh Beth, youre the only one who claims hes any trouble at all.
Beth grinned, finding her keys at the bottom of her bag.
– Well, he did tell me I need to be rich, kind, and beautiful before I even deserve a robot-builder boyfriend
Charlie, lingering in the hallway, piped up:
– And to live your own life, not wait for someone to gift you one!
Beth paused in the doorway, then gave a little salute, wine still humming in her veins.
– Roger that, Captain Future. Next time, youre teaching me about robots and how not to be a squatter.
The lift door opened and she caught her reflection: mascara smudged, eyes bright, and, for some reason, she felt lighter.
As she stepped out onto the quiet corridor, she whispered to herself,
– All right, Beth. No more waiting. Theres wine at home, a French podcast calling, and maybe tomorrow, those tacos.
She glanced back oncebehind her, Charlie flashed her a goofy thumbs-up.
Her laughter echoed down the stairs, honest and clear. And for the first time in ages, Beth felt like the future might belong to her, too.
