When she got home, her husband and all his things were gone.
“Whats that look for?” Zoe smirked. “Stan just wanted to prove hes a real catch. Thats all.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The honest truth, love,” drawled Stans ex-wife.
“I dont understand” Emily was lost.
“Ah! Heres Stan nowhell explain,” Zoe nodded toward the door.
Emilys mother, Margaret, had raised her like a delicate flower.
Margaret herself was a tough woman, running her own timber yard with an iron fist.
But with her only daughter, she softenedher voice would turn gentle, soothing, her eyes full of warmth.
So Emily grew up tender, fragile, and trusting.
Shed never known real hardship, attending both regular school and music lessons, happily learning the piano.
She didnt become a great musician, but she made a fine teacher.
All she needed was a good marriage, and soon along came Dave, a charming lad who courted her beautifully, spending his modest drivers wages on her.
He said all the right things, gazed into her eyes so sweetly
Yet for some reason, Margaret didnt like him.
“Lazy good-for-nothing!” she declared.
“But Mum, I love him,” Emilys blue eyes welled up.
“Fine, fine,” her mother relented. “But youll live with me!”
Their spacious three-bedroom flat had room for everyone, and the new husband didnt mind living with his mother-in-law, who was mostly at work anyway.
He had nothing to his name.
Kind, tender Dave soon showed his true colours after the weddingdrinking, disappearing, snapping at Emily.
Around Margaret, he barely kept up appearances.
Emily refused to see his flaws.
Exactly nine months after the wedding, she gave birth to little Leo, thrilled they were a proper family.
The boy was sickly, needing constant care, and Dave grew even more resentful.
She endured, hoping for better.
Her patience ran out when her mother suddenly passed, barely a year after meeting her grandson.
The funeral was handled by Margarets old friend, Geoffrey.
Dave didnt show up for days, and when he did, his bags were packed in the hallway.
He threatened lawsuits, property division.
Emily stayed silent.
Thankfully, Geoffrey stepped inliterally threw the almost-ex-husband out.
As an experienced solicitor, he ensured no assets were split.
Emily and Leo never saw Dave again.
Of course, Emily couldnt run the timber yardtrained managers, hired by Geoffrey, took over.
So the shrunken family wanted for nothing.
Losing her mother and divorcing was hardEmily had no friends, no other family.
But she had Leo, who needed her, so she focused on him.
Men were out of the question (Geoffrey didnt count).
That day, she and five-year-old Leo left the clinic, huddling under a large umbrella in the pouring rain.
Waiting for the downpour to end was pointlessit wouldnt stop soonshe didnt drive, and taxis were impossible to book.
So they risked it.
“Hop in quick!” A car screeched to a halt beside them, the driver flinging the door open. “Come on, no stopping here!”
It never crossed Emilys mind this could be dangerousshe recognised him from the clinic, where hed brought his son, around Leos age.
“Thanks!” she said warmly after the ride (theyd chatted, of course).
“Anytime!” Stan grinned. “Fancy giving me your number?”
She tensed.
“Sorry, I dont date married men,” she cut in, steering Leo toward their building.
She didnt expect to see him again so soon, but the next day, Stan was waiting in the courtyard.
“Im not married,” he blurted, handing her divorce papersfinalised a month ago.
Was she lonely? Was Stan too charming? Did Leo instantly adore him?
Later, she couldnt explain why she let him join their walk, then stay for dinner.
After that, they met almost daily, and she fell harder.
So hard, she wasnt even surprised when he proposed a month later.
It made sense. He loved her, doted on Leo.
The boys affection decided ithe adored Stan, even called him Dad before the wedding.
“Dad” didnt mind, and Emily was happy.
Naturally, after the marriage, Stan suggested adoption.
“Always wanted two sons,” he said, then darkened.
Emily patted his shoulder sympathetically. She knew his ex-wife, now with a wealthy new man, kept their son from him, and it ate at him.
So just three months after meeting, they were a proper family.
The one thing Emily kept from Stan was her finances.
The timber yard wasnt huge, and profits were split three ways (per the new partners agreement), but it brought in decent money.
She saved itfor Leos education, his future flat. All for him.
No need for Stan to know.
Geoffrey had taught her that, though hed since retired “to the seaside.”
If Stan suspected, he never let on.
But the idyll lasted less than a year.
Gradually, Stan grew colder, often coming home sullen, snapping.
“Dont mind me, just work stress,” hed say at first.
“Cant you transfer to another site?” shed ask. “Youre a brilliant electrician.”
“Ill sort it.”
Soon, he stopped excusing himselfjust glowered or barked at her.
He left Leo alone, but the boy clearly irritated him.
Emily didnt know what to think until everything fell into place.
That day, she and Leo were at the park, waiting for Stan to join them for ice cream.
“Shouldnt have let him adopt,” a mocking female voice cut in.
Emily turned. A striking brunette in a bright orange coat sat beside her.
“Do I know you?”
“Not yet. Im Zoe. Stans ex-wife. Temporarily ex”
Emily stared. Thankfully, Leo was playing nearby.
“Whats that look for?” Zoe smirked. “Stan just wanted to prove hes a real catch. Thats all.”
“What are you saying?”
“The honest truth, love.”
Zoe was five years older but eyed Emily like a child.
“I dont understand”
“Ah! Heres Stanhell explain.”
Stan approached, wary.
“Go on, tell her,” Zoe said, ruffling his hair before strolling off. “Were waiting!”
“Whats that look for?” he echoed, seeing Emilys shock.
“I married him to spite Zoe,” Stan admitted. “She kept saying, Whod want you? Acting like she was doing me a favour. Then flaunting her rich bloke, Mark. So I filed for divorce.”
“Why adopt Leo?” Emily barely whispered.
“To sell it. New wife, new sonpicture-perfect.”
“And I was just?”
Stan stayed silent.
“What now?”
“Dunno. I got used to you two.”
He decided quickly. That night, he didnt come home.
Next morning, after sending Leo to nursery, Emily returned to an empty flatno Stan, no trace of him.
She sighed heavily and dialled Geoffrey. Shed need his help again.
