Betrayal and Ultimatums
Listen, Alice, Ive neither the time nor patience to sit through another marathon of your grievances.
You have two choices: drop the injured martyr routine this instant and lets carry on as if things are perfectly normal, or tomorrow Ill be packing my bagand you can tell our daughter yourself why her dads gone.
Do you understand? Yourself!
N-normal? What does that mean, Graham? she whispered. You mean as if nothings happened at all? As if I didnt see those messages?
As if Simon Tyres didnt text you at 2 a.m. that he missed your hands?
Graham let out a loud sigh and started wrenching off his trainers, grinding the backs under his heel instead of untying them.
Again Like a broken record. I told you in plain English: its over. Am I home? I am. Am I with you? Yes. Do I give you money? Yes.
What more do you want, Alice? Shall I drop to my knees? Not going tokeep dreaming!
No, dont. I just want you to stop talking to me like Im in your way all the time. You keep snapping, mocking, sneering
Because youre impossible! he cut in. You float about this house like a spectre, always with that face as if youve eaten a raw lemon.
Do you think I actually enjoy coming home? I walk in and its either an inquisition or a cold shoulder!
Any normal wowoman wouldve let it go for the sake of the family. But not you. You have to keep poking at the wound.
He brushed past her into the kitchen, knocking her with his shoulder. Alice wobbled, but didnt fall.
Shed always believed shed picked a winning ticket. Grahamambitious, decisive, a proper dad. They had a daughterfive-year-old Mollya shared flat, and both earning a decent living.
The betrayal, which came six months ago, wasnt an accidenther husband had been running a second life for a while.
Alice found out by chanceMolly had been fiddling with her fathers phone when a notification popped up: Simon Tyres wanted to know if Graham had bought that lingerie which suited her so well.
When the truth came out, Graham didnt even try to deny it. At first, silence, then anger, then finally:
Yes, it happened. Its over. Dont make a mountain out of a molehillIm here, arent I?
In all these months, hed never once apologised, never once confessed regret. He didnt feel guilty at all, and that stung Alice most of all.
When she entered the kitchen, he was already at the table, scrolling through his phone. In front of him stood a plate with baked cod, which shed thoughtfully covered so it wouldnt go cold.
Did you forget how to use the salt? he tossed, lifting the plate. Or have your taste buds packed up from crying?
Graham, please. Mollys in her roomshe can hear everything.
Let her hear, he smirked, taking a bite. Let her see Mum doing everything she can to make Dad leg it. Isnt that what you want? For me to leave?
I want you to be a decent person. You promised wed work to keep the family together. And thisthis is your idea of working on yourself? By undermining me?
Graham put down his fork.
Listen here, love. Familys a project, and Im investing in it. I play with Molly, pay for her ballet, pick her up from nursery.
You said you wanted your kid to have a fathershes got one. I dont owe you kindness with all the nagging youve given me for three months over this!
I gave you a choice: put a lid on it for good or Im out. But if I go, youll have nothing.
Well split the flat; youll have to sell and pay me out in thousands. Do you have that? Of course not. That means renting, another borough, a new nursery for Molly. Are you ready to drag her through that?
Alice said nothing. Her husband knew her weaknesses better than she did. The thought of uprooting their child, tearing her from her little friends, moving into some dingy bedsit while Alice haggled in court for square footage, terrified her.
Thought so, Graham finished. Now eat. Youre skin and bonemakes me ill just to look at you.
***
That night, after Molly had curled up fast asleep with her floppy eared bunny, Alice sat on the chilly balcony, thinking.
Graham really was what people call a good dad in the typical sense: didnt drink, never raised a hand, Molly idolised him.
Daddy, youre my hero, shed whisper in the mornings.
How could Alice be the one to shatter that world?
Grahams voice drifted from insidehe was on the phone. Alice listened, straining not to, but unable to stop.
Yes, still on tomorrow. Of course. Look, I said, Ill sort it. Shell whinge and get over it. Whats she going to do? Theres no getting off this submarine.
Alice froze. So thats how he saw her She yanked open the balcony door.
Graham had sprawled out on the sofa, feet up. He glanced at her and quickly hung up.
Who was that? she asked.
A colleague. Want a list of my contacts? He languidly held out his phone. Go ahead, Inspector. Check to your hearts content.
But know this: if I find even one deleted message you dont likeIm driving to Mums first thing. Youll have no one to blame but yourself.
Are you having me on, Graham? Alice stepped closer. You honestly believe youve got the right to set conditions? After what you did?
I do. Because Im a man, and I decide how my family will live. Either youre with me, or you set sail on your own.
He stepped right up to her, almost nose-to-nose.
You see, Alice, no other man will love your Molly the way I do, he murmured into her ear. Hell put up with her while youre young and pretty. But soon enough, shell just be in the way. Is that what you want for your daughter? A stepdad who doesnt care?
Youre vile, Graham, she breathed.
Im a realist. He smiled, stepping back. Right then, Im for the shower. Lay out a clean shirt for me, will you? That burgundy one. And iron it properly this timethe collar was creased today. Annoying.
He disappeared into the bathroom, leaving Alice standing lost in the lounge.
***
Morning arrived in a swirl of routine. Alice fried crumpets, Molly wriggled and moaned about putting on her tights.
Graham showed up in the burgundy shirtAlice had ironed it after all.
Mum, are we going to the zoo this Saturday?
Of course, darling, Alice managed a smile.
Dad, youre coming, arent you? You promised to show me the big lion!
Graham ruffled Mollys hair, his expression instantly softening.
Ill come, sweetheart. If Mummy behaves and doesnt upset Daddy, well go for sure.
Alice nearly dropped her spatula.
Graham, dont say things like that, she hissed, as Molly was absorbed by her cartoons.
Why not? he raised an innocent eyebrow. Teaching her about order in the family, thats all.
You wouldnt want your outbursts to ruin the weekend, would you?
Alice kept silent. There was nothing to sayhe was using their child as a shield again.
***
At work, Alice drifted through the day like a ghost. When colleagues asked if she was all right, she just blamed poor sleep.
During lunch, she browsed rental listings. The prices stung, and every decent place in her area was snapped up in a blink.
The few cheap flats were way across the city.
Two hours each way. Nursery shuts by six. Ill never make it to pick her up, Alice thought, slamming her laptop. Where am I even supposed to start? How do people do this?
An hour before the end of her shift, Graham rang:
Ill be late tonight. Things to do. Have dinner without me. Oh, and Alice
Yes?
Pick out a nice redsomething semi-sweet. Lets talk tonight, calm and sensible, none of your dramatics.
Graham, I
Im not asking, he cut in. Im offering you the chance to put things right. Dont squander it. Kisses. Tell Molly hi.
He hung up. Alice stared at her phone until the screen faded. Maybe she should try talking. Could it even get any worse?
***
Molly fell asleep quickly; Alice spent ages at the kitchen table. The bottle of soft red wine shed bought, angry at herself for being so weak, sat unpopped before her.
Graham returned about eleven, cheery as anything.
Well done, he planted a peck on her cheek; Alice recoiled. Come on nowsettle down. Bring the glasses.
I was thinking We need a break. Turkey next month, why not? All three of us. Molly loves the sea, Ive already spotted a good hotel.
Grahamare you joking? A holiday? Were living as strangers.
Thats you being awkward, he sipped the wine. Im trying to mend things, actually. But heres what I wantyou promise: not one more word about what happened.
No going through my phone, no hintsno tears. Well simply carry on as though none of it ever took place.
What about trust? Alice met his eyes.
Trust is a luxury you cant afford at the moment, he smirked. You want stability, Molly needs her dad, and this house needs a man about it.
Its all here for you. The price is your silence. Seems to me, thats a fair arrangement.
And if I dont agree to your arrangement?
Graham set his glass down very deliberately.
Then you pack your bag tomorrow. I mean it, Alice. Im tired of this tug-of-war.
Im a manI need a solid base, not a sulking wife.
If you cant forgive and forget, then were done here.
But remember: Ill take everything I legally can. And youll have your pride to thank for it.
He stood and left. Alice sat in darkness, listening to the rush of water in the bathroom. She knew this was bare-faced blackmail, plain nastiness.
Any strong woman wouldve launched that wine glass straight at his head and stormed out into the night. But she wasnt strong
She was a mother first; it was Molly she had to consider. After all, surely everyone deserves a second chance.
Her husband had slipped up just oncedidnt he deserve forgiveness? For Mollys sake, at least, she should try to forget
Mum? came a small, sleepy voice from the hallway.
Alice wiped her eyes and turnedMolly stood in the doorway.
Mum, II had a scary dream. Wheres Daddy?
Daddys here, darling, Alice scooped her up, holding her tight. Daddys in the shower, he hasnt gone anywhere. Come hereeverythings all right. Were all here.
Really? Molly nuzzled her neck. Well always be together, right?
Alice squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her heart splinter.
Always, sweetheart. Always.
As she tucked her little girl back into bed, Alice decided: shed keep the family together. Starting tomorrow, shed do everything in her power to forget the betrayal. But that would be tomorrowBut in the darkness, after the last soft whisper and Mollys breathing settled again, Alice sat at the edge of her daughters bed and watched her sleep. For a long time, the house was silent except for the faint hum of pipes and the hush of traffic beyond the window.
She listened for Grahams footsteps, the familiar evening rhythm of a life shed known for nearly a decadebut she heard only her own heartbeat thudding quietly in her ears.
For Mollys sake, Alice told herself again. She could pretend, swallow the words that curdled in her throat. Perhaps in time, the ache would soften, the memories would blur, and peace would return, however fragile and false. She would serve crumpets, iron shirts, book holidays. Smile for her daughter. That would be enough.
But as Alice bent to kiss Mollys forehead, she caught her own reflexher other hand moving protectively, gently, to shield her child from an invisible threat. The movement was instinctive; she hadnt even realized shed done it.
And it dawned on her, with hollow clarity, that forgiveness had nothing to do with strength or weakness, and family was never a debt to be paid out of fear.
She could notwould notteach her daughter love meant staying silent beneath the weight of someone elses power.
So Alice tiptoed from the room, her mind strangely quiet. She opened her laptop and bookmarked the listings, feeling strangely certain this was not the end but a beginning.
Tomorrow, she would fold ballet shoes and tiny socks into a suitcase. She would invent an adventure for Molly, a story about bravery and far-off places, and together they would go.
She did not know where they would land or how long her courage would hold. But Alice finally understoodsome promises are shards, and the bravest thing a mother can do is gather up her child and walk into the unknown.
Outside, the city lights flickered. Somewhere, a lion roared in the dark.
