She came home to find her husband gonehis things vanished too.
“Whats that look for?” Zoe smirked. “Stan just wanted to prove hes a proper catch. Thats all.”
“What are you talking about?”
“The plain truth, love,” said Stans ex-wife, drawing out her words.
“I dont understand” Alice faltered.
“Ah! There he ishell explain everything,” Zoe nodded toward the door.
Alices mother, Margaret, had raised her like a delicate flower. A stern woman who ran her own lumber mill with an iron grip, she softened entirely around her only daughterher voice gentling, her eyes brimming with tenderness.
So Alice grew up sheltered, fragile, trusting. Shed known no hardship, attending regular school and music lessons, where she learned to play the piano with quiet joy. She never became a prodigy, but she made a fine teacher.
All that remained was a good marriage, and soon enough, she found a suitor in charming Vincent. He courted her beautifully, spending his modest chauffeurs wages on her, whispering sweet words, gazing into her eyes.
Yet her mother took an instant dislike to him.
“A layabout and a fool!” Margaret declared.
“But I love him, Mum,” Alices blue eyes welled with tears.
“Fine, fine,” her mother relented. “But youll live with me!”
Their spacious three-bedroom flat had room for all, and the new husband didnt mind living with his mother-in-law, who spent most of her days at work. He had nothing to his name, anyway.
Kind, doting Vincent soon showed his true coloursdrinking, vanishing for hours, snapping at his young wife. Around Margaret, he kept up appearances, but barely.
Alice refused to see his flaws.
Nine months after the wedding, she gave birth to little Leo, cherishing the idea of a proper family. But the boy was sickly, needing constant care, and Vincent grew worse, lashing out. She endured, hoping for better.
Her patience ran out when her mother died suddenly, having only a year to know her grandson. The funeral was handled by Margarets old friend, Geoffrey. Vincent didnt show up at alland when he finally did, his bags were waiting by the door.
He raged about court battles and dividing assets.
Alice said nothing.
Thank God for Geoffreyhe threw the near-ex-husband out and, as a seasoned solicitor, ensured no property was split. She and Leo never saw Vincent again.
Running the mill was beyond Alice, so Geoffrey hired professionals to manage it. The small family wanted for nothing.
Losing her mother and divorcing so soon left Alice adriftshe had no friends, no relatives. Just Leo, needing her love. So she poured herself into him, swearing off men. (Geoffrey didnt count.)
That day, she and five-year-old Leo left the clinic, huddling under a large umbrella against the rain. Waiting indoors was pointlessthe downpour wouldnt end soonand with no car and no taxi in sight, they risked the walk.
“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 Alices mind that this was dangerous. She recognised the mantheyd passed each other in the clinic corridors, where he brought his own son, around Leos age.
“Thank you!” she said warmly after the ride (theyd exchanged namesStan).
“Anytime!” He grinned. “Fancy giving me your number?”
She stiffened.
“Sorry, I dont see married men.” Without another word, she marched Leo inside.
She didnt expect to see Stan so soon, but the next day, he was waiting in the courtyard.
“Im not married,” he said by way of greeting, thrusting his divorce papers at her. A month-old decree.
Had loneliness worn her down? Was Stan too charming, too attentive? Did Leos instant liking for him sway her?
Later, she couldnt fathom why she agreed to let this near-stranger join their walk, then stay for supper.
From then on, they met almost daily, and she fell deeper in love.
So deeply that when he proposed a month later, it felt right. Of course he loved her. Of course he adored Leo.
The boys approval sealed it. He worshipped Stan, calling him “Dad” before the wedding.
“Dad” didnt mind. Alice just beamed.
Naturally, after marrying, Stan suggested adopting Leo.
“Always wanted two sons,” he said, then darkened.
She squeezed his shoulder. She knew his ex-wife, now with a wealthy lover, barred him from seeing his own boy. It ate at him.
So, just three months after meeting, they were a proper family.
The only thing Alice kept from Stan? Her finances.
The mill, though modest, still turned a decent profitsplit three ways with the new partners. She saved every penny for Leos future: school, a flat, everything.
Geoffrey had taught her that. No need for Stan to know.
If he suspected, he never let on.
But the idyll lasted less than a year.
Stan grew colder, snappish. Hed come home scowling, muttering about work.
“Dont mind me, just the boss on my back,” hed say at first.
“Cant you transfer?” shed ask. “Youre a brilliant electrician.”
“Ill sort it.”
Soon, he stopped explainingjust glowered or snapped.
He never raised a hand to Leo, but the boy clearly grated on him.
Alice didnt know what to thinkuntil the truth came crashing down.
That day, she and Leo strolled the park aloneStan was late but promised to join them for ice cream.
“Shouldnt have let him adopt the boy,” a womans mocking voice cut in. “Hell only suffer.”
Alice turned. A striking brunette in a bright orange coat perched on the bench beside her.
“Do I know you?”
“Not yet.” The woman smirked. “Im Zoe. Stans ex-wife. Temporarily ex.”
Alice gaped. Thank God Leo was off playing.
“Whats that look for?” Zoe chuckled. “Stan just wanted to prove hes a proper catch. Thats all.”
“What are you on about?”
“The plain truth, love.” Zoe eyed her like a child. “Five years older, and still so naive.”
“I dont understand”
“Ah! Here he ishell explain.” Zoe nodded past her.
Stan was striding over, eyes darting between them.
“Stan, tell the girl how it is.” Zoe stood, ruffled his hair, and sauntered off. “Well be waiting,” she called without turning.
“Whats that look for?” Stan echoed when shed gone.
Alice was numb.
“Dont know what Zoe said, but yesI married you to spite her.” He took a breath. “She kept at meWhod want you? Acting like she was doing me a favour, letting me see our son. Then she flaunted that rich bloke, Mark. So I filed for divorce.”
“Why adopt Leo?” Alice barely whispered.
“To make it real. New wife, new soneverything perfect.” He shrugged. “Spotted you at the clinicknew youd do.”
“As a gullible stand-in?”
Silence.
“What now?” She didnt know why she asked.
“Dunno,” he muttered. “Guess I got used to you.”
He made up his mind quickly. That night, he didnt come home.
Next morning, after dropping Leo at nursery, Alice returned to the empty flat.
No Stan. No trace of him.
She exhaled deeply and dialled Geoffrey.
She needed a solicitor again.
