“Come home right now!” Michael’s voice crackled through the phone, sharp with anger. “Do you even care about your own daughter? I’m exhausted dealing with her!”
Elena raised her champagne flute, smiling at Olivia. The café buzzed with laughter, music, and the warmth of celebrationfriends gathered for Olivias birthday. For the first time in months, Elena felt like more than just little Lilys mother. She felt like a woman again.
“To your happiness!” she managed before the shrill ring of her phone sliced through the chatter.
“Elena, where are you?!” The voice on the other end was laced with irritation. “Shes been crying for over an hour!”
“I told you Id be late. Its Olivias birthdaywe agreed”
“Its been three hours, not two!”
Elena stepped away from the table, not wanting to sour the mood. “Give her some watermaybe shes thirsty.”
“I tried! Shes sickshe needs *you*!”
“Michael, calm down. Check her nappy. If its rubbing, shell cry. Ill be back soon.”
“No! Leave now!” His voice rose. “Do you even care about your child?”
“Fine, Ill leave early,” she muttered.
The line went dead with a sharp click.
When she returned, Olivia frowned. “Whats wrong?”
“Lilys crying, and Michaels panicking,” Elena sighed.
“Thats normal!” Tanya waved a hand. “My husband was terrified to hold our baby at first.”
“Mine still calls me at every whimper,” joked Marina.
“Maybe I should go,” Elena said uncertainly.
“No,” Olivia said firmly. “Its your first night out in months. Let him learn to be a father.”
Elena tried to rejoin the conversationthen the café door burst open. Michael stormed in, clutching Lily.
“So *this* is where you are!” he bellowed. “Mother of the year! Your child is dying, and youre out celebrating!”
Silence fell. Guests stared. Elenas face burned.
“Why would you do this?” she whispered.
“*This* is what I shouldve done ages ago!” He shook Lily in his arms theatrically. “Brought your *dying child* to her *party queen* mother!”
“Thats enough,” Olivia snapped.
“Stay out of it!” Michael snarled. “Shes here because of *you*!”
“Sir, lower your voice,” an elderly patron interjected. “Were trying to enjoy our meal.”
“Mind your business!” Michael barked. “My wife abandoned our sick child!”
Elena took Lily from him. The moment she held her, the crying stopped.
“Liv, Im sorry,” she murmured. “I have to go.”
“Finally,” Michael sneered. “She remembers shes a mother!”
“Dont apologize,” Olivia said. “Youve done nothing wrong.”
“Disgusting,” Tanya muttered. “A real man doesnt act like this.”
Michael opened his mouththen the manager stepped in. “Sir, Ill have to ask you to leave.”
***
Back home, Elena peeled off Lilys jumper and froze. A red welt circled her neckfrom a scratchy tag.
“*This* was the problem. It was just rubbing her.”
“How was I supposed to know?” Michael flopped onto the sofa.
“By *undressing her and looking*!”
“Im not built for babysitting. Thats *your* job.”
Elena whirled around. “What did you just say?”
“The truth,” he said coldly. “I earn the money. The child is *your* responsibility.”
“You humiliated me in public over a *tag*!”
“Now youll remembera mothers place is at home, not drinking with friends.”
“Are you serious? I work remotely, handle three projects, raise Lily, cook, cleanwhen do *I* get a life?”
“You call that work?” He scoffed. “Sitting home with a baby is a *break*. Try a ten-hour shiftthen youd understand.”
“Try *sleepless nights* with a screaming infant!” she exploded.
“Whats so hard? Feed her, change herdone.”
“Then why couldnt you even *check the tag*?” she shot back.
He slammed his keys on the table. “Enough! Im going to Stevens. At least there, I wont hear your nagging.”
“Run, then,” she said bitterly. “You always do.”
***
The door slammed. Lily dozed peacefully in her arms. Elena packed a bagessentials, the pram, a blanketand within half an hour, stood at her mother-in-laws doorstep.
“Elena?” Margaret frowned. “Whats happened?”
“Im leaving Michael. Can we stay a few days?”
“Come in. Tell me what that fools done now.”
Elena sank onto the sofa, rocking Lily. “He screamed at me in the café, accused me of abandoning hersaid she was *dying*. It was just a tag. He didnt even *look*.”
“Disgraceful,” Margaret muttered. “And then?”
“Then he said raising children is *womens work*.”
Margarets voice turned icy. “So Lily isnt his daughter?”
“Thats what *kills* me! He thinks parenting is a *break*.”
“I was a fool,” Margaret said softly. “I hoped hed grow up. Instead, he got worse.”
***
The next morning, Michael stormed in, face twisted.
“Mum, where is she? Tell her to come home *now*!”
“Shes not hiding,” Margaret said calmly. “Explain that scene at the café.”
“What scene? I was protecting my daughter!”
“From a *tag*?” Margaret arched a brow. “Elena told me everything.”
“Dont listen to her! She exaggerates!” He paced. “Kick her outmake her come back!”
“Sit.” Margarets voice cut sharp. “Were talking. Now.”
“About *what*? A wife belongs at home!”
“Listen well: Elena has every right to stay in that flatshes the mother of my granddaughter. *You*? Youve disappointed me.”
“But *I* support this family!”
“She works*with* a child in her arms. She handles the house. What do *you* do?”
“I bring in the money!”
“So did I, after your father died. Worked, raised you alone. And you? Wont even check on your own child at night.”
“Why should I? Shes got milk.”
“What about playing with her? Bathing her? Taking her outis that *beneath* you?”
Michael said nothing.
“My jobs stressful. Im exhausted,” he muttered.
“So is *she*! But unlike you, she doesnt scream at strangers.”
Michael clenched his jaw. “Fine! Ill find another woman. Let *her* raise the kid alone!”
“Try it.” Margaret didnt raise her voice. “But rememberyoull pay child support. *Regularly*. Ill make sure of it.”
“Mum, whose side are you on? *Mine* or hers?”
“Im the mother of a grown man,” she said coolly. “And right now, hes acting like a spoiled child.”
***
A month later, the divorce was final. Michael felt victorious*free* at last. He even brought home a new woman: a blonde from HR named Sophie.
“Wow, this place is nice!” she gushed, eyeing the flat.
“Itll be better,” he bragged. “New furniture, renovationsnow that Im *rid* of the dead weight, I can live for *me*.”
“What about your ex?” Sophie asked carefully.
“Living with Mum. Let her raise the kid.”
“You pay child support?”
“Why? Mums got money. Theyll be fine.”
They were sipping coffee when the door swung open. Margaret stood thereElena and Lily behind her.
“Mum, whys *she* here?” Michael sputtered.
“Returning the rightful owner,” Margaret said coldly. “This flats been in Lilys name for six months. Sophie? You can leave.”
“What are you *doing*?” he roared.
“What I shouldve done sooner. Pack your things. Youre living with me.”
“Mike, whats happening?” Sophie looked stunned.
“Nothing,” Margaret said. “He just *forgot* to mention the flat belongs to his child.”
“You cant do this!” Michael choked out.
“I can. And I am. Elena, settle in.”
Sophie grabbed her purse and fled, slamming the door.
“Sophwait!” Michael lunged, but she was gone.
***
Two years passed. Michael was nearly alone. Friends drifted away, tired
