Oh, never mind, Dave! Dont be sadat least you had a brilliant New Years!
And just like that, he was back in his hometown. Dave stepped off the platform, walked across the station square, and headed for the bus stop. He hadnt told his wife, Emily, that he was coming home today.
His mood wasnt great, knowing hed soon have an unpleasant conversation with her. Shed probably scold him again, complain, call him a selfish, uncaring husband.
Uncaring? He *had* tried to call her on New Years Eve to wish her well, but shed turned her phone off. She was the one who got offended first!
He tried ringing her for three whole daysnothing. So, fine, *he* got offended too and stopped calling.
And honestly, she hadnt even bothered to wish his parents or sister a happy New Year, let alone him. That was the first thing hed throw in her face the moment he saw her.
She couldnt act all high and mightyshe had her own faults. Best defence is a good offence, right?
Dave squared his shoulders and marched into the building, ready for battle.
The flat was eerily quiet when he stepped inside.
“Hello? Anyone home? Em, Im back!” he called loudly. No answer.
He checked the kitchenempty. Peeked into the bedroomsboth deserted. Then he noticed the changes: the crib by the wall was gone. The dresser with the changing table on top, the pram his in-laws had given themall vanished.
He hurried to the wardrobe. The side where Emilys clothes usually hung? Bare.
“Has she lost her mind? Did she *leave* me?” he thought.
He dialled his mother-in-lawno answer. Next, he tried calling Kate, Emilys best friend. Silence. Finally, he got through to Michael, Kates husband.
“Mike, mate! Patch me through to Katecant get hold of her,” he said.
“Kates in the village with the kidswe celebrated New Years there. Signals rubbish out there.”
“I got back yesterdayshift starts today. Theyre still relaxing,” Michael replied. “Why dyou need Kate?”
“Thought she might know where my Emily is. Got home, shes goneand all the baby stuffs missing,” Dave said.
“Waitwasnt your wife about to pop any day now? You *left* her alone over the holidays?” Michael sounded stunned.
“She *said* she didnt want to come! The due date was the 10th or 11thwe had *plenty* of time!”
“Congrats, Dave. Youre an idiot,” Michael chuckled.
“What? Why?”
“Because youre probably single now. Call the *hospital*, you muppet. Shes probably there.”
*Ten days earlier.*
“I dont get it, Dave,” his mum had said over the phone. “Why should you sit at home over the holidays? If Emily wont come, come alone. The babys not due for nearly two weeksyoull be back in time.”
“Plus, *everyones* comingAunt Vera and Uncle Steve, Natalie and Vic, Olivia and Paul. Me and your dad, and Vicky and Greg.”
“Vickys booked us a countryside hotelright in the woods. Four days, 30th to the 2nd. Fancy restaurant dinner on New Years Eve with live music. I paid for youyou can pay me back later. Stay till the 8thyoull be back before Emilys due.”
Emily hadnt wanted to go.
“Dave, I could go into labour *any day*. Imagine how itll lookeveryone celebrating while I suddenly start contractions. And the hotels *miles* from townwhat if the ambulance takes ages?”
“No. Im not going anywhere.”
“Your mums rightwomen these days act like pregnancys an illness, and having a babys some heroic feat. She had *three* of you and barely took maternity leavestill managed everything.”
Sure, Dave knew Emily had a point. But the thought of a quiet New Years at homejust the two of them, a modest meal (Emily had already said she wasnt cooking anything fancy)made him miserable.
Meanwhile, his whole family would be dancing, laughing, celebrating in a restaurant.
So he went alone.
The countryside hotel *was* brilliant. Around half past midnight, after the countdown, Dave slipped out to the lobby to call Emilybut she didnt pick up.
“Fine. Stay offended. *Youre* the one missing out,” he thought.
The next day, his mum took a jab at Emily.
“Your Emily didnt even call to wish me and your dad a happy New Year. See? *Shes* the petty one. Youve spoiled her rotten, son.”
“She doesnt understand family. Were all here together, and shes alone. Serves her right.”
But Emily hadnt been thinking about *them* that New Years Eve. If anything, shed thought of *Dave*certainly not her in-laws and their endless relatives.
Her parents, hearing shed be alone, had invited her over. No big party plannedher brother worked shifts in London and wouldnt get much time off, so her parents were just having a quiet night in.
At 9 p.m. on the 31st, as Emily and her mum set the table, her contractions started.
An ambulance was called. Her mum went with her; her dad followed in the car.
Emily spent New Years in a hospital bed. Her parents waited in the lobby downstairs. By 12:30 a.m., she was a motherto a son.
*Back to Dave.*
Taking Michaels advice, he called the hospital.
“Emily Carter? Discharged yesterday,” reception said.
“*Already?*” Dave blurted. “The baby?”
“Yes. Born 1st January, 12:30 a.m.”
“Who picked her up?”
“Sir, we dont log that in the register!”
Dave realised only her parents couldve collected herso she and the baby were at theirs now.
He bought a bouquet of roses and went straight there.
Knocked. The door openedhis father-in-law.
“Yes?”
“Im here to see Emily,” Dave said.
“Why?”
“Im her *husband*.”
“Emily!” her dad called. “Some bloke here says hes your husband. Want to talk to him?”
“No. Tell him to leave,” Emilys voice came from inside.
Her dad shrugged.
“She doesnt. Goodbye.” The door shut.
Dave stood there a moment, then knocked again.
This time, his mother-in-law answeredtall, sturdy, loud. Truth be told, she intimidated him a bit.
“Did you *not* understand?” she snapped.
“Let me in,” Dave said bravely. “I have a *right*”
He didnt finish. She snatched the roses from him and *whacked* him across the face with them.
“Your *rights*? Your *lawyer* can explain those! Dont call againmy grandsons sleeping.” She tossed the roses at his feet and slammed the door.
Dave trudged home, rubbing his faceroses were pretty, but the thorns *stung*.
Back home, he called his mum first.
“They wouldnt even let me *in*didnt even see my son!”
“Dont fret, Dave. Shell get over it. With a baby, wheres she going to go? Stop calling her, stop sending money.”
“Let her parents foot the bill if theyre so clever. A week or two, and shell come crawling back. Now get some sleepwork tomorrow.”
Dave did just that: ate shop-bought dumplings for dinner and went to bed.
He slept soundly, unaware itd be his *last* night in that flat.
Next evening, returning from work, he found all his belongings boxed up in black bin bags on the landing.
He rang the bell. His mother-in-law answeredthe flat *was* in her name, after all.
“Well, dear son-in-law? Remember your hostel address, or need a reminder? Take your junk. Anything left, the cleaner trashes tomorrow!”
So Dave moved into a hostel.
They divorced through court. Sick of hostel life, he considered rentingbut after child support and alimony deductions, his paycheck barely covered groceries.
“Tighten your belt,” Michael said. “Youre saving for your *own* place now. Cheer up, Dave! At least you had a *fantastic* New Years!”
Emily stayed with her parents for three years. They helped with little Charlie while renting out the flat.
Once she returned to work, she and Charlie moved back in. After renovations, nothing remained to remind her of Daveor his family
