**Diary Entry**
*Cheer up, Dave! At least you saw in the New Year in style!*
Here I was, back in my hometown. Dave stepped off the train, crossed the station square, and headed for the bus stop. He hadnt told his wife he was coming home today.
His mood was souranother unpleasant talk with Emily awaited him. Shed scold him again, call him selfish, claim he didnt care. Didnt care? Hed tried calling her on New Years Eve to wish her well, but shed turned her phone off. Typical.
Three days hed tried reaching her. Nothing. Fine, if she wanted to sulk, hed give her space. And honestly, she couldnt even be bothered to wish his parents or sister a happy New Year, let alone him. Well, hed throw that in her face the moment he walked in.
She loved pointing fingers, but she wasnt perfect either. Time she answered for her own mistakes. What was that saying? The best defence is a good offence.
Dave straightened his shoulders and marched into the building, ready for battle.
The flat was silent.
“Oi! Anyone home? Em, Im back!” No reply.
He checked the kitchenempty. The spare roombare. Then he noticed it. The cot was gone. The changing table, the pram his in-laws had boughtvanished. He yanked open the wardrobe. Her half was empty.
“Has she lost her mind? Left me?”
He dialled his mother-in-law. No answer. Next, KateEmilys best friend. Still nothing. Finally, he got through to Mike, Kates husband.
“Mike, mate, put Kate on. Cant reach her.”
“Shes at her parents in the villagespotty signal there. We saw in the New Year there.”
“I got back last nightwork today. Theyre still relaxing. Why dyou need Kate?”
“Trying to find Em. Came home, shes gone. All the baby stuff too.”
“Hold onwasnt she due any day? You left her alone over Christmas?” Mike sounded stunned.
“She didnt want to come! The due date was the 10thplenty of time!”
“Congratulations, Daveyoure a proper berk.”
“Why?”
“Because youre likely single now, you muppet. Try the hospitalshes probably there.”
—
*Ten days earlier*
“I dont get it, Dave,” his mother had said. “If Emily wont come, you should. Her due dates weeks offyoull be back in time.”
“Besides, the whole familys gatheringAunt Vera and Uncle Steve, Natalie and Vic, even Ollie and Paul. Weve booked a countryside hotelforest views. Four nights, 30th to the 2nd. New Years Eve gala dinner, live band. Ive paid your sharepay me back later. Stay till the 8th. Youll make it back before the baby comes.”
Emily refused.
“Dave, I could go into labour any day. Imagine the sceneeveryone celebrating while Im rushed to hospital in the middle of nowhere. No, Im staying put.”
“Mum says women nowadays treat pregnancy like an illness and childbirth like a heroic act. She had three of us and barely took maternity leave.”
Dave saw her point. But the thought of a quiet New Years Eve at homejust them, a modest meal (Emily had already said she wasnt cooking anything special)felt miserable. Meanwhile, his family would be dancing, laughing, toasting under the glittering lights.
So he went alone.
The hotel was brilliant. At half twelve, after the countdown, he slipped out to call Emily. No answer.
“Fine. Stay mad. Your fault youre missing this.”
The next day, his mother took her turn.
“Emily didnt even call to wish us a happy New Year. See how selfish she is? Thats why were all here together, and shes stuck at home alone. Serves her right.”
But Emily hadnt spared them a thought that night. If anyone crossed her mind, it was Dave.
Her parents, hearing shed be alone, invited her over. No big celebrationher brother worked shifts in London and wouldnt make it. Just a quiet evening.
At nine on New Years Eve, as she helped her mum set the table, her waters broke.
An ambulance, her mother beside her, her father following in the car. Emily welcomed the New Year in a hospital bed, her parents in the waiting room. By midnight, she was a mother.
—
Dave took Mikes advice and called the hospital.
“Cartwright? Discharged yesterday.”
“Already? The babys here?”
“Born January 1st, half twelve.”
“Who collected her?”
“Not recorded, sir.”
Her parents mustve taken her. He bought roses and headed straight there.
Her father answered.
“Yes?”
“Im here for Emily.”
“Why?”
“Im her husband.”
“Emily!” her dad called. “Some bloke here claims hes your husband. Want to talk?”
“No. Tell him to leave.”
Her father shrugged. “You heard her. Goodbye.”
Dave stood there, then knocked again.
This time, his mother-in-law loomed in the doorwaytall, sturdy, sharp-tongued. A woman hed always found intimidating.
“Did you not get the message?”
“Let me in. Ive got rights”
She snatched the roses and whipped them across his face.
“Your rights will be explained by a solicitor. And dont call againmy grandsons sleeping.” The bouquet landed at his feet, the door slammed.
Dave rubbed his faceroses had thorns.
At home, he rang his mother.
“They wouldnt even let me see my son.”
“Dont fret. Shell come crawling back. Where else can she go with a baby? Ignore her. No calls, no money. Let her parents foot the bill. A week or two, shell be back. Sleep nowwork tomorrow.”
So he did. A ready-meal, then bed. He slept soundly, unaware this was his last night in the flat.
The next evening, his belongingsboxed, baggedwere piled on the landing.
His mother-in-law answered the door. The flat was hers, after all.
“Well, son-in-law? Remember your hostel address, or need a reminder? Take your junk. Anything left goes in the bin tomorrow!”
So Dave moved into the hostel.
The divorce was quick. He thought about renting, but after child support and spousal maintenance, his wages barely covered food.
“Budget better,” Mike advised. “Youre saving for your own place now. Chin up, Dave! At least you had a cracking New Year!”
Emily stayed with her parents for three years. They helped with little Jake; the flat was rented out. When she returned to work, they moved back in. After renovations, no trace of Dave remained.
**Lesson learned:** Some choices cost more than just money.
