**Diary Entry 12th January**
“Never mind, Barry! Dont be down! At least you had a smashing New Years Eve!”
There it washome. Barry stepped off the platform, crossed the station square, and headed for the bus stop. He hadnt told his wife, Emily, hed be back today. His mood was sour; he wasnt looking forward to the row theyd have. Shed scold him again, call him selfish, accuse him of not caring.
And why? Hed tried to wish her a Happy New Year, but shed switched off her phone. Bloody typical. Three days hed tried calling, and shed ignored him. So, finehed stopped trying.
Worse still, she hadnt even bothered to ring his parents or his sister. Not even him. Hed bring that up the second he walked in. If she wanted to play the blame game, she wasnt spotless either. Best defence is a good offence, isnt it?
Barry squared his shoulders and marched into the flat, ready for battle.
Silence greeted him.
“Oi! Anyone home? Emily, Im back!” No answer.
The kitchen was empty. So was the bedroom. Then he noticedthe cot by the wall was gone. The chest of drawers with the changing mat, the pram his parents had given themvanished. He yanked open the wardrobe. Emilys side was bare.
“Has she lost the plot? Left me?”
He rang his mother-in-law. No answer. Then he tried Katie, Emilys best mate. Nothing. Finally, he got through to Mike, Katies husband.
“Mike, gimme Katie. Cant reach her.”
“Katies at her mums in the villagespotty signal there. I came back early for work. Why dyou need her?”
“Emilys not home. All the baby stuffs gone.”
“WaitEmily was due any day, wasnt she? You left her alone over Christmas?”
“She didnt want to come! The due date was the 10thplenty of time!”
“Congratulations, youre a prat,” Mike snorted.
“Why?”
“Because youre probably single now. Ring the hospital, you berk.”
***
Ten days earlier
“I dont get it, Barry,” his mother had said. “Why sit at home? If Emily wont come, you should. The babys not due for weeksyoull be back in time.”
“Everyones comingAunt Vera, Uncle Steve, Nat and Vic, even your sister. Weve booked a lodge in the Cotswolds. Four nights30th to the 2nd. New Years Eve bash with live music. Paid for your ticketyou can settle up later.”
Emily refused.
“Barry, I could go into labour any day. Imagine iteveryone celebrating while Im mid-contraction. And that hotels miles from the hospital!”
“Mums rightwomen these days treat pregnancy like an illness. She had three of us and barely took maternity leave.”
Barry knew Emily had a point. But the thought of a quiet New Years Evejust the two of them, a modest meal (Emily had said she wasnt cooking anything fancy)made him miserable. While his family laughed, danced, rang in the New Year
So he went alone.
The lodge was brilliant. Around half twelve, he stepped out to call Emily. No answer.
“Suit yourself. Your loss,” he muttered.
Next morning, his mother moaned about Emilys “rudeness.”
“Not even a Happy New Year call! Youve spoiled her, Barry. She doesnt understand family. Let her sit alone and think.”
But Emily hadnt been thinking of them. That New Years Eve, shed been rushed to hospital. Her parentswhod invited her over for a quiet eveninghad called an ambulance when the pains started.
Shed rung in the New Year in a delivery room. Her son arrived at half past midnight.
***
Barry took Mikes advice and rang the hospital.
“Emily Carter? Discharged yesterday.”
“What? Already? The babys here?”
“Yes. 1st January, 12:30 AM.”
“Who collected her?”
“Sir, we dont log that.”
Her parents, then. He bought roses and went straight there.
Her father answered.
“Yes?”
“Hi. Im here for Emily.”
“Why?”
“Im her husband.”
“Emily!” her dad called. “Some bloke here claims hes your husband!”
“No, send him away,” Emilys voice floated back.
The door shut in his face.
He knocked again. This time, his mother-in-lawa formidable woman Barry had always slightly fearedyanked the door open.
“Still here?”
“Let me in. Ive got rights”
She snatched the roses and whipped them across his face.
“Your rights? Your solicitor can explain those. Now clear offmy grandsons sleeping.”
The thorns left scratches.
At home, he rang his mother.
“They wouldnt even let me see my son!”
“Dont fret. Shell crawl back once shes skint. Dont call. Dont send money. Let her parents foot the bill.”
Barry ate microwave lasagne and went to bed, oblivious that itd be his last night there.
Next evening, he found his belongings in bin bags on the landing. His mother-in-lawwho owned the flatsmirked in the doorway.
“Remember your hostel address, love? Take your junk. Whats left goes in the skip tomorrow.”
The divorce was quick. Barry hated hostel life, but after child support and spousal maintenance deductions, renting was out of the question.
“Tighten your belt,” Mike said. “At least you had a cracking New Year!”
Emily stayed with her parents for three years. They helped with little Jack and rented out the flat. Once she returned to work, they moved back in. After redecorating, no trace of Barry remained.
***
**Lesson learned:** Some battles arent worth winning. Prides a poor substitute for being there when it matters.
