His wife packed her bags and vanished without a trace
Stop acting like a martyr. Things will sort themselves out. Women forgive in the end; shell rant, then settle down. The main thing isI got what I wanted. We have a son. The family carries on now.
Diana said nothing.
John, Diana leaned in and lowered her voice, a week ago, you said youd seen to Emmas pregnancy. What did you mean by that, exactly?
John set his fork down and leaned back in his chair.
Just what I said. She muddled about for five years: Not ready, career, lets wait. But when? Im thirty-two, Di. I wanted an heir, a proper family, like everyone else. So, I switched her pills.
Diana stared, aghast.
Does she know? When did you tell her?
The day she left, John muttered. She started yelling, so I just told herget used to it, darling, you wanted this anyway, I just helped things along.
I thought shed calm down, realise there was no other way. But shes well, odd, that one. Grabbed her bag and stormed out.
***
On the kitchen table, beside a mountain of unwashed baby bottles, lay a comb her brother had forgotten. Diana glared at it, irritation bubbling up inside her. Why must there always be such a mess?
The baby in the next room finally quieted, but the silence brought Diana no peacewithin an hour, two at most, it would all begin again.
Diana straightened her dressing gown and switched on the kettle. Only a month before, theyd brought Emma, her sister-in-law, back from the maternity hospital. John had been over the moon, bustling about, shoving massive bouquets at the nurses. And Emma Emma looked as if she were facing a firing squad instead of going home.
Diana had blamed it on exhaustionfirst child, hormones and all that. She should have been more alert.
The front door bangedher brother back from work. He strode into the kitchen, loosening his tie, and peered into the fridge.
Anything to eat? he asked, not even glancing at her.
Pasta in the pot. I boiled some sausages too. Johnthe babys only just nodded off. Try to keep it down, will you?
John sniffed as he pulled out a plate. Im shattered, Diana. Been on my feet all day. Clients today wrung me dry.
Hows the fledgling? he added, meaninglessly.
Fledgling is your son, Diana said as she set her mug on the table a bit more forcefully than intended. His name is Arthur. And he screamed for three hours straight. His tummy.
But youre managing it, John shrugged indifferently, sitting down. Youre a woman, its in the blood. Mum coped with us on her own when Dad was away for work.
Diana bit her lip. She longed to fling the plate at his head. She was here only until she could sort out the debts on her studio, but these weeks had turned her into an unpaid nanny, cook, and cleaner. And John carried on as if nothing had changed. As if his wife hadnt packed up and vanished.
Has Emma rung? She watched him wolf down dinner.
John froze, fork in mouth. His face clouded.
She doesnt answer. Cuts me off. Emma! Imagine walking out and leaving your own child. Who does that?
He bristled. Shes cross that I switched her pillsto make sure shed get pregnant sooner.
Youre a coward, John, Diana said quietly.
What?! I was doing it for us! Im working, bringing money in. And she abandons her child? Whos in the wrong here?
You took away her choice, said Diana, rising. You lied to the one you claimed to love. How should she react? Thank you, love, for ruining my life?
Oh, spare me, John waved her off. Shell come roundwhere else would she go? The boys here, her things are here. Shell run out of money and crawl back, youll see. In the meantimehelp me out, will you? Ive no time for all this, its year-end at work.
Diana said nothing. She left for the nursery.
Arthur snuffled, little fists clenched. Her heart broke. On one sidea helpless babe, innocent of all. On the otherEmma, hopelessly cornered.
Diana pitied them both.
She pulled out her phone, opened Messenger. Emma had been online minutes ago. She typed, erased, typed again.
Emma, its Diana. Im not asking you to come home. I just want to know youre alright. And Im struggling on my own. Can we talk, quietly?
Ten minutes later, a reply:
Im at a guest house. In three days, Ill be away on assignment in another city for three weeks. It was sorted long ago, before all this. When Im back, Ill file for divorce. Im not abandoning Arthur, Diana. But I cant be there now. I cant even look at himyou understand? All I see is John.
Diana exhaled.
I do understand. Johns told me everything.
Does he? Is he proud of himself?
Something like that. Hes sure youll come back.
Let him dream. Diana, if you cant cope, say so. Ill find a way to pay for a nanny, Ill send money. But I wont go back to him. Never.
Diana put the phone aside with a long sigh. She needed to find a job, pay off debts, rebuild her life. And yet, how could she leave Arthur to John, who didnt know which end a nappy went on?
***
The next three days blurred into a never-ending nightmare. John came home late, ate and collapsed into bed. Any request for help was met with, Im tired, or, You know better how to settle him.
One night, Arthurs wailing pushed Diana to her limit.
She stormed into her brothers room and switched on the lamp.
Get up, she said in an icy tone.
John squeezed his eyes shut, pulling a pillow over his head. Leave me alone, Di. Im up at six.
I dont care. Go and see to your son. Hes hungry, and I cant feed him; my hands are shaking from exhaustion.
Are you mad? John sat up, wild-haired and irate. Thats why youre here! I put a roof over your head and pay the bills!
Oh, so Im your servant now? Dianas voice shook.
Call it what you like, he grunted. Emmall be back soon, then you can rest. Till then, pitch in.
Diana left in silence.
She didnt sleep that night, sitting in the kitchen, rocking the cradle with her foot and wondering how to teach her brother a lessonhed grown insufferable.
That morning, once John was gone, Diana messaged Emma again.
We need to meet. Today, while hes out. Please.
Emma consented.
They met in a little park nearby. Emma looked dreadful: pale, sunken-eyed, thin. She gazed at Arthurs pram for a long time, hands trembling.
Hes grown, she said softly. Changed so much in two weeks
He doesnt know you yet, Diana said gently.
I know, Emma covered her face. Im not heartless, Diana. I think, deep down, I love him. But the thought of living with John sharing a bed with the man who did that to me I can hardly breathe.
And if not with John? Diana ventured.
What do you mean?
He thinks youre stuck. That you both belong to himchild and all. But lets be honest: hes not a father. Hes a manager of this Perfect Family project. He doesnt get up for Arthur at night, doesnt know how to mix formula. He just wanted an heir, not the work of raising one.
So what are you suggesting?
You go for your assignment, Diana said firmly. Work, gather yourself. Ill stay here for three weeks. In that time, Ill lay the groundwork.
What groundwork?
Divorce. Shared custody. Emma, you dont have to go back. Rent a flat. Ill move in with you, look after Arthur while you work. My finances are picking upfound some freelance work. Well manage, just us.
Emma eyed her warily. Youd go against your brother?
Hes my brother, but he was vile. I wont be an accomplice to his lie. He thinks Im on his side because Ive nowhere else to go. Hes mistaken.
Emma was silent, watching a sunbeam dance across Arthurs pram.
And him? He wont just give up the baby. Therell be a row.
There will, Diana nodded. But we have an acehe confessed to sabotaging your contraception. If that comes up in court, with witnesses Ill back every word. And about his help at home, too. He doesnt want the work, Emma. He just wants someone to control. The moment he realises Arthur takes actual effort, hell back off. Its easier playing the abandoned hero-father for his mates than doing the job.
For the first time in ages, Emma managed a wan smile.
Youve grown up, Diana.
I had to, she sighed. So, agreed?
Yes. Thank you.
The next three weeks flew by.
John grew ever more irritable, starting to notice Diana no longer leapt up with his tea the second he stepped in.
Whens Emma back? he barked one evening, slinging his briefcase onto the settee.
Tomorrow, Diana said flatly, Arthur in her arms.
Thank God. We can go to a proper restaurant at lastsick to death of your pasta. Must buy her flowers or something, so she doesnt grumble. A ring, maybe Women love that stuff.
Diana looked at him, revulsion rising in her throat.
You really think a ring will fix things?
John sidled over, tried to pat her shoulder, but she flinched away.
Honestly, Diana, stop acting the martyr. Itll all settle. Women forgetshout a bit, then settle. The main things doneweve a son, the family goes on.
Diana said nothing.
***
The next morning, Emma arrived while John was at work. She didnt come up, instead waiting outside in the car. Diana had already packed all the babys things, her own bags, and what theyd need to begin again. It took three trips before they were ready. Arthur slept on, peaceful in his carrier.
Diana returned upstairs one last time to leave the flat keys in the kitchenright on the spot where Johns comb had sat three weeks before. She placed a note beside them.
Johnweve gone. Dont look for Emma; shell contact you through her solicitor. Arthur is with her. So am I. You wanted a family, but you forgot family is built on trust, not manipulation. Theres pasta in the fridge. Youll have to manage on your own from now on.
And they left.
Emma found a small, cosy flat across town. The first days were tough: Arthur fussed at the new place, Emma wept often, and Dianas phone never stoppedringing, then erupting with Johns furious messages. He shouted down the line, threatened, cursed, swore to take them to court, to take Arthur, to leave them with nothing.
Diana listened, calm and steady.
They held out.
After a week, John ran out of steam and drifted out of their lives.
The divorce went before the courts. John said nothing about wanting to raise his son alone.
Diana had been right; her brother wanted no more fusshe preferred to be free of his ex-wife for the cost of maintenance. He didnt even push for visits with Arthur.
And so it ended.
