Stephen thinks I have no clue about his second family, and he is taken aback when I turn up at his daughters graduation ceremony.
What? Are you kidding? Thats yesterdays loaf! a woman in a blue puffer coat points at a baguette on the shop shelf.
The tired shop assistant, eyes dim, sighs:
Maam, its fresh bread. We got it this morning.
Dont give me the runaround! I can see the crust is dry!
Emma stands in line behind the annoyed shopper, thinking about her own agenda. She has a long list: groceries, a drycleaning dropoff, and to collect a darkblue, formal dress she ordered for the day after tomorrows graduation.
Not for her own childEmma has none. Its the graduation of Stephens daughter from another relationship.
Miss, would you like anything else? the assistant asks Emma, waiting.
Yes, sorry. Just these buns and a pint of milk, please.
She pays, steps out into a drizzle of grey, fine rain. Pulling her umbrella, she heads for the bus stop. In her bag she carries a folded note with the schools address, a little talisman she memorised but still likes to have on hand.
She learned about Stephens other family by accident, though suspicions had floated for years. Small, elusive hints: Stephen often stayed late at work, disappeared on business trips, left his phone at home and grew nervous when Emma inadvertently picked it up. She chalked it up to his demanding job as a successful architect, juggling big projects and endless meetings. Emma never wanted to be the wife who staged scenes or rummaged through pockets.
Six months ago everything shifts. Stephen forgets a folder of documents at home, calls Emma and asks her to bring it. He gives an address on the other side of townunusual, since his office is usually in the city centre. Emma drives there, a typical ninestorey council block. She rings the bell, tells Stephen shes arrived. He appears a minute later, looking bewildered, even frightened. He snatches the folder, thanks her hurriedly, and tries to usher her to his car.
From a secondfloor window she spots a woman looking down at them. The womans face is pale, tense, and strikingly young.
Stephen, whos that? Emma asks, pointing at the window.
Stephen doesnt even turn.
Who? I dont know. Lets go, Ive got another meeting.
He rushes off, and Emma drives home, the image of the woman lingering in her mind.
That night, while Stephen sleeps, Emma grabs his phone. She knows the passcodehis wedding date. Hes never changed it. She scrolls through messages, finds a contact named Lucy. The conversation is deleted, but the last line flickers: Alice is worried you wont make it to the parentteacher meeting.
Alice. Emmas breath catches. Stephen has a daughter named Alice, and a partner named Lucy. She puts the phone back, lies down, and stares at the ceiling until dawn, wondering what to do.
In the morning she makes breakfast. Stephen appears in the kitchen, still in his robe, hair rumpled, kisses her on the crown and sits down.
Howd you sleep? he asks.
Fine, Emma replies, lying. She stays silent, watching him go about his usual routine: coming home in the evenings, talking about work, watching television, sometimes disappearing on weekend trips for business. She quietly gathers information, finding Lucys social profileblonde, attractive, with pictures of a teenage girl, Alice, who looks just like Stephen: the same grey eyes, the same stubborn chin.
Emma feels a strange mix of pain and curiosity as she looks at the photos. Alice must be about fifteen, maybe sixteen. That means Stephen has been keeping a second family almost from the start of their eighteenyear marriage. He lives a double life, visiting Lucy and Alice, helping them, sharing holidays.
Emma continues to monitor Lucys posts. Lucy shares occasional pictures: Alice on the first day of school, at her birthday, with a trophy for an academic competition. Recently Lucy posted: My girl finishes school! Graduation tomorrow! So proud!
Emma reads it again. Graduation. Alice is seventeen, about to finish school. Stephen will surely attend. How can she miss such an event?
She decides she will go too, to the graduation of Stephens daughter, to look him in the eye and let him know the secret is out.
That evening at dinner Stephen says, Ill be late the day after tomorrow. I have an important client meeting, might have to stay overnight at a hotel.
Emma nods. Alright. Dont worry.
Stephen gives her a grateful look, thinking she believes him. Emma finishes her salad, stands to clear the plates. Stephen wraps his arms around her from behind.
Youre the most understanding wife in the world.
She says nothing, just feels his hands on her waist and thinks everything is finally changing, forever.
On graduation day Emma starts with a trip to the hairdresser, gets a tidy blowdry and light makeup. She slips into the blue dress, heels, and looks at herself in the mirror. Fortytwo, not young but still presentable. Grey hair hidden under the dye, wrinkles softened with foundation. She picks up a bouquet of white roses she bought earlier for the graduate. She hails a taxi, gives the driver the schools address, and rehearses what shell say to Stephen, to Lucy, to Alice.
She arrives at the school at half past six. The ceremony starts at seven. Parents crowd the entrance, some snapping photos, some smoking at the side. Emma stands a short distance away, scanning the crowd.
Then she sees him: Stephen standing by the entrance with Lucy, who wears a light dress and loose hair, looking ten years younger than Emma. Stephen chats, smiles, adjusts Lucys collar. They look like a couple, a husband and wife at their daughters graduation.
Emma steps forward, then another step. Stephen turns, eyes meeting hers. At first his gaze slides past her, then freezes. His face turns pale, eyes widen.
Emma? he breathes.
Lucy looks up, sees Emma, and steps back a pace.
Emma moves closer, stops a few metres away, and smiles.
Hello, Stephen. Fancy meeting you here.
What what are you doing here? his voice trembles.
I came to congratulate your daughter on her graduation. Its a big occasion, isnt it? You cant miss it.
Stephen opens his mouth, then closes it, at a loss for words. Lucy stands frozen, pale.
Youre Lucy, right? Emma turns to her. Nice to meet you. Im Emma, Stephens wife.
I I know, Lucy replies quietly.
So you know. I didnt know about you until recently. Stephen has been hiding this.
Emma, please, not here, Stephen tries to take her hand, but she pulls back.
Why not here? This seems the right place. Youre a family, arent you? You raised Alice together. I just wanted to meet you, see who she is.
A tall, slender girl in a white dress steps out of the school. Her hair is pinned up, a strand of pearls at her throat. Alice. She spots her parents, runs to them, shouting, Mum, dad, youre here! I was so nervous!
She embraces Lucy first, then Stephen. Stephen holds his daughter, but his eyes keep darting to Emma, pleading. Alice looks at Emma curiously.
Whos this? she asks.
Lucy and Stephen are silent. Emma smiles at the girl.
Hi, Alice. Im Emma. Congratulations on finishing school. Here, take these. She hands over the roses.
Alice looks puzzled, then at her parents.
Thanks Are you a friend of Mums?
No, Emma shakes her head. Im your fathers wife.
A hush falls. Alice glances between Emma and Stephen. Lucy covers her face with her hands. Stephen stands like a statue.
What? Alice whispers.
Your dad is married to me. Eighteen years. I only just found out about you and your mum, but I came to see you. Youre a beautiful girl, you look just like him.
Alice drops the bouquet, turns to Stephen.
Dad, is that true?
Stephen stays silent. Lucy sobs. People around start to turn, whisper, stare.
Alice! she cries, voice rising. Is it true? You have a wife?!
Sweetheart, I its complicated, Stephen starts, but Alice cuts him off:
Complicated?! Youve been lying to me my whole life! You said Mum was everything, that we were a family! And you have another family too?!
Darling, I never wanted to hurt you
Never wanted?! And now what? Im standing here at my graduation, learning my father is a liar and a cheat?!
Lucy tries to hug Alice, but she steps away.
Mum, did you know? Alice asks.
Lucy nods, tears streaming.
Yes. Since the start. He promised hed leave, but never did.
Alice looks at her mother with disgust, then at Stephen, then at Emma.
What are you doing here? To get revenge? To ruin my day?
Emma shakes her head.
No, Alice. I came to find the truth. To see it with my own eyes. And I feel sorry for you. Youre not to blame for being born into this mess. But you should know who your real father is.
Stephen steps forward.
Emma, enough! Everyone knows! Just leave!
Ill leave, Emma says calmly. I wasnt planning to stay. I just wanted to look, and to tell you, Stephen, that Im filing for divorce. Tomorrow Ill collect my things from the flat. Live how you like, with Lucy, without me. Its over.
She turns and walks out. Stephen calls after her, but she doesnt look back. She walks straight past the school gates, stops the taxi, pulls a handkerchief from her bag and wipes away tearsnot from pain, but from relief. The lie, the deception, finally ends. She feels free.
The driver glances in the rearview mirror.
Are you alright?
No, Emma smiles. Im great. For the first time in years, I feel great.
Back home she changes, sits at the kitchen table, makes tea, watches the rain outside. Her phone buzzesStephens name appears. She lets it ring. He sends apologies, asks to meet, to talk. She doesnt reply.
In the morning she packs a few belongingsclothes, documents, photos. The rest she leaves. The flat was bought with Stephens money; he can keep it, live with Lucy, or alone.
Emma moves in with her friend, Claire, who greets her with open arms.
Emma, youre amazing! It takes courage to show up at that graduation!
I just wanted to see his face when he realised I knew, Emma shrugs. And you know, Claire, it was worth it.
And now? Claire asks.
Now Im divorced. A new life. Im fortytwo, not an old lady. Ill live for myself.
Claire hugs her.
Youll manage. Im sure of it.
Months pass. The divorce finalises quickly; Stephen doesnt contest, perhaps feeling guilty or simply wanting to close the chapter. Emma gets a new job, rents a flat, starts yoga, enrolls in a language classshe finally lives for herself.
One day she bumps into Lucy at a supermarket. Lucy stops, looks pale.
Lucy, wait.
Lucy turns, face tense.
I have nothing to say to you.
I do have something. Hows Alice?
Lucy sighs.
Shes heading to university, studying medicine. She wants to be a doctor.
Good for her. And hows she with her father?
Lucy lowers her eyes.
She doesnt talk to him. After the graduation incident she met him once, said she didnt want to see him. He keeps calling, showing up, but she never answers.
Emma nods, feeling sympathy for both Lucy and Alice, victims of Stephens deceit.
Im not angry with you, Lucy. You also hoped hed leave, didnt you?
Lucy looks up, tears glittering.
Yes. Seventeen years I waited. He kept promising, just a little longer. I was foolish to believe him.
We were both fools, Emma says sadly. We trusted a man who didnt deserve it.
Where is he now? Lucy asks quietly.
I dont know. We havent spoken since the divorce. He probably lives in that flat, alone.
Lucy nods.
I havent spoken to him either. After everything he called, begged for forgiveness, but I cant. Alice is right.
The two women sit in silence, then Emma adds,
Hang in there. Youre still young. Things will get better.
You too, Lucy replies.
They part, two women broken by the same man, each rebuilding their lives.
Emma walks home, thinking about Stephen. Where is he now? What is he thinking? Does he regret? Probably not. Men like him dont feel remorse; they just look for the next victim. He wont deceive anyone elseat least not Emma or Lucy.
A year later Emma meets a man, Andrew, kind and honest, with no hidden lives. They date slowly, getting to know each other, Emma cautious not to rush. Andrew is patient, waiting until shes ready, and gradually Emma thaws, beginning to trust that a different kind of life is possible.
One afternoon they stroll through a park and Andrew asks,
Emma, do you regret going to that graduation?
She thinks.
No. I did what I had to. I exposed the lie. It hurt everyone, but it was the truth.
Many would have stayed quiet, slipped away.
I wasnt many. I wanted him to know I wasnt a fool. I understood everything and I wont forgive him.
Andrew embraces her.
Youre strong. I admire you.
Emma leans into him, feeling warmth and peace for the first time in years.
She forgives Stephen, not for his sake but for herself, to let go of the weight on her heart. He chose his double life, cheating two women and raising a daughter in deceit. Now hes alone, without Emma, without Lucy, without Alice.
Emma moves forward with a new, honest life, with someone she can trust. The graduation moment was the turning pointan ending and a beginning. Painful, frightening, but necessary.
Sometimes you must walk through hurt to be free, to uncover truth, to lose so you can find. Emma discovered herself, her life, her happiness, and she would never return to the blind, cheated wife she once was.
Now she sees clearly, walks forward, never looking back.
