His wife had packed her bags and vanished without a trace.
Stop acting like a saint. Shell calm down, youll see. Women always do. Shell scream herself hoarse and then soften up. The important thing is, weve done itweve got a son. The family line continues.
Diana said nothing.
George, Diana leaned forward, lowering her voice to a whisper, last week you told me youd sorted the business with Sophies pregnancy. What did you mean by that?
George set his fork down and leant back in his chair.
Exactly what I said. She kept putting me off for five years, not ready, career comes first, lets wait a bit longer.
But when was later supposed to be? Im thirty-two now, Di. I wanted a son. A proper family, like everyone else.
SoI swapped her pills.
Diana stared in disbelief.
Did you tell her? When?
The day she left, George muttered darkly. She started up, shouting. So I told her, plain and simple: Get used to it, loveyou wanted a child, I just gave you a push.
I thought shed have a rant and get over it. Now shes goneand I mean actually gone. Grabbed her bag, stormed out.
***
On the kitchen table, right next to a pile of unwashed baby bottles, lay her brothers forgotten hairbrush.
Diana couldnt help the flare of irritation she felt. Why did things have to be such a mess?
The baby had finally settled down in the cot in the next room, but even in the silence Diana found no reliefwithin an hour, maybe two at most, the whole cycle would begin again.
She tightened the belt on her dressing gown and turned the kettle on. Just a month ago, she and George had brought Sophie, her sister-in-law, home from the hospital. George had been beaming, fussing, handing enormous bouquets to the nurses; but Sophie
Sophie looked as if she were being marched to the gallows, not going home.
Diana had put it down to exhaustion. First baby, hormones, the lot But perhaps she should have worried then.
The front door slammedher brother was home from work. He walked into the kitchen, loosening his tie, and bee-lined for the fridge.
Anything to eat? he asked, not glancing her way.
Theres pasta in the pot. And I did some sausages.
George, the babys only just gone down. Can you keep the noise down?
George grunted as he fetched a plate.
Im shattered, Di. Been run off my feet. Customersdriving me round the bend.
Hows the little sparrow?
That sparrow is your son, Diana said, setting her mug down, a bit too loudly. His names Arthur.
He screamed for three hours today. Tummy pain.
Youve got it covered, havent you? George shrugged as he sat down to eat. Youre a woman, its in your blood.
Mum looked after both of us on her own when Dad was off on sites.
Diana bit her lip, wanting badly to throw the plate at him.
She was here only temporarily, sorting out debts from her studio, but in just two weeks shed become a full-time nanny, cook, and maid.
And George carried on like nothing had changed. As if it wasnt his wife whod packed up and vanished.
Has Sophie called? Diana asked, watching him wolf down his dinner.
George paused mid-bite, face darkening.
She wont pick up. Hangs up. Stubborn woman. To just leave the babyhow could she?
Shes angry you switched her pills. So she would get pregnant faster.
Youre despicable, George, Diana said quietly.
What?! he shot her a glare. I did it for the family! I work hard, I bring in the money! Shes the one who left the baby. Whos actually to blame?
You took away her choice, Diana stood up. You lied to someone you claimed to love.
What did you expect her to say, Thank you, darling, for turning my life upside down?
Oh, dont start, George waved a hand dismissively. Shell get over it. Where else can she go? Babys here. Her things are here.
Once shes out of money shell crawl back. Meanwhileyoull help out, wont you?
I havent got timequarter-end coming up.
Diana didnt answer. She left the kitchen, making her way into the nursery.
Arthur was sleeping, tiny fists curled tight. As Diana leaned over him, her heart ached.
On the one side, there was this defenceless scrap whod done nothing to deserve it. On the other, there was Sophiecornered, out-manoeuvred.
She pitied them both.
She grabbed her phone and opened her messenger app. Sophie had been online just moments earlier. Diana typed, deleted, and typed again.
Sophie, its Diana. Im not asking you to come back to him. I just want to know youre safe.
Andwell, its hard doing this on my own. Can we talk? No shouting.
The reply came ten minutes later.
Im at a hotel. In three days, Im off on a work trip to Brighton for three weeks.
It was planned ages ago, before Iwell, before. Ill file for divorce when Im back. Im not abandoning Arthur, Diana.
I just cant be there. I cant even look at him right nowhe reminds me of George!
Diana sighed.
I understand. Really, I do. George told me everything.
And how is he? Very pleased with himself?
Something like that. Hes sure youll come back.
Let him dream. If youre completely at the end of your tether let me know. Ill find a way to pay for a nanny, sort something out.
But Im not going back. Not ever.
Diana put down the phone and exhaled slowly. She needed a job, had debts to pay, her own life to piece together.
But she couldnt leave Arthur with George, a man who didnt know one end of a nappy from the other.
***
The next three days blurred into a waking nightmare.
George came home late, ate, collapsed into bed.
Every plea for help with the baby brought, Im tired, or, You know what youre doing better than I do.
One night, after Arthur shrieked for what felt like forever, Diana cracked.
She stormed into Georges room and flicked on the light.
Get up, she ordered, her voice ice-cold.
George squeezed his eyes shut, pulling the pillow over his head.
Di, for goodness sake. Im up at six.
I dont care. Go settle your son. Hes hungry, I cant feed him while my hands are shaking from exhaustion.
Are you mad? George sat up, hair wild, anger in his eyes. Thats what youre here for! Youve got a roof over your head, I pay the bills
Oh, is that it? Diana snapped. So Im your skivvy now?
Call it what you like, he muttered. Once Sophies back, have your rest. Until then, get on with it.
Diana left the room in silence.
She spent the rest of the night pacing the kitchen, rocking the cradle with her foot, plotting how to put her brother in his place. George had gone too far.
The next morning, once George had left, Diana texted Sophie again.
We need to meet. Today. While hes out. Please.
Sophie agreed.
They met in a small park not far from the flat.
Sophie looked terrible: pale, hollow-eyed, thin.
She approached the pram, staring at her son for a long time. Her hands shook.
Hes grown, she whispered. Changed so much in just two weeks
He doesnt even know you yet, Sophie, Diana said gently.
I know, Sophie covered her face. Im not a monster. I supposeI do love him, somewhere deep down I feel it.
But when I imagine living with George, sharing a bed with the man who treated me like thatwho tricked meits suffocating.
What if you didnt have to? asked Diana.
Sophie looked up.
What do you mean?
Hes convinced youll crawl back. He thinks you and the baby are his property.
But lets be honest, Sophie: he doesnt want to be a father, just manager of his perfect family project.
Hes not up with him at night, doesnt know how many scoops of formula to measure out. He just wanted an heir, never cared for the reality of raising one.
So what are you suggesting?
You go on your work trip, said Diana firmly. Work. Take time for yourself.
Ill stay here, three more weeks. In the meantime, Ill lay the groundwork.
What do you mean?
The divorce. Custody. Sophie, you dont have to go back to him. Get a small place. Ill move in with you, help with Arthur while youre working.
My finances are recovering, Ive a couple of freelance jobs lined up. We can manage, just the two of us. Without him.
Sophie stared, uncertain.
Youll stand against your own brother?
Hes my brother, but what he did was disgusting. I wont be part of his lie.
He thinks Im on his side because Ive nowhere else to go. Hes wrong.
Sophie watched the sunlight flicker on the prams hood.
But what about him? He wont just let Arthur go. Therell be hell to pay.
There will, Diana nodded. But weve got a trump card. He confessed to switching your pills. If that comes out in court, with witnessesIll back you to the letter.
And Ill tell them about all the help he never gave on paternity leave.
George doesnt want a son, Sophie, only control.
Once he realises that parenting means real effort, real work, hell back off.
Its easier for him to play the tragic, abandoned father than to do the job for real.
For the first time in ages, Sophie tried a small, uncertain smile.
Youve really grown up, Diana.
I had to. Diana squeezed her shoulder. So, are we agreed?
Yes. Thank you.
The next three weeks sped by.
George grew more irritable, finally noticing that Diana no longer rushed to cater for him the moment he entered.
Whens Sophie back? he grunted one evening, tossing his briefcase onto the sofa.
Tomorrow, Diana answered, holding Arthur close.
Thank God for that. I can finally have a proper mealIm sick of your pasta.
Ill get her a present to butter her up. A ring, maybe. Or earrings. Women love that sort of thing.
Diana regarded him with disgust.
You really think a bit of jewellery will fix this?
Look, George reached out to squeeze her shoulder and she pulled away. Stop acting the saint.
Give it time. Shell scream, shell settle. The point isweve got a son. Family names safe.
Diana gave no answer.
***
The next morning, Sophie returned while George was at work. She didnt set foot upstairs, waiting in her car. Diana had already packed up all of Arthurs things, her own bags, and the essentials.
It took three trips to get everything to the car. Arthur slept peacefully in his seat.
On the last run, Diana returned to leave the key on the kitchen table, exactly where Georges hairbrush had sat for weeks. Next to it, she left a note.
George, weve gone. Dont bother looking for Sophieshell be in touch via a solicitor. Arthurs with her. So am I.
You wanted a family, but forgot families are built on trust, not manipulation.
Theres pasta in the fridge. Youll have to fend for yourself now.
They left.
Sophie rented a small, cosy flat on the other side of town. The first days were hard: Arthur struggled to settle in, Sophie burst into tears randomly, and Dianas phone buzzed with furious calls and messages from her brother.
George fumed over the line, threatened court, swore revenge, promised to cut them off and take Arthur away.
Diana listened in stony silence.
But they endured.
In the end, his tantrum fizzled out and George vanished from their lives.
The divorce went through court, and not once did George say he wanted to raise his son himself.
Diana had been righthe didnt want the hassle; maintenance payments suited him better.
He didnt even fight for visits.
Life, at last, went on.
