The key clicked in the lock, and Emily, careful not to make a sound, slipped into the flat. The hallway was dark, save for a sliver of light seeping from the kitchen. Her parents were still up, though it was past midnight. Lately, this had become the normlong, hushed conversations behind closed doors, sometimes rising to muffled arguments.
Emily kicked off her heels, set her laptop bag on the side table, and tiptoed down the corridor to her room. She wasnt in the mood to explain why she was late, even though she had a good reasonher work project was behind schedule, and deadlines were looming.
Through the wall, she caught the murmur of voices.
“No, James, I cant keep doing this,” Mum said quietly, though irritation laced her tone. “You promised last month.”
“Alice, pleasenows not the right time,” Dad replied, sounding defensive.
Emily sighed. Lately, her parents had been arguing constantly, putting on a front when she was around. They were in their fifties, and she was long grown, but it still stung to realise something was wrong between them.
She undressed, washed up, and slipped under the covers, but sleep wouldnt come. Her thoughts circled the same questions. Her brother, Tom, lived in another city and rarely visited. If her parents splitwho would stay with whom? What about the flat? And why were they hiding their problems?
The voices next door didnt stop. Emily reached for her nightstand, fumbling for her headphones to drown out the secrets with music. Her hand knocked against her phone, sending it tumbling to the carpet. As she picked it up, she accidentally opened the voice recorder app. Her finger hovered over the screen.
What if she recorded them? Just to find out what was really going on, instead of guessing. If she asked outright, theyd brush her off, say everything was fine.
A pang of guilt shot through her. Eavesdropping was wrong, especially recording. But then again, they were her parents. Didnt she have a right to know if something serious was happening?
Steeling herself, she hit record, placed the phone closer to the wall, and pulled the duvet over her head.
The next morning, as she got ready for work, she noticed how tired her parents looked. Over breakfast, they exchanged only polite, empty words.
“You came in late last night,” Mum remarked, pouring tea. “Work again?”
“Yeah, finishing up the project,” Emily nodded. “Why were you up?”
“Oh, just watching a film,” Mum waved her off, not meeting her eyes.
Dad buried himself in the newspaper, pretending to be engrossed.
“Dont wait up for me tonight,” he said without looking up. “Client negotiationsmight run late.”
Mum pressed her lips together but stayed silent.
All through her commute, Emily fought the urge to listen to the recording. The Tube was too crowded, and it felt too shameful. Shed wait until evening.
The day dragged. When she finally got home, Mum was outa note said shed gone to a friends and would be back late. Dad, true to his word, was still at work. Perfect timing.
Curling up on the sofa, blanket wrapped around her, she hit play.
At first, only fragments came through, then the voices sharpened.
“should we tell Emily?” Dad sounded uneasy.
“I dont know,” Mum sighed. “What if she doesnt understand? Its been so long.”
“But she deserves to know.”
“Of course she does, but how do we explain why we kept it secret?”
Emily froze. What were they talking about? What truth had they hidden?
“Remember how it started?” Dad asked suddenly, a smile in his voice.
“Like it was yesterday,” Mum chuckled. “I thought itd be temporary. Insteadits been our whole lives.”
“And what a life,” Dad huffed. “Though it hasnt always been easy.”
“Especially after Emily came along.”
Her heart clenched. What did that mean? Had she been unwanted? Or was it something else?
“But we managed,” Dad continued. “And she turned out brilliant.”
“She did,” Mums voice brimmed with pride, and Emily relaxed slightly. “But now we have to decide whats next. Im tired of this double life, James.”
Double life? Emilys stomach twisted. Was one of them having an affair? Or both? The thought made her nauseous.
“Alice, lets at least wait till Tom visits. Well talk as a family.”
“Fine,” Mum agreed. “But no more delays after that. Either we change things, or I dont know what.”
The recording cut offeither theyd left the kitchen or the phone had stopped.
Emily sat stunned. What was happening to her family? What double life? Why wait for Tom to explain?
A thousand questions, no answers. Record them again? But that felt too far. She should just call Tom. Or Aunt Margaret, Mums sistershed always been straight with her.
Decision made: shed ring Tom tomorrow, visit Aunt Margaret this weekend.
Tom didnt answer all day, finally calling back that evening.
“Em, hey! Sorry, was on-site, left my phone in the van,” he said, cheerful as ever.
“Tom, when are you visiting?” she cut to the chase.
“This weekend, why?”
“Parents are acting weird. Whispering, pretending everythings fine. Mentioned a double life.”
A pause.
“Tom?”
“Yeah, Im here,” he cleared his throat. “Look, dont overthink it. People have secrets, even parents.”
“So you know?”
“I have an idea,” he hesitated. “But if theyre not ready to talk, we should wait. Saturday, alright? Well sort it then.”
“Fine,” she mumbled. “What about Aunt Margaret?”
“Dont,” he said too quickly. “Keep her out of it. Lets handle this ourselves.”
After hanging up, her unease grew. So Tom knew something. And he wanted to keep Aunt Margaret away. Was it really an affair? A family scandal they didnt want spreading?
That evening, Mum returned from her friends in high spirits, cheeks flushed.
“Guess what? Lucys selling her flat!” she announced. “Moving to the countrysidesays shes sick of the city noise.”
Emily nodded, unsure how to respond.
“Would you ever want to live in the country?” she blurted.
Mum stilled, then answered carefully,
“Sometimes, yes. The quiet, fresh air, a garden”
“And Dad?”
“What about him?”
“Would he want to?”
“Ask him yourself,” Mums tone turned serious. “Hell be late tonight. Dont wait up.”
Luckily, Dad came home earlier than expected. Emily was making tea when she heard the front door.
“Dad, want some?” she called.
“Please,” he replied, appearing in the kitchen, loosening his tie. “Wheres Mum?”
“Watching a film,” she handed him a mug. “How was work?”
“Fine,” he slumped into a chair. “Client agreed to our terms. Projects a go.”
“Thats great,” she said. “Hey is it true you and Mum have something to tell me?”
He stiffened. “Whered you get that?”
“Tom let it slip,” she lied, avoiding his gaze. “Said youd explain when he visits.”
James rubbed his forehead.
“Right. But lets wait for Tom, alright? Its better that way.”
“Is it bad?” she pressed. “Are you two splitting up?”
“What? No!” he looked genuinely shocked. “Whered that come from?”
“Youre always whispering, arguing. Mum mentioned a double life.”
His face shiftedconfusion, then realisation, then relief?
“Em, youve got it wrong,” he sighed. “No ones splitting. Quite the opposite” He stopped himself. “Just wait till the weekend, okay? Promise, its nothing bad.”
“Sure?”
“Positive,” he squeezed her hand. “Now, lets have this tea before its cold.”
That night, sleep eluded her. She pieced together fragmentsphrases, tones, silences. If not divorce, then what? Illness? Money troubles? Moving? The last thought unsettled her. Shed just started building her career, made friendsshe loved London.
Something didnt add up. Why had Dad said “quite the opposite”? Opposite of divorce was marriage? But theyd been married thirty years. Renewing vows? A second honeymoon?
A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.
“Still awake?” Mum peered in.
“No,” Emily propped herself up. “You?”
“Just thinking,” Mum sat on the beds edge. “What did you and Dad talk about?”
“Nothing much,” she shrugged. “Work, Tom. Hes coming this weekend.”
“I know,” Mum nodded. “He called
