I send my husband to a colleague for a quick fix and instantly regret it.
I’m never going back to Lucy again! Let the council housing office order a tradesperson!
What happened? Emily asks, puzzled. Something wrong?
Everythings wrong! David turns red. She well, you know
What is it? Emily cries, as David cant finish his sentence.
Why didnt you bring your husband? asks Mrs. Thompson. The fee covers two people.
No problem, Im not on a diet, Emily smiles. I can afford it!
I dont mean that, Mrs. Thompson says over her glasses. We expected families, not singles!
Emilys hiding her husband from us! Claire interjects with a smirk.
Nothing like that, Emily replies. Hes just ill!
Celebrating Christmas early? Claire jokes. Wed have given him a ton of gingerbread, hed be fine by now!
Yeah, or youd end up a widow, Sarah shakes her head.
Wed have knocked him out! Claire waves it away. Weve got such a garden here, anyone could spring back to life!
And then start dancing! Sarah grins.
Emily, could it be you dont have a husband at all? Claire teases. Maybe youre keeping us away from your older suitors because you wear a ring?
Well find you a proper bloke straight away! If its for health, just give us a call!
I do have a husband, Emily answers flatly.
Yes, yes! Sarah confirms. She brought me a marriage certificate from HR. David Thompson, if memory serves.
Emily, arent you keeping your husband from us? Claire asks, suspicious. It feels odd!
Two months ago we had a team outing, and you only came with your son! Now its a corporate party and youre all alone! He doesnt pick you up from work, doesnt even say goodbye!
He works, Emily says succinctly.
All right, why are you all on Emilys case? Mrs. Thompson waves her hands. She has a husband! Shes happy! No ones asking you to meddle!
Mrs. Thompson is the chief accountant and represents management at the corporate event. Theres also a boss who, as promised, has disappeared into his own pursuits, arriving already ambiguous.
When the second toast comes around, hes already ready to dance!
I think Emily is hiding her husband from us, Rebecca says thoughtfully. We work together, so were closer, friendlike. Ive even been at her house!
Exactly! Claire says, eyes on the colleague.
So? Emily asks.
Well, Rebecca pretends to ponder, how many times have I visited Emilys place and never seen her husband? I could swear hes been home at least twice!
Hes either in the bathroom or on the balcony! Emily replies. He never meddles in my affairs!
The explanation sounds reasonable and would satisfy everyone, but Emilys voice trembles so nervously that the table suspects a trick.
Lying, Emily, is unbecoming, says Sarah. She, as head of HR, spots falsehoods instantly.
Good heavens! Emily exclaims. Why would he give himself up to you?
We just want to know the man! What kind of husband and father is he? Maybe we need to discipline him or give him a bit of guidance!
We could all help mould David Thompson!
No need to mould him, Emily snaps. I can handle him myself!
At least tell us what hes like! Claire asks. Youve only been with the company six months, and we know almost nothing about you!
David is a typical bloke, average, works a steady job, Emily shrugs. Plenty of men like that out there!
Youre hiding! Sarah smiles cunningly. You dont trust us, so youve locked your husband away from us, your friends, your colleagues! Not good, Emily! Not good!
What if I have solid reasons? Emily questions.
Share them and well judge how solid they are! Claire leans in.
Right, Emily, Mrs. Thompson supports. While our boss fumbles through another pause, the rest of the programme stays on hold. Well just pass the time with a little drama!
Not much of interest, Emily says uncertainly.
Then well listen! Claire encourages, cheering Emily on.
***
Emilys past life, which she labels before the move, took place in a small town about two thousand miles away in the north of England. All the major events of her life happened there, and the new life shes building now is calm, quiet, and orderly. The lessons she learned back then let her enjoy peaceful happiness here.
The past, however, cannot be called peaceful, especially the ending, but thats a story for later.
She met David at work after leaving college. He was a bit older and senior on the staff roster, but that didnt stop a workplace romance from sparking, which later turned into a solid marriage. The team celebrated the new couple, though the joy felt a little skewed.
The factory where their new family began is dominated by women; men are a scarce commodity, especially the pipefitting engineers like David. Naturally, many coworkers drool over him. About twenty men in the office flirt with him, and in the workshop, he gets attention from every corner.
When David becomes official husband, the female staff suddenly act as if theyve all eaten lemons. They begin to resent Emily, believing she stole a prime candidate for husbandhood. Yet they understand only Emily could choose David, and theyre furious that an older pool of suitors was taken away. Those who had been eyeing David long before Emily arrived cant accept that he chose the newcomer.
When David is finally married, people assume any pursuit of him will cease. The candidate pool disappears, but the disgruntled workforce refuses to calm down. Their pressure on David continues, just more subtly.
Does Emily cook well? Does she keep the house tidy? Does she refuse anything in that department? someone teases. Im great at cooking and keep a spotless home, and Im ready for anything!
Its a joke, but theres so much truth that laughter feels forced.
When Emily and David have a son, another wave of lemon competition erupts. The most persistent rivals cant accept that David isnt theirs, even now. Some even suggest he should become single again for potential suitors.
All these opinions stay hushhush, and Emilys smile attracts even more acquaintances. Being friends with her seems advantageous.
Before maternity leave, Emily is already a team leader; shes studying for a degree parttime, and after the baby she becomes a supervisor. A couple of years later shes appointed deputy foreman.
Being friends with her is useful, yet the hatred never fully disappears a strange mix. The aim to split her from David stays alive.
The most aggressive of the rivalries comes from Lucy. Shes a senior technician, like Emily, and climbed up from the shop floor. Lucy tries hard to befriend Emily, but Emily, trusting no betrayal, keeps the friendship open and honest. She helps Lucy whenever she can chipping in money, sharing knowledge, even sending her husband on minor repair jobs at Lucys house.
One incident makes Emily wary. David returns from Lucys flat, having replaced a socket, looking flustered. He paces, then blurts out:
Im never going back to Lucy! Let the council housing office send a tradesperson!
What happened? Emily asks, confused. Something wrong?
Everythings wrong! Davids cheeks flush. She well, you know
What is it? Emily says, as David cant finish.
She was pushing me, thats it! She lunged at me! I barely got away!
Youre kidding? Emily gasps.
I swear on my sons health! David shivers. She met me in a robe, I thought we were at home. Then she threw herself at me! I dodged! She clung like a leech! I got bruises on my shoulder! He swallows. Bottom line, I wont go back!
Lucy doesnt know David has confided everything to his wife. So the next day, when Emily arrives at work, gossip circulates that David and Lucy spent an unforgettable evening together. Lucy even shows a rippedoff piece of his shirt as proof.
Lucy isolates Emily in the staff bathroom, where Emily plainly warns her that if she keeps spreading false rumors, there will be consequences. Lucy takes a harsh reprimand, and Emily thinks that will end it.
It doesnt.
The company throws a big endofyear party. Everyone brings their partners. Emily arrives with David, and many colleagues bring their significant others. The banquet is a mountain of food, the fun is unrestrained. Emily notices David is missing from the crowd of men. She steps away for a quick bathroom break.
Searching for him drags on. The venue is massive, with countless rooms, dark corridors, and oddly overturned chairs. After half an hour of frantic wandering, she finally spots him.
Three of Davids coworkers have surrounded him, halfundressing him in a mockstriptease. David doesnt even try to resist. Emily storms in, pulling the men by their hair. Theyre also halfnaked, but she gives them a good thrashing, sending them out of the room.
She rushes to David, who looks totally out of it. He isnt abusing anyone, but his eyes are glazed, his tongue lolls. Emily tries to bring him back to his senses, maybe fetch a glass of water, but she sees a camera on a tripod.
Two and two make a nasty sum. The three men, Lucy and her two pals from the planning team, are ready to film a movie. If Emily had watched the footage, she would have known exactly what her husband looked like and would have thrown him out of her life. Who could ever forgive such betrayal?
After the holidays, Emily and David hand in their resignation letters. Revenge feels too petty; writing the letters during a coldhearted break is already too late. Everything about Davids situation has blown over, so leaving seems easier.
The worst part is that Lucy and the two women from the planning team were Emilys friends.
Never have friends like that! Emily concludes.
Later, after a long talk with David, they decide Emily will simply stop introducing him to any friends or colleagues.
If they dont see him, they wont meddle, David says. If they visit, Ill either run away or stay hidden.
I wont show him to anyone. I dont need that. I have a beloved wife, a adored son, and thats enough!
In the new town, with a fresh start, Emily completely separates her private life from work. No colleague or friend knows about her husband, and the gossip dies out.
***
What a prudent precaution! Mrs. Thompson says admiringly. Such cold calculation, such measured decision! If no one knows about the husband, no one will try to take him!
Indeed, Claire sighs. Look at Natashas case! Her husband vanished too, taken away by her best mate! And then theres Hannah from marketing, two kids, also a close friend! It looks like its better not to have friends at all!
I thought the same, Emily admits. But new city, new people. We have to interact somehow.
David proposes that nobody should know about him. Husband and husband, all that. Who, what, which doesnt matter.
Its actually interesting, Rebecca says. But I wont put myself in that position!
No, dont put yourselves out there! Mrs. Thompson advises with a smirk. The less your friends know about your man, the less chance theyll whisk him away!
