She Couldn’t Wait “I’m filing for divorce,” Vera announced calmly as she handed her husband his cup of tea. “In fact, the papers are already in.” She said it as casually as if she were serving up a typical dinner—something like, “we’re having chicken with vegetables tonight.” “If I may ask… Well, not in front of the kids,” Arthur lowered his voice, glancing from one worried child’s face to the other. “Did I do something wrong? And let’s not forget, the children need a father.” “Oh, you think I couldn’t find another one?” Vera rolled her eyes extravagantly, a wry smile spreading across her lips. “What did you do wrong? Everything! I hoped life with you would be like a tranquil lake, not a raging river.” “So, boys, all done eating?” Arthur wasn’t about to carry on this conversation in front of their sons. “Off you go, run along and play. And no eavesdropping!” he called after them, well aware of his lively sons’ habits. “Now, let’s continue.” Vera pursed her lips in frustration. He always manages to play the boss! Pretends he’s Father of the Year… “I’m tired of living like this. I don’t want to spend eight hours at work every day, smile at colleagues, impress clients… I want to sleep until noon, shop at fancy places, get pampered at beauty salons. And you can’t give me that. Enough! I gave you the best ten years of my life…” “Can we skip the drama?” Arthur cut in dryly. “Didn’t you spend all those ten years chasing me for a husband when I wasn’t all that keen to marry?” “Mistakes happen. I’m only human.” The divorce went quickly and quietly. Arthur, albeit reluctantly, agreed to let the boys live with their mother—on the condition that he’d have them every weekend and on holidays. Vera accepted easily. Six months later, Arthur introduced the boys to his new wife. Smiling, sunny Lila won over their hearts, and they couldn’t wait for the weekends—much to their mother’s irritation. What bothered Vera even more was that Arthur had inherited a country estate from a distant uncle, bought a big house outside the city, and was living comfortably. True, he hadn’t quit his job, only paid meagre child support, preferring instead to buy the boys clothes and gadgets himself—and kept a tight rein on those support payments too! Why couldn’t she have held on just six more months? If only Vera had known… She would have played her cards so differently! But maybe it’s not too late for a comeback? ***** “Fancy a cuppa? For old times’ sake?” Vera flashed a playful smile, twirling a loose lock of hair around her finger. Her short dress showed off her figure to perfection and expert makeup knocked years off her face. She’d gone all out—and it showed! “I’m busy,” Arthur replied coldly, barely glancing at his ex. “Are the boys ready?” “They’ve misplaced something, so it’ll be ten minutes or so—I know them well,” Vera replied with a slightly forced optimism, but didn’t give up. “How about we celebrate New Year’s together? Nick and Harry have been dressing the tree all afternoon.” “We already agreed in court—the holidays are mine. And this year, we’ll celebrate in a charming little village—lots of snow, mountains for skiing and snowboarding. Lila’s sorted everything.” “But it’s a family holiday…” “And that’s just what we’ll have—a proper family gathering. If you make a fuss, I’ll fight for sole custody.” As soon as the door closed behind her ex-husband and the elated children, Vera angrily smashed the expensive wedding china. Lila… Always Lila! Why does she have to get involved in everything? Pretends to be delighted to see the boys, but probably counts down the days till they go back. Vera knew better than anyone how unruly her boys could be! But—what an idea. A satisfied smile crept onto Vera’s face. Maybe it’s not all lost. Soon, Arthur’s money could be hers and hers alone… ***** “And what’s all this?” Arthur raised an eyebrow at the sight of suitcases crowding his doorstep. “What do you mean? Nick and Harry’s things,” Vera nudged the heaving suitcase until it wobbled. “I’ve decided—since you’ve sorted out your life, it’s time I did the same. Trouble is, not every man wants another man’s kids, so the boys will live with you now. I’ve informed social services; just need to formalise the paperwork. That’s your job now—I’m off on holiday with a rather promising gentleman.” Leaving a stunned Arthur in her wake, Vera strutted to the waiting car. She wondered how “saintly” Lila would cope. A week? Two? Surely no more than that. And Arthur’s bound to pick his sons over his new wife—and return to her, money in tow. Two weeks passed. Then a month. Then two. No desperate calls from Arthur. According to the boys, Lila hadn’t even raised her voice once! How could that be? Had her two terrors suddenly turned into angels? Impossible! “How are the boys? Not tired of them yet?” Vera finally caved and phoned her ex. “They’re wonderful—well-behaved, helpful, a real credit,” Arthur’s voice softened at the mention of his sons. “Absolute stars!” “Really?” Vera said, taken aback. “They were a nightmare for me…” “That’s because children need attention,” Arthur snorted. “But you were always glued to your phone. Oh, and by the way—we’re moving. If you want, I’ll bring the boys round on the holidays.” “But… they’re my children too!” “You gave up your rights willingly,” Arthur laughed outright. “And you call yourself a mother.” All Vera could do was gnash her teeth. She hadn’t won her husband back—or his wealth. The new boyfriend didn’t last, and now the kids would be far away. Not that she’d miss them much—she’d grown too enamoured of living for herself. So unfair. Ten years of patience, and she’d thrown it all away just six months short of the life she’d dreamed of… Unfair…

Didnt Have the Patience

“Im filing for divorce,” Emma said calmly, handing Tom his mug of tea. “Actually, I already have.”

She spoke with the casualness of discussing the weather or saying, “We’re having roast chicken for supper.”

“May I ask, what on earth Well, maybe not in front of the children, Tom muttered, glancing at their two anxious-faced sons. He lowered his voice, steadying himself. What have I done wrong? Not that I need remind you, boys should have their father around.

Emma rolled her eyes and gave a wry smile. “You think I can’t find them a different father? What did you do wrong? Everything! I thought life with you would be as calm as a still pond, not a raging river!”

“Right, boys, have you finished eating?” Tom didnt want to keep the conversation going before the kids. “Run off and play, and no eavesdropping!” he called after them, knowing perfectly well how curious they were. “Now we can continue.”

Emma pressed her lips together with irritation. Even now, he had to take control! Always acting like Father of the Year…

“Ive had enough. I dont want to spend eight hours a day at the office, smiling at colleagues, pandering to clients I want to lie in bed till noon, shop at fancy boutiques, visit beauty salons. And you cant give me that. Thats enough! I’ve given you the best ten years of my life”

“Can we avoid the melodrama? Tom cut her off dryly. Lets not forget who was so determined to marry me. I wasnt exactly desperate to tie the knot.

“Well, I made a mistake. It happens to everyone.”

The divorce went through quickly and quietly. For the boys sake, Tom reluctantly agreed that they would stay with their mum during the week, but every weekend and all holidays would be with him. Emma gave in without fuss.

Six months later, Tom introduced their sons to his new wife. Smiling and cheerful Lucy instantly won the boys over, so that they eagerly awaited every weekend with their dadmuch to Emmas irritation.

What annoyed her even more was that Tom had inherited a tidy sum from some distant uncle, bought a spacious country house, and was happily settled. Though he kept his job, paid modest child support, and personally saw to every detail of the sons clothing and gadgets. He even micromanaged the support payments!

Why hadnt she waited just half a year more? If only Emma had known how things would work out Shed have played her cards very differently!

Perhaps not all was lost, though?

*****

“How about a cuppa? Just like old times,” Emma purred, coquettishly twirling a strand of her hair round her finger. Her short dress accentuated her figure, and her expert make-up took years off her face. Shed put in a real effort and looked stunning.

“I havent got time,” Tom replied blankly, barely glancing at his ex-wife. “Are the lads ready?”

“They cant find something or other, so theyll be a good ten minutes yet, I expect,” Emma said with a sigh, but she wasnt about to give up. “Maybe we could see in New Years together? Sam and Harry decorated the tree all afternoon.”

“We already settled at the hearingholidays are mine. And well be celebrating in a lovely little village, loads of snow, perfect for skiing and snowboarding. Lucys sorted it all.”

“But its a family holiday”

“Exactly. We’ll be together, as a family. Kick up a fuss, and Ill fight for full custody.”

The moment Tom and the boys left, Emma smashed her expensive wedding china in a fit of rage. Lucy… always that Lucy! Forever muscling in, pretending to be delighted to see the boys, when she was almost certainly just counting the days till they went home. Emma knew best how mischievous and demanding her sons really were.

Though, perhaps perhaps thats the idea. Emma smiled slyly. Maybe all Tom’s cash could soon be hers alone…

*****

“Whats this, then?” Tom raised an eyebrow at the suitcases lined up by the door.

“What do you think? Everything theyll needSams and Harrys,” Emma nudged the bulging cases and they wobbled. “Since youve got your life sorted, Im ready to sort mine. But you know how it issingle men arent keen on bringing up someone elses children. So, from now on, the boys will live with you. Told the authorities already; just some paperwork left to finish up. You can sort it, Im off on holiday with a rather promising chap.”

Tom stood in stunned silence as Emma made her exit, heading slowly to the waiting taxi. She wondered just how long sweet Lucy would keep her patienceone week? Two? Two, most likely. Tom would never choose his new wife over his boys. Hed come crawling back. And with all his cash, too…

Two weeks passed. Then a month. Two. Still no phone call demanding he take the boys back. From what the boys said, Lucy had never even raised her voice! How? How had her little terrors turned into little angels? Impossible.

“And? How are the boys? Worn out with them yet?” Emma finally gave in and called.

“Theyre brilliant. No trouble at all. Polite, helpfulabsolute stars,” Tom said warmly, his voice lighting up at the mention of them.

“Really?” Emma was genuinely surprised. “They were always a handful for me”

“Thats because kids need attention,” Tom replied scornfully. “You were always glued to your phone. Anyway, just so you know, were moving. If you want, Ill bring the boys round in the holidays.”

“But theyre my boys too!”

“And yet you willingly gave up all your rights,” Tom laughed. “Some mum you are.”

Emma could only grit her teeth in frustration. She hadnt won Tom back, nor his money; things fizzled with her new man tooand now the boys would be even farther away. Not that she really missed them; shed grown fond of all her free time, devoted entirely to herself.

What a rotten turn, she thought. To stick it out for ten years and stumble just six months short of a comfortable life…

Life, however, tends to reward those who show patience and value what they havesomething Emma realised too late.