Emily stood in front of the open fridge, her hand pressed to her forehead, eyes narrowed. Yet again, all the food had vanished. Only yesterday she’d filled the shelvesnow, everything was gone.
Talking to her husband, James, was pointless. Every conversation about the disappearing groceries erupted into an argument. It grated on her nerves that hed been at home for two months, job hunting while she slogged away at work, her wages barely covering what kept vanishing from the kitchen. Emily had learned to survive on stale toast and weak, watery tea. She was too drained after long shifts to cook, but James seemed convinced shed come home already fed.
Im heading to Mums tomorrow. Adam needs our help! James bellowed from the living room.
Emily barely registered his wordsshe felt unwell. Waking up feverish and aching the next morning, she decided to stay home. She took some paracetamol and crawled back under the covers.
Later, metallic clattering and the squeak of fridge hinges snapped her awake. The racket shifted to humming, a snatch of a chart-topping tune floating from the kitchen. Emily, still groggy, made her way to the source of the noise.
Standing by the fridge, brazen as anything, was Jamess sister. Emily and her sister-in-law, Claire, had never exactly been close.
Claire had always behaved as though James owed herand her childrena living, not just his own family. Whenever James helped her, their finances took the hit. Now, she rifled through the groceries, stashing them into plastic tubs.
Oh, hello, Emily! Claire said, feigning surprise.
Arent you supposed to be at work? Claire looked suddenly uneasy.
Im ill, Emily replied, voice hoarse. Does James know youre in our flat?
He gave me his key, Claire sniffed.
So its you, not James, whos eating us out of house and home, Emily said, her words clipped. Youve got some nerve.
Hes my brother. I have a right to take food for my kids, Claire retorted.
Well, your brother isnt working and hardly contributes, Emily snapped. I dont fancy supporting two families by myself.
What do you want me to do, Emily? I cant make ends meet. Want me to apologise for a few sausages?
Hand me the keys, or Ill phone the police. Remember, this isnt Jamess flat.
Youre calling the police over cheap sausages? Claire sneered. Fine, take your blessed keys! Ill tell him what a lovely wife hes got.
Hell manage. Hell probably find someone else soon, Emily shot back.
As the door slammed, Emily broke down in tears. All this time, shed been made a fool of. Who would believe her sister-in-law was swiping their food and leaving nothing but bread behind? The bitterest blow was realising James had known, protecting Claire by letting Emily believe in his absurd appetite.
No surprise, reallyhis mother was the same as her children. Family could turn up whenever they fancied and help themselves, never asking, never thanking. Emily stared blankly into the kitchen, her resolve hardening. She rang James and said quietly, Im filing for divorce.
Let me come home, Emily. Lets talk. Please, dont cut me out, James pleaded.
Im done talking, she said flatly. Its all perfectly clear to me now.
Some people never change, she thought bitterly. What a waste of her youthshe should have ended things long ago. In that moment, James was a strangerand she vowed never to let herself be treated like this again.
