A Mysterious Message on Her Husbands Phone
The morning at Emily and Jamess home starts in a whirlwind of chaos. Both of them have overslept, missing the repetitive chirp of the alarm clock, and now are dashing around their flat with half-zipped jackets and mismatched shoes, trying to get themselves ready for work and get their son, Lucas, sorted for nursery.
James! Youll pick up Lucas today, wont you? Emily shouts from the bedroom, squeezing into her trousers while hurriedly stuffing nursery things into a backpack.
Yes! Where are my keys? Jamess voice booms from the hallway.
No idea! Emily tosses back in obvious frustration as she scrambles for her mobile. At last, she grabs one off the bedside table and rushes to get Lucas dresseda battle in itself, since hes too busy lining up toy cars on the rug to notice the anarchy around him.
They reach the nursery in less than five minutesa minor miracle. Emily kneels to help Lucas with his coat, struggling furiously with a jammed zip. Suddenly, she realises her son is on the verge of tears.
Mummy, I dont want to go to nursery Lucas snivels, screwing up his little face and clenching his fists.
Sweetheart, come on now, were already late, Emily tries to keep her voice level, though something trembles beneath her calm. She strokes his blond hair, crouching to meet his eyes. Youll have lots of fun, promise. All your friends are waitingtherell be games, stories
But her attempts to reassure him fall flat; Lucas stubbornly stands his ground, more anxious by the second. A gentle voice interrupts them as Mrs Thompson, his keyworker, appears in the doorway.
Dont worry, Emily, well take care of him. Lucas, come alongeveryones waiting for you.
Emily lets out a sigh of relief, but her anxiety is quickly replaced by a new wave of stress.
Im so late This is a nightmare, she mutters to herself, glancing at her watch. She strides to the exit, fishing for her mobile to call her client and explain the delay. But as she rummages through her bag, panic sets inher phone looks unfamiliar. In their mad rush, she and James have switched cases again. Stupid his-and-hers phone cases, identical phones, same PIN codes.
Oh, brilliant she grumbles aloud, racking her brains for her clients number. Shell have to call Jamess phone and request him to text the right contact across.
Before she can figure out what to do next, the phone vibrates in her hand. A message lights up the screen:
Dave: How did it go with the girl from the gym? Did you get her number?
Emily freezes. She reads the message, then blinks, reading it again just to be sure. Something icy slips into her veins as she opens the conversation and begins scrolling.
Dave: So, did you manage to get in with her?
James: Yeah, got her number. Weve said this weekend. At mine.
Emilys heartbeat stutters. This weekend? Wasnt she supposed to take Lucas to her mums on Saturday and spend the night?
She whispers, No no, please no. The floor seems to fall away beneath her feet. Stupid matching cases, she thinks.
It takes everything Emily has to act normal. Every day, every glance at James feels like an ordeal. There are three days left till the weekend, but already she is lost in a swirl of suspicion and heartache, quietly torturing herself with What if I got it wrong? Maybe he meant something else. But every time she looks at him, she hears his words from that messagethis weekend. At mine.
James, for his part, behaves as if nothings awryattentive as always, chatting over dinner, helping put Lucas to bed, even asking about her day. Emily searches his gaze for guilt or remorse, but findsnothing. The emptiness terrifies her.
Wednesday evening, they watch a film together. As James drapes an arm across her shoulders like hes always done, Emily has to bite her lip so she doesnt burst into tears. His embrace once made her feel safenow it feels brittle, as though hes hiding something she cant bring herself to name.
On Friday night, with Lucas finally asleep, Emily stands at the kitchen sink, trailing her hand under the running water. James comes up behind, hugs her gently and whispers,
You seem a bit down. Are you alright?
Emily stiffens, anxiety rising.
Just tired, thats all, she manages, forcing a faint smile.
He plants a kiss on the top of her head. I understand.
Later, as James sleeps, Emily slips out to the bathroom and locks the door. The steady rush of the tap covers her quiet sobbing as weeks of worry spill over.
Why? she murmurs between tears, Why are you doing this?
Round and round the same thoughts chase each other in her headHow could he? Should I say something, or should I just leave? Pain swells in her chest, flaring between fear and grief, until shes forced to remind herself: by morning she needs to be calm again. Soon everything will be revealed.
Saturday morning, Emily drops Lucas off at her mums. Even a simple goodbye feels heavy.
Emily, dear, is everything alright? her mum asks, her brow furrowing in concern.
Emily manages a brittle smile. Im fine, honestly. Just rushing offthought Id surprise James. Giving Lucas a quick kiss, she hurries to her car.
All the way home, Emilys thoughts spiral. What if hes only meeting his friend? Maybe I misunderstood Or what if she doesnt turn up? Her need to catch James in the act contends with a frantic hope that shes mistaken, desperately wishing she could turn back time.
Back outside her flat, she sits in her car, unwilling to move. Images of laughter in their kitchen, family days in the park, evenings together on the sofa flicker through her mind. This tiny pause, this quiet moment, feels like clinging to a happiness that might be about to fracture forever.
Eventually, summoning her courage, Emily goes upstairs. She stands for a long time with the key poised, hands shaking, then slowly unlocks the door as if bracing herself for another world. The flat is mostly dark, with only a soft lamp glowing in the kitchen. She detects muffled voices, laughter, whispersa jolt of fear races through her.
Thats it, she thinks, its happening.
A wave of dizziness passes. Emily moves through the hallway as if in a dream, each step heavier than the last. Her heart pounds madly as she pushes open the kitchen door.
James? Her own voice startles her, small and oddly metallic.
She tries again, shaky but louder: James?!
There, in the kitchen, stand not her husband, but two other peopleDave, Jamess best friend, and a woman. Emily freezes. Dave spins round, flustered.
Emily! Its not what you thinkI promise. I just Well, you know what its like at my place. I couldnt exactly take her home to Mums, Dave blurts.
Emily hardly hears him. She stands motionless, stunned, tears sliding down her cheeks while, to her bewilderment, a strange smile flickers on her lips.
I get it, Dave, she whispers, voice thick with confused emotion. Im going now.
Turning, Emily leaves the flat, the cold morning air stinging her face. She fumbles for her mobile, hands trembling as she dials her husband.
Hello? he answers, voice steady but concerned.
Unable to form a proper sentence, all that bursts out is an awkward, desperate confession:
I love you I really love you
Giggling through her tears, Emily tries to make sense, but the jumble of feelings overwhelms her. She stammers, I went home Dave was there
I see Emily, dont be upset, please. Im at the officecome over? Please, dont be cross. You know what Daves like. Will you come?
Im on my way now
Emily rushes back to her car, desperate to see her husband.
Later, Emily and James are sitting cross-legged on the office floor, a bottle of wine between them. Emily nestles her head on Jamess shoulder, absentmindedly rolling her glass in her hands.
Im sorry, I really didnt mean to pry into your messages. Ive never done that before she says quietly.
No, Im the one who should be apologising for dragging you into all this. I shouldve explained everything earlier.
But why did Dave ask you to help?
Because Im his mate, and hed made such a mess of things with that girlliterally ran straight into her and spilt an energy drink all over her. Ruined her white suitshe looked like a smurf! He panicked, made me promise to sort things. You know what hes likeI cant! Im too nervous! James, help me out, please!it was like being at school again.
James mimics Daves whining voice, making Emily chuckle in spite of herself.
Hes my best mate, Em. I just wanted to help him out. In the end, I took the girls number for him, talked her round, made Dave look goodand that was that.
But why on earth did he bring her round here? Why not go to a hotel?
Well, you rememberhe still lives with his mum.
So he can save money on rent and so his mum can bake pies and do his washing
Exactly, James grins at her.
What a tightwad! Emily dissolves into laughter.
Weve been mates for twenty yearssince our first day at school. I suppose Im the only one he doesnt mind showing this side to.
Emily shakes her head, smiling. Well, at least youre a true friend, James.
Suddenly she sits bolt upright, Hang on… what if theyre still at ours? We cant sleep in your officeand I dont want to go home yet. Let him deal with it.
James kisses her gently. Luckily, Im nothing like Dave. And I think we deserve a romantic night together.
Seriously? Are you suggesting a hotel?
James nods, then jumps up, spinning Emily round and lifting her onto his shoulder. She squeals and giggles, wriggling as he carries her off.
Ill deliver you safe and sound, Mrs Whitman!
Emily laughs until she can barely stand, barely able to believe that just hours before, shed been mourning her marriage.
