The Mystery Under the Sofa
Emily sat at the kitchen table, gazing out the window where the autumn wind sent leaves swirling. Her thoughts were interrupted when her daughter, Grace, burst in with a delighted shout: “Mum, guess what? I’m getting married! Liam and I just registered—wedding’s in a month!” Emily froze, struggling to process the news. “Darling, are you serious?” she exhaled. “Why so sudden? You never mentioned a thing!”
Grace, glowing with joy, recounted how her boyfriend, Liam, had dragged her to the registry office on a whim. “We were walking past, and he just grabbed my hand and said, ‘Got your ID? Let’s go!’ I didn’t even argue,” she laughed. Emily, still flustered, murmured, “Liam’s coming tomorrow to ask for your hand. With Mum in tow.” She studied Grace, marvelling at how quickly her little girl had grown up. “Better get ready,” she thought, her heart squeezing with a mix of happiness and anxiety.
The next morning, Emily was up at the crack of dawn. There was a table to set, herself to tidy—guests didn’t drop by every day. As she slid an apple pie into the oven, her mind wandered. She liked Liam—steady, five years older than Grace, already running his own garage. Raised by a single mum after his father passed, he was a hard worker and seemed dependable. But Emily’s thoughts drifted to her own past, where life hadn’t quite matched her dreams.
Twenty years ago, Emily had been a young girl in love with Daniel. They’d met at a dance in the local hall—he was charming, confident, with a spark in his eye. They’d stayed out till midnight, ridden boats along the Thames, breathed in the scent of freshly cut grass. She’d never felt happier. But everything changed when she discovered she was pregnant. Her mother scolded her but stood by her. Daniel, upon hearing the news, agreed to marry. “We’ll be a proper family,” he’d said, and Emily believed him.
While she prepared for the baby, Daniel left for work up north. Money was tight, especially with a little one on the way. He’d return occasionally, bringing what felt like small fortunes, then disappear again. His mother, a kind woman, had adored Emily from the start. When it was time to bring Emily and Grace home from the hospital, Daniel didn’t show. Her mother and mother-in-law arrived with flowers, but their evasive looks set alarm bells ringing. She told herself he’d been held up at work, but her heart already sensed trouble.
Lost in caring for Grace, Emily lived with her mother-in-law—Daniel’s insistence. Then, one day while cleaning, she found a letter wedged under the sofa. Her husband’s handwriting. “Mum, I don’t know how to tell Em, but I’m in a mess. Met a girl at a mate’s birthday. She’s seventeen, expecting. Her dad and brother gave me an ultimatum: marry her or else. I chose to marry. Don’t want the hassle. You’ll have to tell Em. We need a divorce. I’ll support Grace, won’t abandon her.” Emily’s breath caught, tears spilling down her cheeks.
How did she survive the betrayal? With her mother and mother-in-law’s help. She moved back home, despite her mother-in-law’s pleas to stay. “I can’t bear it if he turns up with his new family,” she explained. But her mother-in-law never stepped back. She visited daily, bringing treats for Grace, as if making up for her son’s sins. “You’re like a daughter to me,” she’d say. “Grace is my sunshine.” Emily couldn’t stay angry, not when she saw how much Grace was loved.
But her mother-in-law’s health began to fade. One day, after three missed visits, Emily rushed over. Clutching her hand, the older woman confessed, “I’ve been ill for over a year. Forgive me for Daniel. He’s shamed us. Promise you won’t call him, even when I’m gone. The house and savings—I’ve left them to Grace.” Emily kept her word. When the time came, her mother-in-law was buried without Daniel.
Three years later, Emily’s own mother passed. She was left alone with Grace, now thirteen. The girl was bright, well-mannered, top of her class—a small comfort in the loneliness. Time slipped by, until one day, Emily bumped into Daniel outside the flat. He looked rough—worn out, all his old confidence gone. “Em, hi,” he said, forcing a smile. She paused, schooling her expression.
“How’s Grace? Brought some money—I know I owe you,” he muttered, digging into his pocket.
“We’re fine,” Emily replied coolly. “Your mum didn’t want you there, even when she was ill. She couldn’t face you.”
Daniel mumbled something about wanting to see Grace, but Emily was already inside. Later, neighbours filled her in: his marriage had collapsed—turns out the child wasn’t even his, but his wife’s and her schoolmate’s. She’d run off with the boy, and Daniel had never remarried.
Emily blinked back to the present. The kitchen smelled of baked apples. She finished setting the table, glancing out the window. “Time flies,” she mused. “Grace getting married. Feels like yesterday I was braiding her hair.” Outside, Liam helped Grace from the car, then steadied his mother. “Such a gentleman,” Emily smiled.
“Mum, meet Liam’s mum, Margaret,” Grace announced.
“Just Margaret,” the woman corrected, offering her hand. “Lovely to meet you.”
The younger pair disappeared into the living room, while Emily and Margaret chatted like old friends. They laughed, swapped stories, and both sensed their children would be happy. As they blessed Grace and Liam, they silently vowed to do all they could to keep their lives full of love.
