Andrew, could you hand me the car keys, please? I need to get Mum to the clinic right away, Emily reached for her husband, who was sprawled on the sofa. Ill be back in two hours, Ill bring her back safe and sound.
Andrew didnt even glance up from his phone.
No.
What do you mean, no? Emilys hand fell slowly. Its your day off, youre not going anywhere. Mums blood pressure is spiking, shes really ill.
I said no, so it stays no, Andrew finally snapped his phone shut and stared at her. Women behind the wheel always end in trouble. Youll scrape someone, hit a lamppost, or worse.
Emily stepped closer, fists clenched.
Andrew, what are you saying?
Didnt I make myself clear? Im still paying a threeyear finance on that car. Im not risking my property, he muttered, diving back into his screen, signalling the conversation was over.
Emily stared at the crown of his head, then turned and stormed out of the living room, slamming the door behind her. In the hallway she grabbed her phone and called a cab. The roundtrip cost £15. Mum kept apologising for the inconvenience, but Emilys lips tightened as she imagined how easily Andrew could have solved the problemif hed wanted to.
When she slipped back inside, Andrew met her in the hall, face full of contrition.
Liar, Im sorry. I know I was wrong. I didnt think Mum really needed help, he tried to pull her into an embrace, but she stepped away.
Leave me alone.
Come on, Emily, dont be angry. Im apologising! I know I was wrong.
Emily drifted past him toward the kitchen, saying nothing. Andrew trailed behind, still pleading.
Shall we make some coffee? Or a glass of wine? Talk it over?
Emily turned the kettle on and began scrubbing the dishes with a fury that made the plates sparkle as if she were trying to erase the offense. Andrew lingered a few more minutes, then retreated to the bedroom.
Two months passed in a strained silence. Emily answered Andrew in monosyllables, only when necessary. He made several attempts to broach reconciliation, but each time she met him with a cold wall of indifference.
On a Saturday morning Emily stood at the kitchen counter, chopping carrots for a stew. Rain pattered against the windows, casting a quiet, almost cosy atmosphere over the flat. She put on some soft music and let the routine soothe her after a grueling week at work.
A sudden knock at the door made her jump. She dabbed her hands on a towel and opened the door, puzzled by the early visitor.
Is that you, Mrs. Whitford? Emily stepped back a pace as her motherinlaw, Dorothy Whitford, barreled in, face flushed with fury.
Youve lost all sense of decency! Dorothy roared. Youre only thinking about dragging my son into debt! Do you even care how hell survive?
Emily blinked, trying to grasp the sudden accusation.
Mrs. Whitford, what are you talking about? What happened?
What happened? Dorothy turned fully to her, eyes blazing. You smashed Andrews car! Now hell be paying off a heap of scrap metal for three years!
Emily felt the floor slip away.
Mrs. Whitford, I never drove Andrews car. Never! He refused to give me the keys when I asked.
Lying! Dorothy hissed. He told me everything! How could you ask for his car and then smash it to pieces!
At that moment footsteps sounded in the hallway and Andrew appeared. Dorothy lunged at him.
She wont even admit it! Andy, love, how will you live now? Three years for a wrecked car! No car, no money!
Emily stared at her husband, hoping for an explanation. He only lowered his head and gave a barely perceptible nod.
Andrew? Emilys voice cracked. Tell my mother the truth. Tell her I never took your car.
Andrew stayed silent, staring at his slippers.
When exactly did I supposedly smash your car? Emily demanded, her tone sharpening. Give me the exact date.
Dorothy triumphantly fished out her phone.
It was Tuesday at two p.m.! I have the whole text exchange with Andrew saved! she thrust the device under Emilys nose.
Emily flicked through the memory of that Tuesdayher work conference that ran from seven in the morning till nine at night.
Tuesday? she sneered, and the sound forced Dorothy to fall silent. I was at an offsite conference all day on Tuesday.
Dorothys face turned unsure.
But Andrew said
Andrew lied, Emily stepped toward her husband. Right, love? Now tell us the truth. Who really broke your precious car?
Andrew lifted his head, his face turning a shade of pink.
Mum, Im sorry. I was the one who crashed the car, he whispered, voice trembling. I didnt want you to think I was useless, so I tried to pin it on Emily
You shifted the blame onto an innocent woman! Emilys anger surged like a tide. You even turned Mum against me!
Dorothy sank onto a chair, her complexion paling.
Andy, how could you? Why lie? Why?
Mum, you know Im hopeless behind the wheel. Remember when, at eighteen, I scratched Dads car? You didnt speak to me for a week, Andrew tried to grab his mothers hand, but she pulled away.
So you decided to make Emily the scapegoat? Dorothy rose slowly. Youre an adult, Andy! How can you dump responsibility onto a woman?
Emily crossed her arms, watching the domestic drama unfold, her fury gradually morphing into weary disappointment.
You know what, Andrew? When you refused to hand me the car to take my Mum to the doctor, I thought you were a selfish pig. Turns out youre even worse. Youre a coward.
Emily, please, dont Andrew reached for her.
Stop! she raised a hand. Dont. You were ready to ruin our marriage just to keep your mother from hearing you admit your mistake.
I wanted to be honest, I really did! I just didnt know how to start
Dont know how to start? Emily laughed bitterly. Im sorry, Emily is how honest conversations begin.
Dorothy, suddenly calmer, turned to her son.
Andy, you realize I thought Emily was selfish and irresponsible? And she had nothing to do with this?
Mum, Ill fix it, Ill
Fix it? Emily moved to the window, looking out at the grey, rainsoaked street. How will you fix what I now know about you? In a crisis youd rather blame me than take responsibility?
Silence fell heavy over the flat.
Emily, Andrew whispered, what do we do now?
She didnt turn.
I dont know, Andrew. I thought Id married a man I could rely on. Turns out hed throw me under the bus at the first chance.
Its not true! I love you!
Love? A man who loves doesnt act like this. A loving person doesnt make their partner suffer for their own peace of mind.
Dorothy rose, approached her daughterinlaw.
Emily, Im sorry. Im sorry I believed the lies, sorry I shouted at you. I was wrong.
Mrs. Whitford, you reacted as any mother would, defending her child. I hold no grudge against you, Emily said, a flicker of sympathy in her eyes. But what about Andrew?
Andrew? Dorothy asked quietly.
Andrew? I have serious grievances, Emily replied, her voice steady.
Andrew lunged forward, eyes wild.
Emily, tell me what to do. Ill do anything for your forgiveness!
Now youre saying youll do anything, she said, stepping back from his grasp. But youve already lied once and shifted the blame onto me. That shows who you truly are, Andrew.
Ill change!
People dont change in a day. Those capable of such deceit rarely do.
She retreated to the kitchen, leaving Andrew and Dorothy to their uneasy silence. Behind the closed door, Dorothy scolded her son in a low voice.
Emily paced the kitchen, weighing her options. How could she move forward with a husband like this?
There was no way. No matter how hard she tried, the memory wouldnt fade.
She opened the browser on her phone and typed, How to get a quick divorce? The decision was made.
