“Where on earth are you off to? And who’s going to cook for us now?”
“What are you playing at? Where are you going? Whos supposed to make dinner?” asked her baffled husband, watching as Evelyn packed a bag after yet another row with his mum
Evelyn glanced out the window. A dull, grey haze hung over the early spring afternoon. In their little northern town, sunny days were raremaybe thats why everyone seemed so grim and unfriendly.
Shed noticed lately how seldom she smiled, the frown lines etching deeper, making her look older than her years.
“Mum! Im off out!” called her daughter, Lily.
“Alright,” Evelyn nodded vaguely.
“Alright? Give me some money then.”
“Since when do walks cost anything?” she sighed.
“Mum! Seriously?!” Lily snapped, patience gone. “Theyre waiting for me, come on! Hurry up! And why so little?”
“Its enough for ice cream.”
“Youre so stingy,” Lily muttered, already halfway out the door before Evelyn could reply.
Well, well Evelyn shook her head, remembering what a sweet little girl Lily had been before the teenage years hit.
“Evie, Im starving! Whens dinner?” her husband, Thomas, bellowed impatiently.
“Go and eat, then,” she said flatly, sliding a plate onto the table.
“Arent you serving it?”
Evelyn nearly dropped the pan. What on earth was he on about?
“You eat in the kitchen, Tom. Take it or leave it,” she said, sitting down without him.
Fifteen minutes later, Thomas finally wandered in.
“Its cold gross.”
“Take less time next time.”
“I *asked* you! Not a shred of care or love in this house! You know Im watching the match!” he grumbled, shoving a bite of chicken into his mouth. “Tastes rubbish.”
Evelyn just rolled her eyes. Football turned him into someone elsebets, merch, overpriced tickets Hed become obsessed, though hed never cared for sports when they were younger.
Without sitting down once, Thomas grabbed a beer to “cheer up,” crisps “for the hunger,” and stomped back to the telly. Meanwhile, Evie was left to scrub the dirty dishes.
No one ever appreciated her.
Exhausted from her shiftshe was a senior nurse at the hospitalshe came home to another full-time job: fetch this, clean that, do everything.
“Any drinks left?” Thomas rummaged through the fridge. “Whys there nothing?”
“You drank it all! Am I supposed to keep buying it for you? Have some shame, Tom!” she finally snapped.
“Oh, touchy,” he scoffed, slamming the door and stomping off to restock for the next match.
Evelyn decided to turn in earlyanother gruelling shift awaited tomorrow. But sleep wouldnt come. She worried about Lilywhere was she? Who was she with? It was dark out, and still no sign of her. Calling only led to rows.
“Are you trying to embarrass me in front of my mates? Stop calling!” Lily would shriek. So Evelyn stopped, telling herself Lily was eighteen now. No job, no unijust “finding herself” after finishing school.
Just as she drifted off, Thomass roaring laughter woke her. Someone mustve scored. Then came loud chatter with the neighbour whod popped over and stayed to “watch” the game, bringing his girlfriend along. Around midnight, Lily clattered in, banged dishes, stomped upstairs, and finallysilence. Until the cat started yowling for food.
“Who else in this house is capable of feeding the cat?!” Evelyn stormed out, migraine pounding. Lily had headphones on and just tapped her forehead mockingly. Thomas snored in front of the telly, empty beer can in hand.
*Ive had enough I cant take this anymore.*
The next morning, her mother-in-law called.
“Evie, love, you remember its planting season? And the cottage needs a tidy”
“I remember,” Evelyn sighed.
“Well go tomorrow.”
Her one day offspent hauling to the countryside under her mother-in-laws watch.
“Thats not how you sweep! Hold the broom properly!” Margaret barked from her perch on the bench.
“Im nearly fifty, Margaret, I think Ive got it,” Evelyn dared to mutter.
“My Thomas would never do it like that”
“And where *is* your precious son? Why isnt *he* driving you? Why are we stuck on a three-hour bus ride? Its always Thomas this, Thomas that”
“Hes overworked.”
“And Im not?”
Thats when it started. Evelyn regretted opening her mouth. Margaret loved a good lectureher version of “fairness” only ever went one way. Her whole life, shed praised Thomas while treating Evelyn like some beast of burden she barely tolerated.
They rode home in silence, opposite ends of the bus. Next day, Margaret complained to Thomas, who erupted.
“How *dare* you speak to my mother like that?!” he thundered. “If it werent for her”
“What?” Evelyn folded her arms. She was done.
“Youd still be at that clinic!” he spat, reminding her Margaret had pulled strings to get her the hospital jobbetter pay, but twice the stress and grey hairs. More than once, Evelyn wished shed never left the quiet clinic.
“What are you?” Thomas froze, finally noticing what Evelyn had done.
For once, Evelyn had done something he never saw coming.
