Emma couldnt remember the last time shed felt so rested. Her work trip had been delayed by a few hours, and without explanation, shed switched off her phone and sprawled across the bed. Just that morning, shed returned from her mother-in-laws cottage in the countryside, where shed spent two days without sitting down oncecleaning, scrubbing, cooking, all under the constant criticism of her husband, James, and his mother.
According to her mother-in-law, Emma had trapped James, didnt earn enough, and somehow, despite her wages, they were all starving. James backed his mother up, insisting Emma could take on extra work since she got home early and didnt even have to cook.
“Look how she mops the floor,” the old woman tutted to her son. “Takes her hours. Couldve done the laundry instead.”
Emma snappedwhy didnt they clean once a week if they cared so much? Better shed stayed silent. The scolding worsened. She shut her eyes and calmly suggested, “I did offer for you to move to London. Then James and I could look after you properly, and he wouldnt have had to quit his job.”
James erupted, storming toward her.
“So you want me to work myself to the bone and still care for Mum? Bloody hell, Emma, youve got ice in your veins.”
She didnt wait for more. She just opened the door and stepped outside, sinking onto the bench by the gate.
“Emma, love, whats happened?” Her neighbor, Sophie, stood before her. Emma wiped her eyes, recognizing the woman shed befriended years ago.
“Hi, Soph,” she sighed.
“Family trouble again?”
“Dont even start.”
“Look, its not my business, but I dont get why you put up with it. James is always here, but youre not really together. Why bother?”
Emma shrugged. “We didnt choose this. His mums poorly. Once shes better, hell move back to the city.”
Sophie snorted. “Shed run a marathon carrying all of us on her back. Shes faking it, love. And youre not the same woman I knew. What happened? Have they scrambled your brains?”
Emma forced a smile. “Dunno. Anyway, drop by if you want.”
When her phone rang, it was her bossher trip was delayed until noon. Emma nearly cheered. Extra pay, and an escape from Jamess endless calls.
That evening, the house felt lighter. James slept in the spare room to avoid upsetting his mother. Emma didnt argue. She was too exhausted to care.
At 2 a.m., her mother-in-law shook her awake.
“Cant you hear me calling?”
Emma blinked, groggy. “Mustve been deep asleep. Whats wrong?”
“Fetch my pills.”
Emma stared. The medicine cabinet was closer to the woman than to her. But she got up. By 5 a.m., she finally sleptonly to wake at 6:30. She arrived in London drained. When her trip was postponed again, she nearly wept with relief. Switching off her phone, she collapsed onto the hotel bed. Now, refreshed, she even had time to touch up her makeup before the train.
An hour earlier, her per diem had cleared. For once, she didnt transfer it to James. She wasnt sure why.
With twenty minutes until departure, she ducked into a café for water. Hurrying past a flower stall, she froze. James. What about his dying mother? Hed claimed she couldnt be left alone. Yet here he was, buying roses.
Emma trailed him, a sick thought forming: What if they werent for her? She clenched her ticket and chased after his taxi, flagging one down.
“Follow that car. Ill double your fare.”
The driver, amused, agreed. Through the window, she watched James kiss a woman, handing her the bouquet before she climbed into a car. Emmas stomach twisted.
The driver smirked. “Might not be what you think.”
Only then did she notice himtoo polished for a cabbie.
The car was luxurious. Maybe hed hit hard times? As she wondered, they turned into her street. James and the stranger entered her building. Tears welled. So while she worked and his mother suffered, he brought women into her flat?
“Going in?” the driver asked.
“No point.”
“Good. Youve missed your train anyway. Where to?”
She named a town 200 miles away.
“Rubbish. Lets get coffee. Calm down, then Ill drive you.”
“I cant afford that.”
“Who said anything about a taxi? I just dropped my dad at the station. He visits my aunt every summer. Then you jumped in.”
Emma flushed. “Sorry.”
“Stop crying, or youll flood the car.”
Half an hour later, she stood by the Thames with a coffee, watching the sunset. It was breathtaking.
“Like it?” asked the driverBen.
“Stunning. Lived here years and never knew this spot.”
“I come here a lot. Found it after my wife cheated.”
Emma gaped. He laughed. “Yeah, thought the samewhod cheat on me?”
She studied him. Mid-thirties, handsome, steady.
Two days later, James called as she packed for another trip.
“Em, wheres the money? They paid you, right?”
“They did. Its for the trip.”
“So youre not sending it?”
“No, James. Not this time. And by the way, get your things out of my flat. Its minefrom my parents.”
Silence. Then, “You serious? How am I supposed to live?”
“Get a job, like every other man.”
“But Mums ill!”
“Not ill enough for you to buy flowers for other women on my dime.”
She hung up. For the first time, she saw how naive shed been.
She and Ben had swapped numbers. They messaged oftengoodnights, little updates.
On her next trip, James ambushed her outside.
“We need to talk.”
“Were done, James.”
He grabbed her wrist. “Youre not walking away that easy. So I had a bit of funIm a man, its natural. Women should be patient.”
She yanked free, his fingers burning her skin.
Thenhe was gone. Ben stood there instead.
“Alright, Em?”
She stared. “Howd you get here?”
“Didnt want you alone on the train with some bloke chatting you up.”
James reappeared, snarling. “Oh, so youve got a boyfriend now? Fine. Im filing for divorce!”
Emma squared her shoulders. “Brilliant.”
He faltered. She smiled. “Thanks for offering, James. Ill sign whatever.”
As they drove off, Ben chuckled. “Hes still standing there, gobsmacked.”
“Ex-husband,” she corrected. “Now explain why youre here.”
“You said you were leaving today. I came to drive you.”
“Thats 200 miles!”
“Yep.” He braked, popped the boot, and returned with white roses. “Nearly forgot. This was the plan.”
Emma looked at him, then the flowers, and smiled. It was better than shed ever dreamed.
