A Little Mistake
No way! Youre kidding me!
Emma jerked the steering wheel without intending to and nearly clipped the car parked next to her little runabout. The big black SUV rolling past was all too familiar. Of course shed know her neighbour Toms carshe sent her boys off to school in it every morning.
Except, sat next to Tomwho Emma recognised in an instantwas not his wife, but some woman she didnt know at all.
The perfectly pouted lips and trendy hat told Emma plenty, even if not the whole story.
Oh honestly, what a slimeball! Unbelievable! Emma pulled out of her space, trailing Toms car just as it left the car park, convinced there was no way she could just let this go.
Sticking to the rules shed picked up from her beloved detective novels, Emma allowed one German saloon to pull ahead and tucked in discreetly behind it. Toms bus as he affectionately dubbed it was impossible to miss.
Tom had inherited the SUV from his dad, and swapping it out was unthinkable. It was a family legacy.
His dad had passed away over two years ago, but Tom had never really recovered from the loss. After all, it was just the two of them for so long; his dad raised him single-handed after his mum died when he was just a toddler. Shed been making little Toms favourite porridge when, without warning, she slumped over by the cooker, never responding to his frightened tears.
He howled for ages, right up until his dadhaving forgotten something and unable to reach his wife on the landlinerushed home from work. Scooping his wailing son into his arms, he called for an ambulance, but it was much too late.
That was a blow. Toms dad had boxed for years and knew all about being knocked clean out, how it felt to have the wind knocked from your lungs and the world darken. His own light went out with his wife, the woman who loved him with all her heart. A heart that suddenly stopped, for no reason anyone could say. Shed never complained of being unwell.
Toms dad wouldnt send his son to live with either his mum or his mother-in-lawthey both lived far off, which meant hed hardly ever see Tom. Besides, neither of them would dream of moving in to babysit. His late wifes aunt, who kept pestering him to let her take the boy, got a firm no as well.
Youre a man! You need to work, get on with your life. What do you know about bringing up a child on your own? Hes just a tothow do you expect to handle it?
I dunno, Toms dad was always a realist, not one for pie in the sky.
Let me take him. I work at a nursery. Hell be looked after. And itll be easier for you…
Easier how? By hardly ever seeing my own son? Youre almost six hundred miles away! Thats not sustainable. No, Natasha, its not right, and deep down you know it. Hes lost his mother, but he still has a father, and hes not going anywhere. Ill manage, somehow. Dont ask how yet. Ill figure it out.
You think about it, said Natasha, lips pursed. He needs a mum, Tom. You wont manage on your own. Find a nice lady, maybe…
Toms dad ignored that. He just patted his sons sleeping head and kept his peacethere was nothing to gain from an argument.
Soon enough, a solution appeared. Their neighbour, Mrs Mary Grant, recently retired, agreed to look after Tom while his dad was at work. Before long, Tom went to nursery, and life started to settle down for their tiny family. Toms dad devoted every spare moment to his son. There never was another woman and little Tom grew up without a stepmum.
Mrs Grant, with no kids or partner of her own for reasons only she knew, adored Tom like her own. He returned her love completely.
Are you my grandma? Tom would ask.
No, Tommy, you know the names of your grandmas! Im your nanny.
Nanny? Is that like a grandma?
Almost.
But you love me!
Very much. Youre my favourite boy.
Great! Then can you be my grandma too? Please?
How could she refuse a childs plea? With Toms dads blessing, Mrs Grantadamant she wouldnt take any paylet Tom call her whatever made him happy. So he gained a third grandma, though it did confuse people initially.
Why so many, Tom? the teachers at nursery wondered when he made three Mothers Day cards. But once they understood, they let it be.
The single teachers, each in their own way, secretly sighed over Toms dad, but he wasnt interested. His focus was on his businessthe hard job of raising his boyand he did it brilliantly.
Tom did well at school, chose a university after talking it over with his dad, and confided to Mrs Grant:
Girls dont seem to like me for some reason.
Dont they? So who was that snogging under my window with you then? she teased.
She dumped me. Said something was missing in our relationship. I have no idea what she meant! Do you? Whats so wrong with me, gran?
Nothing at all, love. Youre clever, good-looking, sensitive. You just havent met The One yet. Dont rush, look around, shes somewhere nearby. You just dont see her yet.
Turns out Mrs Grant was right.
A shy classmate who helped Tom with his essays (as hed already started working with his dads small business while still at uni) quietly sighed over him, but was too timid to make the first move. Tom, used to the bold types like Nataliegirls who thought nothing of taking the initiativehadnt a clue the quiet ones wanted anything from him.
Mrs Grant stepped in. Ellen had popped round to her flat on Toms behalf to drop off some notes and, after some hesitation, blurted out her concerns. Mrs Grant realised immediately.
Hes single, Ellen, Im quite sure.
Ellens face lit up, and Mrs Grant patted her shoulder kindly.
You care about him?
No answer was needed. Ellens eyes said it all. That evening, when Tom came by to collect Ellens notes, Mrs Grant exercised her grandma rights and gave him a good-natured clip round the ear.
What was that for, gran?!
Stop messing the poor girl about!
Who? Ellen? Whats she got to do with anything?
Oh, silly Tomyour happiness is right under your nose and you cant see it! Take a proper look. Honestly, girls like her are once-in-a-lifetime if that!
They had a quiet, modest wedding, despite Toms dad pushing for something grander.
Dad, Ellen isnt comfortable with anything big. Her mums terribly kind but shed be embarrassed. You know they dont have much.
Toms dad viewed his future in-law with some suspicionhed found his own mother-in-law difficult. Shed never quite forgiven him for losing her daughter, blamed him for years, even cut herself off from her grandson for a bit. In time, he got things back on track for Tom with his nan, so Tom spent some of each summer with her, though he always counted the days until he could go home with his dad. That was when Tom learned just how cruel memory can be.
Theres so much I never told your mum, Tom. I was always in a rush, always telling her offnever time for the important stuff… Now its too late. I shouldve helped more, been there when you were born… I only thought about myselftoo young, wanted to enjoy life… Look at me now. Is this living? With both my daughter and my happiness gone… I just exist, Tom, thats all.
Such confessions were a heavy weight for Tom. He only remembered his mum through his dads stories and old, scattered photosbig-eyed and always smiling in every one. He couldnt recall her touch. Once, picking out perfume for Mrs Grant, he stopped stock-still and tailed a stranger through the shop, chasing some familiar scent. The saleswoman, unfazed, asked the woman her perfume, fetched it for him, and handed it over.
Is this the one you were looking for?
Tom bought it, and on the way home kept trying to remember where he knew that fragrance from. His dad settled it for him.
That was your mothers favourite. Where did you find it?
Ever since, the bottle sat on Toms shelfhis one delicate thread to the memory of the woman who gave him life.
Toms dad neednt have worried about Ellens mum. She welcomed Tom with open arms after seeing for herself how happily married her daughter was. She was a simple, warm soul, and for her, Ellens happiness was everything.
Life went along. The small but loving family dreamed quietly of grandchildren, as Tom and Ellen made round after round of doctors visits. Nothing seemed to work. A year passed. Then another. Then three. The dream of children became almost an obsessionand it was Mrs Grant who finally called Tom in for tea.
Whats wrong, love?
Everythings wrong, gran. Both Ellen and I are completely healthy, but nothings working. Why? Shes losing hope. We keep arguing. What do we do?
Calm down! Honestly, you pair are such worriers. Maybe youre simply not ready for parenthood yet. Maybe nature knows best.
Why do you think that?
Come on, Tom. Did you only marry Ellen to make a baby, for heavens sake?
Gran! Youre not being fair…
I just mean, love her as she is! Anyway, maybe the issues with you.
No medical problems, the doctors say.
Then just wait. Go on holiday, try to relax, and let things be. It will happen in its own time. Youre missing one important thing, Tom. A man needs patienceenough for himself, his wife, the whole extended family! Because hes the anchor, the protector, the head of the family! Yet all I hear is you moaning like a schoolboy. And Ellens torn apart. Do you know how hard this is for her? She desperately wants a baby too. She probably thinks shes ruined your life by not being able to give you a child.
How do you know?
Youre not the only one, Tom. I went through it too. Loved someone so much and could never have a baby together. Back then, we had no fancy technology for these things. Simple asthat was that. No children, and that was my lot. I thought not having kids was my fault. Maybe, in the end, it was better. We couldnt have made a child happy together anyway.
But why?
Because our own happiness would always have been out of reach. You and Ellen are different. Theres love, and happiness right in front of you! Hold onto what you havethe rest will follow if its meant to.
Tom took Mrs Grants advice to heart. He steadied himself for Ellens sake, stopped pressuring her, and found support from his dad and mother-in-law, who no longer brought up grandchildren when chatting. Mrs Grants advice rang in his head on a loop:
Wait, Tom! Just look after each other and wait.
And wouldnt you know it, when they finally let go of the obsession, it happened. Nearly ten years together and nothingand then, suddenly, it worked. Their latest holiday had gone off the rails with Ellen feeling sick every day, always exhausted, miserable. When Tom rushed her to the clinic, he genuinely didnt believe what he heard.
A baby? Really?
It took him a while to process what the doctor was saying, and why Ellen kept crying and giggling at the ultrasound monitor.
Look, Tomtheres our tiny little bean. Already ours.
Their first son was a bonny bruisera shade over nine pounds! Ellen, petite and barely five foot one, managed brilliantly, and crowed the second he was out:
See you for the next one! Youd best be ready!
Ellen had her daughter and another boy in the same hospital, with the same midwives. It was almost as if nature wanted to make up for lost timethe rest came right on schedule.
The family, now five strong, soon outgrew Toms childhood flat.
You need a house, Tom! said his dad, hugging the grandchildren tight. Lets build one!
They found a plot quickly enough, but building took much longer. One crash after another hit the business, and the focus had to be on saving what they hadkeeping the business afloat and everyone employed. The house would have to wait.
And again, Mrs Grant stepped in.
Tom, love, Ive been thinking. You and your dad share a two-bedroom flat, but Ive got a three-bed. More space, and Im not as spry as I was. Your dad and Ive talked it over. Why not move in with me? You made it look wonderful with the renovation! More than enough for another decade. Your dad and I dont need much. Just one room each. It suits himIll keep an eye, cook up dinners, tidy round. And it suits mebeing alone these days is a bit scary. Phones are fine, but you never know. Well, have a think on it, all right?
So they moved in. Ellen looked after the kids, the flat and the extended family, while Tom worked all hours dragging the business back on track.
He did it. But his dads health gave way. Never one to burden his son, he kept quiet until the end, then called Tom in for a serious chat.
Im signing my flat over to Mary Grant. Itll end up with you in time anyway. But since she switched her flats paperwork over to you and Ellen, Ive been uneasy. Lifes complicatedwho knows whats round the corner. I want her to always have somewhere to go. Shes done so much for us, been family in every way that matters. Yes, you called her gran, but she really became your mum.
Dad, dont make a fuss, I know it all. Its the right move. But whats with all this talk?
Simple. Always put your affairs in order, Tom…
Toms dad didnt get to meet his fourth grandchild. Ellen gave birth a month after beloved John passed away. Little Johnny never met his grandfather but grew up hearing so many stories that hed stick his chin up whenever anyone called him by his full namenamed after Granddad, you know!
Life bounced from one surprise to the next, with plenty of tears and laughter. The kids filled their home with so much warmth it seemed the sun could light the North Pole with their love and still have some to spare.
Ellen, ever sociable, was pretty selective in choosing her friends. Of course, mixing with other mums at the park and on the school run widened her circle, but only a few became close confidantes. Emma was one of those rare friends.
Emma matched Ellen in age and her love for books and theatre, but like Ellen, barely had time for herself. She had two kids, but sometimes it felt like tenthe twins were non-stop, and the two grandmothers were constantly called in for backup. Ellen became Emmas lifesaver, helping her see how precious these small moments with the children werefirst steps, sticky hugs, shrieks of glee at a goal scored in the back garden. With Ellens help, Emma learned to slow down, prioritise, and treasure her family. Ellen was the best secret-keeper, and Emma had plenty to share.
Her marriage wasnt simple. Her husband Daniel was easy on the eye and quite the flirt, and though he kept the family together, he had the odd fling on the side. Emma told herself it was normalthats what all men do, right? Clinging to that idea was the only way she could get through, keeping up appearances for the boys. They needed their dad.
So really, its no wonder that when Emma saw Tom with a glamorous stranger, alarm bells rang. Ellen had to be told.
Toms car slipped into a side street and Emma just managed to keep up. He parked outside a little restaurant Emma knew wellshe and Daniel had been there before. Famous for its excellent food and live jazz on weekends.
Tom helped his guest out of the car, and together they disappeared inside, leaving Emma tornshould she watch until they came out, or rush to Ellen and spill the beans straight away?
But the longer Emma sat and stewed, the more uncertain she became.
If she told Ellen her husband was cheating, then what? Four children, Mrs Grant whod become increasingly frail and rarely left the house these days, Ellens mother whose health was failingTom had already driven her to London twice for sight-saving surgery. There were too many unknowns. Who was this woman? What if it was a meaningless fling, like Daniels adventures? Here today, gone tomorrowbarely a memory! But if the family broke up so many lives shaken to the core.
Emma smacked the steering wheel in frustration, and jumped as her cars ridiculously loud horninstalled by Danielscared off a flock of dozing pigeons outside the restaurant.
The honk brought her back to herself. Tom was a bit of a chancer, absolutely, but werent all men like that? Why should Ellen lose what she had?
She pulled out of the car park and drove home, muttering curses at the slow drivers and blinking away angry tears.
No! Shed say nothing to Ellen. It just wasnt her place. Let them sort it out themselves! Maybe she was a rubbish friend, but if someone had told her outright that Daniel was cheating, shed never have forgiven him. Its one thing to have doubts, quite another to know for sure. Once you know, you can never go backyoure nobody, and all the whispered words that were once yours are given away to someone else. Seems silly, just words, right? But those words mark out what happiness looks like. Change them, move them, and suddenly your path is twisted, never leading you where you hoped.
Emma parked up, and for a long time just sat in the car, gathering the nerve to face her home where the kids and their babysitter (who shouldve been let off an hour back) were waiting.
Toms call caught her totally off guard.
Hi there? When? Oh, yes, wed love to come. Thank you!
Emma put down her phone and gave her cheeks a little slap.
What was that about?! Shed just seen Tom with another woman, and now this? Yes, Tom and Ellens anniversary was coming upa big one at that. Emma already had their present wrapped and ready. But they never celebrated with friends or familyalways just snuck off somewhere romantic together.
Still, Emma agreed straight away. What sort of friend would she be otherwise?
She bought a new dress and shoes, sorted her hair, nails, and makeup. Daniel, taking in the sight, couldnt help but wink.
Why the long face? Our anniversarys coming up tooyou just wait, Ill pull out all the stops!
Emma turned away, fumbling for her lipstick.
Oh joy. Some party, thatll be…
Tom had really pushed the boat out. The hall was gorgeousfresh flowers everywhere, flickering candles, sparkling china and snowy tablecloths. Ellen swooned over the details.
Oh Tom, its all in my favourite coloursblue and silver! Its stunning, thank you! She hugged Emma, took the gift and flowers, then beckoned. Come on, lets powder our noses!
The flash of a diamond ring on Ellens finger made Emma wince.
Guilt gift from Tom… It must have cost a fortune.
The ladies room was down a set of basement steps, and Emma got herself tangled up in her dress.
Can I help?
Coming up the stairs was the woman from Toms car. Emma gasped.
You?!
Sorry, do I know you? the woman looked puzzled.
Tonight she looked utterly different: sharp suit, sensible shoes, neat hair.
What are you doing here?! Emma hissed, forgetting about her dress.
Please, dont let Ellen hear, dont spoil her night!
Me? Im working.
The woman suddenly smiled so openly that Emma lost her words for a second.
Working? How?
Im the event planner tonight! Tom entrusted his party to my tiny company. This is our first big jobso please be kind! Did you like how we decorated the hall?
Emmas numb fingers clutched her skirt.
Yes, it looks lovely…
Im so glad! Tom was really worried we wouldnt have time to get everything the way he wanted. Even called my husband in to help, can you imagine! Yesterday he was laying out the flowers and stringing up lights. Im not allowed up ladders these days.
Why not? Emma blurted automatically.
Im expecting! Only just found out. Absolutely terrified. Have you got children?
Yes. Two.
Is it hard?
Very… Emma felt a strange warmth fizz at her fingertips and, for the first time in a week, she finally relaxed. Dont be scared! Youre obviously tough as old bootsand thats the best thing for a mum-to-be. Youll smash it. If you want a good doctors number, just ask. Ellen had all four of hers with the same one.
Four! Blimey, that’s a houseful!
Thats for sure!
Oh, sorry! The woman cocked her head, hearing the music, and hurried off. Theyre starting! You coming?
Yes, Ill be right there…
Emma jogged up the steps, flung open the loo door, and grinned at Ellen, finally free of suspicion.
Ellen! Why are you faffing about? Theyve already married you off… Hang onsent you up the aisle, I mean! Come on, everyones waiting!
All evening, as she toasted her friends, Emma kept thinking how easy it is to destroy what you cherish. One word, a wrong conclusion, a daft mistakeand poof, its all gone. She could have wrecked this celebration, the happy faces of Mrs Grant (now shouting Kiss! Kiss! louder than anyone), the children chanting their silly poem for their parents…
What a mistake… Emma drained her prosecco and turned to Daniel. So, oursbitter or sweet?
Bitter, Em! Still bitter!
