“You’re not my wifewe never went to the registry office, did we?”
“What kind of wife am I to you? Did we sign papers? Exchange rings? Put a band on my finger?”
Emily lowered her gaze. Shed dreamed of all those things, but the years passed, and life rolled on without formalities.
“No! No! And no!” snapped Daniel. “You’re nothing to me! What made you think you could call yourself my wife?”
“Danny, talk to me, please!” she pleaded, reaching for his hand.
“Have you got anything else to add?” He pulled away. “Youve already said too much!”
“I didnt say a thing” Emily mumbled.
“Mark my wordssilence is golden! Especially for you!” He turned pointedly toward the window.
“Stop sulking, love!” She edged closer.
“Youd better bite your tongue!” Daniel threw his hands up. “Where do women learn to wreck everything with one sentence? Is there a class on how to drive men mad?”
Emily assumed he was still cross about the mornings rowDaniel had smashed two mugs, his and hers.
“How could you?” shed fumed. “Most people have hands, but yours might as well be rakes! Break yours, finewhy touch mine? Did you do it on purpose, so neither of us had a favourite cup left?”
A petty squabble, the kind most shrug off. But Daniel had stormed out to work and returned with a frosty silence. He ignored her calls to dinner, though she asked three times. Time to make peace.
“Oh, come onwell get new mugs at Harrods on Saturday! And your hands well, practice makes perfect!”
“What mugs?!” His eyes flashed. “Do you even grasp what youve done with your big mouth?”
“I can apologise” Emily faltered. “Dont be angry!”
“Apologise?” He let out a bitter laugh. “If sorry could erase your words, Id be over the moon! But no, youve just finished me off!”
“Good Lord, what did I even say?” It finally dawned on herthis wasnt about cups.
“Who told my boss today that she was speaking to Daniels wife?!” He trembled with rage.
“You were in the shower, the phone rang” she babbled. “I answered, said to wait. She asked who I was. So, I said wife. When I passed the phone, shed hung up. Whats the crime?”
“Youre seriously asking?!” Daniels face darkened, a vein throbbing at his temple. “What wife? Did we sign papers? Exchange rings? Put a band on your finger?”
Emily swallowed. Shed dreamed of it, but
“No! No! And no!” he roared. “Youre nobody! What gave you the right to call yourself my wife?”
***
“How longs this circus going on?” Margaret chuckled.
“Mum” Emily frowned. “Times have changed. Youre one to judgeafter Dad, you had your flings!”
“Dont slander your mother!” Her smile stayed. “At my age, gossip slides off. But youre youngthink ahead!”
“Mum, fifty-five isnt ancient! You could still remarry!”
“If a decent man comes alongwhy not?” She smoothed her hair. “Till then, Ill manage.”
“Honestly!” Emily snorted.
Then her mother turned serious.
“Love, I knowthese days, couples live together, have kids. But legally? Its cohabitation. No guarantees.”
“If theres love, guarantees dont matter.”
“Love fadesemptiness remains. A proper husband means alimony, a share in assets. Without it? Courts wont help.”
“Were happy! Six years together. Why a stamp? We earn the same.”
“Not good enough!” Her mother wagged a finger. “Drop hints. Call him hubby, joke about weddings. Ease him in.”
“What if I scare him off?” Emily shook her head. “Happiness is fragiledont push luck.”
“Your life,” sighed Margaret. “But rememberresponsibility marks adulthood. Youve got chaos.”
***
Her mothers advice stuck. Marriage was security. Even her friend Claire agreed:
“Imagine you get a mortgagein Dans name. What if you split?”
“Pessimist!”
“Say he gifts the flat to his nephew. Youve no say! Courts wont touch it without papers.”
“Ill keep receipts, find witnesses!”
“Or” Claire smirked, “just marry him.”
“Mum says to tease with hubby. Ease him in.”
“Well, get on it!”
***
Emily began calling Daniel husband at every chance. At first, he laughed, but soon it stuck. She almost believed the charadeuntil she told his boss, “This is his wife.”
***
“Weve been together six years!” Emilys voice quivered. “I thought we were a family. Kids, growing old together”
“You shouldve shut it!” He paced wildly. “Why poke Sarah Williams? Now Im sacked!”
“But I always call you my husband!”
“The difference is youve wrecked my career!” Daniel hurled his keys down. “I wont just skip the registryIm leaving! Packing now!”
“You mean it?” She froze. “So I said wife”
“Sarah kept me on because she fancied me! Now Im married? Youre a thorn in her side!”
***
A week later, Sarah herself rang the bell.
“Sorry to bother you,” she said, “but I owed an explanation. Not for the sackingfor your years of deceit. We all thought he was single.”
“Were not married,” Emily whispered.
“Cohabiting,” Sarah corrected. “But now youre free. And honestly” Her lips curled. “Hes not for you. Not a husband, not a partnerjust a tosser.”
Emily nodded. There was nothing left to say.
