З життя
While His Wife Worked, He Cared for His Sick Mother — Until She Caught Him Buying Flowers for Another Woman
Emma couldnt remember the last time shed felt this relaxed. Her business trip had been delayed by a few hours, and without explaining a word, she switched off her phone and stretched out on the bed. Just this morning, shed returned from the countryside, where shed spent two days without sitting down for a momentcleaning, cooking, and enduring constant criticism from her mother-in-law and her husband, James.
According to Jamess mother, Emma had “ruined” her son, didnt earn enough, and somehow, despite her wages, they were all starving. James backed his mother up, claiming Emma could easily find extra work since she came home early and didnt even need to cook.
“Look how she mops the floor,” his mother tutted. “Takes her hours when she could be doing the laundry.”
Emma finally snapped, saying if they bothered to clean even once a week, the flat wouldnt be so filthy. She instantly regretted speakingwhat followed was an avalanche of complaints. Closing her eyes, she calmly suggested, “I told you we could move to London. James and I could look after you there, and he wouldnt have to quit his job.”
James erupted, stepping into her space. “So you want me to work myself to death and then tend to Mum? Youve got a heart of stone.”
Emma didnt wait for more. She walked out to the bench by the gate, where her neighbour, Claire, found her wiping tears. Theyd met before the wedding, and Emma had always liked her.
“Everything alright?” Claire asked.
Emma sighed. “You know how it is.”
“Honestly, love, I dont get why you put up with it. Hes always there, but youre not really living together. Whats the point?”
Emma shrugged. “We didnt choose this. His mums sick. Once she recovers, he can come back to London.”
Claire snorted. “Shed probably outrun the lot of us. I reckon shes faking it. You used to be differentwhat happened?”
Emma didnt answer. When her phone rang later, her boss informed her the trip was pushed to midday tomorrow. She almost cheeredextra pay and an escape from Jamess calls.
That evening, the flat was oddly peaceful. 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 woke her. “Cant you hear me calling?”
Emma blinked, groggy. “Sorry, I was asleep. Whats wrong?”
“Get me my pills.”
Emma stared. The medicine cabinet was closer to James than to her. But she got up. By 5 a.m., she finally sleptonly to wake at 6:30. Exhausted, she reached the station just as her trip was delayed again. She nearly laughed in relief. Switching off her phone, she collapsed onto the bed and finally felt human.
An hour earlier, her travel expenses had cleared. For the first time, she didnt send the money to James. She wasnt sure why. Shed already given most of her last paycheck. This time, shed keep it.
With twenty minutes until her train, she ducked into a café for waterthen froze. James stood at a flower stall. He was supposed to be caring for his “dying” mother. Her stomach twisted. Were those for another woman?
She watched him kiss a stranger and hand her the bouquet before she got into a car. Emma flagged a taxi. “Follow that car. Ill double your fare.”
The drivertoo well-dressed for a cabbieraised an eyebrow but obliged. When they stopped outside her flat, she nearly vomited. James was taking another woman into her home.
“Need to go in?” the driver asked.
Emma shook her head. “No point. Ive missed my train anyway.”
“Coffee first, then Ill drive you,” he offered.
“I cant afford this fare.”
He laughed. “Who said Im a taxi? I just dropped my dad at the station. You jumped in.”
Mortified, Emma burst into tears.
Half an hour later, she stood by the Thames with a coffee, watching the sunset. It was breathtaking.
“Like it?” The driverAlexsmiled.
“Ive lived here years and never knew this spot,” she admitted.
“I come here a lot,” he said. “Found it after my wife cheated.”
Emma gaped. He laughed. “Yeah, I thought the samehow could anyone cheat on me?”
Two days later, James called as she packed for her rescheduled trip.
“Emma, wheres the money? They paid you, didnt they?”
“Its for travel expenses,” she said evenly.
“So youre not sending it?”
“No. And by the way, I want your things out of my flat. Rememberits mine, from my parents.”
Silence. Then, “Are you mental? How am I supposed to live?”
“Get a job, James. Like normal people.”
“But Mums ill!”
“Not too ill for you to buy flowers for other women and bring them to my flat.”
She hung up.
Alex texted her goodnight, asked about her day. The day of her next trip, James cornered her outside.
“We need to talk.”
“No, we dont.”
He grabbed her arm. “Youre not getting rid of me. So I had a few flingsIm a man, Ive got needs.”
Emma yanked free. “Do you really think I care?”
He grabbed her again, tearing her sleeve. “Youre coming home. Youll apologise. Youve worried me enough.”
Then Alex was there, shoving James away.
“Emma, you okay?”
James gaped. “Oh, so youve got a boyfriend? Fine. Im filing for divorce!”
Emma smiled. “Perfect.”
As they drove off, Alex laughed. “Hes still standing there, mouth open.”
“Ex-husband,” she corrected. “Now explain why youre here.”
“You texted about your trip. I came to drive you.”
“Thats 200 miles!”
He shrugged, suddenly producing white roses from the boot. “Forgot these. This was the plan.”
Emma stared, then smiled. It was better than shed dreamed.
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