In the Company of an Ex

Hey love, let me tell you whats been going on with Andrew and me.

Olivia, you cant just kick a kid out! Shes only a little thing, lost in a city that isnt even hers. Do you have any idea what could happen to her? Andrew was shaking with anger as he pleaded. Youre a mum yourself! Imagine if someone did that to Charlie!

You know, Charlie isnt like that at all, Olivia shot back. She might be just fourteen, but shes got the cheek of a thirtyyearold. If she can give her aunt a piece of her mind, shell manage to get to the train station on her own just fine.

Olivia knew she was probably overreacting. She didnt have any tickets for her daughter, nor any acquaintances in Manchester. She was essentially sending the girl off into the void. But shed stopped caring; she just couldnt put up with that brat in a skirt any longer.

Once, Andrew had seemed like a breath of fresh air to Olivia. Her first marriage wasnt a total disaster, but there was never any love in it. Shed married Simon more for his bank account than for his heart. He was the heir to a welloff family, lived large, never thought twice about spending, and looked after Olivia.

She figured a man like that would be perfect for building a family the kids would never want for anything. Her own feelings were the last thing on her mind. No spark, no romance so whats the point? Life isnt a fairytale; not everyone falls headoverheels. At least he was a good bloke, wouldnt hurt her.

She wasnt wrong about one thing: their only son, Charlie, never wanted for anything. But as he grew up and became more independent, his parents suddenly realised they were almost strangers to each other. No common interests, nothing to chat about. Olivia even started taking holidays on her own, away from Simon. And Simon, well, his infatuation had faded; there was no feeling left.

At first they tried to live sidebyside as good friends, but that plan crashed spectacularly. Every little thing about Simon annoyed Olivia the puddles he left in the bathroom after a shower, his snoring, the way he ate, even the way he breathed. Simon, meanwhile, started flirting with younger women, calling it a pill for boredom.

In the end they split. Simon kept one of the flats for Olivia and Charlie. The first few weeks Olivia got used to living alone, a new routine, and then she just wanted love. At least once in her life.

She signed up to a dating site, but didnt last long. The men she met were a mixed bag some hadnt found a job by forty, some were still railing against exes, and even the decent ones vanished after the first date. She didnt get why, until one new acquaintance lifted the veil.

The next date was a nightmare. An hour in, the bloke started getting pushy, trying to kiss her even though shed plainly said it was too fast. He kept urging her to come over, and when she finally tried to duck out with the excuse of picking up Charlie from school, he finally gave up.

Later that evening Olivia got a private message:

Couldnt you have just been straight up? Wasted my time. Im not interested in divorced women with baggage.

She remembered hearing that line back when they were at a café. It wasnt really about the son the label divorced woman had killed any desire she had to keep hunting. For many men it feels like a heavy weight, even if the kid is fifteen and already earning more than some of the hopeful suitors in the summer.

Olivia was about to throw in the towel on her love quest, when something unexpected happened.

She bumped into Andrew at a friends birthday Megans. He was charming, pouring champagne, serving salads, laughing at Olivias jokes, and at the end asked for her number.

Megan warned her:

Olivia, watch out. He comes with an ex and a daughter.

Olivia just laughed it off.

What of it? Im not a schoolgirl anymore, she replied. Life throws all sorts of things at you.

Andrew later explained, gently, that he couldnt make it work with his ex. Olivia took his words at face value the ex was apparently a drama queen, which surprised her because Andrew seemed such a gentle, calm bloke.

Soon the truth came out, and it didnt sit well with her.

Olivia, Ill be a bit late today. Need to swing by Violets. She asked me to pick up a bike for Emily, Andrew warned.

This wasnt the first time in a week Andrew had been delayed. Violet couldt even change a lightbulb without his help. At first Olivia tried to be understanding Violet had only recently divorced and was still getting used to a new life, just like she once had. But the constant interruptions wore her down.

You know how I feel about this. Cant you just say no to her? Im starting to think theres something going on between you two.

Olivia, for heavens sake! I cant just abandon Emily. Families fall apart, kids get left behind, you understand that.

I get it. I dont mind you helping, but not all the time. Lets send Violet some money for a tradesperson instead of you being there every time.

Come on, Olivia

No Olivia. Either you go home or you stay at Violets for good.

It was a battle, but Olivia finally got her way. Andrew stopped dropping by his exs place, though he still wanted to see his daughter, so Emily started coming over on weekends. Each visit turned into a test of Olivias patience.

The first night Emily demanded that her dad sleep in her room because she was scared to be alone. Then she raided Olivias perfume collection and doused herself in an expensive bottle. By the third visit she started whining about food.

Im not eating this, Emily said, pushing her plate away. Its not as good as Mums.

Fine, go hungry then, Olivia snapped, fed up. Or you can go back to Mum.

Are you kicking me out? Ill tell Mum they didnt feed me here! Emily crossed her arms, pouting.

Girls Andrew began, trying to keep the peace. Lets just order a pizza.

Every weekend brought a new argument. Emily acted like she owned the place, making it clear she didnt see Olivia as anyone. She wanted Dad to spend more time with her, or perhaps even go back to her mum, and she was slowly chipping away at his relationship with Olivia.

A friend once warned her:

Olivia, you might have to move to another city.

I never thought divorced women could come with a male trailer, Olivia sighed.

She took the advice seriously. By then Charlie was living on his own in York, so there was nothing holding her back.

They eventually moved to a cosy cottage on the outskirts of Brighton, near the sea. For two years everything was perfect quiet, peaceful, a chance to enjoy a proper family life. Then

Olivia, dont get mad, Andrew started timidly. Violet called. She wants Emily for the summer holidays, at least a month. Shes got health issues, the doctor says a seaside break would help, but the trips are pricey. Plus Violets on holiday in December.

Olivia stared at him like a stunned goat at a new gate.

No! Absolutely not, Emily! she snapped.

Olivia Ive spoken to her. She gets it and promises not to do it again.

She fought at first, but eventually gave in. After all, Emily was the daughter of the man she loved, and she hadnt seen her in ages.

The first week Emily behaved, staying mostly in her room or out for walks with Andrew. Then things went downhill.

Emily, could you please not wear your street shoes inside? Thats not how we do things here.

Oh, I forgot to take them off, she said sweetly. Its still dirty anyway.

She started bringing guests over without asking, taking food Olivia had asked her not to touch, blaring videos at full volume at night, and when told to quiet down she claimed shed left her headphones at home, promising to buy new ones if she got them. She even complained to Violet, sparking more arguments that ended up in calls to Olivia.

Olivias patience finally snapped when Emily accidentally knocked over a cup the very one Charlie had given her on his first paycheck.

Oh, never mind as if youre short on cups, youve made a proper mess for me, Emily shrugged.

That evening Olivia told Andrew she was done. She was fed up with the little terror on what should have been her own turf.

Andrew defended his daughter.

Olivia, she may be wrong sometimes, but shes still a child. Youre an adult. Could you try to work it out once a year, at least?

Otherwise it seems you dont care what happens to my daughter.

Olivia spent that night in the guest bedroom, refusing to be near Andrew. When she woke up the next morning, both he and Emily were gone.

Andrew didnt turn up for three days. He must have taken Emily somewhere just in case. He didnt answer calls or messages. Olivia could only guess what was happening behind the scenes.

He finally resurfaced on the fourth day.

Im heading home. Ill be there tomorrow around six, he said, as if it were the most normal thing.

Olivia could have pretended everything was fine, just like when he used to pop over to his ex every other day, but she was tired of the constant battle.

Andrew, dont be upset, but maybe you should go back to Violet. Some people are happy together, and when theyre apart its boring. It sounds like thats you two.

Olivia, whats the point? I just dropped my daughter off.

It would be great if she never visited us again, or at least if you put her in her place. You never did that in all these years. Im exhausted fighting in my own house and with you.

Andrew tried to persuade her, but Olivia stood firm. She never found out if he was cheating or just under Violets and Emilys thumb. She deliberately didnt stalk his socials.

She once wanted love, but what do you do when the man beside you loves himself, his comfort, and halfmeasures more than you? Olivia decided to start with loving herself. Keeping tabs on exes just didnt fit into that plan.

So thats where I am. Hope youre doing alright, and thanks for listening. Talk soon.