A Wife Who Learned the Truth Too Late: — “Is this what you’re looking for?” she handed him the let…

Is this what youre looking for? I handed Nick the letter.

He went almost grey in the face.

Rose, please Its not what youre thinking Charlie This is

What is it I shouldnt be thinking, Nick? That my husbands mother is alive and in prison? That the pair of you have been treating me like some clueless daisy?!

What do you mean a month? Rose, we agreed you could stay until autumn at least!

My youngest has just started at nursery, Ive finally got a job nearby

Whats happened?

We pay our rent on time, we keep quiet

Its not you I fumbled for words. I need to go back to my own flat.

Why? Have you and Nick fallen out?

Please, dont ask any more questions.

One month from today, no more.

Ill sort out the bills and return your deposit.

Sorry

I ended the call and shivered. I just wanted all of this over and done with

***

I just couldnt tear my eyes away from the envelope on the kitchen table.

A plain, grey envelope the sort you get all the time. Id only picked it up five minutes earlier along with the grocery flyers and a gas bill.

Usually, Charlie fetched the post, but for no real reason, Id opened the box today

Postmark. Return address. HMP Styal.

And the senders name: Lydia Watson.

Id only heard the name a handful of times Charlies mother, apparently. My mother-in-law, whom Id never even laid eyes on.

I never even guessed the woman who gave birth to my husband was still alive.

I dont have anyone, Rose Charlie said that at our third date, when we were hunched together in a cheap café, steaming mugs warming our hands after walking through the drizzle. Dad left before I was born never even laid eyes on him.

My mum she died when I was twenty. Heart gave out. So really, Im on my own. Bit of a rolling stone.

All alone? Id nearly wept with pity. No aunts, uncles?

Theres some distant cousin in Scotland, but were not in touch.

Its actually easier, you know. No family melodramas, no obligatory Sunday lunches, no mother-in-law nags just me and you.

I remember thinking, God, hes so strong. Hes been through so much and came out so kind

I surrounded him with so much care, almost as if I was trying to make up for all the motherly love hed missed out on.

We were married soon after low-key, just close friends and family. My parents were there, two of my best friends; his side, only his childhood mate, Nick, who barely said a word and kept glancing away when I caught his eye.

Id put it down to shyness. Now I realise: Nick was just terrified he might let something slip.

Where is she buried, then? I asked Charlie, maybe half a year after the wedding. Maybe we should visit? Tidy up the grave? She was your mum, after all

Charlie flinched oddly. Began to fidget with his collar, like it was choking him.

Far off, in the country, he said. Old graveyard, hardly anyone goes there now. Ill go alone sometime, no need to trouble yourself. Feels heavy there.

Lets focus on the living, yeah?

And I believed him. Foolish, wasnt I?

***

The front door opened; I jumped and quickly stuffed the envelope in the drawer, hiding it under a pile of Sainsburys coupons.

Hello, love! Charlies voice was just as bright as ever, Hows our little champ? Behaved today?

He strolled into the kitchen, came to kiss my hair, but I moved away before I could stop myself.

Whats wrong? Tired? he frowned, searching my face. Did Ben keep you up again?

Let me go get changed, Ill take him off your hands, you can rest.

Ill sort dinner.

No, no, Im fine. The post arrived today

He hesitated, only for the briefest flash of a moment, but I noticed.

Did it? Anything but more bills, I hope?

Bills mostly. Some junk mail. The usual.

He let out a theatrical sigh of relief.

Thats good, then! Ill wash up and see to Ben. Havent seen him all day.

I watched him go. The man Id shared years and memories with lying to my face.

Blatant lies, too.

Im basically an orphan, hed said.

Meanwhile, Lydia Watson was writing from a prison in the north.

What was she inside for? Theft? Fraud? Worse? How long left to serve?

I pictured, as clear as day, that in another year or two our doorbell would ring standing there would be a woman with haunted eyes and a prison past.

Shed say,

Hello, son, hello, daughter-in-law. Wheres my grandson? Im moving in now!

I wasnt even worried for myself. It was Ben I feared for.

How can a child grow up with a grandmother whod done time behind bars?

The thought of letting Ben near her impossible.

Rose, would you like a cuppa? Charlie called from the sitting room. Theres offers at Asda on nappies, found the leaflet in a drawer. Must swing by tomorrow.

I didnt respond. I was already checking my account balance on my phone.

There was enough to keep us afloat for a while. The flat across town would do.

Our tenants would move out in a month. I just needed to hold on until then, not give myself away.

***

Charlie left early for work, lingering to press kisses into Bens chubby cheeks and promising to come home sooner tonight.

Watching them, I felt almost sick. How could he lie to me like this? Hide something so big?

Once hed left, I pulled the letter out once again. I wanted to tear it open, devour every word, but I was afraid. Afraid something inside would make me weak.

What if reading it made me stay? What if it changed everything?

No, I told myself, it doesnt matter whats inside. Hes lied to me for nearly two years.

The doorbell rang. I froze. Who could it be?

My parents always called ahead. My friends, too.

At the peephole: Nick, pacing nervously, glancing at the lift every few seconds.

I opened the door.

Nick? Charlies at work.

Oh, I know, Rose He shifted, fidgeting with his jacket pockets. I, erm was passing by. Thought Charlie mightve left the garage keys at home.

He said theyd be on the side table

Keys? I arched an eyebrow. Nothing on the side table or in the hall. You sure he left them?

Thats what he said Listen, Rose, Charlie also asked me to check the post. Looked, but its empty. You didnt get the post today, did you?

I did, actually. Why?

Nick swallowed.

Oh, just Were waiting on a parcel of spare parts. Charlie wanted a heads-up if the slip arrived.

I walked slowly to the kitchen, picked up the grey envelope, held it out.

This what youre after? I held up the letter.

Nick went pale.

Rose, please, its not what you think Charlie He

What exactly arent I supposed to think, Nick? That my husbands mother is alive and in prison? That you two think Im some pretty fool?

That Ive had a child with a man whose whole background is a locked box?

Rose, he just wanted a chance at something normal, Nick blurted out, almost whispering. His mum shes a tricky one, did him plenty of harm. He just tried to forget her, wanted a real life, nothing more.

He never meant you any harm, cant you see that? He just wiped her from his life so you wouldnt worry.

Wiped out his own mother? I let out a bitter laugh. Nick, how can you erase your own mum? And so deceitfully.

He took away my right to know. I deserved to know what family I was marrying into.

Family? Nick shook his head. There isn’t one. Just her and her business.

Rose, just hand me the letter, okay? You havent read it, right? Ill give it to Charlie, let him explain it all.

Please leave, Nick, I said quietly. And Im not giving you the letter. Its addressed to Charles Watson. He can collect it from me in person.

I shut the door in his stunned face.

***

The rest of the day passed in a blur. I fed Ben, dressed him, took him out. But my mind circled back, again and again.

What to pack first? Pram, travel cot, passports. Forget the furniture.

My old flat at the edge of town had worn carpet and an ancient armchair. That would do.

By six, I felt utterly calm.

Set the table, cooked a meal, put Ben to bed. Sat and waited for Charlie.

Smells lovely in here! Charlie came home, acting like nothing was wrong. Look what I got new mobile for Ben, plays lullabies.

I sat silently at the table, the wretched grey letter before me. Charlie saw it and dropped the act.

Nick found it? he asked flatly.

I found it. Nick came round on your behalf, tried to take it. I kept it.

Charlie sank onto a chair opposite me.

Why, Charlie? Why did you say she was dead?

Because she died to me twelve years ago, he met my eye, tears welling. First time she went inside. She got out, lasted a few months, then went back. Again and again.

Rose, youre from a decent background engineer dad, teacher mum. You wouldnt even understand how she talks. My mothers a career con artist. A proper fraudster.

And you thought that gave you the right to lie? For a whole year? I snapped. Do you realise you shattered every ounce of trust I had in you?

I was scared youd leave me! he stood up, voice rising. Youd have said, no way, not with a felons son. I just wanted Ben to grow up normal. I thought rather a fatherless orphan than the son of a thief.

Now hell have a divorced father, I said, cold as ice.

Charlie froze.

What? Rose, come on Because of a letter? Because I kept it quiet?

Because I dont know who you are, Charlie. If you could invent your mothers death what else have you lied about?

Who is your father? Maybe hes not really gone either maybe hes locked up down the road!

Now youre being ridiculous

No, Charlie. Ive already spoken to the tenants. Ill be moving out in a month. Im filing for divorce tomorrow.

He begged then. Properly sank to his knees, begged me to reconsider, said it was a lie for my sake.

But I wasnt having it. My mind was made up.

***
The flats empty now, just me and Ben, living back on our own. The divorce is over, though Charlie still clings to the hope Ill change my mind. He cant understand where he went wrong after all, he was only trying to protect his family.

He sees Ben often, supports us fully. But he cant win me back. And Ive no intention of going back, either.

If theres one hard truth Ive learnt, its that trust, once broken, is almost impossible to mend and no amount of well-meant lies could ever build a family worth having.