“She’s Just Playing My Husband – Fumed Emma, Realising the Ex-Wife Would Always Come First”

Shes just manipulating my husband, said Alice, exasperated.

Alice stared at her phone, feeling that familiar, simmering frustration bubbling up again.

James had called for the third time that evening.

Alice, Im so sorry, came his tired, guilty, endlessly familiar voice. I know we planned the theatre, butwell, Sophie says Liams got a fever, forty degrees. She cant manage on her own. Please, try to understand?

Alice understood. Far too well.

James, weve got tickets, she said calmly, though inwardly she wanted to scream. Weve been waiting six weeks for tonight.

I know, sweetheart. Ill make it up to you, I promise. But hes just a childI cant just abandon him.

After hanging up, Alice rang her friend.

Laura, can you believe it? she paced the sitting room, gesturing wildly. Again! Third time this month! First his sons ill, then his exs car breaks down, then some other nonsense.

Maybe Liam really is poorly? Laura ventured cautiously.

I know! Of course he is. Kids always get ill, thats life. But whats not normal is that his ex always calls him. Doesnt she have parents? Friends?

Um

No um about it! Alice snapped, jumping up. Shes playing him! James is just too soft to see it. She knows hell drop everything and run. She uses that.

Laura sighed at the other end.

Are you sure shes the problem?

Well, who else? Alice froze.

I dont know. Just think: if a woman calls her ex-husband and he always drops everything for herwhos really using whom?

Alice opened her mouth, closed it, and felt a sharp, unpleasant pang inside.

Dont talk rubbish, Laura, she said sharply. James is just a responsible dad. He cant let his child down.

Alright, alright, Laura agreed quickly. Just saying.

But just saying stuck in Alices mind like a little thorn.

James came home late. He looked drawn, rumpled, and apologetic.

Im a fool, I know, he said, hugging her from behind, pressing his face into her neck. Ill get us new tickets. Best seats, promise.

Alice said nothing, staring out the window, mulling over how many times shed heard that promise beforefive? Ten? Twenty?

Always the same: You do understand.

I do, Alice thought. Only, Im not sure what I actually understand.

Then little things began to pile upat first, unnoticed, like dust on a shelf. Invisible, until you run your finger along it and see the grey smear.

James, she realised, had started to guard his phone. Once, hed leave it anywherethe kitchen, the sofa, even the bathroom. Now he carried it constantly, even for a glass of water.

James, whyre you taking your phone everywhere? Alice asked lightly one evening.

Eh? Force of habit, I suppose. At work, it rings all day

Fair enough.

Then, by accident, Alice glanced at his diary on his phone, planning to jot down their theatre trip. There it was: Collect Liam 16:00, Take Sophies documents to DVLA, Ring S about jabs.

SSophie.

James, she asked over dinner, stirring her tea long past the sugar having dissolved, do you know when my thesis defence is?

He looked up.

Your thesis? Um, May, I think?

March. In two weeks.

Oh. Sorry. Im hopeless.

All the details of Sophies life memorised, but about Aliceempty.

There was money, too.

Alice accidentally saw a bank statement James left on the table. Three transfers£400 each. Recipient: S. Robinson.

James, she called, holding the paper. Whats this?

He didnt even look ashamed, just sighed.

Im helping Sophie. Her mums unwellneeded money for medicines. And for Liams clubs. You know shes on her own.

£1,200 over three months, James.

So? Hes my son! Am I meant to just let them struggle?

Alice replaced the paper.

No, of course not. Just odd you didnt mention it.

I didnt hide it! Just knew youd start all this nitpicking.

That all thisthe tone made Alice feel petty, jealous, hysterical.

And then, the incident in the car.

Alice took the passenger seat and noticed a childs drawing on the back. A house. Flowers, sun, three people: Dad, Mum, Liam.

No Alice.

She picked up the picture. On the back, in wavering letters: For Daddy, from Liam. Our family.

James, she called quietly.

Yes?

Whats this?

He looked. Oh, Liam did it. Not bad, eh? Talented little fella.

Alice stared at the drawing, then at James, then back again.

It says our family.

Well, yes. Hes little. For him, familys me, Sophie, him. Thats just kids minds, you know.

Alice put the drawing down, sat up straight, did up her seatbelt, and stayed silent the whole drive.

Then, Sophie started showing up in person.

At first, just onceto pick up some of Liams things from Jamess. Then againto talk about summer holidays. Then, just passingThought Id pop in.

Sophie was unfailingly polite, cheerful, almost friendly.

Hi, Alice! shed say as if they were mates. Im not intruding, am I? Is James home?

After each visit, James became distant. Absent. Gave one-word answers, gazing at nothing in particular.

Whats up? Alice would ask.

Just tired, hed reply.

Alice felt like the third wheel. In the way.

Then, she overheard a phone call.

James was in the bathroom, thinking the door was shut tight. But it wasnt, and Alice heard:

Sophie, please dont cry I said Id help Of course Ill come. I promise. You know Im always here for you.

His voice, gentle. Intimate.

Alice stepped away and sat on the sofa. Suddenly, it struck her.

Its not Sophie manipulating him.

James was allowing it.

Because it suited him.

She kept quiet for three days. Didnt start arguments, just watched. Like a scientist studying a rare insect under a microscopedetached, curious.

And she began to see:

James knew Sophies schedule by heart. When Liam had nursery, clubs, when Sophie had a GP appointment. It was all in his diary. Hed forgotten Alices thesis defence.

He texted constantly. His phone buzzed, hed snatch it up, reply quicklyhis face subtly softer, guilty, like he was doing something he knew he shouldnt.

One evening, the phone rang as James was in the shower. Alice glanced at the screen.

Sophie.

Almost without thinking, Alice answered.

James? Sophies voice was quiet, nearly in tears. James, can you come? I feel dreadful. Ive no one else to call.

Alice was silent.

James? You there? Please, I cant cope alone. Youve always been there.

Alice hung up. Put the phone down. Sat on the sofa and laughedloud, hollow.

What a fool I am. Blind, naive fool.

James appeareddripping, towel around his waist, hair wet.

Sophie rang, Alice said, calm as can be.

He froze.

You you answered?

I did. Alice stood, facing him. She was crying, said she needed you. That youd always been there.

James was silent, visibly scrambling for wordsAlice could see the mental cogs turning.

Look, he started, Sophies been through a rough patch. Shes got no one. Only me. I cant just walk away.

Walk away? Alice almost laughed. James, you divorced her four years ago. Shes your ex. Shes not your wife. You already walked away, long ago.

But we have a son together!

So what does that mean? That you run to her every time she says the magic word Liam? That you send her money behind my back? That you know her schedule better than mine?

Youre making it sound far worse than it is!

Am I?

Something snapped. Alice grabbed her handbag and began packing.

You know, James, all this time I convinced myself she was the problem. That she was stringing you along, playing the child card, refusing to let go.

She turned to face him.

But heres the truth. Its not herits you. You let her. More than thatyou want it this way. You like having two lives. An ex-wife who needs you, and a new one who puts up with it. You wont commit, because it suits you.

Alice, dont go.

Im not going, she said quietly. Im leaving. Leaving this ridiculous triangle where Im always last in line. Im not fighting your ex. Im just done playing your game.

James stood there, wet, confused, looking pitiful.

Alice, please. Lets talk.

Theres nothing left to talk about. Alice shrugged on her coat. You made your choice ages ago. I was just too slow to see it. I see it nowclear as day.

She opened the door.

Goodbye, James. Give my regards to Sophie. She can ring any time.

The door closed quietly.

A month later, Alice was sat in a coffee shop with Laura.

How are you? Laura asked gently.

Im alright, Alice smiled. Honestly, I am.

And it was the truth. The first week had been toughher chest ached, she wanted to call, message, go back. But she stood firm. Rented a small studio, picked up extra hours, completed her thesis.

James rang, sent endless, rambling textsapologies, explanations, promises.

Alice, forgive me. I was wrong. You were right. Lets start afresh.

She didnt reply. Starting over was pointless. The problem wasnt Sophie; it was James. Until he realised that, nothing would change.

And him? asked Laura.

Who?

James, who else?

Oh. Alice shrugged. No idea. We dont speak.

They drank their coffee in silence.

Do you have regrets? Laura asked.

Did she regret it? No. Strangely, no. What she felt was relief. Like putting down a heavy rucksack after lugging it for miles.

I made a choice, Alice finished her coffee. For him. And for myself.

Laura smiled.

Well done, you.

Oh, its not much, Alice waved it off. Just growing up.

James ended up alone.

Oddly, Sophie soon stopped calling. Without Alice around as an audience, the old games lost their thrill. When James tried to rekindle what once was, he got only a frosty rebuff.

You made your choice years ago, Sophie told him. Live with it. Im fine on my own. I dont need your help anymore.

James tried to win Alice back. Showed up at her flat, waited outside her work, sent long messages, but she stood firm.

James, let me go, she said at last. And let go of yourself. We dont suit. You wanted two lives at once. I want just onea real one.

Alice walked through the city at dusk, marvelling at how odd life is. For so long, shed feared being alone. Feared losing James. Losing him, she realised, meant losing nothing.

Because someone who cannot choose can never offer anything real.

And sheshe deserved something real.

If you ask me, theres no sense in James crawling back to his first wife. He wanted to have it both ways, and when the dust settled, he ended up with nothing at all. Thats the lesson Ive learnedsometimes, letting go is the only way to move forward.