Anthony left her with their little daughter and walked away. But when her mother-in-law came to gloat, Ellen
Ellen couldnt settle. Little Emily had fallen asleep in her arms, yet she still lingered by the window, staring into the courtyard. An hour had passed since shed last seen his car vanish down the lane.
Just a few hours earlier, her beloved husband, Anthony, had returned from work. Ellen had been in the kitchen, waiting, but he never came in. When she stepped into the sitting room, she found him packing his things.
“Where are you going?” she asked, bewildered.
“Im leaving. Im leaving you for the woman I love.”
“Anthony, youre joking, arent you? Did something happen at work? Is this a business trip?”
“Cant you understand? Im sick of you. Its always Emily with younever me. You dont even take care of yourself anymore.”
“Dont shout, youll wake Emily.”
“There you go againonly thinking of her. Your husband is walking out, and you”
“A real man wouldnt abandon his wife and child,” Ellen said quietly before retreating to their daughters room.
She knew his temper. If she pressed the argument, it would only erupt into a row. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let him see them. She scooped Emily from her cot and carried her to the kitchensomewhere Anthony had no reason to follow.
Through the window, she watched him climb into his car and drive off without a backward glance. Yet Ellen couldnt pull herself away. Perhaps she hoped his car would reappear, that hed laugh it all off as a cruel joke. But the lane remained empty.
Sleep evaded her all night. There was no one to call, no one to share her grief with. Her mother had long since lost interest in her, relieved when Ellen married and promptly forgotten. To Laura, it was as if only her younger brother had ever existed. She had friends, of course, but they were mothers like her, likely asleep now. What could they possibly do to help?
Ellen finally dozed off near dawn. She tried ringing Anthony, but he ended the call and sent a text telling her not to bother him again.
Just then, Emily began to fuss. Ellen went to her, forcing back her despair. *Hes goneso be it.* She had her daughter to care for. She had to think of the future.
A check of her purse and bank account left her horrified. Even if she begged the landlady for five days grace until her benefits came through, it wouldnt be enough. And they still needed food. She could have taken on remote work, but Anthony had taken his laptop.
She had two weeks left in the flat to figure something outand she had to act fast.
But after calling every acquaintance, she realised it was hopeless. No one would hire her with a baby in tow. Even a cleaning job required someone to watch Emily for an hour or twoand she had no one. Moving to a cheaper place wouldnt help either; their current flat was already modest. The only option was her parents house. But while she had delayed settling down, her brother had married young, and his familyhis wife and twin boysalready crammed into her mothers two-bedroom home. Five people under one roofhow would she and Emily fit?
She told the landlady shed move out when the rent ran out. The thought of a bedsit crossed her mind, but the places shed seen had neighbours she wouldnt wish on an enemy. She messaged Anthony, pleading for financial help for Emilys sake, but he didnt reply. He hadnt even read the messageslikely blocked.
With five days left, Ellen began packing. It wasnt much, but it kept her hands busy. Then the doorbell rang.
Standing in the doorway, she froze. There was Margarether mother-in-law.
*Hasnt life punished me enough?* Ellen thought, stepping aside to let her in.
Her relationship with Margaret had always been strainedpolite smiles masking mutual dislike. From their very first meeting, Margaret had made it clear Ellen wasnt good enough for her son. Mothers always thought they could do better, didnt they? Thats why Ellen had insisted they live separately.
Margarets visits were like those awful jokes: *Ellen, have you ever heard of a duster?* And shed refused to eat Ellens cooking, saying it was fit only for pigs. When Ellen fell pregnant, Margaret eased upuntil Emily was born. Then shed insisted the baby didnt look like Anthonys side, demanding a paternity test.
Only when Emily turned six months old did Margaret begin recognising familiar features, occasionally holding her. Anthony had pleaded patiencehis mother had raised him alone, he said, and was overprotective. Ellen endured it, never asking for help.
And now here Margaret stood, in her hallway, after Anthony had left. Probably here to gloat. But Ellen was past caring.
Margarets sharp voice snapped her from her thoughts.
“Right, pack your things. You and Emily dont belong here.”
“Margaret, I dont understand”
“Whats there to understand? Pack. Youre coming home with me.”
“With you?”
“Where else would you go? To your mothers, where theyre already packed in like sardines?”
“Youyou know?”
“Of course I know. Wish Id known sooner. That great lump only told me today. Ive a three-bedroom house. Theres room for all of us.”
Ellen had no choice. *In for a penny*
Arriving at Margarets house, fear prickled through her. Then Margaret showed her the room for her and Emily. Once Ellen had settled Emily to sleep, she ventured to the kitchen.
“Ellen,” Margaret said, “I know weve never seen eye to eye. But try to understandand forgive me, if you can.”
“You only wanted what was best for your son.”
“Best? Pah!” Margaret cut in. “I was selfish. Today he rang me and told me everything. Forgive me for raising such a son. I dont know where I went wrong. His father left us when Anthony was three months old. He knew how hard it was for a mother alone. Yet he still repeated his fathers cowardice. Stay here as long as you need.”
Ellen never imagined Margaret would take her side. Now she couldnt even speakonly tears splashed onto the table.
“None of that,” Margaret said sternly.
“Im not. Its justthank you.”
“Dont thank me. Call it making amends. Youll manage. Weve a roof over our heads. When you find work, Ill mind Emily.”
From that day, they became inseparable. Margarets sharp tongue still flickered now and then, but she reined it in, offering advice gently rather than with force.
Today, Emily turned one. Ellen and Margaret decorated the room with balloons, and a fragrant apple pie sat on the table.
Emily toddled toward the balloons.
“Ellen, lookher first steps!” Margaret exclaimed, beaming.
They caught her just as she plopped down, deciding one step was enough for today.
As they sat down to eat, the doorbell rang. Margaret answeredand froze. Anthony stood there, a woman beside him.
“Hello, Mum,” he said casually, stepping inside.
“Well, this is a surprise. To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Cant I just visit?”
“After five months of silence? Something mustve happened.”
“Mum, rents steep. Angela and I thought wed stay here awhile.”
“Angela? Whos this?”
“Mum, come on”
“Theres no room. Ive others living here now.”
“Got yourself a fancy man, have you?”
“Even if I had, its none of your business. Mind your tongue.”
Anthony strode in and frozeEllen and Emily at the table, balloons everywhere.
“Son, youre not welcome. Cant you see were busy?”
“Whats *she* doing here?”
“That *she* is still your lawful wife. The final divorce hearings tomorrowwhich youll no doubt skip. Todays your daughters first birthday. But I see you forgot.”
“I thought we were already divorced. And the birthdayhow do I even know shes mine?”
“If youd bothered showing up, it wouldve been settled. Not that it matters. Ellen and Emily live here now. Traitors arent welcome. If you doubt shes yours and refuse maintenance, go aheadwaste money on a DNA test. Now leave.”
“Mum, if I walk out now, its for good.”
Margaret said nothing. She simply pointed to the door.
Later, when Emily slept, Ellen approached her.
“Margaret are you all right? Should I go? Hes your son.”
“Ellen, he *is* my son. But no man treats his child like that.
