What are you doing here? Ethel asked cautiously as she turned to see the man at the landing.
Back, as you can see, Victor Harper said with a grin, gesturing to the bags hed hauled in.
Since when? Ethel tilted her head. Its been six months.
Ethel, I cant keep on like this! Victor sighed heavily. The thought of having left you alone tore my soul apart. My heart was in pieces, and seeing you suffer it hurts me to the bone.
Im suffering? Ethel replied, surprised.
At least I dont have to paint a smile for you, Victor chuckled. You can pretend in front of everyone that my leaving meant nothing and that youre doing fine.
I understand how hard it must be for youalone, with a child!
Ethel murmured thoughtfully.
Did you change the lock? Victor rattled a bunch of keys. Probably broke it, right? Heres the proofI didnt grease it in time, so its jammed!
Ethel fell silent, unsure how to answer, just as the lift chime echoed and the doors opened on their floor.
Dad? Sam, their fiveyearold, called, looking bewildered.
Yes, son, Victor sat down and opened his arms. Im moving back in with you lot. Come here, let me give you a hug.
Sam glanced at his mother, who gave a small nod of permission.
Alright, Ethel said, come on in, youll see.
Victor entered the house as the master of the place, yet he walked to the kitchen like a guest. In the hallway a new key shelf and a fresh shoe cabinet had appeared. The light fixture was different, and the interior doors had been replaced.
When Ethel walked past the bathroom, following Victor, she flicked on a switch.
Whats that? Victor asked.
Remember how damp the bathroom always was? Ethel reminded him. I fitted an extractor so the door can stay open without the room getting soggy.
Twenty minutes later never mind! Would you like tea or coffee? she asked, waving off the details.
Make me a coffee, Victor said, taking a seat on a brandnew stool.
Ethel fetched a capsule from the tin, dropped it into the coffee machine, and pressed the button.
Ill just change my coat, she said with a smile.
No problem, Victor replied with a restrained wave.
It wasnt just the stools and the coffee maker that were new; the pots were different, the tiles now framed the kitchen apron instead of the old vinyl shed once stuck on, and towel rails had appeared by the sink.
When Ethel returned in her homegym tracksuitshed previously shuffled about in a dressing gownVictors mood had shifted entirely from the one hed arrived with.
Whats that youve brought home? he asked sharply.
Who? Ethel asked, puzzled.
What man have you introduced to the house? I should know whos raising my son! And, for the record, were not officially divorced yet!
Drink your coffee, Ethel said, smiling wryly.
Look at her! Victor shouted, I came back out of pity! And shes doing who knows what, all while Im still married! Ethel!
Coffee, please! his voice carried a command.
Ill pour this coffee over your head if you dont, Victor snapped, jumping to his feet. Whats happening here? I demand answers!
***
Six months earlier, Ethel had declared that her life was over. The shock had been unimaginable.
Ethel, I think our marriage has run its course, Victor had announced. The feelings, the warmthgone.
What we had is gone, and staying together just for Sam is a sacrifice too great, he continued.
Divorce? Ethel asked, fear trembling in her voice.
Id suggest we dont rush, Victor replied. I might be wrong, I might be very wrong. Lets live apart for now, not divorce. I wont be dropping by, but if you truly need me, you can call. Just dont ring me up constantly I may already have a new life.
That was another blow. Victor interpreted his wifes silence differently.
Dont bother the courts for child support; the bureaucracy isnt worth it. Theyll only award you about fifteen pounds a week.
So Ill give you that for the coming month, then Ill transfer whatever comes in as salary. Everyones an adult, we each have to support ourselves.
Ill still pay my share for Sam, so youll see to that yourself. No hard feelings.
Ethel felt as though she were suspended between sky and earth. Nine years of what she thought was a happy marriage collapsed in a single instant. She could find no reason for it. Everything had seemed fine.
Why had Ethel decided her life was finished? Because beyond the marriage, nothing else seemed to exist for her. Her adult independence had begun only after she earned her degree, just in time for the wedding. Victor had been there for interviews, helped gather documents, drove her to work and picked her up, attended every prenatal appointment, and even insisted on a home birth.
He must accept his son into this world, Victor had said, wrapping his arms around the newborn.
Victor also celebrated the fresh renovations and new furnishings. They were lucky not to have a mortgage; Ethels parents had left her a inherited flat from a distant aunt, providing funds for both repairs and furniture.
There was nothing unusual about their social roles. Victor gave Ethel the freedom to run the household, yet he didnt shirk responsibilities when she asked. Their families got along famously; Victor got along with Ethels parents, and Ethel became friendly with Victors mother and sister. Holiday gatherings were a big, cheerful affair around one long table, with no grudges ever spoken.
When Sam grew older, Ethel returned to work, and Victors schedule changed, so he stopped driving her to and from the office. He gave her his car and paid for her driving lessons. If the car ever broke down, Ethel would ask Victor to ferry it to the garage, but Victor insisted on taking it himself, complaining that garages treated women unfairly and overcharged for special work. So Ethel simply handed over the keys and said something had happened.
Ethel was never a dependent trophy wife. She handled every household matter herself, calling on Victor only when she truly needed help. At work she earned respect for her diligence, climbing two rungs up the career ladder in five years after returning from maternity leave. Shed always run to Victor with joy over her successes, and he was always there, every breath and sigh beside heruntil he left.
Ethel felt adrift, eyes searching for Victor even when she knew what to do. Her parents saw her despondence. Her mother grew anxious, and her father, Denis Andrews, stepped in.
Darling, life throws all sorts of things at us, Denis said, after hearing why his daughter was upset. Its no reason to lose hope. Its hard to understand, harder to accept, but life goes on.
Dad, everythings falling apart! Ethel sobbed. I have no strength or desire to do anything!
Ellie, your mother and I will always support you, Denis replied kindly. We raised you to be clever and capable. Try to use your head.
He said this gently, without blame. The tears stopped. Ethel drifted through the next month in a sort of inertia, making no changes to the house that Victor had left behinduntil something odd happened that brightened her spirits.
It was as if shed erased Victor from the equation of a maths problem and solved it anew. She discovered she didnt need to tidy every single day; the house stayed tidy for four to seven days at a stretch. Laundry batches shrank, the detergent bottle lasted well into the third month. She realized the stove didnt need to be on three hours a day; cooking every other day was enough, far less than before.
Money? Her household budget now consisted of her salary and the fifteenpound childsupport cheque, yet by months end there was a surplus of twentyfive pounds. Did I miss a payment? she wondered, but everything balanced, and the home was comfortable.
Ethel had long thought of swapping the internal doors. Now she had the cash. She wondered who would install them. The local DIY shop said they had tradesmen. Two sturdy young men arrived, hauled the old doors to the skip, fitted the new ones, and swept up after themselves.
She imagined how much Victor would have fussed over the job, how much shed have had to cajole him into changing them. Money in the pocket spurs purchases.
She bought a key shelf, a new hallway lamp, and a shoe cupboard. She eyed the boxes, thinking perhaps she should ask Victor to assemble them, but recalled his plea not to be pulled back.
Can I get a handyman for an hour? she asked herself. Why not?
A local handyman turned up, listened, nodded, and within an hour said, All done. Ive wiped the bathroom dry; no mould will set in. Want to fit a vent? You have a duct already. I can install an extractor and move the switch. Half an hour and a few quid.
Can you do it tomorrow after lunch? she asked.
Easy, no fuss, just pay and its sorted, he replied. Plans for further improvements began to form in her mind.
Sam was on holiday, so Ethel decided to take him to Victors mothers house, not her own. The fact Victor had left didnt sour relations with his mother. They chatted about nothing in particular; Victors sister was there too, and they talked about the latest TV shows. It was a pleasant visit.
Three days later Victor burst back, brandishing the phrase, Im back!
***
You could demand things when you were my husband, Ethel snapped. Now just have your coffee and get lost!
Im not going anywhere! Victor shouted. Im still your husband! I came back, I came home for you, because I felt sorry for you, so you wouldnt vanish without me!
See? Ethel smiled. You havent vanished, but youre only a husband on paper now. Ill fix that very soon.
Victor stared at her, bewildered, unable to comprehend how his noble gesturereturning without tearing the family aparthad been rebuffed.
Dont want coffee? Then go away, Ethel waved his hand like swatting a fly. I still have lessons to do with Sam!
Relations with his motherinlaw and sister soured instantly. It was clear who had sent Victor to save Ethel from her own happiness.
