I thought we were friends, yet youve taken my husband, Emily shouted, her voice cracking. She slammed the sketchbook shut with such force that the pages rattled. To you its all childs play, nothing serious!
Megan, I didnt mean it like that, Marina said wearily, rubbing her temples. The migraine that had begun at breakfast now throbbed like a drum in her skull. Im just saying that a career in design is unstable. One day you have commissions, the next you have none. Accounting, on the other hand, is a steady loaf of breadalways reliable.
Thats your loaf, not mine! Emily leapt from her chair, lightning flashing in her eyes. I dont want to spend my whole life crunching numbers like you. I want to create, to make beauty. Aunt Sophie gets me; shes the only one who believes in my talent.
The mention of Sophie made Megans heart tighten. Again Sophie. Her best friend, her rock during the darkest years, had lately become a bigger authority to her daughter than her own mother.
Sophie lives in a different world, love. She runs a successful salon and can afford to talk about lofty things. You and I are living from paycheck to paycheck, Megan warned.
Exactly! Emily snapped, grabbing her coat and hurrying to the door. I wont live like that!
The front door slammed shut, and a ringing silence settled over the cramped twobedroom flat. Megan sank into a chair, clutching her head. Each argument drained her completely. At fortyfive, she had spent the last ten years shouldering everything alone. After Ian, her husband and Emilys father, left with a pile of unpaid bills and a vague sorry, weve grown apart, life became an endless survival race. She worked at the local library, took odd jobs typing at night, and denied herself anything, just to keep Emily supplied with what she needed.
Throughout it all, Sophie had been there. Theyd sat sidebyside in school, she the vibrant, confident one; Megan the quiet, homebound one. When the divorce hit, Sophie rescued her from sinking into despair, bringing groceries, coaxing her out for walks, listening for hours to her sobbing. Well get through this, love, she would say, hugging Megan tightly. Hell regret losing such a wonderful woman.
And Megan believed. She picked herself up for Emilys sake. Sophie had become almost a family membera godmother to Emily, the Aunt Sophie who always understood and supported.
Megan sighed and moved to the window. The evening city lights glittered. Somewhere out there, her hurt daughter was probably wandering toward Sophies cosy studio in the centre, where the air smelled of expensive coffee and haircare products, gentle music played, and talk of high art floated free of worries about rent.
The kitchen phone buzzed. It was a message from Sophie: Emily is with me. Dont worry, Ill talk to her. Everything will be alright. A sting of irritation mixed with gratitude rose in Megan. Part of her was relieved her daughter was safe; another part bristled that Sophie continually acted as the peacemaker, as if Megan couldnt manage her own child.
She poured herself a cheap tea bag, sat at the table, and stared at the old photograph in the frame: the three of them, Ian, herself, and a baby Emily in her arms, smiling and young. How long ago that was. Iantall, darkhaired, with laugh lines at his eyeshad loved jazz, strong coffee, and travel books. He left one evening, saying he needed time alone, and a week later called to say he wouldnt be coming back.
Sophies voice echoed in Megans memory, Hes a fool, Megan, just a fool. Youll find someone proper. Yet Megan never did; her whole life revolved around her daughter.
The next days passed in tense silence. Emily returned from school, ate, and locked herself in her room. Megan dared not be the first to speak, fearing another clash. On Saturday morning Sophie called.
Hey, Meg, Ive got a crisishealthinspection team showed up and my cleaner called in sick. Could you come over and help tidy? Ill owe you one. And maybe you and Emily can sort things out while youre there.
Megan hesitated, feeling guilty yet hopeful that a neutral setting might finally let her talk to Emily. Alright, Ill be there in an hour, she agreed.
Sophies salon, Cleopatra, dazzled with mirrored walls and a faint perfume of floral scent. Sophie, impeccably dressed in a sharp trousersuit, greeted her at the door. Meg, youre my saviour! Change into something comfy; I need a quick dustoff and floormopping in the main hall. Ill handle the paperwork. Emily will be here soon.
Megan slipped into an old tee in the back room and began cleaning. She didnt resent Sophies success; Sophie had always been driven and deserved what she had. Yet amid the gleaming beauty, Megan felt her own instability starkly.
She finished mopping just as Emily walked in, eyes narrowed at the sight of her mother with a mop. Emily, we need to talk, Megan said softly.
About what? That I should abandon my dream and go to some boring college? Emily retorted.
No. About us.
At that moment Sophie emerged from the office, two smartphones in handhers and a clients left charging. Girls, dont fight! she chirped, flashing her disarming smile. Meg, dont be angry with her; shes just a kid with big ambitions. Emily, mum only wants the best for you. Lets have a coffee. Ill make yours with a dash of cinnamon.
She set the phones on the reception desk and slipped away. Emily buried herself in her own device. Megan glanced at the phones; one screen lit up with a brief message from I. Missing your coffee. And you. A tiny red heart accompanied it.
Megans heart skipped. I. Ian? It couldnt be. Sophie had mentioned a new romance, a complicated, divorced but interesting man. Could it be Ian? Millions of men named Ian exist. She shook her head, dismissing the absurd thought.
The conversation with Emily never materialised. They sipped coffee while Sophie chatted about the latest hairstyles; Emily replied with nods, and Megan sat in silence, feeling an invisible wall rise between her and those she loved. The cryptic message lingered.
Later at home she dug out an old address book, found Ians number, and, out of habit, thumbed it. What would she say? Hello, its me. How are you? It seemed foolish, so she put the phone back.
A few days later Sophie invited them to the cinema. In the dim hall, a romantic comedy flickered while Megan watched Sophie furtively type on her phone, a familiar I. in the recipient line catching her eye again.
After the film they stopped at a café.
Oh, Meg, Im thrilled! Sophie exclaimed, stirring sugar into her tea. I think Ive fallen in love. Hes solid, clevermakes me feel as safe as behind a stone wall.
Congratulations, Aunt Sophie, Emily said, smiling. Who is he? Do we know him?
No, hes not from our circle. We met by chance. Hes just returned to town after years up north.
Up northMegan remembered Ian had taken a rotational job in the oil fields of Sheffield years ago. A coincidence? Too many coincidences. A cold shiver ran down her spine.
Whats his name? she asked, trying to keep her tone neutral.
Ian, Sophie replied, quickly changing the subject. By the way, Emily, theres an art school advertising preparatory courses. I could fund it for you if youre interested.
Megans mind raced. Ian. It couldnt be true. Her best friend, the woman who had dried her tears after the divorce, was now seeing the man who had abandoned her. The picture of Sophie shifted from a caring friend to a schemer, trying to win Emilys loyalty by feeding her lofty dreams while secretly reclaiming what she thought shed lost.
Mom, whats wrong? Emilys voice pulled her from the spiral. You look pale.
Nothing, Megan whispered, her head thudding. Just a headache. Lets go home.
She locked herself in the bathroom, turned the shower on, and let the water drown her sobs. The tears were bitter, scorchingmore than betrayal by a husband; it was the sting of a friends doublecross, the loss of a trust shed held for years. She cried not for Ian, who was already dead to her, but for the friendship that had been trampled.
She knew she had to act, but how? A public outburst? An accusation? That would be simple, yet humiliating. She decided to wait for undeniable proof.
A week later Sophies birthday was being celebrated at a countryside restaurant, and she had invited Megan and Emily.
Come, Meg! Ill introduce you to my Ian. Youll love him, Sophie gushed over the phone.
Megan felt her breath catch.
Fine, Sophie. Well be there.
The day passed in a haze. She chose a dress, did her hair, applied makeup, and when she looked in the mirror saw a strangers face with feverish eyes. Emily, oblivious, twirled nearby, excited for the party.
The restaurant was lavishlive piano, whitecloth tables, elegantly dressed guests. Sophie, radiant in a silver gown, flitted from guest to guest. Spotting them, she swooped over.
Finally! Come in, my dears! Megan, you look stunning! Ill now introduce you Ian! She gestured to a man enteringolder, with silver at his temples, but unmistakably Ian.
He froze when his eyes met Megans. Shock, fear, shame flickered across his face.
Megan? he murmured.
Good afternoon, she replied coolly, staring straight at him.
Sophie looked between them, bewildered.
Do you know each other? she asked.
More than you think, Megan said with a thin smile. Hes my exhusband. Emilys father.
The room fell silent. The music seemed to stop. All eyes were on the three of them. Sophies face turned ashen. Emily stared, bewildered, between mother, father, and her beloved Aunt Sophie.
Mom, is this true? she whispered.
Yes, love. Hes your father.
Megan stepped toward Sophie, who clutched Ians arm as if fearing he would vanish.
Happy birthday, dear, Megan said quietly but firmly. I thought we were friends. Turns out youve not only comforted me in my darkest hour, but also taken what I thought youd lost. How easy was it to date my husband behind my back and then tell me how to survive his betrayal?
Sophie stammered, Megan, I didnt know how to say it It happened by accident We met six months ago, he never mentioned
What? Hes your husbands ex? Megan snapped. You knew everything.
She turned to Ian.
Youre not even worth my words. You were a cowardwalking away from one woman and into another. Nothing changes.
She took Emilys hand. The girls eyes widened, brimming with tears.
Lets go, love. This isnt our place.
They walked out through the stunned crowd. At the doorway Megan glanced back. Sophie stood alone, bewildered; Ian stared at the floor.
The ride home was quiet. At the flat Emily burst into tears.
Mom, how could Aunt Sophie? And Dad?
Megan held her, smoothing her hair. Shh, sweetheart. People sometimes do terrible things, even those we love. The important thing is that we have each other.
That night they stayed at the kitchen table, talking long into the early hours. Megan laid bare her life with Ian, her friendship with Sophie, and all the hidden truths. Emily listened, and the child’s hurt dissolved into a mature understanding.
The following days saw Sophie cut off all contact. Megan ignored the flood of apologetic messages. A week later Ian appeared at their door.
Megan, we need to talk, he said, eyes downcast.
Theres nothing to discuss, she replied sharply. Leave.
But Emily
She cared about you for ten years without a thought. Now go. Dont come back.
She slammed the door, feeling a weight lift from her chesta heavy stone finally set down.
Life moved on, though it was hard. The void left by Sophies betrayal was hard to fill. Occasionally she reached for the phone to call a friend, but realised that friend no longer existed.
Her relationship with Emily grew stronger than ever. Emily matured quickly, stopped demanding the impossible, began helping around the house, and even took a small side job drawing portraits online.
One evening Emily placed a envelope on the table.
Here, Mum. Its for the preparatory art course. I earned it myself.
Megan looked at her daughters earnest, grownup face, tears welling up.
Youre my pride, she whispered.
No, Mum, youre my pride, Emily replied, hugging her tightly. Youre the strongest I know.
Megan held her daughter, realizing she hadnt lost everything. She had lost a false friend and naive hopes, but she had gained something far more valuableher childs respect and love. That was the greatest treasure. The future would be hard, honest work ahead, but together they would manage. In the end, she learned that true strength comes not from reliance on others, but from the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child.
