Emma! Em, shouted Oliver from across the road.
Emma let out a heavy sigh, set her grocery bags on the curb and stopped. She glanced at the car her exhusband had parked on the other side, sucked in her cheeks like she was trying to make a face, then dropped her head. Im so over all this. Oliver rushed toward her, almost tripping, eager to help.
Hey, Em, he said, grabbing the bags.
Hi, she replied.
I was just passing by, saw you struggling with those heavy bags and thought Id give you a hand, he said with a goofy grin. Come on.
Passing by? You live on Harrow Road, and this is a suburb
Oliver was already turning toward his car, two bags in his hands.
My mate gave me a lift from work, then I saw you couldnt just drive past. Ill give you a lift home.
Its only about 500m for me.
No worries, Ill carry the heavy stuff. Hows Milo, mum?
Great, youll pick him up this weekend and get the full story. You two chat every day anyway, Emma said, following Oliver, or rather, her groceries. Why do you keep asking about me?
Just interested, were not strangers, Oliver smiled, opening the passenger door for his exwife.
Ill sit in the back.
Its a mess back there, dont.
Emma opened the rear door, peered inside sure enough, it was a cluttered mess.
You still dont believe me
She sighed and finally settled into the front seat. Oliver tossed the bags into the boot. He beamed at her, while she stared out the window at the familiar neighbourhood.
You look good, as always.
Oliver, just get me home, I still have to finish dinner, she muttered.
Right, right! Oliver revved the engine and they off. Ive just started a new job, sorting paperwork for a shift pattern, he blurted, while Emma kept her gaze out the window. Milo said youve moved out of mums place?
Its been three years now, youre not anyone to her, Emma snapped, not moving a muscle.
Em, stop playing hideandseek! Why do I only ever get the kid from you? Are you hiding your address? Let me get you home.
No, thanks, Emma tugged at her coat, I bought mum some groceries.
Theyll hand them over and Ill drive you home, Milo had said
They stopped in a courtyard.
What did Milo say? I told him no. Are you two still seeing each other?
Yeah.
What the devil do you want from me? Emma snapped, finally losing patience.
Em, were not strangers we have a son, Oliver tried to grab her hand. She pushed his hand back into her pocket with a glare.
Oliver, enough! How many accidental visits can I take? Stop calling my mum, stop begging her to talk to me it wont help! We moved out because you were a nightmare. Im on the brink of a breakdown, everyone keeps saying how sorry you are, how you miss us, how you want the family back.
And Milo? Why are you dragging him into this? Hes just getting used to seeing his dad on weekends, and you tell him well reconcile, you ask me to pass on greetings, you want to know my work hours, where I am.
Im worried too but stop using him to pressure me!
Emma got out of the car, slammed the door, tried to pull the bags from the boot, but the lock jammed. She yanked the lid, cursing, trying to get rid of Oliver as fast as possible. Their mum watched from the window above, her eyes hidden behind the blinds. Oliver finally opened the boot and carried the bags to the front step, but Emma stopped him.
No, Ill do it myself.
Em, you know I still love you. Id give up the shift, switch jobs, even get you a new car. Why keep walking? Itd be easier for you and Milo, you could pick him up from karate.
No, she snatched the bags from his hands, I actually wish youd go away, find someone else, fall in love, live happily, and leave me alone.
Emma, forgive me, it was just once, she meant nothing to me! I still curse myself.
Forgiven, Oliver. I forgave you long ago and moved on, but you wont let me go.
I cant! Living without you feels impossible, Oliver shouted as Emma climbed the stairs.
Dont put on a show again, she heard him say. I forgave you, but I cant love you again.
The door on the second floor slammed shut, silence fell. Oliver clenched his fists, walked back to his car, glancing at the windows of his former motherinlaws flat. What a fool hed been, swapping his wife, son, and home for a fleeting fling. After a year alone he finally realized there was no one like Emma, no one he could love like his own Emma and Milo.
Theyd met at school; Emma transferred into their year ten class and outshone every girl. Oliver only ever had eyes for her. Summer holidays came, his restless heart cooled when he spent the season with his grandmother and fell for another girl who eclipsed the sun.
When September rolled around, Emma no longer stirred his feelings. They stayed friends, hung out in the same group. Years later, after both went to university, they bumped into each other again, older. Emma graduated with a first, landed her first job, moved back to her hometown and started work at the factory where her mum worked. Oliver kept chasing his own projects, never quite finding his footing, until he finally took a job on the production line, settling but still hungry for more.
Everything changed when Emma told him, after a few meetings, that she was pregnant.
Oliver panicked but didnt freeze he scooped Emma up, introduced her to his parents, they married, Milo was born, they bought a house with a mortgage that the grandparents helped pay off early. Summers were spent at the seaside, birthdays, christenings, weekend trips, family anniversaries. Oliver started to feel restless at work, wanted more recognition. He tried a new role, then another, but never found his place. He met an excolleague who offered him a promotion in exchange for a few favours. She left soon after, and Oliver was left empty again.
Emma thought hed just had a burnout, so she suggested he take a break, maybe go fishing with Milo. He didnt want to leave them, but eventually agreed to spend a couple of days with a mate up in Norfolk. He never even made it to the fishing spot his friends wife sent him a polite photo of a nice evening, asking him not to bother them any more.
Emma packed her things, Milo, and headed to her mums house.
When Oliver tried to track her down, he got a nasty photo of his fishing trip, raced over, only to find the door shut and his motherinlaw giving him a withering look. He waited for things to cool, but then a divorce petition arrived. He fought it, stalled, begged Emma for forgiveness everywhere he could, but she finalised the divorce.
A year later, seeing Oliver trying hard paying alimony, calling Milo every weekend, even winning back his motherinlaws favour Emma finally agreed to let him see their son. Her mum kept nagging her to forgive him, saying hed changed. Emma forgave, Oliver returned to the family, but the spark was gone. The wounds had healed only on the surface; the memories didnt stir any feeling.
They finally split for good.
Mum, why are you pestering him? Emmas mother asked as she stepped into the kitchen, a kettle whistling.
Whos pestering who? Emma replied, loading the dishwasher. Milo hasnt come home from school yet.
Not yet?
Hes driven me mad, Mum! If only hed off to a shift somewhere else, in another town, another life! Im scared to build anything new because I never know what Oliver will do.
Emmas mum poured tea, the scent of fresh scones filling the air.
Emma, you have a son. Youve lived together for years
How could I? Mum, how do you just share a bed, a flat, when hes become a stranger after that call and the court papers? How do you live with someone you no longer feel for?
Then why keep giving him hope, keep talking? her mum said, not meeting her eyes.
Its him! He wont let me go, he shoved at my IT colleague last month, I smiled, flirted a bit, he says he wants forgiveness what am I supposed to forgive? It wasnt me with that other woman.
He wont release you, you need someone else, mum replied calmly. Men like Oliver cant handle a bit of infidelity.
What? Which infidelity? Weve been divorced three years, hes nobody.
He cant let you go.
Exactly, enough!
Oliver kept trying to get a new contract, called during Emmas lunch break, begged Milo to tell his grandma they were still a family. His exmotherinlaw stopped answering. A few weeks later he met Emma and Milo outside school early morning.
Emma, Im leaving
Good luck.
Milo, dads heading off far, but not for long, Oliver said, looking at Emma who turned away. Anything to say?
Milo tugged his mums sleeve, his first lesson was Russian, he couldnt be late.
Ive said it all. Glad youre changing scenery, hope it helps your life.
Dont count on it, I wont leave you!
Oliver knelt, hugged Milo tightly, tried to do the same with Emma, she recoiled. He clenched his teeth, walked back to the car.
Ill forgive you, Emma, he shouted from the roadside, but Ill never forgive the cheating.
Emma chuckled, Hell forgive you great, thanks.
Three months of peace passed. Emma didnt even flinch when she saw a blue car parked down the road. She roamed the city, unafraid of a random runin with Oliver. She met up with a colleague for coffee, then finally caught up with an old friend. They chatted until the divorce paperwork arrived; the friend was pushing her to save the marriage, to love Oliver. Emma cut her off, thinking he was manipulating her. Turns out the friend was also divorced, knew what it was like to raise kids alone, and had forgiven her own ex for silly things like finding a hidden lipstick in his car, or a stray pair of shoes.
Can we pop open the champagne? smiled Christine, and open our hearts to new love, she winked. Freedom?
Sure, as long as I dont get a hundred texts and calls from Oliver a day.
Did you answer the guy who asked you out after work?
Christine, Oliver will be back and itll start all over again, Emma sighed, reading the menu.
Make it end! Distract yourself, meet someone, youre young, you look great, look here, the friend nudged her across the table, pointing discreetly. Hes only looking at you, she giggled.
Emma blushed, turned, their eyes met. A cheeky man stared at them, ignoring that Emma wasnt alone. He then stood up, introduced himself, offered coffee to both ladies. They declined, but his charm lingered.
Emma watched Christines eyes follow him, then he glanced at the friend. Soon after, Emma was introduced to Steven, they exchanged numbers, started messaging. She stopped reading Olivers endless texts, but her phone buzzed constantly with new chats. She laughed at each new message, hurrying home from work as if someone was waiting.
Hey, Milo, hows school?
Fine, Dad, got a five on my Russian test! Guess what
Milo, hows mum? Oliver interjected, trying to sound caring.
All good, mum changed her hair, we were at Lilas birthday yesterday
Nice. She never answers my calls, doesnt read my messages, Oliver panted, Call her, please.
Mum cant pick up, we have guests.
Who?
Uncle Steve.
What the hell, Steve?! Oliver snapped. Hand her the phone quick.
Mum! Milo shouted from his room. Laughter and the smell of something baking filled the kitchen, while Uncle Steve was tinkering with something in the next room. Mum, dads calling.
Emma walked in, apron on, glancing toward the kitchen.
Emma, youre out early? Did you just jump into the mens pool? Oliver teased.
Dont be a pest, Emma replied, Are you calling because of this?
What do you think youre doing? You have a son! How dare you! Ill come over, give you a honeymoon youll never forget, you w***e.
Finally, youve cracked, Emma laughed, I was waiting for the day the real lover who swapped his family for a fling shows up. When you realise weve been strangers for ages.
Fuck you! Oliver shouted into the phone, Ill be back in a week, I I
Emma, I did what you asked, a male voice said nearby, Are you coming? Milos hungry, the oven smells amazing. Right, Milo?
Milo nodded, reaching for his phone, his voice a mix of panic and excitement.
Whos that? Steven asked, Let me, he reached for the handset.
Emma handed him the phone, the yelling stopped and Oliver hung up.
Dad will call later, Emma said, looking at her sons disappointed face.
Oliver never called Milo again, but he kept ringing his exmotherinlaw, hurling abuse at her for raising such a daughter. He even texted Christine, threatening to break his legs. He missed a work trip, then another, and vanished somewhere across the country, chasing his own potential. He only thought of Milo twice a year on his birthday and New Years never actually calling him or Emma, blaming both for the broken family. Milo ended up a bit lost, thinking perhaps his dad was a traitor.
Emma now lives with Steven; hes no longer a guest in her flat. Milo, for a while, missed his dads calls, but he and Steven found plenty to talk about Stevens strict school rules, the old grammar drills he loved, and he gladly helped Milo with his homework.
