Mum, if Vicky asks, tell her Im at yours.
Why? Whats happened?
Nothings happened. I just… have things to sort out.
Gillian was thrown. With her free hand, she crumpled the edge of the tableclothshe hadnt quite grasped the request yet, but her gut was already whispering trouble. Tom had never made a habit of using her as cover before. Well, except back in school when hed tried skiving off lessons. And even then, it never worked.
What sort of things shouldnt Vicky know about? Gillians guard went up. Youre asking me to lie without telling me why. Thats not on, love.
Tom huffed irritably. He hated being lectured.
Oh, Mum, dont start. Ill handle it myself. Cheers.
Hold on a minute Gillian frowned. You havent got some floozy on the side, have you?
Mum! Im a grown man. Stay out of my love life, Tom snapped.
Gillians heart lurched. He hadnt said no. He hadnt joked it off. He hadnt even offered another excuse.
Tom… she pressed, her voice stern. In for a penny, in for a pound.
Oh, for Fine, suppose I am seeing someone. So what? Happy now? I told you, Ill sort it. Just leave it, yeah?
Gillian pressed a hand to her chest. Her vision swam.
Well, you shouldve sorted it yourself then, she said sharply. But no, youve dragged me into it. Youre making me an accomplice!
Mum, an accomplice to what? We dont even have kids. No one owes anyone anything. I just need to figure out my feelings, Tom said, nerves fraying.
No one owes What about the vows you made at the registry office? Gillians eyes widened. In her day, that meant something.
Oh, please. Next, youll bring up the church bells. Its tradition, everyone does it. Doesnt mean a thing.
Then why drag that poor girl down the aisle if it doesnt mean a thing and youre still figuring out your feelings?
Its just how its done. Wanted to make her happy. Look, dont lose your head. Ill ring you later.
The line went dead.
Gillian lowered the phone and stared blankly at the wall. It felt like shed been cheated on. Or worse. She barely recognised her son. The sweet little boy whod once spent hours drawing pictures for Mummy was now casually breaking the heart of the woman who loved him. Two women, if you counted Gillian.
Her mind flashed to Victoriacheerful, easygoing, always bright. Shed often spoiled her mother-in-law with little treatsa roast chicken, a slice of cake. Shed ask if Gillian needed help with anything, patiently taught her how to use her phone, and once spent an entire day rescuing her from scammers.
Gillian liked Victoria. She was homely, always saying family came first. She didnt call Gillian Mum or share deep confidences, but they got on brilliantly.
AndGillian had noticedsince the wedding, Tom called more often. Just to chat, ask about her day. Before, hed only rung when he needed something. That attention was surely Victorias doing; she loved bringing people together.
And now Tom wanted Gillian to lie to the woman trying to build a family with him. What was she supposed to do?
Her mind jumped to her friend Margaret. Three years ago, shed sobbed on Gillians shoulder about her own mess.
Gill, can you believe it? I told her. What else could I do? Poor girl, I wouldnt want to live a lie. Thought itd be better coming from me Margaret sniffed, wiping her eyes. Then she flew at me. Said Id never let go of my son, that I wanted to split them up. And I was only trying to Oh, you shouldve heard the names she called me.
Even when Margarets daughter-in-law realised shed been truthful, nothing changed. The girl insisted mothers always sided with their sons. No apology. Her son cut ties, calling Margaret a traitor.
So Margaret ended up alone. With her truth, which no one wanted.
Gillian didnt want that. So she stayed quiet. For three months, she carried the secret like a stone in her coat pocketheavy, but invisible. Tom only started calling again in recent weeks. Before that, hed kept his distance, dodging the awkward conversation.
Shed tried talking to him, hoping hed ended things with the other woman, but
Mum, I said stay out of it! was all hed snapped.
Not a hint of remorse.
Victoria, though, acted no different. She still drove Gillian to doctors appointments, checked on her health, dropped off groceries. Each kindness felt like a splinter driven deeper into Gillians heart.
The silence grew unbearable.
One afternoon, Victoria came for tea and brought up the future.
Gillian, Ive been thinking… Maybe Tom and I should try for a baby? Weve been married a while now, things are settled. Youd help, wouldnt you? Youve got the experience, and I might struggle alone…
Gillian nearly dropped her teacup. The air left her lungs. What would happen to Victoriaand a grandchildif Tom left? Seeing her with a baby, abandoned and heartbroken… She couldnt bear it.
Steeling herself, Gillian set down her cup and gripped the table to steady her shaking hands.
Vicky, I need to tell you something she began carefully. Try not to take it too hard. Youre like a daughter to me, and I cant pretend anymore.
Victorias brows shot up, but she stayed quiet. For now, only Gillian was distressed.
Dont have a baby, Gillian continued. Toms been seeing someone else. Or was.
I found out three months ago. I stayed quiet, worried youd misunderstand. Forgive me… I just cant keep it in any longer.
Gillian braced for the reaction. Victoria sat perfectly still. Only her fingers, clenched around her cup, betrayed her. The smile vanished.
Thank you, she said at last, sighing. I hope youre wrong, but if not… Better now than later.
They barely spoke after that. Victoria left, her slice of cake half-eaten. Gillian prayed shed only walked out of the housenot out of their lives.
Over five years passed.
Tom hardly spoke to her now. His rare calls were polite but cold, like a business exchange. He never mentioned his love life, but as far as Gillian knew, hed never remarried. No children, at least none he claimed.
Yet she had no regrets. She glanced at the photos on her bedside table. One showed Victoria in her wedding dressher secondwith her new husband, Ian, and Gillian as guest of honour. Victoria hadnt gushed publicly, but once told her quietly:
If not for you, Id still be miserable. Its because of you I met Ian.
The other photo was outside a church. Gillian held a chubby babyAlex, her godson.
Alex has three grandmas Victoria loved to say when they all gathered.
And she meant every word.
Gillians heart ached as she studied the pictures. Shed never have grandchildren of her own. Alex was a darling boy, and shed happily dote on him, but she didnt want to intrude. Even if Victoria insisted her door was always open. Even if Ians family treated her kindly.
But every time Alex ran to her with outstretched arms, Gillian knew: she mightve lost her son. She might never have blood grandchildren. But shed done the right thing. The decent thing. She wouldnt have wanted to live a lieand she couldnt let another woman live one either.
