A knock at the door startled Lucy. She wiped her hands on her apron and swung it open to find a young woman shifting nervously on the welcome mat.
“Hello, does Alex live here?”
“Depends whos asking,” Lucy said, crossing her arms.
“Are you his mum?”
“His *wife*,” Lucy snapped. “What exactly do you want, love?”
The girls lip trembled. “Hes in hospital, and they wont tell me anythingfamily only. Can I come in?”
Lucy sighed and stepped aside. “Kitchens that way. Now, whys my husbands health *your* business? Who even are you?”
The girl perched on the edge of a chair, pulling a tissue from her pocket to dab her forehead. Lucy busied herself at the kettle, waiting.
“Fancy a cuppa?”
“Nowell, yes, please.”
“Going to keep me in suspense, then? Or did you just pop round for a natter?”
“Alex promised to marry me,” the girl blurted. “This autumn!”
Lucy nearly dropped the mug she was scrubbing. “Oh, *marry* you? Brilliant. Pity bigamys illegal, innit?”
“Im not joking.”
“Neither am I. Lost my sense of humour years ago.”
“He *will* marry meonce he divorces you. Then”
“Right, right. Bit early for house calls, though, isnt it? Come back in autumn. Whats your name?”
“Annie. Anna.”
“Lucy. So, Annie-Anna, why not summer? Oh, waitlet me guess. That bump under your jumpers not from too many pies. His doing?”
Annas face flushed. “Yes. Alex said hed file for divorce after your birthday.”
“Ah, *now* it makes sense. Typical Alexleopard never changes his spots.”
“What?”
“Never mind. Where you from?”
“A village near Manchester. Worked at a factory.”
“Ah, big city dreams. Shame Alex cant stand babies crying. Due soon?”
“Two months.”
“Bet thats why hes dodging youcant handle the stress. When ours were born, he *moved in with his parents*. Said he needed sleep for workand his jobs hardly back-breaking. Mostly just *avoiding* work.”
“Will you tell me how he is?”
“Course! Stable-ish. Dont look like thathell live.”
“What should I do?”
“How should *I* know? You didnt ask me *before* hopping into bed with him, did you?”
“Im in my third year at unidistance learning. Mums place is packed with my little brothers. Nowhere to go. Alex said you two were basically strangers. That he only stayed for the kids.”
Lucys grip on the saucepan turned white-knuckled. “*Did* he? Right. Give me your number and address. Ill be in touch.”
“What? Why?”
“So you can collect him when hes discharged.”
“Collect him *where*?”
“Your mums. Brothers.”
“Shes got no space!”
“Where you living now, then?”
“Student halls.”
“Perfect. Youre *not* moving into *my* flat. Grandma left it to meno claims in a divorce. Stop blinking like that. Hes got *no* rights to it.”
“Youre being cruel. We love each other.”
“Then live in a tent. Now *sod off* while Im still nice. Doors where you left it.” Lucy slammed the pan into the sink, nearly scouring a hole in it.
Three sleepless nights since Alexs accident. Doctors had been grim, but her Al had pulled through. Exhausted, Lucy barely ate. Then the hospital calledhed been moved to a ward. Time for wifely care.
And *now* this pregnant chancer, sniffing round her flat. Oh, she *itched* to drag Annie down five flights by her wispy hairbut she was too knackered.
Trudging to the hospital, Lucy stewed. Whether to nurse him or throttle him. *Birthday-spoiling* indeed.
Annie sat on a bench outside.
“Auntie Lucy! Auntie Lucy!”
“Persistent, arent you? Thought I made myself clear.”
“Are you visiting Al?”
“What if I am?”
“Take me with you.”
Silent, Lucy marched ahead. On the bus, Annie sat beside her. Lucy stared out the window, pretending theyd never met.
At the ward, Lucy introduced Annie as a “niece.”
“Wait here. *I* go first.”
Inside, Alex lay alone, leg in traction. He blinked awake as Lucy loomed over him, grinning weakly.
“Lucy! Knew youd come.”
“Course you did.” She pulled tupperware from her bag, hands shaking. “Mash and gravy. Your favourite. Eat it before its cold.”
“Lucy, youre red as a tomato. Coming down with something?”
“Worse. I waited for you after *Afghanistan*, Al. Defied my parents. Remember living on *pot noodles*? The kids? The sleepless nights? And you just *forgot*?”
“Never, Lucy! Why now?”
“Because, *Alex*.” Her voice cracked. “You *stabbed* me in the back.”
“Lucy, I swearI was driving slow, like you always”
“How *could* you?” She hurled a bag of satsumas onto the bedside table.
“Lucy, love, well get another car”
“*Car?* You think I care about the *bloody car*?”
“Then what?”
“*Who.* Anna. Didnt catch her surname.”
Alex paled. “*What* Anna?”
“The one *carrying your child*.”
“*What child?* Lucy, have you cracked?”
“*Me?* You knock up some girl, and *Im* the nutter?” Lucy finally broke, sobbing.
“Lucy, should I call a doctor? Youre not making sense”
“*I* brought her. Shall I fetch your *shameless Annie*? The one planning to move into *my* flat after you divorce me *this autumn*?”
Alexs hair practically stood on end.
“Cat got your tongue? *Caught red-handed*?” Lucy flung the door open. “Annie! *Get in here!*”
Annie waddled in, hand on her back. She froze, staring at Alex.
“Wheres *my* Alex?”
Alex gaped. “*Thats* not him?”
“Are you *joking*?” Annie yanked out her phone. “*This* is us!”
Lucys anger evaporated. “*Wrong Alex?*”
Seeing Alexs near-heart attack and Annies horror, Lucy collapsed onto a spare bed, howling with laughter.
“Waitdont bolt!” she wheezed at Annie. “Explain *everything*.”
Turned out, *her* Alex had given Annie a fake address to dodge responsibility. No accident, no divorce plans.
Fate, Lucy decided, worked in odd ways. She helped Annie secure a flat, sorted child support from the real deadbeat dad (*”I know where he drinks, love”*), and even collected her from the maternity ward.
Annie called her “Mum Lucymy guardian angel.”
Years later, Lucy played matchmaker, introducing Annie to a decent bloke from her circle. At their wedding, Lucy danced hardest of all.
So Mum Lucy kept her happinessand spread it around.
