Emily, has James already told you? the motherinlaw began, her voice echoing like a hallway clock. Listen! Therell be up to twenty guests, so well start the preparations this evening. Ill arrive early, around six.
In the evening? Emily asked, skeptical, as if the words were floating in a fog. No, I never agreed to that.
Hold on. Im not finished. Ive already sent James a shopping list; he promised to get everything.
James had always been the steady hand for his older sister, Rebecca. By the time she turned thirty, shed married twice and divorced twice, each time blaming the wrong one. Their mother, Margaret, had repeated to her son from childhood:
You must look after your sister.
And James did. He handed over cash when Rebecca was temporarily out of work, repaired the walls of her rented flat, and ferried her belongings after each separation.
Then he married.
Emily, his wife, had endured at first. But when Rebecca, for the fifth time that year, asked to borrow their car for a few days because it had broken down again, Emily said gently but firmly:
James, isnt this enough? We need the car this weekend too. I thought we had plans
Whats the alternative? Walk?
No. You cant walk to my parents cottage. Theyve gathered two buckets of cucumbers for us. I thought youd heard me mention it.
Right I heard something, but you understandRebeccas situation is urgent.
Again? What exactly?
Im not sure, James muttered, but she needs it more.
No, James. This time it wont happen! Either you refuse your sister, or you buy me a car. Im tired of the trolleybus while a man with a car could drive me where I need to go.
James, for the first time, considered refusing his sister, but Margaret snapped the whole thing back into place:
Are you going to abandon your sister for your wife? Shes alone! Who else will help her?
So James helped again, despite the fights with Emily. They went days without speaking, and James finally broke his silence:
Why are you so quiet?! Upset?
Really? It took you three days to figure that out? Emily snapped.
I just cant see why what exactly?
Emily laughed, bewildered:
Seriously? You dont get it? Your little sister borrowed you for the whole weekend because she needed to get to a friends cottage. I thought youd just give her a lift, and you ended up staying there for two days. Does any of that bother you?
What could bother me? We had a few drinks. Her ex was there, and we chatted normally. It should have been marked somehow. Why should I, as a fool, have taken the trip? It would have been uncouth.
You could have at least called.
You could have called too, James tossed back.
I did! Your phone was switched off. Imagine that! I was on edge, not knowing where my husband was. And he just decided to take a break from me, Emily fumed.
Dont make that up, James waved his hand, gesturing that his phone was ringing.
James stepped onto the balcony and finally answered. He knew well enough that his wife wouldnt appreciate another chat with his sister.
Hello, brotherinlaw! Rebecca chirped through the line. My anniversary is in two weeks! Thirty years! You get me?
James glanced at Emily, who was stirring soup as if the world were a kitchen.
So what do you want? he asked.
How you always understand me! Rebecca giggled. I want to celebrate at your place! You have a big sittingroom. My rented flat is cramped and the landlord will fuss. A restaurant is pricey.
Maybe a café then? Ill add whatever you need.
Are you out of your mind?! Rebecca fumed. Its an anniversary! You want me to spend on rent when you have your own flat? And youll still have to foot the bill. Im not a millionaires daughter.
Let me talk to Emily first. Its her flat too. Maybe she had other plans.
Too late! Rebecca cut him off. Ive already told everyone the partys at yours. Clear the flat for the whole day, okay? Mom says shell handle the cooking.
James sighed and covered his face with his hand, trying to think of an escape. The phone buzzed againthis time a message from his mother.
Rebecca said to write the menu. Heres the list of dishes. We also need to buy the ingredients. Tell Emily to help. And she can lend a hand in the kitchen too.
Meanwhile, Emily, unaware of Rebeccas upcoming celebration, settled into a chair with her phone, ready to watch her favourite series. When James entered the room, eyes lowered, she instantly understood.
So what now? she asked calmly, pausing the show.
Emily, listen Rebecca anniversary, you know. Thirty years. Its a date. She wants to mark it.
Emily lifted her head.
Let her celebrate then. Are we going to forbid her?
James scratched his scalp.
Its not that. She wants to celebrate at our place.
What?! Emily sprang up. Wait, in our flat?
Yes, but only one evening. She says the restaurant is expensive and her home is tiny
And what? You agreed?
I said Id talk to you first! But Rebeccas already invited everyone. Mums already drafting the menu
Emily closed her eyes, inhaled deeply.
James, are you an adult or just a conduit for Rebeccas wishes?
What are you starting?
Im starting, Emily said with a hint of irony, flashing her phone. And what about the fact that no one even called me? This is my flat, not a transit hub for your relatives. She wants to party in my house, Im supposed to help her, and even assist your mother, and nobody even asked me!
At that moment Emilys phone rang.
Ah, the cherry on the cake, she whispered. Your mother, she waved the phone in front of James.
Emily, has James already told you? the motherinlaw croaked. Look! Therell be up to twenty people. So well start cooking from the evening. Ill be there around six, the night before.
In the evening? Emily smiled skeptically. No, I didnt sign up for that.
Hold on. Im not done. James already has a shopping list; he promised to buy everything.
Suppose Emily tossed back. And the money? Where will we get it?
James promised to help, Margaret replied shortly.
Right. So you expect us to turn my flat into a restaurant and pay for the feast?
Rebecca isnt a stranger! Cant you spare a day to chop veg, make salads, assemble sandwiches Youre the lady of the house!
Margaret, Emily interrupted, I just learned about the party. I never gave permission to hold Rebeccas birthday in my flat.
You keep saying my flat. You and James are married. Everythings joint! the motherinlaw snapped.
Dont say that. If the flat were Jamess, youd speak differently. Then Id just be, excuse me, a dependent.
Stop the nonsense. Thats that. By Friday we need to buy everything, Margaret declared and hung up.
Emily turned to James, hearing the brief buzz.
What was that? she asked.
Stop playing the victim! James finally shouted. Youve been told youre wrong. Admit your mistake and stop digging in.
Emily was stunned. She rose, went to the wardrobe, and silently pulled out a large sports bag. She then slipped into the bedroom, opened the chest of drawers, and methodically folded Jamess shirts and jeans.
Meanwhile James imagined himself victorious. He flung open the fridge, grabbed a bottle of ale, slammed the door and swaggered into the living room, plopping down before the television as if nothing had changed.
He thought Emily would simply cool off and everything would return to normal. Shed grumble a bit, then calm down. He even turned on the football, expecting Emily to wander in and call him to dinner. He was wrong.
Half an hour later Emily stood in the hallway with a shopping bag, a sports bag stuffed to the brim with his clothes beside her. James left the living room heading for the fridge, but stopped when he saw his wife.
Whats this now? he muttered. What kind of theatre are you putting on?
Emily looked at him coldly:
This isnt theatre, James. Its the end. Im done being a shadow in my own life, a servant in my own flat, a backdrop for your mothers and sisters whims. If you want to be the good son and brotherfine. Go back to Mum. Prepare for the party together. Im sure shell gladly give you a corner of her sittingroom.
Youre serious? he took a step toward her. I wont go back.
Absolutely serious, Emily nodded. Ive tolerated enough that I now even question myself. Thats enough. If you havent learned to respect me in three years, it wont get better.
Emily you cant just tear everything apart! Not now!
You cant smash whats already broken.
James chuckled, still not grasping that Emily had made her final decision.
And thats that, Emily added, all your shirts and jeans are here. No thanks needed. Pack up and leave now.
He opened his mouth, but Emily pushed open the front door. James stood, his face flushed with anger. His cheeks burned, his lips clenched. He still hoped Emily would relent, but her unwavering calm only fueled his fury.
Well, good luck! he shouted. Think youll find anyone better? Youll have to look hard for someone like me!
Emily sighed and stepped back:
Someone like you, really? Yeah, good luck finding that. Thank heavens.
Youll regret this! James roared, snatching the bag. Youll be crawling on your knees when you realise no one wants to talk to you! Without me youre nobody!
If nobody means a person who lives in their own flat, works, doesnt cater to a husbands aging relatives, and refuses abuse, then Im happy being no one.
James left, and Emily stayed alone. She breathed deeply, walked to the window, pushed aside the curtain, and watched as her former husband shoved the bag into the boot of a cab with his foot.
Months slipped by.
The divorce was messy. James tried to paint Emily as mercenary and greedy. The biggest battle was over the car bought during the marriage. He insisted hed paid for it alone, while Emily simply used it.
Your Honour, I funded the whole purchase, the car is in my name! he declared confidently. My wife contributed nothing!
Emily, cool as a winter morning, opened a folder of documents, spread bank statements, transfer slips, receipt copies, even the signed deposit agreement shed kept.
Im not claiming his share, but I wont surrender mine, she said calmly.
Justice sided with fairness.
James didnt like it. Hed already considered the car his. Now hed have to sell it and split the proceeds. He left the courtroom with a twisted grin of rage.
At home, no support awaited, only a torrent of accusations.
Youre a fool, Margaret shouted. You gave her everything! The car! The flat! At least you should have hired a decent solicitor!
On top of that, James had taken out a loan to fund Rebeccas anniversary dinner at a restaurant, because hed promised her a venue. Now he had a cramped corner of Margarets guestroom as his refuge.
Emily, for the first time in ages, slept peacefully. She decided she was still young enough to walk away from men like James. Decent partners were out thereshe just needed to recognise who was who, and when.
