Andrew, could you hand me the car keys, please? Mum needs to get to the clinic right away, Victoria reached for her husband, who was sprawled on the sofa. Ill be back in two hours, Ill get your beautiful lady there safe and sound.
Andrew didnt even glance up from his phone.
No, he muttered.
What do you mean, no? Victorias hand fell back. Its your day off, youre not going anywhere. Mums blood pressure is spiking, shes really ill.
I said no, so its no, Andrew finally tore his eyes away, looking at his wife. A woman behind the wheel is always a recipe for disaster. Youll clip someone, smash into a lamppost, or pull some other stunt.
Victoria stepped closer, fists clenched.
Andrew, what are you saying?!
What did I say wrong? I still have three years left on the car loan. I wont risk my own assets, he replied, slipping back into his phone as if the conversation were over.
Victoria stared at the crown of his head in stunned silence. She turned, slammed the livingroom door shut, and stalked down the hallway. In the hallway she pulled out her phone and ordered a taxi. The roundtrip cost her £16. Her mother kept apologising for the inconvenience, while Victoria pressed her lips tighter, thinking how easily Andrew could have solved the problemif hed wanted to.
When she walked back in, Andrew met her in the hallway, guilt written all over his face.
Sweetheart, Im sorry. I know I was selfish, I didnt think about Mums real need, he tried to pull her into an embrace, but she stepped away.
Leave me be.
Come on, Vic, dont be angry. Im apologising! I get that I was wrong.
Victoria walked past him toward the kitchen, saying nothing. Andrew followed, still begging for peace.
How about a cup of coffee? Maybe a glass of wine? Lets talk calmly?
Victoria switched on the kettle and began scrubbing dishes with a fury that made the plates look as if she wanted to pulverise them. Andrew lingered a few more minutes, then slipped away to the bedroom.
Two months passed in a strained silence. Victoria answered Andrew in monosyllables, only when absolutely necessary. He made several attempts to broach reconciliation, each one meeting an icy wall of indifference.
On a rainy Saturday morning, Victoria stood at the kitchen table, chopping vegetables for a stew. Outside, the drizzle painted the street grey, and inside a soft, almost cosy hush settled. She turned on lowvolume music, letting the rhythm lull her after a hard week.
A sudden knock at the door made her startle. She dabbed her hands on a towel and opened the door, puzzled at who could be here so early.
Mrs. Gallagher? Victoria stepped back a pace, eyes widening as her motherinlaw, Margaret, stormed in, face flushed with fury.
Youve lost all sense of decency! Margaret shouted, shaking the doorway. You only care about dragging my son into debt! Do you even care how hell live after this?
Victoria blinked, bewildered.
Mrs. Gallagher, what are you talking about?
Whats happening? You crashed Andrews car! Now my son will be paying a threeyear loan for a heap of scrap metal!
The world seemed to tilt.
Mrs. Gallagher, I never even sat behind Andrews wheel. Never! He turned me down when I asked for the keys, Victoria protested.
Youre lying! Margaret hissed. My son told me everything. You begged him for that car and then smashed it to pieces!
Footsteps echoed from the hallway as Andrew appeared. Margaret lunged at him.
She wont even admit it! Andrew, love, how are you going to live now? Three years paying for a wrecked carno car, no money!
Victoria stared at Andrew, waiting for an explanation. He only bowed his head, nodding faintly.
Andrew? Victorias voice cracked. Tell my mother the truth. Tell her I never took your car.
Andrew stayed silent, staring down at the toeshoes of his slippers.
When exactly am I supposed to have smashed your car? Victoria demanded, her tone hard as steel. Give me a date.
Margaret triumphantly pulled out her phone.
Tuesday, two oclock! I have the whole text exchange with Andrew saved right here! She thrust the phone under Victorias nose.
Victorias mind raced back to the Tuesday of the work conference
Tuesday? she sneered, and the sound forced Margaret to pause. I was at an offsite conference all day, from seven in the morning until nine at night.
Margarets confidence wavered.
But Andrew said
Andrew lied, Victoria stepped toward him. Isnt that right, love? Come on, give us the truth. Who really broke your precious car?
Andrew lifted his head; his cheeks flushed a deep crimson.
Mom, Im sorry. I was the one who crashed the car, he stammered, voice shaking. I didnt want you to think I was useless, so I tried to pin it on Victoria
You shifted the blame onto an innocent woman! Victorias fury rose like a storm. And you turned Mum against me too!
Margaret sank into a chair, her face paling.
Andrew, how could you? Why lie? Why?
Mum, you know Im terrible behind the wheel. Remember when I was eighteen and I nicked Dads car? You didnt speak to me for a week, Andrew tried to grasp her hand, but she pulled away.
So you thought it would be easier to make Victoria the scapegoat? Margaret rose slowly. Youre a grown man! How can you dump responsibility onto a woman?
Victoria crossed her arms, watching the family drama unfold. Anger softened into something heavierexhaustion, disappointment.
You know what, Andrew? When you refused to let me drive Mum to the doctor, I thought you were just selfish. Turns out youre worse. Youre a coward.
Victoria, please, dont Andrew reached for her.
Stop! she raised a hand. Dont. You were ready to ruin our marriage just to keep your mother from seeing your mistake.
I wanted to be honest, I just didnt know how to start
Dont know how to start? Victoria laughed bitterly. Sorry, Victoria is how honest conversations begin.
Margaret turned to her son, voice trembling.
Andrew, you understand I thought Victoria was selfish and irresponsible? She had nothing to do with this!
Mom, Ill fix it, Ill
Fix it? Victoria walked to the window, watching the grey drizzle. How will you fix what I now know about you? That in a crisis youd rather blame me than face the truth?
Silence thickened the air.
Victoria, Andrew whispered, what do we do now?
She didnt turn.
I dont know, Andrew. I thought Id married someone I could rely on. Turns out my husband would throw me under the bus at the first chance.
Thats not true! I love you!
Love? Victoria finally faced him. A person who loves you never behaves like this. Love doesnt make the other suffer for your peace of mind.
Margaret rose and approached her daughterinlaw.
Victoria, Im sorry. Im sorry I believed the lies, for shouting at you. I was wrong.
Mrs. Gallagher, you reacted as any mother wouldprotecting her child. I have no grievance with you, Victoria said, a flicker of sympathy in her eyes.
But what about Andrew? Margaret asked quietly.
There are serious grievances, Victoria replied, her voice steady.
Andrew leapt up, lunging toward her.
Victoria, tell me what to do. Ill do anything for your forgiveness!
Now youre ready to do anything, she stepped back. But youve already lied once, shifting blame onto me. That shows your true nature, Andrew.
Ill change!
People dont change overnight, especially not those capable of such treachery.
She walked back to the kitchen, leaving Andrew and Margaret alone with their thoughts. Behind the door, muffled voices drifted as Margaret scolded her son.
Victoria stared at the possible futures. How could she live with a man like this?
There was no way. No matter how hard she tried, the memory would not fade.
She opened the search engine on her phone and typed: How to get a quick divorce? The decision was made.
