Betrayal and Ultimatums
Listen, Evelyn, I havent got the time nor the patience to sit through your endless complaints.
Youve got two choices: either you drop this pitiful act right now and we get on with life as usual, or tomorrow Im packing my bags, and you can be the one to explain to Lily why her fathers gone. You. Do you understand?
Evelyns voice was barely above a whisper. And whats as usual, William? Pretend nothing happened? Like I didnt see those messages?
You think I didnt notice Harry Car Parts messaging you at two in the morning, saying he misses your touch?
William let out a loud sigh, yanking off his trainers with his heel, not bothering to undo the laces.
Here we go again. Broken record. Ive told you, plain as day, its over. Am I at home? Yes. Am I with you? Yes. Do I give you money? Yes.
What more do you want from me? Shall I get on my knees and beg? Not a chancenot in this lifetime!
I dont need that. I need you to stop speaking to me like Im an annoyance. You sneer, you snap, I cant say a word without you making a jibe
Thats because youre impossible! he cut in. You walk around the house like a ghost, face as sour as if youd been chewing lemons.
Do you think I enjoy coming back here? I walk in, and its either an inquisition or the silent treatment!
Any reasonable woman wouldve dropped it long ago for the sake of family. But youno. You have to pick at the scab forever.
He brushed past her into the kitchen, shoulder against hers. Evelyn stumbled, but managed to stay upright.
She once believed shed drawn a lucky hand in life. Williamaccomplished, driven, a doting father. They had a daughter, five-year-old Lily, a shared home, both made a tidy living.
The affair, uncovered six months earlier, wasnt a one-offher husband had led a double life for months.
Evelyn only learned the truth by accident. Lily had been playing with Williams mobile, and a banner flashed up: Harry Car Parts asking if William had bought those knickers that look so good on her.
When confronted, William didnt bother to deny it. First, silence. Then anger. When pressed, hed snapped,
Yes, it happened. Its in the past. Dont make a fussIm still here.
In six months, not once had he apologised or admitted hed done anything wrong. That stung Evelyn more than the affair itself.
By the time she joined him in the kitchen, her husband was already at the table, thumbing through his phone. Before him sat the plate of baked haddock shed made, thoughtfully covered with another so it wouldnt go cold.
Didnt fancy using any salt? he tossed over his shoulder. Or have your tastebuds broken from all that crying?
Will, enough. Lilys in her roomshe can hear you.
Let her hear, he smirked, popping a forkful into his mouth. Let her see that her mother does everything possible to drive Dad out of the house. Thats what you want, isnt it? For me to leave?
I just want you to be a decent person. You promised wed try to stay a family. Is this what working on yourself looks like? Belittling me daily?
William laid down his fork.
Look here, love. A familys a projectand I contribute to that project. I play with Lily, pay for her ballet, take her to nursery.
You wanted her to have a fathershes got one. I dont owe you kindness after youve spent three months nagging me about this!
My terms are set: either we drop it forever, or I leave. But know thisif I go, youll have nothing. The house gets split; youll have to sell up. Youll owe me thousands.
Got that sort of money? No. So its renting, new part of town, new nursery for Lily. Is that what you want for her?
Evelyn stayed silent. Her husband knew her weak spots better than she did. The thought of their child losing her familiar little worldher friends, her bright room, being dragged to some dingy flat while her mum fought for square footage in courtmade Evelyn sick with dread.
Thought not, William concluded. Now eat. Youre all skin and bone these dayshard to look at.
***
That evening, once Lily had fallen asleep with her threadbare plush rabbit, Evelyn sat on the balcony and pondered.
William was, in the traditional sense, a good father: didnt drink, never raised a hand, Lily adored him.
Daddy, youre my hero, shed whisper each morning.
How could Evelyn destroy that world?
From the sitting room, Williams voice driftedhe was on the phone. Evelyn caught herself listening in.
Yes, its still on for tomorrow. Of course. Look, I told you well sort it. Shell moan, then get over it. What else can she do? Nowhere for her to go.
Evelyn froze. So thats how he saw her She wrenched open the balcony door.
William lounged on the sofa, feet up. Spotting her, he hurriedly ended the call.
Who was that? she demanded.
A colleague. Would you like my full contacts? Here, check, he held out his phone dramatically. Youre the family detective now, arent you?
But mind: if I find so much as a deleted message I dont liketomorrow Im off to stay with Mother. And youll have only yourself to blame.
Are you mocking me, William? Evelyn stepped closer. Do you really think you have any right to make demands after what youve done?
I do. Im the man in this house. I decide how this family lives. Either youre with meor on your own.
He stepped towards her, voice low.
You realise, Evie, no other man is ever going to love your Lily the way I do? Hed tolerate her, as long as youre still young and pretty.
But mark my words, shell start to get in the way. Is that what you want for your daughter? A stepfather who doesnt care?
You youre vile, William, she exhaled.
Im a realist, he smiled, backing away. Right, Im having a shower. Put me out a clean shirt for tomorrow. The burgundy one.
And mind you iron it this timethe collar was creased today, drove me up the wall.
He vanished to the bathroom. Evelyn stood, arms limp at her sides, in the middle of the sitting room.
***
Morning brought its usual commotion. Evelyn fried crumpets, Lily whined about her tights.
William appeared in his freshly ironed burgundy shirtEvelyn had ironed it after all.
Mum, can we go to the zoo on Saturday? asked Lily.
Of course, darling. Evelyn forced a smile.
Dad, will you come? You promised youd show me the big lion!
William ruffled Lilys hair, his face softening in an instant.
Ill come, sunshine. If your mum behaves and doesnt upset Dad, well definitely go.
Evelyns spatula nearly slipped from her hand.
Will, what are you saying? she hissed as Lily tuned in to her cartoon.
What? he feigned innocence. Teaching the child a bit about how families work.
You wouldnt want your tantrums to ruin our weekend, would you?
Evelyn said nothing. There was nothing to sayhe was using their daughter as a shield.
***
All day at work Evelyn felt numb. Colleagues enquired, but she brushed them off, blaming a bad nights sleep.
At lunch, she checked a property rental website. The prices were daunting, and anything halfway decent in her part of town flew off the market in minutes.
Cheaper options were clear across the city.
Two hours each way. Nursery shut by six. Id never make it she sighed, closing the laptop. Where would I even start?
An hour before the workday ended, her phone rang. William.
Look, Im running late tonight. Meetings. Eat without me. And, Evelyn
What?
Pick up a decent bottle of red. Something semi-sweet. Lets try talking like civil people for once, without you going off.
William, I
Im not asking, he interrupted. Heres your chance to make things better. Dont waste it. Cheers. Give Lily a kiss from me.
He ended the call. Evelyn stared at her phone until the screen dimmed. Should she try talking to him? Could things really get any worse?
***
Lily fell asleep quickly. Evelyn sat at the kitchen table for two hours, the bottle of red staring her downshed bought it, hating herself for it.
Her husband returned close to eleven, right as rain.
There you go, he said, pecking her cheek. Evelyn shrank back. Oh, come off it. No need to flinch. Lets have a glass.
Ive had a thought We need a break. Lets book somewhereTurkey, next month, all three of us. Lily loves the seaIve already spotted a hotel.
Will, a holiday? Were like flatmates! Evelyn was dumbstruck.
Thats you making a fuss, he took a sip. Im the one patching things up here. But! I want a promisenever a word about it again. No more checking my phone, no hints, no more tears. We move on. As if none of this ever happened.
And trust? she stared directly at him.
Trust is a luxury you cant afford right now, he smiled coldly. You need stability, Lily needs a father, and this house needs a man.
Youve got all that. The price is your silence. Seems like a fair deal to me.
And if that doesnt suit me?
William put his glass down, slowly.
Then tomorrow, you pack your bags. I mean it, Evelyn. Im tired of this tug-of-war.
A man needs a solid home base, not a moaning wife.
If you cant forgive and forgetthen were through.
But dont forget: Ill take everything I can get my hands on. And youll only have your pride to blame.
He left the room. Evelyn sat in the dark, listening to water running in the bathroom. She knew it was blackmail, plain as day.
Some womenstrong womenwould have flung that glass in his face and stormed off by now. But, she thought, she was never that bold.
First and foremost, she was a mother. She had to think of her child. Everyone deserves a second chanceperhaps her husband had only stumbled the once. For Lilys sake, she ought at least to try to forget
Mummy? came Lilys sleepy voice from the hallway.
Evelyn hurriedly wiped her eyes and turnedthere was her daughter in the doorway.
Mummy, I had a nightmare. Wheres Daddy?
Daddys here, darling, Evelyn scooped her up, holding her close. Daddys just in the showerits all right. Come here, everythings fine. Were all at home.
Really? Lily buried her face in Evelyns neck. Well always be together?
Evelyn closed her eyes, feeling her heart shatter into pieces.
Always, sweetheart. Always.
Carrying her child back to her little room, Evelyn made up her mind. Shed keep her family. Starting tomorrow, shed do her best to forget the pain. But that would have to wait for the morning.
