Id been watching the quarrel between Margaret and her daughter Blythe for weeks, and it finally boiled over one rainy evening in Manchester.
Mother, you dont get it! Theres nothing left between themshe got herself pregnant just to keep him under her thumb, Blythe shouted, her voice shaking with fury. She wont let him go!
Margaret rolled her eyes, letting out a weary sigh. Shed raised a daughter who seemed bright, welleducated, and beautiful, yet she was blind to what was plain as day.
Blythe, can you even hear yourself? How could you deliberately get pregnant with a man you say theres nothing between you? Was he unconscious? Either some miracle happened, or youve been led astray. Which sounds more likely? Margaret retorted, her tone sharp.
Blythe huffed, Maybe he was too drunk, or maybe I was just on the side. You never know what tricks we girls play.
Margaret raised an eyebrow. Tricks? Nature cant be fooled, dear. Youll have to explain that to your head.
She softened a bit. Love, those relationships dont end because hes a noble father. They end because he never intended to end them. Hes happy with the way things are.
Thats not true! Blythe snapped. You dont understand! Hes a good man, just circumstances
At that point Margarets patience snapped. Her daughter had been defending Edward, a man who was merely using her. It wasnt the first time shed heard the same story, but three years of lies, two families, and endless tears had finally filled her cup to the brim.
Enough, Margaret interrupted, her voice steady. Ive got no strength left to watch you waste your life on that scoundrel. Ill write to your cunning Anne and tell her that, by Edwards own account, hes on the brink of a divorce. Lets see what she says. I bet she doesnt even know her husband is almost free.
Mother! Blythe leapt up, eyes blazing. Dont! This is our business. Ill never forgive you for this!
The outburst sobered Margaret a little. She knew she couldnt be so cruel, but she also feared losing her daughter entirely. She needed a different tack.
Then you test him yourself, she suggested. If he truly loves his children and is as honest as you claim, tell him youre pregnantby him. See how this knight in shining armor reacts.
Blythe froze, then twisted her face in disgust.
Ugh! Manipulating like that is vile! she muttered.
Its vile to feed a girl fairy tales while you feast on the benefits yourself. This is a test of his true character.
Blythes fingers trembled around her bag. Im done talking about this. I confided in you, wanted support, and you If you try to get to his wife, Ill never speak to you again.
Margaret was left alone in the kitchen, breathing heavily. Her daughter had expected comfortperhaps a pat on the head and soothing words. That might have helped at the start, but not now.
Three years earlier the two had shared a flat in Leeds, even though Blythe already owned a place of her own. They thought it would be convenient; Blythe rented her room out, and Margaret simply liked having her daughter around.
Then Blythe began to change. She smiled without reason, overhauled her wardrobe, and spent hours primping before outings. Margaret asked nothing, just watched, hoping her daughters personal life was finally taking shape.
Mom, I think Ill move back into my own flat, Blythe announced one afternoon. I have a boyfriend.
But as Christmas approached, every hope Margaret had built crumbled.
Blythe, could you introduce us? It sounds serious. Maybe he could join us for New Years Eve at my place? Margaret asked.
At first Blythe hesitated, wanting privacy. Then she said Edward had no fixed schedule and might be working the night of December31.
Dont play coy, love. I see the way your eyes flicker. You just dont want me to meet him? Margaret pressed.
Hes married, Blythe whispered, noticing Margarets eyebrows rise, then hurriedly added, But his wife and he have nothingjust the kids. He stays with her for the childrens sake, even at New Years.
Margaret felt a chill. She forced herself to sit, trying not to collapse under the flood of emotions.
Why a married man? she asked.
He promised to divorce, Blythe said. Just not now. The timings off.
And when? Margaret pressed. Promises arent marriages, Blythe.
His mother just had a stroke. He cant upset her. Once shes a bit better, the divorce will happen, Blythe explained.
Margaret offered arguments, reallife examples, but Blythe was already living in a fantasy spun by Edwards words.
Edward kept finding new excuses. Sometimes it was depression, sometimes his wife lost her job. Every time Margaret heard another alibi, her heart ached.
It became clear Blythe was hurting, perhaps even partially aware of the deceit, but refusing to admit it.
She first came to Margaret in tears after Womens Day, having been asked by Edward to craft a handmade soap set for his children. Blythes hobby made the request seem innocent, but when Edwards wife posted pictures of the soaps, bouquets, and other gifts, Blythe burst out,
I poured my heart into that, hoping the kids would love it, and he treats me like this
The next day, her tone changed.
Mom, he couldnt have only meant the kids. Everyone will use it, she rationalised.
Such cycles repeated. Edward would go on a seaside break with his wife, gift her a ring at Christmas, while Blythe received a cheap lamp. Shed cry on Margarets shoulder, only to find excuses the following day.
The final straw was Edwards wifes pregnancy, which Blythe stubbornly blamed on Anne, not on Edward.
Watching her daughter surrender her youth, faith, and love to fuel someone elses home was painful. Margaret considered writing to Anne, but she couldnt stoop to such underhandedness. All she could do was wait and hope time would set things right.
A month after the argument dragged on, each day began and ended with a heavy anticipation. Margaret checked her phone ten times an hour, waiting for a call or message that never came.
One sleepless night, just as the clock struck three, her phone rang. Blythes name flashed, and Margarets heart dropped to her shoes.
Mom Blythe sobbed before Margaret could speak.
Sweetheart, whats happened? Where are you? Margaret asked, fumbling for a coat.
What followed was a frantic stream of consciousness. Blythe had finally taken Margarets advice and tried to test Edward, hoping to prove he was her rock and would want a family. The news of her pregnancy, however, had been met with an icy reply.
Blythe, youre clever, but this is badly timed. Ive got work troubles and more. Well sort it quietly. I can help financially, Edward said. Dont make it a problem. Its our child, not yours think about Anne.
From then on Edward stopped answering.
Blythes world became a nightmare. She called and texted hourly; he read but never replied.
A week later, she saw a photo on a mutual friends feed: a busy café, a large group, Edward embracing a woman who wasnt his wife. The caption read last night. The date was yesterday.
Her world shattered. She tried to reach Edward through the friend, but
He told me he doesnt want to add another mouth to feed. He already supports two, and a third is too much. Hes tired of the drama, the friend relayed. He asked us to sort it out ourselves.
Edward never said it outright, but it was obvious: he had another partner, possibly two, and never intended to marry Blythe. The rosy castle of promises crumbled in seconds. He was no knight; he was a rogue who liked having a young lover as long as it cost him nothing.
Margaret rushed to the hospital, spent the night with Blythe, and brought her home. She didnt blame, didnt demand an apology. She simply stayed.
In the weeks that followed Blythe was a pale shadow, barely eating, avoiding soaps and TV, going to work on autopilot. She stopped defending Edward.
Margaret dug into the savings shed set aside for a holiday and handed Blythe an envelope.
Here, she said, pressing the paper into her hands. Take this. Go somewhere, breathe the sea air, eat fresh fruit. It isnt much, but itll get you to the coastmaybe the North Sea.
At first Blythe balked, then agreed.
Ten days later she returned, sunkissed, a little slimmer, but with no sorrow lingering in her eyes.
Mum, by the sea I sorted my thoughts, she confessed quietly. All his words, his deeds I see how foolish I was. Please forgive me for everythingmy shouting, my doubts.
Margaret smiled, not out of schadenfreude but relief.
Darling, never give up. Good people are out there, she replied. But for now, love yourself first.
She embraced Blythe, grateful that her daughter had stepped off the precipice that had held her for three long years. Reality had finally beaten illusion. Blythe had learned the bitter taste of truth and would never again trade her life for cheap promises or someone elses fantasies.
