Is this what youre looking for? she asked, holding the envelope out to him.
Nick turned pale.
Lizzy, its not what you think Dave He
What exactly shouldnt I be thinking, Nick? That my husbands mother is alive and in prison? That you both think Im some trusting daisy?
What do you mean, a month? Lizzy, we agreed youd stay till autumn, at least!
My youngest has only just started nursery, and Ive finally found a job close by…
What happened? Weve always paid on time, never made a fuss
Its nothing to do with you Lizzy hesitated. I need to move back to my own flat.
Why? Have you and your husband fallen out?
Please dont ask any more questions. Exactly a month from today! Ill sort out the refund on the deposit and sort the difference. Im sorry
Lizzy ended the call, shivering. She wanted it all to be over.
***
Lizzy stared at the letter on the kitchen table.
A completely ordinary envelope shed just fished out of the post along with flyers and the broadband bill.
Dave usually collected the post himself, but for whatever reason today shed checked.
A stamp. The return address read HMP Holloway.
And the sender: Lydia Thornton.
Shed heard the name only a few times from Nicks friend DaveNicks mother, supposedly, whom Lizzy had never met.
She never suspected that the woman who bore her husband was even alive.
Ive got no one, Lizzy, Dave had told her on their third date while theyd thawed out over tea in a nippy London café after a rainy walk. Dad did a runner before I was bornI never laid eyes on him. Mum Mum died when I was twenty. Heart trouble. So its just me really. A bit of a rolling stone.”
Youre really all alone? Lizzy nearly wept from the sadness. No aunties or uncles?
Bit of third cousin once-removed nonsense in Yorkshire, but I dont keep in touch. Its easier this way. No Sunday lunch drama, no having to see the in-laws or his lot. Just you and me.
She thought, What strength! Hes faced so much and stayed kind
Shed wrapped him up in her love as if to make up for what hed missed out on.
The wedding was tinyher parents, a couple of her school friends, and on his side, just Daves best mate since childhood, Nick, who barely spoke and seemed to avoid Lizzys gaze all evening.
Shed put it down to shyness, but now realised Nick must have been worried about slipping up.
Wheres she buried? Lizzy had asked, six months after the wedding. Maybe we could visit, tidy up a bit? She is your mum, after all…
Dave had twitched oddly, turning away and fixing his shirt collar.
Its far, Lizzy. Out in the country. The graveyards practically closed. Ill go one day by myself, dont bother with it. Theres just a heavy atmosphere out there. Lets focus on the living, yeah?
And she believed him. Foolish girl!
***
The front door clicked. Lizzy jolted and quickly shut the envelope in a desk drawer, hiding it beneath supermarket vouchers.
Hi, love! Daves voice rang out, as cheerful and warm as ever. Hows our little lad? Been good?
He wandered into the kitchen, came to kiss her head, but Lizzy recoiled without meaning to.
Whats wrong? You look exhausted, he frowned, peering into her face. Was Alfie up all night again?
Let me change and take him for a bit. You go have a nap. Ill sort tea.
No need, Im not hungry. Dave, did the post come today?
He paused the briefest moment. Lizzy caught it.
Oh yeah? Anything interesting? Bills again?
Yep. Bills, leaflets. Thats it.
He clearly relaxed, sighing heavily.
Grand. Ill wash my hands and see my boy; missed him something rotten.
Lizzy watched his back. The man shed shared her home, her days, her whole life with, and he was lying right to her face.
Lied so easily it made her stomach turn.
Said he was an orphan, she thought.
But from Holloway Prison, Lydia Thornton was writing.
What had she done? Killed someone? Robbed a bank? How much longer did she have to serve?
Lizzy imagined, clear as day, some years down the line, a knock at their door. Thered stand a stern-eyed woman with a convicts history.
Shed say, Hello, son. Hello, daughter-in-law. Wheres my grandson? Ill live here now!
Lizzy wasnt worried for herself; she was terrified for Alfie.
What would it do to a child, having a grandmother whod served time?
How could you let an ex-con near your child at all?
Lizzy, do you want a cuppa? Dave called from the other room. Tesco has nappies on offerI found a flyer in the drawer. Lets nip down tomorrow.
She said nothing. She was already opening her banking app, checking the balance of her personal account.
Enough for now. Another flat, another part of Londonthat was good. Tenants would be out in a month. All she had to do was make it through, act normal, dont let anything slip.
***
Dave left for work early, kissing Alfies chubby cheek and promising to be home soon.
Lizzy watched this, only disgust rising in her chest. How could he lie so easily? Wasnt this too big a thing to hide?
When hed gone, she took out the letter. Her hands shook. She desperately wanted to tear it open, but didnt dare.
What if reading it made her stay? What if it contained something
No, she told herself firmly. Doesnt matter whats in it. He lied for years!
Someone rang the bell. Lizzy jumped; who would it be?
Her parents always warned in advance. Friends? She peered through the spyholeit was Nick, shuffling, glancing nervously towards the lift.
Lizzy opened the door.
Nick? Daves at work.
I know, Lizzy Nick looked uncomfortable, stuffing his hands into his jacket. I was just passing. I thought maybe Dave left the garage keys at home?
He said theyd be on the hall table.
Keys? She arched an eyebrow. No keys on the table. Nor in the hall. Are you sure he left them?
Well, thats what he said Actually, Lizzy, Dave did ask me to pick something up from the post. I checked, but the box was empty. Did you collect the post today?
I did. Why?
Nick gulped.
Oh, nothing. Theres a parcel were waiting for, some car parts, Dave wanted me to check for a delivery slip.
Lizzy walked to the kitchen, fetched the grey envelope, and returned.
Is this what youre after? she asked, presenting the letter.
Nick paled.
Lizzy, dont get the wrong idea… Dave He
What am I not supposed to know, Nick? That my husbands mother is alive and banged up? That both of you think Im some clueless flower?
Did I really have a child with a man whose family past is some locked vault?
Lizzy, he was just trying to do the right thing! Nick started blurting, lowering his voice to a whisper. He wanted a proper life, none of that old baggage. His mum shes complicated. Dave went through stuff you cant imagine. He didnt mean harm. He just dropped her from his life so you wouldnt be scared.
Dropped her? Lizzy sneered bitterly. Nick, how do you just drop your own mother? By lying so coldly?
He robbed me of my choice! I deserved to know what sort of family I was marrying into.
Family? Theres no family. Just her and her shady business.
Just give me the letter, please? You havent opened it, right? Ill get it to Dave; hell tell you everything.
Go home, Nick, said Lizzy quietly. And Im not giving you the letter. Its addressed to Dave Thornton, and hell get itby my hand.
She slammed the door, leaving a stunned Nick in the corridor.
***
The rest of the day passed in a haze. Lizzy fed her son, changed him, took him out to the playpark, but her mind kept circling back.
What would she pack first? Pram, cot, documents. Sod the furniture.
Her old flat on the edge of London had an ancient bed and a wardrobe. That was enough.
By six, shed calmed down completely.
She set the table, cooked supper, put Alfie to bed. Then she sat, waiting.
Mmmm, that smells cracking! Dave returned, acting as though nothing had happened. Look, I got Alfie a new mobile! Soothing tunes.
Lizzy sat in silence, the infamous grey envelope in front of her. Dave popped in, then froze.
Did Nick find it? he asked, voice gruff.
I did. Nick came, said youd sent him for it. I didnt give it to him.
Dave slumped onto the opposite chair.
Why, Dave? Why tell me she was dead?
To me she was, Lizzy. Since twelve years ago. First time she was locked up. She got out, lasted half a year, then was back inside. Lizzy, you grew up normal: engineer father, mum a teacher. Youd never understand a word she says. Shes a career con artist. A proper fraudster.
And you thought that gave you the right to lie? For years? Lizzy couldnt help but cry out, Dont you realise youve destroyed every bit of trust I had in you?
I was terrified of losing you! Daves temper snapped too. Youd have left! Said, Oh no thanks, his mums a jailbird, God knows whats in his blood. I just wanted Alfie to have a decent life. So yes, I figured its better to be the orphaned husband than the son of a criminal!
Well, now hell be the boy with a divorced dad, Lizzy replied icily.
Dave went rigid.
What? Lizzy, please Not over a letter? That I hid all that?
No, Dave. Because I dont know you. If you could make up your mothers death without blinking, what else have you lied about? Whos your father? Is he banged up too, for all I know?
Lizzy, thats rubbish
Its not. Ive told the tenants. We move a month from now. Im filing for divorce tomorrow.
Dave begged. He knelt, pleaded, swore hed only lied for the greater good.
But Lizzy was unmoved. Her decision was made.
***
The tenants moved out; now Lizzy and her boy live alone. The marriage is over, though Dave still dreams hell win her back. He couldnt see what hed done wronghe only wanted to protect his family.
He sees his son regularly, provides for him fully. But as for getting Lizzys trust againshe wont even consider it.
