**Diary Entry 15th January**
*”Never mind, Dave! Dont be down! At least you had a cracking New Years Eve!”*
Here I was, back in my hometown. Dave stepped off the train, crossed the station square, and headed for the bus stop. He hadnt told his wife, Emily, hed be back today.
His mood was foulhed have yet another row with Emily. Shed scold him, call him selfish, accuse him of being indifferent. Indifferent? Hardly. Hed tried to wish her a happy New Year, but shed turned her phone off. Bloody typical.
Three days hed tried ringing her. Nothing. So, finehe stopped calling. And lets not forget, she hadnt bothered to wish his parents or sister a happy New Year either, never mind him. Hed march straight in and give her a piece of his mind.
She always had something to moan about, but she wasnt perfect either. What was it they said? The best defence is a good offence.
Dave squared his shoulders and strode into his building, ready for a fight.
The flat was silent.
“Oi! Anyone home? Emily, Im back!” No answer.
He checked the kitchenempty. The bedroomssame. Then he noticed something. The cot was gone. The changing table, the dresser, even the pram his parents had boughtall vanished. He yanked open the wardrobe: Emilys half was bare.
“Has she lost it? Left me?”
He rang his mother-in-law. No answer. Next, he tried Kate, Emilys best mate. Silence. Finally, he got through to Mike, Kates husband.
“Mike, mate, put Kate on. Cant reach her.”
“Shes at her parents in the villagespotty signal there. I got back yesterdaywork today. Theyre still celebrating. Why dyou need her?”
“Thought she might know where Emily is. I just got back, and the flats emptyall the baby stuffs gone.”
“Hold onyour missus was due any day, wasnt she? You left her alone over Christmas?”
“She didnt *want* to come. Due on the 10thwed have had time.”
“Congratulations, Daveyoure an idiot.”
“Why?”
“Because youre probably single now. Ring the hospital, you numpty.”
***
**Ten days earlier**
“I dont get it, Dave,” his mum had said over the phone. “Why stay home? If Emily wont come, you should. The babys not due for weeksplenty of time.”
“Besides, the whole familys comingAunt Vera, Uncle Steve, Natalie and Vic, even Olivia and Paul. And us, of course. Your sister, Vicky, booked a lodge in the countrysidefour nights, 30th to the 2nd. Fancy dinner on New Years Eve, live band. Ive paid your shareyoull owe me. Stay till Twelfth Night, then head back. Youll make it in time.”
Emily refused to go.
“Dave, I could go into labour *any day*. Imagineeveryones celebrating, and suddenly Im in contractions. And that lodge is miles from a hospital!”
“No, Im not going.”
“Your mums right,” hed grumbled. “Women these days act like pregnancys an illness, childbirth some heroic feat. She raised three of us, barely took maternity leave, and managed just fine.”
Part of him knew Emily had a point. But the thought of a quiet New Years Evejust the two of them, a modest meal (Emily had already said she wasnt cooking anything special)left him miserable.
Meanwhile, his family would be dancing, laughing, toasting under fairy lights.
So he went alone.
***
The lodge was brilliant. Around half past midnight, Dave slipped out to call Emily. No answer.
“Fine. Stay mad. Your own faultyou couldve been here having fun.”
The next day, his mum moaned about Emily.
“Not even a *call* to wish us Happy New Year. See how she is? Youve let her walk all over you, son.”
“She doesnt get family. Let her sit alone and think about that.”
Emily hadnt given them a second thought. If shed thought of anyone, it was Davecertainly not his parents or their endless relatives.
Her own parents, hearing shed be alone, had invited her over. No big feasther brother worked shifts in London, so theyd planned a quiet evening.
At nine on New Years Eve, as Emily helped her mum set the table, her waters broke.
An ambulance came. Her mum went with her; her dad followed in the car.
Emily welcomed the New Year in a hospital bed. Her parents waited below. And by half past midnight, she was a mother.
***
Dave took Mikes advice and rang the hospital.
“Emily Carter? Discharged yesterday.”
“Already? The babys here?”
“Yes. 1st January, 12:30 AM.”
“Who picked her up?”
“Sir, we dont log that.”
Only her parents couldve collected her. He bought roses and went straight there.
Her dad answered.
“Can I help you?”
“Im here for Emily.”
“And you are?”
“Her *husband*.”
“Emily!” her dad called. “Some bloke here says hes your husband. Want to talk?”
“No. Send him away.”
Her dad shrugged. “You heard her. Cheers.”
Dave stood there, then knocked again.
This time, his mother-in-law opened the doortall, sturdy, *loud*. Honestly, she scared him.
“Did you not get the message?”
“Let me in. Ive got rights”
She snatched the roses and whipped them across his face.
“Your *rights*? Your solicitor will explain those. Now *go*my grandsons sleeping.” She threw the roses at his feet and slammed the door.
Dave trudged home, rubbing his faceroses had thorns.
He rang his mum.
“They wouldnt even let me *see* my son!”
“Dont fret, love. Shell come crawling back. Where else will she go? Ignore herno calls, no money. Let *her* parents foot the bill. A week or two, shell be back. Now sleepwork tomorrow.”
So he didate a ready meal, then bed.
He slept soundly, unaware itd be his last night in that flat.
***
The next evening, his belongingsboxed, baggedwere piled on the landing.
His mother-in-law answered the door. The flat was hers, after all.
“Well, son-in-law? Remember your hostel address, or shall I remind you? Take your junk. Whatevers left, the cleaners will bin tomorrow.”
So Dave moved into the hostel.
They divorced. Hed have rented a place, but after child support and alimony, his wages barely covered beans on toast.
“Tighten your belt, mate,” Mike said. “Youll need a deposit someday. Cheer upat least you had a *great* New Year.”
Emily stayed with her parents for three years. They helped with little Jake, rented out her flat. When she returned to work, they moved back in. After renovations, no trace of Dave remained.
**Lesson learned:** Some things cost more than pride. A quiet New Years Eve wouldnt have killed me.
