Never mind, Stanley! Dont fret! At least you had a smashing New Years!
There it washis hometown. Stanley stepped off the platform, crossed the station square, and headed for the bus stop. He hadnt told his wife hed be back today.
His spirits were low, knowing hed soon have an unpleasant conversation with Emily. Shed scold him again, complain, call him a selfish, indifferent bore.
Indifferent? Hed tried to ring her up on New Years, but shed turned her phone off. She was the one whod stormed off!
For three days, hed rung her, but she never picked up. So hed taken offence too and stopped calling.
And, mind you, she hadnt even bothered to wish his parents or sister a happy New Yearlet alone him. Hed tell her that the moment he walked in.
She couldnt pin all the blame on himshe had her own faults. Best defence is a good offence, as they say.
Stanley squared his shoulders and marched into his building, spoiling for a fight.
The flat greeted him with silence.
Hello? Anyone home? Emily, Im back! he called loudly. No answer.
He checked the kitchenno Emily. The first bedroomempty. The secondthe same. But then he noticed the changes: the cot by the wall was gone, the dresser with the changing table missing, even the pram his in-laws had bought themvanished.
He hurried to the wardrobeher half was bare.
Has she lost her mind? Left me? Stanley wondered.
He dialled his mother-in-law. No answer. Next, he tried Katherine, Emilys friend. Silence. Finally, he got through to Michael, Katherines husband.
Mike, hello! Put Kathy on, will you? Cant reach her, he asked.
Kathys in the village with the little onespent New Years there. Spotty signal out there.
Got back yesterdayshift today. Theyre still relaxing, Michael replied. Why dyou need Kathy?
Thought she might know where my Em is. Just got back from my parents, and shes gone. All the baby things too, Stanley said.
Waityour wife was due any day, wasnt she? You left her alone over the holidays? Michael sounded stunned.
She didnt want to come. The due date was the tenth or eleventhwed have been back in time.
Congratulations, you absolute plum, Michael chuckled.
What? Stanley frowned.
Because youre likely a free man now. Blithering idiot! Ring the hospitalshes probably there, Michael advised.
Ten days earlier.
Dont see why youve got to stay home, Stan, his mother had said over the phone. If Emily wont come, you come alone. Her due dates weeks offyoull be back in time.
Besides, the whole familys gathering: Aunt Vera and Uncle Sergei, Natasha and Victor, Olga and Paul. And us, of course, with Dad and Vicky and Glen.
Vicky booked us rooms at a countryside hotelright in the woods. Four nights, from the thirtieth to the second. New Years Eve banquet with live performers. Ive paid your sharesettle up later. Stay till Twelfth Night, then head back on the eighth. Plenty of time before Emilys due.
Emily hadnt wanted to go:
Stan, I could go into labour any day. Imagineeveryone celebrating, and me suddenly in contractions. And that hotels miles outwould an ambulance even make it in time?
No, Im not going.
Your mothers rightwomen these days treat pregnancy like an illness, and childbirth like some heroic feat. She had three of you, barely took maternity leave, and still managed everything.
Of course, Stanley saw Emilys point. But the thought of a dull New Years at homejust the two of them, a modest spread (Emily had already said she wouldnt cook much)left him glum.
Meanwhile, his whole family would be dancing, singing, and making merry at the hotel.
So he went alone.
The countryside hotel was lively indeed. Around half past midnight, after the New Year had rung in, Stanley slipped out to the lobby to call Emily. No answer.
Fine, sulk if you mustyour own fault. Couldve been here having fun with the rest of us, he thought.
The next day, his mother aired her grievances about Emily:
Your Emily didnt even call to wish us a happy New Year. See how spiteful she is? Youve let that wife of yours run wild, son.
She doesnt understand family. Thats why were all here together, and shes there alone. Let her stew in it.
But Emily had other concerns that New Years Eve. If she thought of anyone, it was Stanleycertainly not her in-laws and their endless relations.
Her parents, hearing shed be alone, had invited her over. No grand feast plannedher brother worked shifts in London and couldnt get time off, so itd just be the three of them.
At nine on the thirty-first, Emily and her mother were setting the table when the contractions hit.
An ambulance was called. Her mother rode with her; her father followed in the car.
That year, Emily saw in the New Year in a hospital bed, her parents waiting in the ward below. By half past midnight, she was a mother to a son
Stanley took Michaels advice and rang the hospital.
Wilkinson? Discharged yesterday, the receptionist said.
Discharged? Already? Stanley balked. The babys here?
Yes. First of January, half past midnight.
Who collected her? Stanley pressed.
Young man, we dont log that in the register!
Stanley realised only her parents couldve picked her upshe and the baby must be at theirs.
He bought a bouquet of roses and set off.
He knocked. His father-in-law answered.
Can I help you?
Hello. Im here for Emily, Stanley said.
Why? her father asked.
Im her husband, Stanley replied.
Emily! her father called. Some bloke here says hes your husband. Want a word?
No, tell him to go, Emilys voice floated from inside.
Her father shrugged.
She doesnt. Goodbye, young man. The door shut.
Stanley stood there a moment, then knocked again.
This time, his mother-in-law answereda tall, sturdy woman with a voice that carried. Truth be told, Stanley was a bit afraid of her.
Did you not hear? she demanded.
Let me in, Stanley began bravely. Ive a right
He didnt finish. She snatched the bouquet and swatted him across the face with it.
What rights youve got, a solicitor will soon explain! And dont call againmy grandsons sleeping, she said, tossed the roses at his feet, and slammed the door.
Stanley trudged home, rubbing his faceroses were lovely, but their thorns stung.
Back home, he rang his mother first.
Would you believe it? They wouldnt even let me indidnt even let me see my son.
Dont fret, Stan. Your Emily will come round. Wheres she going with a baby? Dont call her, dont send money.
Let her parents foot the bill if theyre so clever. A week or two, and shell come crawling back. Now get some sleepwork tomorrow.
Stanley did just that: ate shop-bought pies for supper and turned in.
He slept soundly, unaware itd be his last night in that flat.
The next evening, returning from work, he found all his belongings boxed and bagged on the landing.
He knocked. His mother-in-law answeredthe owner of the two-bedroom flat he and Emily had rented.
Well, dear son-in-law? Remember your lodgings, or shall I remind you? Take your junk. Whatevers left goes in the bin tomorrow!
Stanley had no choice but to move back to the lodgings.
They divorced through court. Sick of the lodgings, Stanley thought to rent a flatbut when he saw his pay after alimony and spousal support, he realised thered be little left to live on.
Be thriftier! Youll need savings for your own place, Michael advised. Never mind, Stan! Dont fret! At least you had a smashing New Years!
Emily stayed with her parents for three years while they helped with little Oliver. The flat was let out.
When she returned to work, she and Oliver moved back in. After renovations, no trace of Stanley or his family remained.
What do you make of Stanleys choices
