“Dont worry, Dave! Cheer upat least you had a cracking New Years Eve!
Here he was, back in his hometown. Dave stepped off the platform, crossed the station square, and headed for the bus stop. He hadnt told his wife he was coming home today.
His mood wasnt greatmostly because he was dreading the upcoming row with Emma. Shed probably go off on one again, calling him selfish, saying he never cared.
But how could she say that? Hed tried calling her on New Years Eve to wish her a happy one, but shed turned her phone off. Proper sulk, that was.
For three days, he kept ringing, but she wouldnt pick up. So finehe gave up and stopped calling too. And honestly, she couldnt even be bothered to wish his parents or sister a happy New Year, let alone him. Hed make sure to throw that in her face the second he walked in.
She wasnt exactly blameless eithershe had her fair share of slip-ups. What was that saying? The best defence is a good offence.
Dave straightened up and marched to their building, ready for a proper showdown.
The flat was dead quiet when he walked in.
“Oi! Anyone home? Em, Im back!” he called out. No answer.
He checked the kitchenempty. Peeked into the bedroomsnothing. But something was off. The cot by the wall was gone. So was the changing table and the pram his in-laws had bought them.
His heart sank as he yanked open the wardrobe. Her half was bare.
“Has she lost it? Left me?” he thought.
He rang his mother-in-lawno answer. Then he tried Kate, Emmas best mate. Still nothing. Finally, he got through to Mike, Kates husband.
“Mike, mate! Pass the phone to Katecant get hold of her,” Dave said.
“Kates at her parents place in the countryside with the little one. We spent New Years there. Receptions spotty.”
“I got back yesterdayhad to work today. Theyre still relaxing,” Mike added. “Why dyou need Kate?”
“Thought she might know where my Emmas gone. Got home, and shes vanished. All our baby stuffs gone too,” Dave said.
“Waityour missus was due any day now, yeah? You seriously swanned off to your familys for the holidays and left her alone?” Mike sounded baffled.
“She didnt want to come! The due date was the 10th or 11thplenty of time!”
“Congratulations, Dave, youre a proper muppet,” Mike chuckled.
“What?”
“Mate, youre probably single now. Numpty. Ring the hospitalbet you anything shes there,” Mike advised.
—
Ten days earlier.
“Dont get it, Dave,” his mum had said over the phone. “Why stay home over the holidays? If Emma wont come, you come alone. Her due dates weeks offyoull be back in time.”
“Besides, the whole familys gathering: Aunt Vera and Uncle Steve, Nat and Vic, Olga and Paul. And usme, your dad, and Vicky with Glen.”
“Vickys booked us rooms at this lovely countryside hotelright in the woods. Four nights, from the 30th to the 2nd. Fancy restaurant dinner on New Years Eve, live entertainment. Ive paid for yousettle me later. Stay till the 8th, then head home. Youll make it before Emmas due.”
But Emma refused to go.
“Dave, I could go into labour any day. Imagineeveryones celebrating, and suddenly Im in agony. Plus, the hotels miles outwhat if the ambulance doesnt make it in time?”
“No. Im not going anywhere.”
“Your mums rightwomen these days act like pregnancys an illness and childbirths some heroic act. She had three of you and barely took maternity leave!”
Deep down, Dave knew Emma had a point. But the thought of a dull New Years Eve at homejust the two of them, with no proper spread (Emma had already said she wasnt cooking much)made him miserable.
Meanwhile, his whole family would be dancing, singing, having a proper knees-up at the hotel.
So he went alone.
It *was* a cracking time. Around half twelve, after the countdown, Dave slipped out to call Emma. No answer.
“Fine, sulk then. Your faultyou couldve been here having a laugh with everyone,” he thought.
The next day, his mum had a go at him about Emma.
“Your Emma couldnt even call to wish us a happy New Year? Honestly, Dave, youve let that girl walk all over you.”
“She doesnt get what family means. Thats why were all here together, and shes sat there alone. Serves her right.”
—
But Emma hadnt been thinking about them that night. If anything, shed thought of Davecertainly not her in-laws and their massive clan.
Her parents, hearing shed be alone, had invited her over. No big celebration plannedjust a quiet evening. Her brother worked shifts in London and couldnt get time off, so itd just be her mum and dad.
At nine on New Years Eve, as Emma and her mum set the table, her waters broke.
They called an ambulance. Her mum went with her; her dad followed in the car.
That year, Emma welcomed the New Year in a hospital bed, her parents waiting in the lobby. By half twelve, she was holding her baby boy.
—
Dave took Mikes advice and rang the hospital.
“Emma Carter? Discharged yesterday,” the receptionist said.
“Already? But the baby?”
“Born on the 1st, half past midnight.”
“Who picked her up?”
“Sir, we dont log that in the register.”
Only her parents couldve collected her. Theyd be at their place now.
He bought a bouquet of roses and headed over.
Knocked. His father-in-law answered.
“Can I help you?”
“Hi, Im here for Emma,” Dave said.
“Why?”
“Im her husband.”
“Emma!” her dad called. “Some bloke here says hes your husband. Fancy a chat?”
“No. Tell him to leave,” Emmas voice came from inside.
Her dad shrugged. “Shes not interested. Cheers, mate.” The door shut.
Dave stood there a minute, then knocked again.
This time, his mother-in-law answeredtall, sturdy, loud. Truth be told, she scared him a bit.
“You deaf or what?”
“Let me in,” Dave said firmly. “Ive got a right”
She snatched the roses and whacked him across the face with them.
“Your *rights*? Your solicitor can explain those. Dont call againmy grandsons sleeping.” She tossed the bouquet at his feet and slammed the door.
Dave went home, rubbing his faceroses were lovely, but the thorns stung.
First thing, he rang his mum.
“They wouldnt even let me in. Didnt even see my son.”
“Dont fret, Dave. Shell get over it. Wheres she gonna go 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. Get some sleepwork tomorrow.”
So Dave did. Ate some shop-bought ready meal and crashed.
Slept like a log, not realising itd be his last night in that flat.
Next evening, back from work, he found all his stuff packed in boxes and bin bags on the landing.
He knocked. His mother-in-law answeredshe owned the flat, after all.
“Well, dear son-in-law? Remember your student digs, or need a reminder? Take your junk. Whatevers left, the cleaner bins tomorrow.”
So Dave moved back into halls.
The divorce went through quick. Fed up with shared living, he looked into renting, but after child support and alimony deductions, his pay barely covered beans on toast.
“Tighten your belt, mate,” Mike said. “Gotta save for your own place now. Chin upleast you had a belter New Years!”
Emma stayed with her parents for three years while they helped with little Jake. They rented out her flat in the meantime.
When she went back to work, she and Jake moved back in. After a full refurb, not a trace of Dave or his family remained.
So thoughts on Daves life choices? Drop a commentlets hear it.”
