Go home! We’ll talk when we get there! William snapped. Im not about to put on a show for people on the street!
Oh, suit yourself! snorted Emily, tossing her long ponytail behind her as she strode off towards the house.
William lingered until she was some distance away, then pulled out his mobile, muttered into the microphone: Shes on her way back! Make sure she gets the welcome we discussed. And send her down to the cellar, that should bring her down a peg! Ill be back soon!
He put his phone away and was about to pop into the corner shop for a celebratory pint, when a stranger gripped his arm.
Sorry, mate, dont mean to be so forward the man offered an awkward smile. That young lady with you just now
My wife. Why?
Oh, nothing, nothing! the mans smile took on an oily, apologetic edge. Just, forgive me asking, is her name Emily Brown by any chance?
Emily, yes. And she was Brown before she married. Whats your point?
Her middle name wouldnt be Jane, would it?
Yes! William replied, irritation rising. Why are you asking about my wife? How do you know her?
Emily had only come to our village three years ago, and before that, nobody seemed to know a thing about her. Shed always said shed escaped from her family, who wanted to marry her off against her will.
So this stranger spouting personal details about Emily in our sleepy English village instantly put me on edge.
Oh, no, Ive never met her! the man stammered, face flushing. Im… well, a bit of a fan, in a way.
Fan, is it? If youre planning to run off with my wife, youll be getting more than a piece of my mind! William spat, voice low and menacing.
No, I swear! You misunderstand! Not that sort of fan I just admire her talent!
Emilys not exactly known for her talents William said, confused.
Well, it takes talent to be banned from Muay Thai for life at eighteen for excessive aggression! the stranger exclaimed, eyes wide.
Its a shame, really. She couldve wiped the floor with anyone in the private tournaments! Watching her in the ring was something else!
Williams hands were trembling as he fumbled for his phone, which promptly tumbled to the pavement and shattered. He quickly gathered the pieces, but it refused to turn on.
He sprinted for home, muttering under his breath: Dear Lord, let me get there in time!
I remember when Emily first arrived in the village. She certainly drew attention, and who could blame anyone? Young, athletic, magnetic, she started working as the PE teacher at the primary school. The rumour mill assumed she was some student on placement, but it turned out she was twenty-five and had moved here for good alone.
The whispers started.
Somethings off, gossiped the women by the postbox. Young, clever, and shes here of all places? Id stake my life shes hiding a dark secret.
Oh, its nothing like that, another would say, waving a hand. Likely just some heartbreak, come to nurse her wounds in the country.
Or shes had a row with her parents and done a runner! I saw something like it on telly, added someone else.
I kept my distance for a while. You never really know what story someones carrying around with them.
Working at a school means endless staff meetings, which inevitably bring out all of lifes stories. Within six months, Emily had revealed hers:
My parents are businesspeople, perfectly decent, but when the business went south, my father decided to fix things by marrying me off to a well-connected man.
You shouldve seen him! No thank you. I made a sharp exit.
So youre all alone here? an older colleague gently asked.
People are people everywhere, Emily shrugged. Id rather stand on my own two feet than be married to someone I cant abide! Besides, being up for sale isnt my idea of a life.
Not to worry, her coworkers assured her. This place may be small, but youll find love here. Honest folk turn up when you least expect it!
Once Emilys tale spread through the village, I made up my mind.
Ill marry her! Our local girls have grown greedy and bold, but heres a newcomer. And no meddling in-laws to deal with. I told my family my mum, dad, and elder brother Matthew.
Shes young and healthy, my mother declared. No wonder she teaches PE. Shell give you sturdy children and help with the housework. How many lessons can she have a week, anyway?
She sounds a catch, the lot agreed. If she plays up, well soon put manners on her!
Why was everyone so confident about the wedding? Because, to be fair, I wasnt a bad catch myself. In addition to being well-liked, Id just been made assistant manager at the local vegetable depot.
Id built up the place, too the boss refused to move on, but Id been promoted as the safe pair of hands.
But even good leaders arent always loved by staff. Id brought my brother Matthew in as head of security he ran the place with an iron fist.
No pilfering anymore! The brothers look after each other and keep us safe, folks would say, averting their eyes.
Still, the thefts stopped altogether, so nobody complained.
How could Emily refuse a diligent fellow such as myself? She agreed to a walk, then to dinner, and eventually, to marriage. I took her from her flat at the teacher’s hostel and brought her home to live with us.
You must understand, we all live as one big family, my mother chattered away. We do everything together. Im not sure about your old family, but this is how we do things here!
There wasn’t much structure in my parents house, Emily replied gently. I suppose I ran away from their rules, but since Im Williams wife now, I’ll try to adapt.
This declaration was greeted with enthusiasm.
Sorry, but I dont really know how to do much, Emily blushed, My family had hired help for everything.
Well fix that! my father assured her. Youre quick on the uptake, arent you?
Usually, Emily replied, but I dont stand for injustice.
My dear, added my mother, justice is a slippery thing. There are centuries-old rules for family life! Honour your husband and his kin, respect us as youd wish in return, be obedient and gentle! And in turn, the men will take care of you and deal with the serious business.
Well, if thats the way, Emily shrugged. But I hope there wont be any punishments, like in those old books?
No batons and no stables here! my father laughed.
But Emilys intuition was alarmingly on target. Within a month of marriage, her liberty was clamped down upon.
Just work and shopping nothing else!
Off to where now? Theres work to be done! Chickens to feed, the veg patch to weed! my mother would shout. Were a family, and I cant manage alone!
She wasnt exaggerating. Matthew and I were forever working at the depot, dawn till dusk, sometimes all night produce didnt clock off.
Fathers back and knees kept him mostly chair-bound, doling out helpful advice. So really, everything fell to my mum and Emily.
But my mum was no spring chicken her joints flaring up, headaches, her blood pressure making days harder. Theres never a day off in a country household!
And my own life? Emily once asked. Not with William, I mean, but for myself? Going to a café, seeing a film, taking a walk I havent got a single friend here!
Friends arent needed in marriage, believe me. Theyre more trouble than theyre worth. And public places are for couples, not for a married woman alone! Here in the country, theres no hiding from idle talk. The gossip will ruin your reputation especially when youre a teacher! You could lose your job in disgrace!
Perfectly logical, but Emily wasnt about to bury herself in chores without a word.
She worked and did her bit, but insisted on fair treatment. Sometimes she’d take a stand, sometimes shed talk back, sometimes shed flat out refuse.
If were working, it’s all together, shed say. If someones loafing while another works, count me out!
Two and a half years on from the wedding, and Emily still hadn’t quieted down. She expected an honest contribution from everyone, and spoke her mind.
What a temper on that Emily! my mother would exclaim, sending Emily for groceries. You say a word, she gives you five back!
Shes disrespectful, my dad chimed in. Ask her for a cushion, or a glass of water, and she acts busy!
William, this is out of line, Matthew said. Shes rude to our parents! When is that ever okay?
Shes making a mockery of me, too! Im her husband! She needs to be tamed put in her place before we have kids as well. If she carries on like this, the whole house will be chaos!
Well have to take action, Matthew said. Walk her round the green, then send her home alone and well have a little chat.
If she gets the message, good. If not, well use force if we must. If she rebels, she can stay in the cellar well tell the school shes on holiday. A month down there should sort her out.
That was the big plan. While I was walking Emily around the green, the family braced themselves, building up righteous outrage, waiting on my cue.
But I was too late.
The gate was intact, but the front door looked as if it had never existed. In the hallway, Matthew sat on the floor, cradling a broken arm and howling.
I fished his phone from his pocket, dialed 999, and thrust it to his ear:
Tell them the address! I barked over his shock. And ask for an ambulance two, if you can.
Matthew nodded, wincing in pain.
My dad lay in the living room among splintered furniture unconscious, but alive. That was a relief. In the kitchen, my mother sat on the floor by the door, a shining bruise blooming on her cheek, gripping the snapped remains of her beloved rolling pin.
Emily sat at the kitchen table, calmly sipping a cup of tea.
Darling? she looked up at me. Have you come for your share?
N-no… I stammered.
Then Im not sure what else to offer you, Emily mused. Perhaps a slice of proper fairness in the family?
Some warning next time would have been nice! I blurted. You nearly
I know my limits. Everyone got what they dished out! Came at me with something, and got it in return. As for the rolling pin, I broke it over my knee! Your mum only got that bruise running into the door trying to escape!
So what now? How do we go on living? I asked.
I think we try harmony, Emily smiled. And above all, fairness. And dont even think of divorce Im expecting! And my child will have a father!
I swallowed hard: All right, love.
Once everyone recovered, family rules underwent significant changes.
But peace reigned. And no one ever so much as raised their voice at anyone again.
