While You Were Away on Business
“Ellie, I’m home! Roll out the red carpet!”
“James? What are you doing back so early? You said you wouldnt be home until the end of the week…”
A woman in her early thirties hurried into the hallway, quickly tying up her silky dressing gown, looking completely thrown off as she caught sight of her husband on the doorstep.
“Just wanted to surprise you, Elle. Looks like it worked! Or aren’t you happy to see me?” James, tall and broad-shouldered, grinned like hed just won the lottery, clearly delighted with himself.
“Of course Im happy! Come on, head straight to the kitchenIll heat up something for you…”
Beaming, James nodded his thanks and wandered towards the kitchen. When he walked in, he found the table all laid out: strawberries, chocolate, and a fresh home-cooked meal just out of the oven. Youd think it was all for him.
“Blimey, Ellie, youve outdone yourself! How did you even know Id be home today? You really are a mind reader!”
James heaped a rather generous portion on his plate and started tucking in. Ellie still hadnt joined him, but he figured she must be putting on a dress to look nice for himreally making an effort.
“James, I… We…”
“This roast is fantastic, Ellie! And this salad, the pancakesabsolutely top marks… Wait, Andy?!”
James looked up, mouth still half full, and saw Ellie standing in the doorway, arm tangled through that of his own brother, Andy. Ellie kept her eyes fixed on the floor, clearly uncomfortable. Andy, clad in shorts and a t-shirt, ran a hand wearily over his face, as if hed just been dragged out of bed.
“Yeah, James, its me. Hello, mate…”
“Hi. Now, care to tell me whats going on here? Not that theres much left to explain…”
“James, I… Ive wanted to tell you for a while now. I love your brother, Andy. I want to be with him. Im sorry.” Ellie blurted out the words in a rush, barely daring to look at her clearly soon-to-be ex-husband.
James froze, the plate slipped from his hands, and his dinner slid off with a clatter onto the tiled floor.
“And let me guess… You two were just together now?”
“Yes. Right this minute,” Andy muttered.
“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant, the pair of you! Oh, and I see now why you put on such a feast. Wondered who it was actually for…”
Ellie wouldnt meet Jamess gaze, certain that if she did, shed lose every ounce of her nerve.
“What about Sophie? What do we do about our daughter? Does she know?”
“No, she doesnt have a clue.”
“And where is she now?”
“Round at Mrs. Greens, watching cartoons.”
“And is that a regular thing, sending her off to the neighbours?”
“Pretty much for the last six months…”
James didnt have any more questions, nor much emotion left in him. He was shattered from travel, and arguing seemed pointless. Hed never been one to lose his temper for long, always keeping a level head. But when someone really pushed him… well, lets just say everyone knew to steer clear, though that almost never happened. This situation, with the two people closest to him, left James completely bewildered for a moment, though only for a moment.
“Youve got ten minutes to pack up and leave. Clocks ticking,” James said quietly, sipping his tea and not even glancing at his brother.
What was it Ellie saw in Andy anyway? He looked pretty much the same as me, even the same mole on his cheek… but hes hopeless: doesnt know how to work, a bit soft in the head… Shell only lose out being with him. But thats her choice! he thought, calmly finishing his tea.
“Im not leaving until you agree,” Andy suddenly piped up.
“And what exactly do you want me to agree to?”
“Divorce. Let Ellie go. She doesnt love you, James.”
“Oh, I can see perfectly well who my wife loves,” James scoffed. “You want a divorce? Youll get your divorcebut well settle it in court. Lets see how much you end up splashing on lawyers…”
“James…” Ellie laid her hand carefully over his wrist. “James, please. Can we just do this peacefully? Youre not a cruel man, I know youre not…”
James shook his head.
“Alright, fine. But youre no brother to me any more, Andrew Williams.”
“We… we actually wanted to ask one more thing,” Ellie ventured.
“Well? What now?”
“Could you leave me the flat after the divorce, James?” Ellie suddenly smiled her sweetest smile, still stroking his wrist. “Sophies so attached to this place, shes got all her friends at school here… If we had to split the property, we couldnt afford anywhere else. Wed have to move back to the countryside…”
James propped his chin on his folded arms and thought for a moment. Seeing his hesitation, Ellie turned up the charm a notch:
“James, darling… Just do it for Sophie, hmm? With your job, youll earn more in no time! Please, Jamesshes your only little girl. Im doing it all for her.”
“Calm down, Ellie,” James cut her off gently. “Ive got a better idea.”
“And whats that?” Ellies eyes lit up hopefully. “Are you thinking of leaving us the car too? Oh, Sophie would be over the moon!”
“Sophies going to live with me.”
“What?!” Ellie couldnt believe her ears. “Are you mad? You dont even know how to handle kids! Youre never home, always off on work trips. She hardly even remembers your name!”
“Lets just see about that,” James replied firmly and headed for the door.
A few minutes later, James returned holding his daughters handa ten-year-old girl whod just started Year 5. She clung tight to his side, beaming happily.
“So why have you brought her here? Want her to be dragged into all this?” Ellie snapped.
Her husband ignored her. He sat back at the kitchen table, lifted Sophie onto his lap, and spoke softly:
“Soph, darling, can I ask you a couple of questions, sweetheart?”
“Course you can!” Sophies smile lit up her face, thrilled at getting her dads attention.
“Promise me youll be honest, yeah? We need to talk, grown-up to grown-up.”
“Like how you talk to the blokes at work?”
“Exactly like that.”
Sophie nodded eagerly, mouth open in anticipation.
“Has Mum ever hurt you? Did she hit you this past week?”
Sophie blushed and looked away. Her little fingers twisted anxiously at the hem of her dress.
“What are you playing at?!” Ellie interrupted, voice rising. “Leave her alone!”
“Quiet, Ellie. Im speaking to my daughter.” Jamess voice was flat as he gently ran his hand over Sophies hair. “Dont be scared, Soph. Remember, you promised to tell the truth?”
Sophie nodded, tears starting to gather in her eyes. She flung her arms round her dad and whispered, her face buried in his chest:
“She smacked me three times! Once for getting a bad mark, once for spilling milk… And the third time was when I shouted at Uncle Andy. Mum was kissing him while you were away…”
“There, there, dont cry, sweetheart. Im here, Im not going anywhere. Mum wont hurt you now.” James soothed her gently, stroking her hair.
“Shes lying, making it all up!” Ellie protested.
“And yet you want the car and the flat for the good of our daughter?” James responded with a sarcastic smile. “Soph, one more question?”
“Okay…”
“If you could choose to live with Dad or Mum, who would you pick?”
Sophie hesitated, casting nervous glances from her father to her mum. Ellie opened her arms, trying to coax her daughter over.
“Will you promise not to go away for ages again?”
“I promise,” James answered immediately.
“Then I want to stay with you, Dad.”
“You little!” Ellie angrily raised her hand, but James hugged Sophie tightly, shielding her. Andy, standing awkwardly in the corner, stayed out of it.
“Thats the end of it, Ellie,” James said calmly, and led Sophie off to her bedroom.
A little later, James helped Sophie pack her things. Luckily, his own travel bag was already packed from the trip. The two of them headed off to a hotel across the cityone James regularly booked for work.
…A couple of months later, the divorce hearing took place. Given that Ellie and Andy had no stable income or home, and there was evidence Sophie wanted to live with her father, the judge ruled in Jamess favour. Sophie stayed with him. He split the flat with Ellie as planned and sold his half, buying a new place for him and his daughter. Sophie saw her mum on weekends but lived with her father full-time. James completely switched up his work schedule, so those three-month business trips were a thing of the past. These days, Sophie smiled a lot morewhich was worth more to him than any job or paycheque.
