Emily, has James already told you? asks the motherinlaw. Listen, we expect up to twenty guests, so we start cooking this evening. Ill be there around six.
In the evening? Emily repeats skeptically. No, I never agreed to that.
Hold on, I havent finished. Ive already sent James a shopping list, and he promised to buy everything.
James has always been the one his older sister Rebecca leans on. By the time she turns thirty, shes been married twice and divorced twice, each time blaming the wrong bloke. Their mother, Margaret Hawthorne, has repeated to her son since he was a boy:
A sister always needs a hand.
And James obliges. He lends money when Rebecca temporarily loses her job, fixes up her rented flat, and hauls her belongings after every split.
Then he gets married.
Emily, his wife, puts up with it at first. When Rebecca, for the fifth time this year, asks to borrow their car for a few days because its broken again, Emily says softly but firmly:
James, isnt it enough? We need the car for the weekend too. I thought we had plans
Whats the problem? Cant we walk?
No. You cant walk to my parents cottage. Theyve gathered two buckets of cucumbers for us. I thought you heard me when I mentioned it.
Right I heard something, but you understand Rebecca has an emergency.
Again? What kind?
Im not sure, James mutters, but she needs it more.
No, James. This time it stops! Either you say no to your sister, or you buy me a car. Im fed up taking the bus when a car could drop us where we need to go.
James pauses, about to call Rebecca to refuse, when Margaret intervenes:
Are you going to abandon your sister for your wife? Shes alone! Who else will help her but you?
And James helps again, despite the arguments with Emily. One day they go several days without speaking, and James finally snaps:
Why are you silent? You angry or something?
Really? It took you three days to work that out? Emily snaps.
I just cant see the point he replies.
Emily laughs at his confusion:
Honestly? You dont get it? Your sister took you away for the whole weekend because she needed to get to a friends cottage. I thought youd just give her a lift, but you ended up staying two days. Does that bother you at all?
Whats there to worry about? We had a few drinks. Her ex was there, I was getting along fine. I just had to mark the occasion. Why should I have driven like a fool? It would have been rude.
You couldve at least called.
You couldve called too, James retorts.
I did! Your phone was off. Imagine that! I was on edge, not knowing where my husband was. And he simply decides to take a break from me, Emily fumes.
Stop making stuff up, James waves his hand as if the phones ringing.
James steps onto the balcony and finally answers. He knows his wife wont appreciate another chat with his sister.
Hi, brother! Rebecca chirps into the handset. My anniversary is in two weeks! Thirty years! You get it, right?
James glances at Emily, who is pouring soup.
So what do you want? he asks.
How do you always understand me! Rebecca giggles. I want to celebrate at your place! Youve got a big living room. My rented flat is tiny, and the landlord would complain. A restaurant is pricey.
Maybe we should do it at a café? Ill add whatever you need.
Are you out of your mind?! Rebecca huffs. Its an anniversary! You want me to pay for a venue when you have your own flat? And youll still have to chip in. Im not a millionaires daughter.
Let me talk to Emily first. Its her flat too. Maybe she had other plans.
Too late! Rebecca cuts him off. Ive already told everyone the partys at your house. Clear the flat for the whole day, okay? Mum says shell cook everything.
James sighs and covers his face with his hand, trying to think of an escape. The phone buzzes again, this time a text from his mother:
Rebecca said to work out the menu. Heres the list of dishes. We still need to buy the ingredients. Tell Emily to help. She can also lend a hand in the kitchen.
Meanwhile Emily, oblivious to Rebeccas upcoming celebration, settles into her armchair with the remote, ready to watch her favourite series. When James walks into the room, eyes downcast, she instantly pieces it together.
So whats happening this time? she asks calmly, pausing the show.
Emily, listen Rebecca anniversary, you know. Thirty years. She wants to mark the date.
Emily looks up.
Let her have her party. Are we going to forbid it?
James scratches his head.
Its not that. She wants to celebrate at ours.
What?! Emily jumps up. Wait, at our flat?
Yes, but only one evening. She says the restaurant is too expensive and her place is cramped
And what? You agreed?
I said Id talk to you first! But Rebecca has already invited everyone. Mums already planning the menu
Emily closes her eyes, takes a deep breath.
James, are you an adult or just a messenger for Rebeccas wishes?
What are you starting?
Im starting? Emily says, holding up his phone with irony. And nobody even called me? This is my flat, not a transit hub for your relatives. Rebecca wants to party in my house, I have to help her, I have to assist your mum, and nobody even asked me!
At that moment Emilys phone rings.
Ah, the icing on the cake, she hisses, waving the device. Your mother, she shows the screen to James.
Emily, has James told you? Margarets voice crackles through the speaker. Look, well have up to twenty people. We start preparing this evening. Ill be there around six tomorrow.
Evening? Emily answers, skeptical. No, I didnt sign up for that.
Hold on, Im not done. James already has the shopping list, he promised to buy everything.
Fine Emily replies. And the money? Where do we get it?
James promised to help, Margaret replies shortly.
Right. So you want to turn my flat into a restaurant and we foot the bill? Emily cant hold back.
Rebecca isnt a stranger! Its not hard to help for one day chop some veg, make salads, sandwiches Youre the lady of the house!
Margaret Hawthorne, Emily interjects, I just found out about the party. I never gave permission for Rebeccas birthday to be held in my flat.
You keep saying my flat. You and James are a married couple. Everythings shared! the motherinlaw snaps.
Dont say that. If the flat were Jamess, youd speak differently. Then Id be just a dependent.
Stop the nonsense. Thats it, conversations over. By Friday we need to buy everything, Margaret says and hangs up.
What was that? Emily asks James, hearing the brief beeps.
Stop playing the victim! James finally shouts. Youve been told youre wrong. Admit your mistake and stop digging in.
Emily is stunned. She stands, opens the wardrobe and silently pulls out a large sports bag. She then goes to the bedroom, opens the chest of drawers and begins methodically folding Jamess tshirts and jeans.
Meanwhile James feels triumphant. He throws open the fridge, grabs a bottle of lager, slams the door and plops down in front of the TV as if nothings happened.
He thinks Emily will just cool off and everything will return to normal. Shell vent a little, then calm down. He even flips on the football, expecting Emily to pop into the room and call him to dinner. Hes wrong.
Half an hour later Emily stands in the hallway with a grocery bag, the sports bag brimming with his stuff lying on the floor. James heads for the fridge, but sees his wife.
Whats this now? he mutters. What drama are you staging?
Emily looks at him coldly:
This isnt a drama, James. Its the end. Im done being a shadow in my own life, a servant in my own flat, a background for your mothers and sisters whims. If you want to be a good son and brother, go back to your mother. Prepare the party together. Im sure shell gladly give you a corner of her living room.
Are you serious? he steps toward her. Im not going back.
Absolutely serious, Emily nods. I dont want you coming back. Ive tolerated enough that I now even question myself. Thats enough. If you cant learn to respect me in three years, nothing will get better.
Emily you cant tear everything apart like that! Not now!
You cant destroy whats already shattered.
James stammers, still not grasping that Emily has made up her mind.
And thats that, Emily adds, all your shirts and jeans are right here. Youre welcome to take them. Leave now.
He tries to say something, but Emily opens the front door. James stands there, cheeks flushed, lips tight. He still hopes Emily will relent, but her calm only fuels his anger.
Well, good luck! he shouts. Think youll find someone better? Youll have to look far and wide for another like me!
Emily sighs and takes a step back:
Finding someone like you thatll be a real challenge. Thank heavens.
Youll regret this! James yells, snatching the bag. Youll be on your knees when you realise no one wants to talk to you! Without me youre nobody!
If nobody means a person who lives in their own flat, works, doesnt cater to a husbands relatives and wont put up with rudeness, then Im happy being no one.
James storms out, and Emily stays alone. She takes a deep breath, walks to the window, pulls back the curtain and watches him shove the bag into the boot of a taxi.
Months pass.
The divorce is messy. James tries to paint Emily as mercenary and greedy. The biggest fight is over the car they bought during the marriage. He insists he paid for it alone; Emily insists she was just a passenger.
Your Honour, I paid the full amount, the registration is in my name! he declares. My wife contributed nothing!
Emily calmly opens a folder of documents, spreads bank statements, transfer receipts, and a signed deposit agreement.
Im not claiming his share, but I wont give up whats mine, she says.
The judge sides with fairness.
James hates the outcome. He already considered the car his. Now he must sell it and split the proceeds. He leaves the courtroom with a twisted grin of fury.
At home his motherinlaw is waiting with a tirade:
Are you a fool? she shouts. You gave her everything! The car! The flat! Did you even get a proper solicitor?
On top of that James had taken out a loan to fund Rebeccas anniversary at a restaurant, because he promised her a venue. Now he has a cramped corner in Margarets spare room.
Emily finally sleeps peacefully for the first time in ages. She decides shes still young enough not to cling to men like James. Plenty of decent guys are out there the key is to know whos who when the time comes.
