Angie set aside her mending and walked into the hallway the moment she heard the click of the front door. Her husband was late again. As he stepped inside, she pointed silently at the wall clock. Mark put on a guilty face, gave a little shrug, and kissed her on the cheek.
– Still up? I’m sorry, honey. I got tied up with some things.
– Mark, what kind of “things” keep you out until this hour? – Angie asked, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
– Angie, you know my hours aren’t set in stone. The boss asked me to stay behind and finish up a report. I was the only one who stepped up, actually. Payday is coming, and Mr. Henderson promised me a serious bonus. Believe me, I’ve earned it, unlike the rest of those guys.
– Why was your phone off?
– I don’t follow, – Mark’s face flushed with sudden irritation. – Is this an interrogation?
– No, of course not. But I have a right to know what’s going on and when you’re coming home. I’m the one sitting here with dinner waiting, after all.
– Oh, speaking of which, what’s for dinner?
– Lentil soup.
Mark pulled a face.
– Lentils? Again? Angie, don’t you think that’s a bit much? Couldn’t you have made something else for a change?
– Mark, look at the pantry. Look at the fridge. They’re empty. I told you three days ago we were out of everything. We need groceries.
– Well, I’m sorry, but I just don’t have the cash right now.
– Then we’re eating the soup without the complaints. Leo already ate and he’s been asleep for hours. I made him some oatmeal. Even a toddler understands that I can’t give him what we don’t have.
– Leo is eighteen months old; he hasn’t learned how to be picky yet. But believe me, soon enough he’ll tell you exactly what he thinks of your lentil soup.
– Why would you say that? – Angie’s eyes flashed. – Is this my fault? Leo is still a baby, I can’t just go out and get a job yet. And you… you… – Her eyes began to well up.
Mark stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her.
– Hey, I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m just tired. Tired of the grind, tired of being broke, tired of all of it. – He picked up a pair of socks from the chair that Angie had just finished darning. – I want us to have money, real money. I just don’t know how to get there yet. Come on, dry your eyes. Let’s go have your soup. I hope there’s at least some toast to go with it?
– There is, – Angie managed a small smile through her tears and followed him into the kitchen.
A week passed.
Angie was out in town with Leo when she ran into her old friend, Sarah. Sarah was thrilled to see her, and after a few minutes of small talk, she leaned in eagerly.
– Oh, come on, let me see the ring!
– What ring?
– Don’t play dumb! I saw Mark at the jewelry store at the mall the other day. He was picking something out. I couldn’t get close enough to see it, but I know it was for you. You really lucked out with him, Angie. The most I get from my guy is a grocery store bouquet once a year…
Angie froze. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but she forced her voice to stay steady.
– Oh… I left it at home. I didn’t want to lose it… it’s a little big, Mark got the size wrong.
– Oh, typical men! – Sarah laughed. – But honey, look at you. You’ve lost so much weight, you’re practically a shadow. You need to take care of yourself. Although, if it’s a secret diet, you have to share. I’ve gained twenty pounds since the wedding and I can’t shake them.
– Diet… yeah, just a diet, – Angie murmured, her mind racing.
She finally managed to pull herself together.
– Sorry, Sarah, I have to run. Great seeing you…
Sarah watched her go with a puzzled, slightly offended look. She shook her head.
– How strange. She barely wanted to talk. Acting like she’s too good for us now…
Angie walked on, her mind stuck on one question: who was Mark buying a gold ring for, and where did he get the money? They were barely eating. Leo had outgrown every stitch of clothing he owned, and they couldn’t afford a single new shirt. The meager state child support didn’t cover even the basics, and the utility bills were piling up. And yet, Mark was buying gold.
Just yesterday, when she’d asked about his bonus, he’d told her they were still “processing” the paperwork. Angie pulled out her phone and called him.
– Mark, do you have a minute? We need to talk.
– No, I’m right in the middle of something. We’ll talk tonight.
– Mark… – her voice broke. – I know about the ring. Who was it for? And where did the money come from? Do you see the way we’re living? Well? Say something!
– I said we’ll talk at home! – Mark snapped and hung up.
Angie was a wreck for the rest of the day. When evening finally came and Mark walked through the door, she didn’t get up to meet him for the first time in years.
– Angie, – he walked over and took her hand. – Look, you’ve worked yourself up over nothing. Have I ever given you a reason to doubt me? Yes, I bought a ring. But it was for my boss. He’s seeing someone on the side and he didn’t want his wife seeing it on his own credit card statement. He gave me the cash and asked me to buy it for him. And now I’m the one looking guilty. It’s almost funny, isn’t it?
– Hilarious, – Angie whispered through her tears, but she felt the weight on her chest lift just a little.
– And here’s that bonus I promised, – Mark said, sliding several bills onto the table. – Let’s go shopping tomorrow. We’ll get whatever you need. Come on, babe, give me a smile.
Angie actually smiled back at him.
– If you only knew how scared I was. If you only knew…
Two months went by.
One morning, Mark told Angie he had to head upstate for a few days on business.
– Is something wrong?
– No, I’m actually working on a surprise for you. You’ll find out soon enough.
– A good surprise, I hope?
– The best. Don’t you worry.
A few days later, Mark left… and vanished. Angie spent weeks trying to find him. She went to the police, she visited hospitals, she even had to identify bodies that weren’t his, returning home each time looking like a ghost. But it was as if Mark had been erased from the earth.
– Oh God, something terrible happened to him, – Angie sobbed, clutching her son to her chest. – What are we going to do, Leo? What are we going to do?
The little boy, not understanding why his mother was crying, reached out with his tiny hands to touch her face, looking into her eyes with a quiet, searching gaze.
– Oh, sweetie, – she sighed. – When is your daddy coming home…
Time passed.
To survive, Angie sold everything of even the slightest value. The TV, the microwave, even the washing machine went for pennies. Eventually, the apartment was an echo chamber of bare floors and essential furniture. She started taking jobs cleaning office buildings at night and scrubbing the hallways of local apartment complexes. During those hours, Leo stayed home alone. She would put him to bed and go out to clean up after people who looked right through her. Sometimes she’d return to find him crying. More often, he was just sitting silently on his bed, clutching his favorite teddy bear.
Several years passed.
Only Angie and God knew what she had endured during that time. But she never lost hope. It took an incredible effort to get Leo into a decent preschool, but once she did, finding more work became easier. Still, their small town offered nothing but dead-end jobs for pennies. Angie decided to pack up and move to the city.
The move was quick. Their entire lives fit into one large suitcase and Leo’s backpack. Surprisingly, luck seemed to be on their side. She found a tiny studio on the edge of the city, got Leo transferred to a new school, and landed a job with a high-end cleaning agency. Two months later, a coworker mentioned a private opening.
– Look, – her partner, Kathy, said. – Don’t even bother applying. The lady of the house is a nightmare. Nobody lasts more than a week. My friend Sophie worked there for two months and quit because she couldn’t take the abuse. She said the woman doesn’t want a housekeeper; she wants a medieval servant. The old lady nitpicks everything.
– Why “old lady”? Is she elderly?
– No, not really. She’s maybe mid-fifties. But she’s so bitter you’d think she was a hundred.
– I’m going to try anyway. The pay is double what we’re making here.
– Suit yourself. But don’t say I didn’t warn you. She’ll suck the soul right out of you. You’ll be running for the hills in no time.
The next day, Angie stood before a plump, well-groomed woman with a haughty expression.
– Listen closely, – the woman said. Her name was Mrs. Sterling. – Don’t think for a second you can slack off and collect a paycheck. I pay well, but I do not tolerate laziness or excuses.
Angie listened intently and nodded.
– I understand, Mrs. Sterling. I hope you’ll find no reason to complain about my work.
– Don’t count on it. Being staff in this house isn’t for the weak.
Angie worked tirelessly. No matter how much Mrs. Sterling hovered or criticized, she had to admit the new girl was flawless. Two weeks later, the mistress called the staff together for a meeting.
– My husband is returning from a business trip with some associates this Saturday. They’ll be staying here for a while. I want everything to be top-tier. I want you to be invisible. Eventually, I’ll introduce you to him. You’re all mostly new, and he’s been living abroad for the last six months. Believe me, my husband knows exactly what world-class service looks like.
The staff nodded silently. They knew the coming week would be grueling.
Saturday arrived.
The house was immaculate. That evening, Mrs. Sterling gathered everyone in the foyer. Angie straightened her uniform and walked out, only to stop dead in her tracks. Standing there was Mark.
There was no mistake. It was him. She saw the recognition in his eyes, followed instantly by a flash of pure terror.
Mark looked incredible. He had put on some healthy weight, his skin was glowing, and he carried himself with an arrogant confidence. His designer suit screamed old money. Mrs. Sterling, oblivious to the tension, wrapped her arm around him.
– This is my husband, Mr. Sterling. You are to follow his instructions without question. I don’t like repeating myself. If he needs anything, he has a bell. If you need something, you talk to me. Now, back to your stations!
– Darling, – she turned to Mark, – come upstairs. I’ve missed you so much. We’ll go down for dinner with our guests in an hour.
As Angie walked away, the words echoing in her ears, a hysterical laugh bubbled up in her throat. Then her lips began to tremble. The coward. He had abandoned her and his son to their fate, only to reinvent himself as the trophy husband of a woman twice his age.
She needed air. She grabbed a bag of trash and slipped out the back door. After dropping the bag in the bin, she leaned against a large oak tree at the edge of the property and finally let the tears come.
– Is it really worth all that crying? – a voice came from over the fence.
Angie gasped and saw a man watching her from the neighboring garden. He looked to be in his mid-thirties, wearing rugged work clothes.
– What could possibly be that bad? – He paused, his expression softening. – Everyone’s okay, I hope? Health-wise, I mean?
Angie wiped her eyes and managed a weak smile, but didn’t answer. She turned to head back, but the man walked along the fence line, limping slightly but keeping pace with her.
– Hey, you didn’t answer! Now I’m going to worry, and I’ve got a sensitive heart, – he joked. – I’m Thomas, by the way. Tom for short.
Angie stopped.
– Angie. You don’t need to worry, Tom. Everything is fine. Just… a bad day.
– Ah, well, we all have those.
They spoke for a moment more before Angie headed back inside. But the moment she entered the service hallway, Mark stepped out from the shadows and grabbed her arm.
– What are you doing here? Were you spying on me? You tracked me down to ruin my life, didn’t you? Let me tell you right now, it won’t work. Get out of here and don’t ever come back!
– I don’t take orders from you! – Angie hissed. – Mrs. Sterling pays me well. And in case you forgot, I’m the one feeding your son! You left us with nothing. You traitor! Do you have any idea what I’ve been through? You haven’t even asked how he is. You haven’t asked to see him. I hate you, Mark. I hate you!
– Shut up! Keep your voice down before someone hears you! Don’t you dare try to mess this up for me, or you’ll regret it.
He squeezed her arm, but Angie wrenched it away.
– Don’t you ever touch me again, – she whispered, her voice like a knife.
The next few days were a nightmare. Mark, constantly whispering in his wife’s ear, caused Mrs. Sterling to nitpick Angie’s every move, threatening to fire her hourly. Mark himself went out of his way to humiliate her whenever they were alone. Only the brief, rare chats with Tom at the fence offered her any comfort. Tom mentioned he wasn’t married; his limp, a remnant of a childhood accident, made him shy around women.
– I love working in the garden, – he told her one afternoon. – Plants are honest. They give back what you put in. The apples will be ripe soon; I’ll bring you some. Then you’ll see I’m not exaggerating about my green thumb.
– Thank you, Tom. You’re a good man. Talking to you feels like… like taking a breath of fresh air.
– That’s just the lavender in the garden, – he smiled.
Tom seemed to trust her instinctively. He called her “Angie-girl,” listened to her troubles, and told her she should leave the Sterling house. But she explained she was under a three-month contract.
– Everything is legalities these days. If I quit now, she won’t pay me a cent of what she owes me, – Angie sighed. – I’m sure it’s the same for you, working for these people. Anyway, I have to go. If she sees us talking, she’ll have both our heads.
Later that day, Mark saw her talking to Tom and lost his mind.
– Are you serious? A gardener? You’re having an affair with a gardener right in front of me? Is this your revenge? If I see you with him again, you’re gone!
– Who are you to me?! – Angie snapped. – You have no right to tell me who I can talk to!
To her horror, Mark grabbed her and tried to kiss her.
– You’re my wife! Mine! I’m not letting anyone else have you, you hear me?
– Get off me! – Angie broke free and slapped him hard across the face. – You sicken me. Go back to your “darling” wife and kiss her. Don’t you dare lay a finger on me. In two months, I’m out of here, and I hope I never see your face again.
– Angie, I love you. You remember how good we were together!
– Get out, you pathetic worm! – she cut him off and walked away.
Half an hour later, she heard Mark’s voice from the driveway, sweet as honey, thanking Mrs. Sterling for the new car she had surprised him with.
One morning, Angie arrived at Leo’s preschool only to find a sign on the door: Closed for emergency plumbing repairs. Reopening in one week.
She had no choice but to take him with her. Mark had left early for a meeting, so at least he wouldn’t see him. Angie knelt down in front of her son.
– Leo, listen to me. You are a very smart, very good boy. Please, I need you to be on your best behavior. The lady I work for is very strict. If she sees you, she might get very angry with Mommy. I bought you this new book with the pictures; find a quiet corner and look at it, okay? I’ll bring you some food in a little bit.
Leo nodded, and Angie felt a bit better. But she had barely started her rounds when she heard a piercing shriek from the living room. She ran in to find Leo sitting right in the middle of a pristine white designer sofa, his book open, staring curiously at the woman screaming at him like a banshee.
– What is this?! Who is this child?!
Angie desperately tried to explain, begging for just one day until she could find a sitter.
– If I see him in this house again, you’ll be on the street before sunset, do you understand me?!
Mrs. Sterling stomped off. Angie turned to find Leo, but he had already vanished again. Panic rising, she ran through the house looking for him. She finally looked out the window toward the garden.
Leo was outside. He was standing next to Tom, chatting away, while Tom laughed and showed him something in the flower beds.
– Leo! Oh, thank God, – Angie exhaled as she hurried outside. – I am so sorry, Tom. He’s a handful today. – She explained the situation with the school. – I’m sorry we’re bothering you.
– Hey, let him stay with me, – Tom said easily. – I’m just working on the hedges. He can play right here. There’s even a swing set further back. What do you say, Leo? Want to come help me?
The boy nodded enthusiastically.
– Tom, I can’t ask you to do that! Your employers might be angry!
– My employers? – Tom chuckled. – No, they’re decent people. Not like yours. Go on, go back inside. I’ve got him.
In a rush of gratitude, Angie leaned over and kissed Tom on the cheek. He turned bright red, took Leo’s hand, and quickly turned back to the garden.
Angie turned to head back into the Sterling house, only to see Mark standing on the porch, his eyes burning. He had just pulled into the driveway and seen the kiss. He stormed toward her, a mix of threats and pleas spilling out of his mouth. As he tried to grab her waist, a voice boomed from the doorway.
– Mark!
It was Mrs. Sterling.
– Inga! Darling! It’s her! – Mark pointed at Angie, his voice trembling. – She’s been throwing herself at me! I told you we should have fired her weeks ago!
– You miserable piece of work, – Angie said calmly, untying her apron and dropping it on the grass. – I’m not “throwing myself” at him. I’m his wife. His legal wife. We were never divorced. And that child you saw? That’s his son. Mark abandoned us without a penny and ran off to the city to find a meal ticket. I had no idea he was living here with you. But I’m done. You two deserve each other.
Angie could hear Mrs. Sterling’s voice rising to a scream as she turned on Mark, and Mark’s pathetic attempts to make excuses. She didn’t care. She was done.
She walked through the gate to the neighboring property. She didn’t see them at first, but then she followed the sound of laughter to the patio. Tom was sitting there with a cup of tea, and Leo was devouring a slice of cake.
– Tom? – Angie stopped. – We shouldn’t be here. If the owners see…
– Come here, – Tom stood up and walked toward her. – I owe you something. – He stepped close, wrapped his arms around her, and kissed her—not a peck on the cheek, but a long, slow kiss that made the world stand still.
– This is my house, Angie. I’m the owner. I’ve been waiting for someone like you for a very long time. Don’t leave. Stay here with me. Angie, I love you. I want you to be my wife. And Leo? He’ll be my son. And who knows… there are two seats on that swing set for a reason.
Angie took a shaky breath and rested her head on his shoulder.
– I love you too, Tom. You’re the only person who’s been kind to me in a very long time. – She looked up and smiled. – But you’re a terrible liar. A “gardener”?
Their laughter was interrupted by a loud slam from next door. Mrs. Sterling had just thrown Mark out and bolted the gate.
0 comments