**Home Alone**
Emily woke up and instinctively turned to where her husband, James, usually sleptonly to find his side of the bed empty. A glance at the clock made her smile.
*”Must be making breakfast again, trying to surprise me.”*
She got up, padded to the window, and yanked open the heavy curtains. Sunlight burst in, making her squint.
*”Blimey, what a gorgeous day!”* She stepped onto the balcony, breathing in the summer air. *”Perfect weather. And Im home todaykids gave me the day off. James and I can finally spend some time together.”*
Emily had recently retired, while James, a former Army colonel, now worked securitymostly to avoid sitting around the house. She spent her days looking after their five-year-old grandson, Alfie. Their daughter, Charlotte, refused to put him in nursery*”Hes always ill!”*
Charlotte and her husband, Tom, had struggled to conceive. After ten years of marriage and endless treatments, Alfie finally arrived. Charlotte had spent those years terrified Tom would leave, but hed stuck by herthank heavens.
Shed dropped the marriage bombshell right after uni. *”Mum, DadIm marrying Tom!”* Emily and James had stared, stunned. *”Well live in his flat, so Im moving out.”*
*”Stay with us, love,”* Emily had pleaded. *”Toms place is miles away!”*
*”Its fine, Mum,”* Charlotte had waved her off. *”You and Dad wont be boredyoull have each other!”*
After she left, the house went quiet. Life changed. James tried to keep Emily busy, but she missed Charlotte terribly. Instead of heading straight home from work, shed trek across London with bags of groceries for the young couple.
*”Mum, why dyou lug all this over? Were not starving!”* Charlotte would grumble, unpacking the shopping. *”Dads probably sat there starving, waiting for you.”*
*”Dont be daft! Hes a grown manhe can cook!”*
But Emily soon sensed her visits werent entirely welcome. Toms strained smiles said it all. She made a decision: *”Better cut back. Dont want Tom snapping at me. Ill only come when invited.”*
Years passed. Emily adjusted to life without Charlotte underfoot. Visits were occasional, and the world no longer felt grey. James was chuffedhis wife was home properly now. No more late returns from across town. They cooked together, took turns with the dishes, and strolled through their local park every evening.
James had retired from the Army after a tough career. Hed married Emily fresh out of teacher training college, then been posted to the middle of nowherefirst a cramped caravan, then a draughty house.
*”You deserve a medal, love,”* hed say, trudging in from duty. *”Not many city girls would follow a bloke to this dump.”*
*”Oh, stopits not forever!”* Emily would laugh. She didnt mind. Love smoothed the edges.
Then Charlotte was born. Sweltering summers, miserable wintersbut they endured. Postings came and went, until James got into Sandhurst. Off to London! A tiny flat, but after the wilds of Yorkshire, it felt like paradise.
*”Must be rough for you and Charlotte here,”* James fretted.
*”Well manage,”* Emily insisted.
After Sandhurst, they moved to Manchester*”Proper house this time!”*then elsewhere. Charlotte adapted, made friends. Emily found work at a local school. No regrets.
Then came the final move: Edinburgh. *”Back near your family!”* James announced. Charlotte, then in sixth form, groaned*”Another new school?”*but Emily was thrilled. A bright, spacious flat, roots at last.
Charlotte aced uni, married Tom, andafter years of waitingAlfie arrived. When he turned three, Charlotte decided to go back to work.
*”Mum, I need your help. Alfies too poorly for nursery, and I dont trust a nanny.”*
*”Of course, love,”* Emily agreedthough Jamess frown said otherwise.
*”Parents shouldnt just raise kidsthey should help with grandkids too,”* she reasoned.
James disagreed. Hed taken the security job to avoid being home alone. Now his wife was always off babysitting.
That morning, Emily wandered into the kitchenno James. The kettle was cold. Odd. Then the front door clicked open. James heaved two bags onto the floor, wiping his brow.
*”Up already? Early bird. I nipped to the marketgot fresh meat, fruit, herbs. Fancy a proper meal for once!”*
*”Brilliant!”* Emily kissed his cheek.
Then Charlotte called. *”Mum, I know its your day off, butfriends invited us for a barbecue. Alfies coughing. Can you watch him?”*
*”Fine. When dyou need me?”*
*”Two hours noticeplenty of time!”* Charlotte chirped before hanging up.
Emily sighed at Jamess scowl. *”Change of plans. Alfies poorly.”*
James snapped. *”When does it end, Em? We raised Charlotte without help. Now shes got you running after her kid while shes off having fun. What about me? A year of ready meals, chores, workand youre never here!”*
*”Whats got into you? Dont you love them?”*
*”Course I do! But Charlotte only loves herself.”*
Seeing Emilys distress, he relented. *”Go on, then. Ill manage.”*
She left, but James didnt answer her calls later. *”Probably forgot his phone again.”*
Charlotte returned by nine. Emily taxied home, uneasy. The flat door was ajartheir neighbour, Margaret, stood inside.
*”Thank goodness! James called an ambulanceheart trouble. Hes at St. Georges, ward seven. Doctors said hes stable.”*
Emilys legs wobbled. *”Thank you, Margaret.”*
Next morning, she rushed to the hospital. James grinned weakly. *”Scared you, eh? Doctor says Ill live.”*
She visited daily. That evening, she called Charlotte. *”Find a nanny or a nursery. Dad comes first now.”*
After discharge, Emily made James quit his job. No more night shifts. Proper meals. And no more playing taxi for Charlottethis time, *she* came first.
