Chapter 3 The Voice Call

It was a quiet evening at home. Hannah stood by the window, her eyes scanning the empty street outside. Her kids- all three of them- had gone out as they always did. Jordan had taken the two, Benjamin and Bethany for a walk, and that was a rare moment of peace for their mother. She loved the silence when the house was empty, the way it allowed her to think, to breathe. It was a time to focus, to gather her thoughts for a moment before the chaos of family life returned.

She scrolled through her WhatsApp contacts until she found Honey. With a soft sigh, she tapped the call button and leaned against the counter.

The kids were still out, and she hadn't heard from them in a while. The street outside remained empty.

When the call connected, she heard the familiar sound of Stanley's voice, though it sounded more distant than usual.

"Hi, Hannah," he said. The tone was polite but lacking the warmth she was used to. She had always been babe or sweetheart to him-those simple names that had once meant everything. But now, it was just Hannah. She pushed the thought aside, focusing on the call.

"Hey, honey," she said, trying to keep her voice light. "How's everything going?"

"Busy. Really busy," Stanley replied quickly, as if trying to brush off her question. "Work's been... crazy."

Hannah nodded, her eyes moving to the front door. Still no sign of the kids. She wasn't sure if she wanted them back just yet. It was hard to explain, but she enjoyed the space-just a few minutes of peace before everything shifted back to reality.

"I miss you, you know," she said softly, the words slipping out more easily than she expected. "The kids miss you, too."

"I miss them too," Stanley replied. His voice softened, but there was a strange hesitation. "It's just... I've been working a lot."

Hannah felt a slight twinge in her chest, but she tried to ignore it. Work-it was always work. The same excuse, over and over. But she'd never pushed him. Not really.

"I've been trying to call you the past few weeks," she said, her voice a little tighter now. "You never pick up. I was starting to get worried."

"I know, I'm sorry about that," he said quickly, almost apologetic. "It's just that... the places I've been, there's no signal. And you know how it is, I can't exactly make calls from where I am."

Hannah nodded, even though she didn't quite believe him. She had heard that excuse more times than she could count, and it didn't quite add up. But she kept her frustration at bay, willing herself to remain calm. Not now. Not this evening.

"Okay," she said, her voice quieter now. "Next time, can we switch to a video call? The kids really want to see you. Jordan especially. She's been asking about you a lot."

Stanley hesitated, and the silence between them stretched just a bit too long.

"The area I'm in right now... it doesn't really support video calls," he finally said, almost too quickly. "But I promise, next time. I'll make sure of it."

She heard his words, but the doubt was already creeping in. How many next times had there been? And how many of them had never come?

"I know," she said, trying to hide the frustration in her voice. "I just... I don't want the kids to feel like you're slipping away, Stan. You're their dad. They need to see you, even if it's just on a screen."

His tone softened, but it still felt distant. "I'll make more of an effort, okay? I promise. I know family comes first."

Hannah's fingers tightened around the phone. She forced a smile. Family comes first. That was the phrase. But the way he said it, like a promise that always seemed to fade away... It didn't sit well with her.

She glanced back at the door, still no sign of the kids. Maybe they were on the way back. Maybe it was just the silence that made her feel uneasy.

"How are you?" he asked, the question sounding more genuine now. "How's work? The kids?"

"They're fine. Busy. Teaching, you know," she said, trying to sound casual. "But, honestly, Jordan... she's been struggling a bit. She talks about you all the time. And Bethany... she's been acting out more than usual. They miss you, Stan. They need you here."

"I know, I know..." He trailed off. "I miss them too, you know? It's just... hard to get away right now."

Hannah let the silence linger for a moment, thinking about the words she wanted to say. This wasn't just about him being busy. This was about something bigger. Something that had been building for weeks now.

"They need you, Stan," she said, her voice firm but gentle. "I need you, too. You keep saying you'll make an effort, but... when? When is that going to happen? When are you going to actually be here for your family?"

"I will," he said quickly. "I swear. I'll make it up to you. I'll make more of an effort. I just need a little more time."

Before she could reply, there was a faint sound in the background. A woman's voice. It was low, but clear enough for Hannah to catch the words: Love, we'll be late.

Hannah's heart skipped a beat. Who was that?

"Is someone there?" she asked, her voice a little sharper than she intended.

"No, no, it's just some workmates," he replied quickly. "Don't worry about it."

But Hannah's stomach twisted. The voice sounded too close. Too familiar. Her mind raced. Who was that? Why was she calling him that?

"Are you sure?" she pressed.

"I'm joining a meeting soon," he said, his tone shifting as if he was eager to end the conversation. "I'll try to make it up to you when I get the chance, okay? I promise. Talk soon."

Hannah's breath caught in her throat. He was already rushing her off the phone. She wasn't done yet. There were things she still needed to say. Things that had been eating away at her.

"I'm not finished yet," she said, her voice sharp. "What about Bethany? She-"

"I have to go, Hannah," he interrupted, cutting her off. "I'm in a meeting. Talk later. Love you all."

The line went dead before she could say another word. The screen went blank, and the silence of the room pressed in on her, heavy and suffocating.

Hannah stood there, staring at the phone in her hand. Her heart pounded in her chest, and the weight of the conversation pressed down on her. She had called him. She had reached out. But he had cut her off. Again.

"Meeting?" she muttered to herself. "Is it really that important?"

But there was no answer. No one was there.