I levelled out the garden, made some lovely flower beds for Emily, and even built a gazebo in the corner. You could feel the steady, reliable touch of a man all around the house as well. Emily had definitely chosen her husband wellabsolutely spot on. And on top of all that, Mark was always earning, always trying to cheer Emily up with little gifts.
You didnt even love me back then, he said once. You married me without love. Now youll leave me that Ive fallen ill, wont you?
I wont! Emily hugged Mark and smiled softly. Youre the best husband. Id never, ever leave you
He struggled to believe it was realMark hadnt been in great spirits for a while.
Emily spent twenty-five years as a married woman, and through all those years men were still drawn to her. Back in her youth, she was always the most sought-after girl around.
Truth be told, even back at school, almost every boy wanted Emilys attention. Funny thing is, shed never really been a classic beauty.
She didnt leave her first husband, even though he was, well, a tricky character.
Emily stayed with Tom right until he passed away. They raised a daughter, married her off, and her son-in-law whisked Charlotte away to Italy, where they sent back gorgeous photos and invited her over. But Emily and Tom never managed to make the trip. Maybe Emily will go one day But Toms story ended.
Tom died in a car accident. Silly, really. Later Emily was told that, most likely, hed felt ill behind the wheelsomething with his heart. Got confused, lost control.
Maybe he fainted? she guessed.
Well never know now, sighed her friend Helen, a GP. The cause was multiple injuries, incompatible with life.
Emily was completely stunned. Helen helped her sort everything out, as only a close friend can.
Helen even managed to find out the details through her contacts. Tom was buried, and Emily was left alone in the large old house shed built with him over their lifetime.
It never felt too big for the two of them, especially with guests around. But for just one personfor a womanit felt huge and heavy, like a great burden.
A house is a house. A mans touch is needed there
Charlotte came back for the funeral and broached the subject of selling the house, maybe swapping it for a flat, or perhaps even Emily moving to Italy.
No way! Emily laughed through her tears. I didnt build this house just to sell it now. And Italy? Ive been to Italyseen it, thanks!
Mum!
Youre daft, Charlotte! Emily said with a half-smile. Im only joking.
Well, if youre joking, maybe things arent so bad after all.
Nothing was black and whitejust as Tom hadnt been. On one hand, he was caring, loving. On the other, his moods could annoy Emily no end. Hed often take out his frustrations on her, then be full of apologies. But Emily was easy-going; she never fixated. Thats how it was for twenty-five years! Enough to drive anyone potty.
Charlotte stayed for a bit but headed backher husband worked all hours, and she wanted to look after their home. Emily was left alone.
But honestly, she knew herselfit wouldnt last long.
And she was right. After six months or so of grief, she dried her tears and realised a small crowd of suitors had somehow formed around her.
Even Emilys mum used to wonder at her daughters popularity.
What is it they see in you? Theyre queueing up for you! Youre not exactly a beauty, love or am I missing something?
Oh Mum, youre just kind, Emily would laugh, touching up her lipstick. Looks arent everythingits all meaningless really. Its about being fascinating, having something about you.
Go on out then, before your date gets fed up and leaves! her mum would tease.
Therell be another, Emily would shrug nonchalantly.
Nearly thirty years have passed since that conversation, and nothings changed. Women still complain there are no free men left, nothing but slim pickings after forty.
Not for Emily. At forty-six she found herself with two suitorsboth more than decent.
Her heart was drawn to Michael. She really liked himcharming, intelligent, interesting to talk to, never embarrassed to be seen with him.
But Michaels real skill was talking. Emily almost fell for him by ear alone, but with her years and experience, she knew he wasnt what she needed for her big old housenot partner material.
Her other suitor, Mark, was a reliable, straightforward bloke. The sort wholl drink his weight at a party but can also fix anything around the house with his handsquiet and steady, but full of grit when it counts.
With his wife, hed be gentle as a puppy, but if needed, hed move mountains for her. Emily did fancy Mark lessits that daft logic women sometimes have.
He didnt woo her with sweet speeches. Sober, Mark was the silent type. Get a pint in him though, hed tell a joke or two, spin a funny story, really join in.
To be fair, Mark could drink a lot, but hed be up again next morning, refreshed, pouring cold water over himself and ready for whatever needed doing. Not chatty, but reliable. Emily picked him.
Michael was hurthis flowery words hadnt won her overand left.
Emily married Mark, and he was besotted. He had a bit too much at the wedding and sang and danced his heart out.
Well, you dont mess about! Helen laughed. Barely a year since Tom passed and here you are, married again. Nothings ever changed! Other women need a searchlight to find a halfway decent husband, and all you have to do is set foot out the door.
Go on, Emily grinned. Say it: What do they see in you? Youre not even very pretty!
No, I wont say that, Helen smiled. But youve always been strangely in demand, thats for sure.
I dont know, Helen! Go ask my mumthats her favourite mystery, Emily winked and drifted away to dance with her new husband. As she felt Marks hands in hers, she swept away her last flickers of doubt.
So what if Mark was a bit simple? He was strong, handy, and for his age, still a good-looking lad. If he was quiet most of the time well, there are worse things in life.
Imagine if shed picked Michaelthe man of lovely words. Words dont put food on the table.
Within a few months, Mark had transformed Emilys garden into a wonderland. He pulled out the old trees, levelled the soil, built flowerbeds just for Emily, added the gazebo You could sense a mans touch everywhere.
No doubt about itEmily had made the right choice.
Mark earned good money too, always keen to treat Emily.
She weighed up her short but happy new marriage against twenty-five years with Tom and honestly, she wished shed met Mark sooner. Gold dust, he was.
In the summer, theyd grill in the garden and feast in the gazebo, where Markd set up a lovely wooden table and benches.
Emily, happily stuffed with barbecue, would squint like a satisfied cat. Mark would grin just looking at her.
Whats up, Mark?
Nothing. Im just happy.
His first wife had been a misery, and he never thought hed find someone as wonderful as Emily.
They revelled in their happiness for four years, but then Mark started to feel not quite right.
He tired quickly, lost some weight for no reason, and if he had a drinksomething he did now and thenhe felt terrible after.
Mark, you need to see a doctor! Emily fretted. What are you waiting for? Somethings obviously not right.
Oh, dont be daft, Em. Itll sort itself out.
Whats with you men and your fear of doctors? If it doesnt get better? Are you scared or something?
No.
Truth is, Mark was terrified of one thing: if he was seriously ill, Emily would leave. Why would she stay with a sick man?
He wasnt stupidhe knew Emily had married him more for practical reasons than out of wild passion. But he loved her all the same.
Hed fallen for her the moment he saw her in the supermarket, fumbling for her purse in her bag. There was something heartbreakingly sweet about how lost she looked.
From that moment, he just wanted to look after her forevereven though his own mum had pulled him aside after meeting Emily with a puzzled look: Are you mad, Mark? What do you see in hershes not a stunner, and shes not a young thing either! You could have any girl you wanted.
But Mark only wanted Emily. Would she want him if he turned out to be properly ill?
Emily couldnt persuade him to the doctor. It was a Saturday evening, Helen and her husband George were visiting. Mark and George were outside with beers, firing up the barbecue. Helen, who was a GP, was in the kitchen with Emily.
Is Mark ill or something? she asked, glancing over.
I just dont know! Emily burst out. I keep begging him to see the doctor but he just wont! Youre a doctorwhat do you think? Hes definitely not well, is he?
Well, hes looking worse. Lost weight. And his skin has a yellowish tinge.
Oh God! Helen, please, can you convince him to see a doctor? He might listen to you.
Helen glanced at her.
Emily do you love him? I remember how unsure you were
Emily bit her lip, saying nothing.
But Helen never got the chance. Mark passed out at dinner. They called 999. Emily rode along in the ambulance, clinging to his hand and praying.
He was operated on right away.
Liver mass, the surgeon said.
Cancer?! Emily squeaked in dread.
Well wait for the biopsy results.
It turned out to be benign, but bigit was lucky Mark made it to surgery at all.
Doctors forbade him almost everything, warning recovery would be slow and maybe not fullhe wasnt getting any younger after all.
He got really disheartened. His mum, Janet, came to see him.
Emily was at work; she came during the day, brought him some food from his now-strict diet.
I hardly recognise you, Mark, Janet said. You lived! It isnt cancer. You should be celebrating, not sulking. Here, have a bit of steamed chicken.
Im not hungry.
Well, youve got to eat! Is Emily still coming?
She is for now. Mark sounded glum.
What? Think shes going to leave you, do you? Shed be barmy if she did!
Im finished! Cant do anything anymore, not supposed to work. Im fifty for goodness sake, and now Im an invalid. Who wants that?
Whats going on in here? Emily asked, breezing in. Youre making a racket, Janet! Afternoon!
Ill leave you to it, love. Bye, Emily. Janet left, shaking her head.
Emily washed her hands, sat by Marks bed, and smiled.
Oh, dont sulk, invalid! Youve still got both arms and legsthats hardly an invalid. The restll heal. You know what I read about livers?
What?
The liver can regenerate, you know! As long as youve got fifty-one percent left, itll grow back. And youve still got sixty percent. Give it time. Everything will be fine.
Will I have time, though?
What do you mean? Emily frowned.
Time.
Markwhats going on? Is there something youre not telling me? Did you ask the doctors to keep something from me?
No, I just mean
Mark was discharged. And then began the hardest partevery time he did anything physical, hed tire almost instantly. That was the worst.
His birthday was coming, and normally that wouldve excited Mark. But with no booze or big party what was left?
Emily acted as if nothing had changedweighing in with him on bland, healthy food like it was the most normal thing in the world.
Emily, he finally blurted out, Whatll happen to us now?
What do you mean? she blinked.
I mean Im recovering so slowly. Youll leave me, wont you? Just say if you will.
Why would I? Im perfectly happy with you.
That was when I could do everything, when I worked and kept things running. Whats good about having me now? I dont even like myself right now.
Oh, dont be silly. Buck up a bit!
Im trying! But whats the point? Two whacks with the hammer and Im worn out.
Emily walked up behind him and hugged him, resting her cheek on his head.
I love you. Ill never leave. And you take all the time you need to recover. No rush.
Really? You love me?
I do. Really.
Emily didnt leave him. Slowly, Mark got better.
For his big birthday, Emily threw a partyno spiritsonly so he wouldnt feel left out if others toasted while he couldnt. A handful of friends sat in the gazebo for tea, nibbles, played board games.
Mark, youve lucked out, one mate laughed, clapping him on the shoulder.
Bet you lotll go and have a pint for me now! Mark shot back, grinning.
They all laughed and drifted off one by one. That evening, Mark and Emily sat on the steps, looking at the stars, content.
For the first time in months, Mark actually felt good.
He believed he was healing. And that Emily would never leave him. He held her tighter.
Whats up, Mark?
Everythings brilliant, he replied.
At last, Emily smiled, and pecked his cheek.
And thats how they found happiness, all over again.
