– Are you kidding? – exclaimed Jack, – how can that be? You’re only twenty-one! Why didn’t you mention anything before?!
Emma leaned towards him, gazing into his eyes with devotion:
– I was scared you’d stop loving me and reconsider marrying me…
– And now? What are you counting on now?!
***
They met by chance. Emma had bought too much at the Tesco, stepping out with two enormous bags, and the pavement was icy. She would have surely slipped on the steps if someone hadn’t caught her mid-air.
– Be careful, – she heard a smooth male voice next to her, – hold onto me…
Feeling secure on her feet again, Emma looked up at her rescuer:
– Thank you so much…
– Why are you carrying so much? – asked the stranger with a smile, – especially in this weather?
– I’m expecting my parents over, – Emma replied simply, – they’re coming to see how I’m managing in the city. So…
– I see. Is your place far? I could give you a lift.
– Oh no, that’s not necessary. You’ve already helped me. I can manage. Slowly. Look, my house is just over there.
Stepping carefully, Emma headed in the indicated direction. The man went his own way…
All day he tried to focus on work, but it was futile: memories of the charming stranger kept surfacing. That’s how he referred to her in his mind.
“What a lovely person,” he thought, “such an open gaze, hardly any makeup, not even lipstick. And that blush… So gentle, barely noticeable… And her voice… The word brook… No, I must find her. She said she lived nearby…
Jack was not one to easily swoon over women, quite the opposite: he was wary, always expecting a catch.
His cautiousness stemmed from a past heartbreak, ending in a mundane betrayal. Since fifth grade, Jack had been in love with a classmate who, after seeing him off to the army and promising to wait, got married within six months to some businessman’s son.
When Jack returned, she, with no shame, told him:
– Jack, don’t be so upset. If it makes you feel better, know that I still love you. But loving and marrying are two different things. I mean, what can you offer me? A life in a rented flat or, even better, a dormitory? With an empty wallet? No thanks. I want a decent life. I hope you understand…
Jack understood everything. He suffered for a long time. Even started drinking. But eventually pulled himself together, got a job, enrolled in university…
And now, here he was, a thirty-year-old successful man dreaming about a girl he met only once. Briefly, at that.
Because, suddenly, his heart felt warm again. And he’d waited years for this. Now, it fluttered. Yet, he didn’t even know her name…
For two weeks, Jack hung around the Tesco. Waiting for the beautiful stranger. And she appeared.
One evening after work, Emma popped in to buy something for dinner… She was taken aback when a man suddenly rushed towards her, exclaiming:
– Finally, I found you!
Recognizing her rescuer, she smiled:
– Why were you looking for me?
– We forgot to introduce ourselves! I’m Jack, and you are?
– I’m Emma, – she said, curiously scrutinizing the excited man, – and what’s next, Jack?
– Next? A lovely dinner at a restaurant awaits us! Will you join me?
– I don’t know, this is so unexpected…
– Please, Emma! – he urged, – there’s so much I need to tell you…
He shared everything about himself with her. His first love, his years of solitude, how thrilled he was to meet her, and how he considered it a twist of fate…
Emma listened attentively… This man, so endearing and slightly naive, was growing on her…
They started seeing each other. Almost every day. The more they met, the more they grew attached. They enjoyed spending time together despite Emma being quite reserved, never allowing Jack to get too close.
Initially, this surprised him, then it delighted him. Now he was convinced Emma was destined for him and had been waiting just for him!
He introduced Emma to his mother. Emma took Jack to her parents in the countryside.
Jack loved it there. The simple way of life, the straightforward relationships. The hospitable hosts.
It was there, in the presence of her parents, that Jack proposed to Emma…
The wedding registration was intimate, just close family, as Emma wanted. She said she didn’t want a big celebration but dreamed of a proper honeymoon. Jack agreed. He bought the tickets. They planned to leave a month after the wedding.
And so, after two weeks of living together as newlyweds, Jack could hardly believe his happiness. Every day after work, he rushed home as if on wings…
One beautiful evening, Jack sensed Emma was troubled.
– What’s the matter, love? – he asked gently, – Are you okay? Is everything alright?
– We need to talk, – his young wife replied quietly…
– Go ahead, I’m listening.
– I don’t know how you’ll take this, – Emma began, struggling to find the right words.
– I’ll take it fine, – Jack could see his wife was anxious and tried to reassure her, – whatever it is. You know how much I love you…
– I understand that I should have told you sooner… But I couldn’t…
– Emma, don’t keep me in suspense, – Jack was already getting tense, – have you stopped loving me?
– Of course not. It’s just… I’m sorry… I have children… Two…
– What? You’re joking, right? – Jack was astonished, – how can that be?
– I’m not joking…
– But you’re only twenty-one! When did you have time? And why didn’t you mention it before?
Emma clung to him, looking into his eyes:
– I was afraid you’d stop loving me and decide not to marry me…
– And now? What do you hope for now?!
– I don’t know. I hope you understand and forgive me…
– Forgive?! How can I? – Jack still couldn’t believe what he’d heard…
– You see, like you, I had a sad story in my past. We were deeply in love. When he found out I was pregnant, he abandoned me. Got scared. I was only seventeen then. When my son was born, he regretted it and asked for forgiveness. I forgave him. We lived together. Another year passed, my daughter was born. But while I was pregnant, he found someone else. My daughter was six months old when he left me again. This time with two children.
– And where are your children now? This is a nightmare… I was in your village… Your parents said nothing. They kept it hidden too…
– The children are with relatives for now. They don’t have kids of their own, so they offered for me to leave the little ones with them.
– And your parents? – Jack couldn’t stop asking, – won’t they take their grandchildren in?
– They visit regularly, but refuse to take them in. Say they can’t manage.
– I see. Quite the family…
– Why say that? I didn’t want this to happen. Remember, I wasn’t trying to impose myself on you. You found me…
– Yes, indeed…, – Jack muttered, – and you played innocence so well… I even believed in your chastity…
– I was just scared to get too attached to you. I thought: what if we didn’t work out…
– But did we work out?
– Of course! We love each other!
– And you can say that after such an incredible lie? You could have told me all this a hundred times before the wedding! But no! You say now, when we’re already married!
– What’s changed? That was the only secret I kept. Now you’re my husband and I don’t want to deceive you anymore. And whether you can accept what I’ve said depends on your love for me.
– So, if I agree to raise your kids, that means I love you. But if I refuse – then I don’t?
– If you refuse, they’ll stay with my relatives. That’s it. If you want, I won’t even meet them.
– In other words, you’re willing to abandon your children for me?
– Yes, I am.
– But that’s monstrous! Don’t you see?!
– I just love you so much…
Jack couldn’t hear any more. He grabbed his coat and dashed out of the flat.
He wandered the streets for hours, trying not to think about anything. Trying to calm down.
Eventually, he decided to visit his mother. He just needed to talk to someone…
– I don’t know what to say, son, – his mother said thoughtfully after listening, – you need to make this decision on your own.
– What decision, mum? I already know the outcome: if I agree, I suffer, if I refuse, the kids lose their mother, and they’ll all be miserable.
– Then take your time. Think. Though… I can’t imagine living with someone capable of that…
– I can’t imagine it too…
– So maybe it’s best if you separate?
– I love her, mum…
– Then I don’t know…
Jack stayed with his wife. He offered to bring the kids home, but Emma refused:
– I don’t want to burden you with this, – she said calmly, – let them stay with relatives, and we’ll visit.
– In what capacity? – Jack asked wearily, – they probably call your aunt ‘mum’ by now.
– So be it. They’re happy there, I’m sure. That’s what matters.
– Have it your way, – Jack replied and never brought up the topic again.
They visited the children several times. Watching his wife with them, Jack couldn’t help but wonder:
– What will happen when we have a child? What if something happens to me? Will she take him there too?
A year later, Jack filed for divorce…
He couldn’t live like that…
Besides, the love had vanished…
