**Diary Entry**
He called her a wretched servant and walked away. Yet when he returned, he got an unexpected shock.
You see, he sneered, miserable maid, and left for another. But upon his return, he faced a reply he never saw coming.
Catherine had grown up hearing the same words from her grandmother and mother: In this family, women never have luck in love. Her great-grandmother was widowed at twenty-two, her grandfather died in the factory, and her mother was left alone with a baby before Catherine turned three. She didnt believe in curses, but deep down, she braced for her own love to end in heartbreak. Despite herself, she dreamed of a home, a husband, children warmth.
Her future husband, Richard, worked in the same factory where she packed boxes. He was in another department, but they shared the canteen. Thats how they fell in love. It happened quicklya few dates, a proposal, marriage. Richard moved into her two-bed flat, inherited from her gran. Her mother had passed by then. At first, it was peaceful: their first son arrived, then the second. Catherine did her bestcooking, cleaning, raising the boys. Richard worked, brought in the money, but came home less and less, their conversations dwindling.
When he started returning late, exhausted, smelling of another womans perfume, she knew. She never asked, afraid to end up alone with two children. But one day, she snapped:
Think of the boys, please. Im begging you.
He said nothing. Just a cold stare. No explanations, no shouting. The next morning, she made him breakfast. He didnt touch it.
Youre only good for scrubbing floors, he muttered with disgust.
A week later, he was gone. Packed his bags and walked out.
Dont leave us, please! she cried in the hallway. The boys need their dad!
Youre a wretched servant, he repeated, slamming the door. The boys heard. Huddled together on the sofa, they wonderedwhat had they done wrong? Why had their father left them?
Catherine refused to crumble. She lived for them. Worked as a cleaner, mopped stairs, carried buckets, taught them to read, hand-washed clothes when the machine broke. The boys grew up fast, helping where they could. She forgot herself, her dreams. But fate has its surprises.
One day at the supermarket, she dropped a box of tea. A man picked it up and smiled.
Need help with your bags?
Im fine, she said absently.
Ill help anyway, he replied, already lifting her shopping.
His name was John. He started showing up at the shop daily, then walking her home, until one day he arrived at her building to help with the cleaning. The boys were wary, but he was kind, patient. At their first dinner, he brought cake and white roses. When her eldest teased,
Played basketball?
He laughed. Back in school, yeah. Long time ago.
Later, he admitted, I had an accident. Speak slow, move stiff. My wife left because of it. If thats a problem, I understand.
If the boys like you, you stay, Catherine said.
He proposedand asked to speak to the boys.
I want to be a proper dad.
That night, she explained to her sons. They hugged her.
Our dad walked out and forgot us, the youngest said. Be nice to have one who stayed.
So John became family. Taught the boys football, helped with homework, fixed shelves, laughed with them. The house felt alive again. Years passed. The boys became men. Tom fell in love and went to John for advice. Then, the doorbell rang.
There stood Richard.
I was a fool. Take me back. Lets start over
Get lost, Tom cut in.
Is that how you speak to your father?! Richard shouted.
Dont speak to my son like that, John said firmly.
We dont need you, the youngest added. Weve got a dad.
They shut the door. For good.
Catherine stood there, watching her three menher protectors, her family, built with blood, sweat, and tears. And at last she was happy.
