A Mothers Betrayal
At the graduation ball, every girl wanted a photo with him. But he chose Lucy She wasnt particularly lovely, clever, or accomplished. But her father was a man of local influence. And Lucys dress that night was the most dazzling She even got into university. Just like that, she took his hand at the dance and never let goleading him straight to the altar years later.
***
LIFE AS IT IS. A Mothers Son
As a child, he was adored like a painting. Not only was he strikingly handsome, but he knew how to charm. If someone held him, hed nestle close as if they were family. Even strangers would slip him sweets. Mary worried theyd jinx her boy. At school, girls bickered over who got to sit with himlater, who got to date him. Nick was top of his class, an athlete. Only he was poor. Yet the local girls didnt care that their idol wore the same jeans until they frayed at the ankles. Another boy mightve been mockedbut not him. At graduation, every girl wanted a photo with him. He chose Lucy She wasnt lovely, clever, or accomplished. But her father mattered. And Lucys dress was the grandest. She got into university, too. She held his hand that night and never let goleading him straight to marriage.
Before the wedding, Mary sold her pig and gave Nick the moneyeverything she had. He took the few thousand pounds and left
* * *
Mary had arrived in the village with a baby boy in her arms. Some said the childs fathera married manhad bought her the cottage to keep her quiet. No one ever saw her family. She lived modestly, working at the village shop, tending a small garden. Suitors came, but she turned them all away. “I have a husband,” shed say. A joke! Friends would needle her”Its hard alone”but shed snap.
When Nick started school, she saw himMr. Harris, the new P.E. teacher, fresh from university. Their eyes met, then kept finding each other. Before she knew it, they were courting. He taught Nick to ride a bike, fix a puncture. They walked in the woods come winter, planted vegetables in spring. But Mary hesitated to tell Nick the truthwhenever she hugged Harris, even brushed his arm, the boy stiffened, silent.
“Why, love? Hes good! Hell be your dad,” she whispered after Harris left.
“I dont want you to love him! Just me!” Nick muttered.
One morning, Nick woke to find Harris in bed beside Mary.
“From now on, lad, this is how it is,” Harris said, pulling him into a huggenuinely fond.
“No! I dont want you here!” Nick shrieked. He refused breakfast, bolted. Mary found him at dusk, brought him home.
“Is he inside?” Nick asked, tears in his eyes, pointing at the door.
“Yes”
“Make him leave. Or I wont go in!”
“Darling, hes never been unkind! Well be a proper family”
“I dont want proper! Just you! Hes not my dad!”
“He will beyoull see.”
Harris left with his suitcase, just as hed arrived. He kissed Marys forehead. “Think it over, Nick. Im not your enemy.”
“No!” Nick turned away.
“If you let him stay, Ill run!” he told Mary as the gate shut.
She chose her son. Harris left the villagefor good, it seemed. By New Years, Mary had another son, Tommy. She feared Nicks jealousy, but he doted on the baby, never questioning where he came from. Mary, though, carried guilt, tiptoeing around Nick, afraid to cross him.
“My Nicks so grown-up,” shed boast to friends. “So wiseI ask him for advice!” Theyd snicker, knowing it was his “advice” that left her alone
She was thrilled when Nick befriended Lucy at university. Her family had moneytheyd help him rise in the world.
One Saturday, she waited with pies and cold cuts. The train had come and goneno Nick.
“Mum!” Tommy ran in from the field. “Nick went to Lucys!”
They waited. He didnt come. Not by morning, either. He rushed past, barely kissing her.
“Mum, were getting married!”
She meant to scold him for staying out, say all shed rehearsedbut he cut in:
“Can you help? Sell a pig or something?”
“Of course, love. Whens the wedding?”
“Not sure. A student onein London. Not here!”
Next weekend, Mary sold the pig. Nick took the money without counting, dashed off.
The village buzzed: Lucys family was throwing a lavish country wedding. Nick hadnt been home. No betrothal, no talks. Mary gathered her courage and went to the in-lawsto help, to belong.
Lucys mother met her at the gate.
“Help? *You?*” She sneered. “Weve hired professionals. And you? Youve no place hereneither wife nor widow. Your boy grew up fatherlessa bastard! Think we want your sort in our family? Were tolerating *him* for Lucys sake. Stay away!” The gate slammed.
Mary stumbled home, humiliated. Had she raised a son whod let this happen? Shed given him everything
The wedding was the talk of the villagethree days of music, handpicked guests. The real scandal? The grooms mother wasnt there. Some smirked; others clucked.
Mary didnt leave her bed. Shed waitedsurely hed come, invite her? The wedding cars raced past her cottage, horns blaring. She buried her face; Tommy pretended to read.
At dusk, Tommy slipped into the reception, grabbed Nicks arm.
“How could you? Mums been crying all day!”
“Listen, squirt. Tell her not to cry. Im fine! Lucys parents condition: I marry her, I cut ties with you lot. I gave my word!”
“Id give you a thrashing!” Tommy swungNick caught his wrist, twisted.
“Scram before anyone sees you! Wrecking my life, you little brat!” He shoved him out. “Got it?”
Mary waited on the step. She didnt ask where hed been. They hugged
*The deepest wounds are from the hands we once held tightest.*
