Youve started, so finish what you were saying! Andrew raised his voice at Natalie, And if you dont really know, youd best not prattle on
Oh, I know well enough, Natalie retorted with a thin smile, holding his gaze There were never any secrets between us
Andrew and Alice first met in a frightfully mundane manner. It was a bitter January morning, and the pavements of Manchester were hidden beneath a treacherous layer of ice. Alice slipped just outside the bus stop, tumbling to the ground and badly scraping her knee. Andrew, passing by with a cup of tea warming his hands, stopped at once to help her up and insisted on escorting her to A&E.
The x-ray showed no fracture, and Alice was soon prescribed rest and a bandage for her sprained joint. Throughout it all, Andrew didnt leave her side. He even phoned into work, requesting a half-days leave from his manager. Only when Alice, safely bundled into a black cab, promised to ring him once home did he return to his own work, properly reassured.
Alice, still reeling from the pain, was thoroughly charmed by the kindness of this shy, warm-hearted young man. She hadnt met anyone so attentive before; she was quite enchanted. Soon, their days were filled with calls and messages, chatting incessantly about anything and everything. Andrew worried if shed eaten her breakfast, urged her to dress warm, asked if shed slept well, wished her a good morning and a peaceful evening, genuinely caring for every insignificant detail.
To Andrew, there was nothing remarkable in such behaviour. That was simply how things were in his family. He lived alone in a small flat in Stockport, which had come down to him from his grandmother, while his parents stayed nearby in Salford. Theyd all once lived together, renting out Grans flat, but after she passed away and Andrew was grown enough, he moved into her place.
Hed never had much luck with girls his reserved nature made casual introductions a trial. He didnt frequent pubs, nor had mates dragging him out for a pint. Meeting Alice happened entirely by chance, but when help was needed, Andrew simply couldn’t walk on by it wasnt in his nature. Later, hed think it must have been fate that brought them together.
Within two months, they were married quite on a whim. Andrew, half in jest, asked Alice to be his wife. To his surprise she replied,
Why not? Lets put in the paperwork right now!
There was only an hour left until the Manchester registry office closed that day, and off they went, booking the next available date. Andrews parents were a touch surprised by the haste, but as Alice immediately won them over, they gave their blessings.
Alices mother lived in Liverpool and received the news by telephone. She was unable to attend, as Alices grandmother was suddenly very ill and couldnt be left.
Their marriage proved a happy one. The romance between the young couple didnt dissolve after the wedding if anything, their affection deepened. When their son, Jamie, was born, their happiness redoubled, as did their responsibilities. On the occasion of their wedding anniversary, dear friends gathered at a local pub to celebrate.
Andrews parents Olga and George were there, along with little Jamie, who at five years old sat at the table with the adults, clinking glasses of apple juice and toasting the familys good fortune. Alice invited her closest friend, Natalie, whod been like a sister to her since their schooldays. In truth, Natalies fortunes had never matched Alices whereas Alice was willowy and striking, Natalie was rather short, awkward, and round. Her face might have been sketched in haste and rubbed out over and over, bland and unremarkable. Living in Alices shadow meant boys rarely paid Natalie attention. Still, their friendship brought Natalie many benefits, allowing her into circles shed never enter alone.
Through their sixth forms and beyond, Alice always attracted suitors by age twenty-five, shed received proposals from half the rugby club, but she chose carefully. Then came Andrew and the rest unfolded as if by design
On the evening of the celebration, Natalie had a little too much to drink and needed escorting downstairs to her waiting taxi. Andrew offered to see her safely outside, leaving Alice and their parents upstairs. Natalie was hardly able to stand as they made their way down.
Happiness to the newlyweds! Hah! Some folk get happiness handed to them, dont they? And others ah, Ive never had such luck! Alice always had everything come easy since the day we met! She always had the men wrapped around her finger, and you you men never see it! Use your heads instead ofwell never mind! When a pretty face comes along you all forget everything else!
By now theyd reached the pub doors. Suddenly, Natalie straightened up, voice suddenly clear and cutting:
Do you know whose son youre raising? Hes not yours, you know!
What nonsense is this? Andrew barely refrained from striking her. The streetlights spun wild in his vision; he squeezed his eyes shut. Part of him wanted to grab Natalie and shake her into silence, but she pressed on, relentless:
Look how pale youve gone! Surprised you never worked it out! Jamie was born too soon after the wedding, wasnt he? What, did you think Alice was so mad about you she had to marry in a rush? Hah! And the boy looks nothing like you cant you see? She had another chap before you. He asked her to marry him, promised her the world. Then he dumped her for someone else! Serves her right, eh?
Andrew bundled Natalie none too gently into her cab and slammed the door. When her taxi disappeared round the corner, his phone rang, and though he didnt know why, he picked up.
Go on, ask your darling wife! Hah! Why should I be the only miserable one at your bloody happy family do? Now let her squirm for a change! Natalie cackled harshly
Her laughter rang in Andrews mind all evening. Try as he might, he couldnt banish her words. Jamie had been born early, it was true. But plenty of children arrive before their due time and Andrew had never questioned it, hed been too happy. From the first moment he saw Jamie, hed loved him as his own. Not for a second had he doubted his place as Jamies father.
Andrews parents adored their grandson, often inviting him for Sunday roasts and trips to the Natural History Museum or the city zoo. But now, cursed Natalie had poisoned everything. He couldnt think straight. He remembered that Jamie was slight, with a shock of pale hair, so unlike Andrews thick black curls. His mother, Olga, had always insisted childrens appearance changed as they grew but the doubts gnawed at him: the fragile frame, the blue eyes It tormented Andrew for a week before he finally summoned the courage to ask Alice.
Alice regarded him strangely, then said,
I knew youd ask one day. If youd worked it out, why wait five years to bring it up? You could have said at once wed have divorced, wouldnt we? Thats what you want? I lied to you! Wasnt straight with you! Go on, shout at me isnt that why you brought it up?
Andrew recoiled. How could she think hed stop loving her? Good Lord, hed have forgiven her anything even if shed told him from the start. Now she seemed almost to have wanted this confrontation, after all these years. Divorce? He hadnt even considered it. And Jamie beloved Jamie Hed loved that boy since the first moment let people talk if they must! Hed never leave his son. But what of his parents? Should he tell them? Would they love Jamie any less?
Apparently, Alice had her doubts as well, because they argued bitterly. Andrew packed a bag and left, moving back into his grans empty flat on Church Road. For two weeks he lived there, wretched and lonely, missing his son and his wife every day. At last he decided: hed let things be. Natalie had wanted to ruin their happiness, but he wouldnt give her the satisfaction. Not a chance.
Andrew returned to Alice and Jamie.
Forgive me, Alice sobbed, I spoke so harshly, you didnt deserve it. I thought that if you knew the truth, youd stop loving us both. I simply wanted to say it myself rather than wait anymorefor five years Ive dreaded this.
Oh, Alice, Andrew said gently as he embraced her after five years, you still dont know me. Would I really ever leave you both? I love you and Jamie nothing will change that. I understand, I truly do. You were afraid back then; you kept silent because you thought Id walk away. But what we have is the real thing. No one can poison that, not even Natalie believe me.
All the same, Alice replied, dabbing her tears and snuggling close I never want to see her again.
What about telling my parents? Andrew asked, the thought still weighing on him They love Jamie so much. Should we tell them?
In the end, they spoke to Andrews parents a month and a half later, but not about Natalies revelation. Instead, they shared happier news: Alice was expecting again, and soon, there would be two grandchildren at Sunday lunch.
