You know, Stella Whitaker ran her own chain of jewellery shops right in the heart of London. Her dad helped set the business up, and now, at forty, shes a solid, selfmade woman, always on her feet. Shes a regular at society parties, pops up on glossy magazine covers, and rubs shoulders with the citys celebrities actors, singers, lawyers, you name it. Shes raising her son, Mark, and everything seems under control. The only thing missing? Love.
Stella lived alone in a fivebedroom flat and felt terribly lonely, even though everything else was fine.
Back when she was a little girl, she lived with her grandmother in a provincial town lets say York. Her parents moved to London for a contract job when she was just six, leaving her in her grans care. Gran loved her to bits and never held back on affection.
When Stella hit her teens, she fell for a classmate, Benedict. He felt the same, and they were both sixteen. Gran, whod raised five kids herself, just waved it off. What arent we all a bit daft at sixteen? Young loves like a frothy pint itll settle, shed chuckle, waving her hand. Still, Stella and Benedict got deeper into each other and stopped noticing the world around them. After school they both went to university, and on the first term, Stella blurted out to Benedict, Get ready to be a dad. He grinned, Always ready!
But before a month was up, Stella pulled her university papers and headed back to London to stay with her parents. Benedict was left baffled and ran to Stellas gran for answers. What are you planning, love? How are you going to feed a kid? With textbooks? Loves sweet, but a child isnt a toy. He needs a lot more, Gran said, trying to make sense of the mess.
Benedict scribbled a quick note to Stella, and she replied, Come over. He didnt waste a second, hopped a train to London, and knocked on the door of Stellas mother, Agnes Whitaker.
Hello, Im Benedict. Ive come to see Stella, he said. Agnes welcomed him in, led him to the kitchen, and gave him a polite smile. Shes not home, she said, and shes off at a spa for a fortnight. She added sharply, Just leave us be, wont you? Forget about Stella. Benedict asked, Can I wait for her? She snapped, No. Shell be back in two weeks. Youve done all you could, now well sort it out ourselves.
He left, sat on a bench outside the flat for a spell, then caught a train back home, his mind racing. Stellas name, which means star in Latin, became a sort of guiding light for him. He threw himself into his studies, unsure whether to chase her, give up, or move on. First loves, after all, are hard to shake.
Years later, when Stella gave birth to Mark, Benedict popped back to London, hoping to chat nicely with Agnes again. He bought a heap of gifts for his newborn son. As they say, Dont skimp on the butter when youre making porridge. But Agnes, still firm, brushed him off: Young man, you dont get it. We dont need your presents. Well raise Mark without you. My husband and I cant let our daughter go from jelly to ale. Mind your own business. Benedict walked away, shoulders slumped. A mate of his nudged him, Watch out for a rich fatherinlaw with horns.
Benedict kept loving Stella, though she never replied. As they say, you cant catch sunshine in a sack, and time kept slipping away. Then along came Milly Harper, a genuine soul who fell hard for him. They had a daughter, Julia, and for the early years of their marriage Benedict soaked up Millys love.
Before their wedding, Benedict warned Milly that hed once dreamed of someone else. She replied, a little hurt, Your words cut deep, love. But Ill survive and fight for us. My love will be enough for both of us.
Benedict later became mayor of his hometown. Stella still lingered in his heart, and over time they kept in touch. Hed visit London now and then, meeting his grownup son Mark. Stella eventually remarried; her new husband got along famously with Agnes, whod actually handpicked him for her daughter.
Five years later, after living with her husband in London, Stella chose solitude and moved back to York. When Mark turned fourteen, teenage troubles erupted. Benedict, my sons out of control! Please, come and help! Stella shouted over the phone. He dropped everything and raced to London to rescue the woman hed never stopped caring for.
Meanwhile, Milly, seeing her husband leave, sat by the window and wept. After years of sharing a life with Benedict, shed grown used to Stellas latenight calls. Whenever Stella rang, Benedict would jump out of bed, disappear into the bathroom, and whisper something sweet to her. Milly was left playing second fiddle, never sure if her husband appreciated her sacrifice. Her heart felt like a locked door she couldnt peek through, often clouded with doubt.
But when Benedict returned from his trips, Millys heart lifted. My husband is still here, loves me, and thats enough, she thought, basking in a fleeting moment of bliss. She poured herself into being the perfect wife, hoping to unlock his affection with a golden key. Shed wipe away unearned tears, stay silent when he brought home a massive plush bear as a gift for Mark, and find comfort in the fact that he adored their daughter Julia. Her grandmothers old saying echoed: A wife is a husbands bandage; a husband is a wifes shepherd.
Spring rolled around, and Benedict was gearing up for another trip to London this time for Marks wedding. He bought the young couple a holiday voucher for two to Greece. In the middle of the celebration, Stella leaned over and whispered to Benedict, Maybe we could start over? He took a breath and replied, as if cutting a ribbon, No, Stella. Its too late. Im marrying Milly. I could never find a better wife.
