Lydia always yearned for a happy marriage. Shed already had one go at it, rather unsuccessfully. She had a son, Thomas, who was twenty by then.
It all happened ages ago, though the memorys still keen. Her husbands betrayal was revealed in the most spectacular fashion. Lydia returned from a work trip a day early to find her husband, only half dressed, anxiously smoothing out the covers on their marital bed. Meanwhile, her supposed best friend was in the kitchen, brewing coffee in Lydias own dressing gown.
A true classic, in its own bitter way. The divorce was immediate and decisive; the treacherous friend erased from every number and address book. Lydia refused to wade through the sordid detailsshe believed that where theres guilt, there ought to be consequences. She sent her husband packing, belongings in tow, and forbade Thomas from seeing him. Back then, Lydia wasnt yet thirty.
A good decade passed since that painful parting. Lydia, undeterred, threw herself into her academic work, earning first her masters and then her doctorate. By forty, she was Dr Lydia Harper, Doctor of English Literature. She was head of the department at the local teacher training college and highly respected in her field.
Through those ten lonely years, Lydia never abandoned the hope of finding a true companion. She wasnt ready to while away her time knitting socks or dabbling in embroidery. Suitors werent in short supplyon the contrary. Yet not one ever seemed to truly touch her soul.
Some would-be bachelors were all too quick to propose after merely a first dinner. One borrowed a tidy sum (Were nearly family, arent we?) and promptly disappeared. Another, a widower, was really after a mother for his broodhed invited Lydia round and requested she prepare supper for the lot. She obliged, feeding three children in descending order of size, then slipped home and wept for the lonely little family, father included. But shouldering all that responsibility alone? Lydia knew she couldnt manage it. Perhaps Im selfish, shed confess to herself.
As the years slipped by, suitable prospects grew ever fewer. Lydia was on the brink of giving up, ready to close the book on all futile romancewhen He appeared out of the blue.
He was an old student of hers, Petertwelve years her junior and originally from London, but had stayed after finishing university and started a modest business. Their paths crossed one day at the petrol station, which turned out to be his own. They chatted, recalling university days and shared a laugh. Peter handed Lydia his cardjust in case. Soon enough, Lydia found herself filling up her car there each week, always stopping by for a little conversation.
Peter began showing gentle interest, inviting her to dinners and concerts at the Royal Albert Hall. Lydia felt bashful, doubting the sincerity of her former students advances and declining each invite. But Peter persisted. Lydia remembered how, even in his student days, he stood apart: hardworking, serious, eloquent. She remembered, too, the intricately carved box he once gave herwith a note inside. Reading it had made her blush furiously before turning pale. In anger, Lydia tore up his letter, which declared, Dear Dr Harper, I love you! She huffed, returning the box to Peter and hurrying away.
The next day, Peter knocked at her office.
Dr Harper, Im very sorry. I never meant any offence. I just… I really like you.
Lydia accepted his apology, saying, Thats enough, Peter. Run along to your seminarlessons start soon.
During the rest of his university days, Peter kept his distance, only glancing Lydias way when he thought her back was turned. Now, so many years later, here he was again. Lydia was tornshould she permit his courtship or turn him away? Im his old lecturer, nothing more. Were simply a man and a woman now. Perhaps anythings possible, Lydia mused.
In the end, she surrendered to fate.
A swift and sweet romance began. Their first date was unforgettablePeter’s charm, wit, and gentle kindness made everything new. Lydia, never much troubled by their age gap, blossomed into a merry, youthful soul in his company, while Peter exhibited wisdom beyond his years.
She started calling Peter James, and he seemed to like it, though he insisted on calling her Lily, which tickled Lydia. She felt the kind of happiness shed never known beforea passion so bright, one couldnt hope to conceal it.
Peter never once spoke of marriage. He planned to move back to London soon and couldnt bear to go against his familys wishes. His mother had already chosen him a suitable bride, Rosemary, a respectable seventeen-year-old from Kent. Lydia knew, too, she could never leave her beloved homeland for the bustling chaos of the city, nor could she abandon her ageing mother and her grown son. In truth, Peters family would never accept an old spinster as a daughter-in-law. She simply didnt fit their world.
After all, Home bread is sweeter than foreign cake.
So Lydia decided to pour all the tenderness and love shed stored up through the years into Peter, whatever the future held.
How much happiness could I possibly have left? shed muse, half-wistfully and half-defiant, to her mother. Ill love this man with all my mighthe wont be able to breathe from all my affection! Ill drink this cup dry!
Her mother disapproved. Liddy! What do you see in this outsider? Arent there enough Jameses in England for you? Youll never have my blessing. Your former husband is still following you about like a puppy. Cant you see it? Take him backhes sorry for what hes done. You should forgive him, surely? For Thomass sake! shed lament.
Mum, Edward was unfaithful! Dont you remember? Lydia would protest.
Oh, for heavens sake! Hes repented a hundred times. Besides, youre partly to blame. Always busy with your exams and booksyou left him neglected. And if you leave a man unguarded, therell always be someone after him, and hes not likely to say no, Mum would retort.
And why didnt you forgive my father? He begged too, Lydia would point out.
Oh, darling, thats different! First, your father left before you were even born. Second, he already had three children elsewhere, then just dropped by to meet you. What was I supposed to do with a man like that? And could I take him away from three little ones? No! Your Edward, though, has been waiting around for ten years. Thomas loves him dearly, Mum finished sternly.
Oh, Mum, Im not planning to marry Peter. Im too old for him. Ill wait for him to make the first move to end itI couldnt do it myself. And then well, well see. Lifes odd, Lydia replied, lost in thought.
Dear girl, even an old mare likes a lick of salt, her mother sighed softly.
Three years drifted by before Peter finally said farewell. Ill stay in touch, my dearest, was all he said before parting.
Lydia had braced herself for this. Still, it stung to surrender Peter to young Rosemary. But as a parting gift, Peter presented Lydia with that same carved box from so many years before. Inside was a beautiful ring formed by two angels embracing a diamond heart.
My heart stays with you, Lily, Peter declared, kissing her lovingly.
He returned to London.
A year later, Peter sent a wedding photographhe and Rosemary, radiant and young. The next year, another arrivedthis time with him and another bride called Mary. He explained in his letter that his family always had strong traditions, and multiple marriages were accepted amongst them.
When Lydia saw these newsletters about Peters new life, she felt no jealousy. After all, what could those naive girls possibly know of the sweetness of mature love? She took a small comfort from the sadness in Peters eyesperhaps he still missed her, maybe even loved her still. Yet, as the old saying goes, Old love rusts when new breezes blow.
The story had run its course. The page had turned. Thomas, Lydias son, soon married himself, bringing home a lovely wife. When their daughter was born, Lydia asked if she might be named Lily so that the memory of a blazing, unforgettable love might live forever.
Lydia even forgaveperhaps pitiedher former husband, Edward. For guilt, if confessed long enough, deserves forgiveness. He sought her out through her mother, the latter offering much wisdom and persuasion to bring them back together.
He realises his mistakes now. And, really, who among us is blameless? Temptation is everywherea part of the human condition. Few can resist it for a lifetime.
Now Lydia and Edward live together once more, cautious to never stray far from one another. Lydia even completed a knitting course and now sends her granddaughter Lily socks patterned with little English roses, the rich threads entwined with stories of passion, heartache, and the quiet wisdom of women who have lived and loved.
