I got a suitcase full of my wifes things from her a tidy little bundle shed packed for the move.
Dont say any nonsense! she shouted, and thats when Liz first thought about getting a video camera. Not just thinking about it, she actually fitted one, everywhere in the house. She kept it a secret from me, promising a surprise. And, as it turned out, the surprise was real.
How lucky she married Tom instead of that clumsy bloke, Charlie Cole! Liz, heavily pregnant, mused as she stretched out in her armchair. If shed ended up with him, shed still be living in a council flat beyond the M25!
In Lizs eyes, Cole could never handle anything more demanding. No wonder everyone stubbornly called him Charlie, not Sam; a ships name decides its course, after all. Who would ever liken a great commander to Charlie of Macedonia? No onejust as you wouldnt call a celebrated Winston Dave. It would be absurd.
A Charlie Balton sounded far more natural, and a film titled Operation Y and Other Adventures of Alexander would have been dismissed as rubbish simply because of its name. The movie would have flopped. A simple Charlie did the trick.
Theyd been friends since school, both lads infatuated with the pretty Liz. The three of them roamed everywhere together. Charlie always lost to the witty and charming Victor, yet he seemed oblivious. That loss never harmed their friendship; Charlie was good at keeping friends.
When the graduation ball rolled around, Liz finally chose Tom, and the thirdCharliehad to step aside. He became that inevitable third wheel.
Three months later, after starting university, Tom dumped her for a fellow student. Liz called Charlie, calling him Sam for the first time. Loyal as ever, Charlie swooped in, brightening her loneliness and pulling her out of a slump.
There was never anything romantic between them, and none could ever be. Charlie remained just a friend, and that was enough for himbeing near the woman he adored was all he needed.
As spring approached, Liz fell for Victor; he pushed her out of his heart completely. Her new sweetheart turned out to be a senior student at her university, a few years older, whom she met in the campus library. Yes, not everything lives online these days.
Charlie faded into the background; Lizs thoughts were now filled with Arthur, the older student. Arthur, a rather awkward chap whod gone to a college of town planning after school, always seemed to be tinkering with some pointless gadget, according to Liz. Ill study a year longer and have a profession, hed brag, proud of coming from a large family that prized money. Then I can head to university if I wish.
Liz found the wellkept, respectable young man dull. She craved affection and cuddles, just not from him. Soon enough, a more experienced woman, Tema, opened the door to a world of feelings and pleasures. Their souls seemed to soar; they even talked about marriage because being together felt right.
A year later, Arthur was finishing his degree while Liz was in her second year. Why not tie the knot? she thought. As soon as Arthur got his diploma, theyd do it.
Then Charlie called, reminding her of the upcoming school reunion. Going, Liz? he asked. She agreedwhy not? Shed love to see what Tom missed out on, and shed brag to her former admirer about the upcoming wedding.
Charlie had landed a decent job at a prestigious construction firm and was earning well. He and Tom stayed friends. From Charlie, Liz learned that her exfling Tom was now completely single and also planning to attend the reunion.
The reunion was set for the first Saturday in February. Liz chose a pretty dress, a mink coat over it, and met Charlie, who drove her there in his own car. When Liz saw her former love, she realized shed been fooling herselfnothing lingered. A tiny ember still smouldered, waiting for its moment, and that moment had arrived.
Tom, too, seemed pleased to see Liz; shed grown strikingly beautiful over the past year and a half. He hadnt mentioned any of this to Charlie, but Charlie didnt notice. To him, Liz would always be the most beautiful, no need for any makeovershed always been stunning.
They locked eyes, exchanged a knowing look, then without a word walked straight to Toms place, where they made up for all the lost time. Charlie, as always, ended up as the third wheel.
The wedding with Arthur never happened. In August, a pregnant Liz married Tom insteadVictor had proposed. Now she was expecting their first child; the ultrasound showed a little girl.
Victor turned out to be a decent husband. After the wedding he switched to evening shifts, working as a couriera job in demand and reasonably wellpaid. Liz took a few extra exams as an external student, breezing through the second semester of her third year, helped along by her parents finances.
Thus began the ordinary life of an ordinary, happy family. In due course, little Lily was born.
Time passed, and school loomed for Liz. Lily grew and began to toddle. They decided not to send her to a nurserywho knows what might happen there, and a tiny child cant speak up if somethings wrong. So they hired a nanny, as the grandparents were still working and the grandparents werent exactly ready for diaper duty.
After a careful search, they settled on twentytwoyearold Agnes, a parttime student who also did nanny work. Agnes had solid references, though Liz found her plainlookingwhich was fine; she didnt need any drama. Agnes asked for a slightly lower rate, and everything fell into place.
Liz returned to her studies while Agnes started work. The nanny clicked with Lily instantly, and the little one happily followed her around, even holding her hand. If Lily ever felt ill, she’d let it outcry or screamso the parents remained calm.
One day, while bathing Lily, Liz noticed a rash that shouldnt have been thereno more oldfashioned cloth diapers now, just quickchange nappies. She kept it from Agnes, fearing the cause might be hidden. Modern baby powders and creams were plentiful, and Liz handled it herself.
Soon after, a paediatrician was called; the rash turned out to be allergic dermatitis. Lily was allergic to a few foods, but Agnes had been warned, and those foods werent even in the house. I swear on my life, Agnes protested, I never gave her anything! Ive got nursing training, Id never! A oneyearold couldnt have pilfered food from the table; nothing edible was left out, Liz kept a tight watch.
Tom, ever the skeptic, said, Dont be ridiculous. Lets run allergy tests and sort it out, dont stress yourself.
That was when Liz first thought about a video camera againand this time she didnt just think, she installed it everywhere. She kept the plan a secret from Victor; it was meant to be a surprise. And indeed, it was a surprise.
It turned out Lily was practically on her own for a while, because soon after Liz left for university, the most interesting thing happened. Victor and Agnes were in the bedroom doing their own thing, while little Lily wandered from room to roomthey had two rooms besides the bedroom.
With Liz away, all sorts of junk foodmostly chips, Victors favouritewas scattered across sofas and chairs. Agnes, too, nibbled on them, and Lily helped herself.
When Liz returned, everything was tidywell done! It also emerged that Agnes had once been Victors firstyear university love, the one he left Liz for. After Victor dumped Agnes, she took her university papers and became a nanny.
How these threads tangled remains a mysteryperhaps sheer coincidence, perhaps a lingering connection that the husband hinted at. Either way, the apartment belonged to Lizs parents, so the lovers were denied a home.
The nanny received a mix of affectionate and coarse remarks, plus a settlement. The husband, too, sent similar words, along with a packed suitcase of belongings. Liz wasnt about to forgive.
They left together, and Tom didnt even apologise. He seemed blind to any fault in his behavioureverything was Gods will, he thought.
Liz felt sick, as if the worlds biggest rake had struck her again. She remembered the clumsy but loyal Charliehed be the one to help now. He would swoop in, brighten her gloom with his usual awkward jokes and chatter, just as he always had. He was exactly what she needed.
But this time Charlie couldnt make it. Cant do it, Liz! the voice on the line said, not the usual Got it, Lizon my way! Liz? the voice added, something new. Why? she asked.
Im heading to my wifes maternity ward; my son was born, so I cantsorry! Charlie blurted, No time for chitchat! And the line went dead. Previously, Liz was the one to hang up first; she never played games with Charlie.
Son? What son? What wife? He loves his wife, Liz! she thought, stunned. Yet the fact stoodher schoolmate Cole had a newborn, and Charlie was busy with his own family.
What did she want, really? To have a grown man jump at her side until retirement? By the way, Tom had mentioned a promotion; he now ran a department somewhere.
A sharp bitterness rose in Liz, feeling betrayedeveryone had abandoned her: the husband, the socalled friend. Especially Tom. And how could he treat his own child so poorly? Hed even hinted at a promotion, yet left his son unattended.
If Lily choked, they wouldnt hear from the locked bedroom. What a mess! Charlie, though, would never have cheated her
