Three Broken Fortunes
Well, well, what have we here? Theres clearly something worth investigating!
It all began with the usual Saturday tidy-up. Rachel was shuffling old boxes in the loft while her mother, Susan, was bustling about in the kitchen preparing lunch. Amongst a forest of battered cartons, Rachel stumbled upon a tattered photo album shed never seen before. Her curiosity snapped to attentionshe plonked herself into the nearest armchair and began leafing through its pages.
The first photos were all joyyoung Susan and her friends giggling around a fountain, a rambunctious picnic in the park, Susan grinning in a wildflower meadow. Then the mood changedpictures appeared of Susan beside a tall, dark-haired man. The pair looked positively delighted, arms around each other and gazes soft with unmistakable fondness. Rachel inspected each frame with growing intriguethere they were in a cafe, walking along the River Thames, laughing hand in hand. Very intriguing. Who was this dashing fellow, and why did he gaze at her mum as if shed hung the stars herself?
Driven by nosiness not even Sherlock would disapprove of, Rachel marched straight to the kitchen. The scent of fresh Victoria sponge drifted through the air as Susan lifted it, golden and inviting, from the oven.
Mum, Rachel began, clutching the album, Whos the man in these pictures? Ive never seen him in my life.
Susan turned, and Rachel caught a fleeting tremble in her mothers fingers as she gripped the oven mitt. But Susan quickly pasted on a calm smile and set the baking tray down.
Oh, thats Zachary, she replied, struggling to sound breezy, but Rachel didnt miss the note of tension. We dated ages agobefore I met your dad, actually.
Rachel flicked through more pages, not giving up. How come you never talked about him? You looked so happy together! What went wrong? Why did you break up?
Susan wiped her hands on her apron, hesitating. She wandered over to the window, peering out at next doors kids kicking a football about the green. Susan plainly didnt want to open this can of worms, but Rachel wasnt about to let it lie.
Its a long story, love, Susan sighed at last, turning to face her daughter. We loved each other, but it didnt work out. My mistake, really. The blame lies entirely with me.
Rachel sat at the kitchen table, eyes fixed on her mum. She saw, perhaps for the first time, the hurt those deceptively cheerful photos could still cause, and for a flash she regretted even starting the conversation. Unfortunately, curiosity, as ever, bested her sense of tact. She felt a bit guilty, but the hunger for the unvarnished truth was overwhelming.
Please tell me everything, she asked quietly. I want to know. I mean, you and Dad youve never looked particularly in love. Nothing personal, but hes a bitwell, stern, and hes never seemed particularly compassionate, has he? Jealous, maybe. Detached. I cant imagine he was much different in the past. Why did you choose him and not Zachary?
Susan froze, mug trembling slightly in her hand. She set it down carefully, as if worried it might shatter, and lowered her eyes. At length she breathed in deeply, summoning her reserves.
That isnt an easy question, darling, she said with a bitter little smile. I never loved your father. In fact, I could barely stand him.
Rachel recoiled despite herself. Shed suspected as much, but hearing it from her mums own mouth was unexpectedly painful. She squirmed in her chair, nerves jangled.
Im completely lost now! she blurted, voice a fraction higher. Were you pressured? Did Gran and Granddad force you into it?
Susans mouth twitched with a wry, barely-there smile. The opposite, actually. They couldnt understand why I was so keen to marry someone Id always ignored before. Mum did everything she could to stop me. Mind you, at the time, Zachary was courting mea proper catch, to be honest.
She traced the rim of her mug absent-mindedly. It wasnt easy to dredge up those old days, but perhaps, just today, with the photos out, she felt compelled to let her story breathe for once.
You see, darling, I have this particularly useless trait: I cannot stand being told what to do. If given an ultimatum, Ill do the exact oppositeeven if its utter sabotage. My parents knew this, so they always let me choose. But the man I loved either didnt understand. Or simply didnt want to.
She fell quiet, eyes on nothing in particular; outside, the first flecks of London snow were beginning to drift down. The memory of her choice was as raw as ever. If only she hadnt blown her top. If only shed stopped to think. But in that split second, shed decided to prove once and for all that her life belonged to her aloneeven if it cost her dearly.
By that one reckless decision, Susan had neatly doomed the fates of three people: herself, her beloved Zachary, and the unfortunate soul who would become her husband. Their marriage was a slow-motion disaster visible to absolutely everyone. Susan understood even then that she should do things differentlybut her infernal stubbornness was stronger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Susan sat at the kitchen table, chin propped on her palm, captivated by the sight of Zachary. He glided about her kitchen with the elan of a West End chef trying his best not to trip over the family cat. With a paring knife, he turned humble vegetables into perfect cubes; the smells wafting through the air were frankly criminal in their deliciousness.
Susan tried, more than once, to get up and helpher childhood training pulling her up by the apron strings. The kitchens womens work! she chanted internally, preparing to launch herself into dough duty. But each time, Zachary waved her down with patient but unyielding charm. Sit tight, Susan. This is my domain. You just sit back and enjoy.
So Susan gave in, quietly astonished that culinary sovereignty could be so masculine. Zachary didnt just cook, he performed with flair. Each slice and stir was artistry itself.
Weve got a family restaurant, he explained, grinning at Susans wide eyes. With Mum a chef this good, what chance did I have but to learn myself? I practically grew up on a chopping board! Not bad, if I say so myselfwait till you get a taste, youll be begging for seconds!
His eyes were all mischief and pride, his smile beaming. He was clearly in his element: it was impossible not to feel at home in that kitchen.
Thirty minutes later, not a scrap was left on Susans plate. She was barely restraining herself from licking it. The meal was extraordinary: layered, rich, somehow both familiar and dazzlingly new.
Leaning back, she eyed Zachary in awe. That was absolutely spectacular, she breathed, voice half a giggle. Ive never eaten anything like it. Youre a wizarda culinary warlock! How do you turn supermarket veg into pure gold?
Zacharys grin spread. He took the seat opposite, pleased as punch. A dash of love, a spoon of imagination, and decent ingredients. Simple, really. But your praise is the best ingredient. Wait until I take you to our placeyoull really see what food can do!
Susan laughed, her eyes shining. She reached for her coffee, sipping luxuriously, the aroma curling around her like a favourite jumper.
Ill hold you to that! she joked. Honestly, are you planning to take over from your mum someday?
Zachary paused, pondering. Then he shook his head, his reply sure. NoIm after something bigger. Were opening another place, just outside London, in a lovely spot by the coast. The buildings sorted, renovations underway. Ill manage the new one, and I promise you, itll be the talk of the South!
He painted a picture of sunlit dining rooms with sea views, happy customers, and laughter echoing in every corner; a vision so vivid Susan was swept along for a momentuntil doubt crept in.
Youre moving away? she asked, her voice unsteady as she spun the gold engagement band Zachary had given her. The metal was cool, but all comfort had left it. What about me? Are you planning to leave me behind?
Zachary looked genuinely offended. How could she possibly think that! Didnt she know how he adored her, would cross half the country for her happiness? The whole scheme, he wanted to say, was for her.
Whats got into you? he spluttered. I want you to come with me! The flats already lined upbrilliant place, lots of green, and well have the wedding there, right on the coast And dont worry about uniIll help sort the transfer. The one there is better, anyway.
He was talking fast, desperate to make her see it was the worlds best offer. A golden ticket, handed on a plate.
Susan listened, but her heart hammered painfully. Logically, it was a great opportunity: a bigger city, a better university, a new adventure. All attractive. But somethingsomething stubborn and deeprefused to agree.
So youve decided everything? Without asking me? Am I just supposed to tag along behind? Her words were ice-cold. Leave my family, my mates, and just drop everything for you?
She went silent, staring out into the street. The clouds crawled along, and her thoughts flailed pointlessly. She pictured explaining it all to her parents, her friendsthis sudden leap into the abyss.
Zachary finally spoke, leaning across the table, anxious. Susan, I didnt mean it like that! I wanted to share my plansour plans! I thought youd be thrilled.
But Susan was beginning to boil. Well, Im not! Youve planned my whole life out for me! What are you, the king of the castle now? Am I to follow orders without question? Not going to happen, mate!
Ooh, steady on, love! Zacharys own temper flickered to life. I genuinely thought youd be excited! Who wouldnt want to move? The sea air, the sunsets, the dream lifewhats so terrible about that?
He tried to make her see it, but Susan only grew angrier. In her mind, this was about much more than postcodes or restaurant windows; it was about having her say. She stood up quickly, bumping the table. Her half-finished coffee toppled, splashing brown stains onto the white tablecloth.
It doesnt matter how pretty the place is! You made the decision for me! she shot back, hands balled. Im not your project! No one tells me how to live my life!
Her voice trembled with fury. At that moment, she could have gone for a world record in stubbornness.
Susan Zachary rose, gently reaching for her. He meant only to soothe, still failing to understand the full force of her resistance. Yes, perhaps he should have asked, but hed wanted to sweep her off her feet! Wasnt this romantic?well, clearly not.
Ive said all I need to, Susan replied, steely as a British rail worker. With one savage tug, she pulled the gold ring from her fingerthe one Zachary had slipped there when everything seemed simple. She stared at it for a split second, then pitched it at the wall. It struck with a metallic thunk, and clattered to the floor, ringing like the worlds tiniest bell.
Back home, curled into her favourite armchair by the window, Susan finally let herself breathe again. She closed her eyes and took several shaky breaths, the adrenaline draining at last, leaving behind a lump of regret. Shed just lobbed her future at the plasterwork. She knew, honestly, that Zachary hadnt meant to boss her about. Hed just wanted to build a liveable future for them both. In truth, hed been rightit was the sort of chance your average Brit would commit minor fraud for. So why had she gone off like a firework?
But as soon as she replayed that kitchen row, resentment surged back. The very idea of someone making plans for her, without so much as a heads-upit was intolerable. If he thinks he can decide everything now, she thought fury, what about later? Whats next, telling me what socks to wear? She gripped the armrests hard. Shed rather suffer a fresh heartbreak now, than spend years trapped. Let the wounds heal, she told herself; at least shed be her own master…
Months later, still stinging from the split, Susan happened across Anthony. Hed always hung about herpolitely, never pushy. Once he got wind she was single again, Anthonys interest ratcheted up considerably. There was something triumphant in the way he courted her, as if outmanoeuvring Zachary was a prize in itself. Susan, feeling vulnerable and lonely, decided to give him a chance. Maybe, just maybe, this was her shot at moving onproving to herself she didnt need Zachary to be happy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thats why I married the first bloke who asked, Susan admitted softly, staring at the table. Your father never really thought about what life together meant. A tired sigh finished her confession. Within a year we were arguing daily. All his pleasantness was just a mask for stubbornnessat times downright hard-hearted. Divorce came after seven years. We just couldnt pretend anymore.
Her daughter listened, kind and patient. Her eyes shone with sympathy and a desperate will to understand fully.
And why do you say your mistake ruined things for three people? Rachel asked gently. Did Zachary never get over you?
Susan shrugged, voice low. Ive no idea if he forgot me. But I saw how he hurt. We both did. And Anthony he was miserable too. Thought being married would fix everything, but all he got was disappointment. As it turned out, each of us lost the chance at real happiness in our own way.
There was no bitterness in Susans tone, simply the quiet, resigned introspection of someone who long ago made peace with life.
Zachary moved and did very well for himself, she continued, watching as the evening sunlight faded outside. Hes got a string of restaurants nowquite the big shot. But he isnt the cheerful, generous boy I once knew. Hes hard now. Businesslike, closed off. It might help in his job, but in the rest of lifewell, not so much.
She paused, remembering rare encounters: a tall, sharp-suited man, lips set in a constant frowna world away from the boisterous teenager shed fallen for.
He married twice, Susan added, but neither lasted a year. The only person he really dotes on is his son. You should see him with the ladso gentle, attentive, a completely different man. Its just with women, he cant seem to make things work.
She lapsed into thought, then added, not quite looking at Rachel, Funny thing, his wives looked a lot like mesame build, hair, everything. His friend once told me Zacharys never stopped loving me. But Ive no right to meddle after all this time.
Rachel listened quietly, her mind whirring with things she didnt dare say aloud. It seemed so obvious that things could have gone differentlyhappily, even. Her mum, clever and passionate, could have found joy, and Zachary too, who seemed never to have moved on.
But Rachel knew her mother would never make the first move now. That stubborn streak, the same one that split them apart, ran too deep. Susan might know shed been wrong, decades ago, but shed never go crawling backnever confess regret. Not from pride, but because she simply didnt know how to backtrack. Weakness, in Susans mind, was not an option.
With a stretch, Susan tried to shake off the weight of memory and smiled wanly at her daughter.
You know, she said, her voice a notch brighter, I cant really say I regret it all. It was painful, things didnt end like Id hoped, but I lived my life, and I have youthats the bit that matters most.
Outside it was now inky dark, but within, the house glowed with warm yellow lightthe kind Rachel always remembered from her childhood as the real heart of home. She stood, crossed the kitchen, and hugged her mum tightly. Susan hesitated a moment, then squeezed back.
And at that moment, both women felt it: the past had gone where it belonged. Ahead of them was only the futureand this time, theyd build it together.
