Who knows where the river of fate will twist
For the past month, George had been awfully thoughtful, hardly saying a word to his wife, Margaret. She watched him with worry and thought,
He must be unwell, thats what it is hes nearly forty-five, and were planning a little do for his birthday at the local restaurant. Honestly, I should just drag him to see my mate, Dr. Parsons, get some blood tests run and whatever else they do
Margaret confided her worries to her close friend, Susan, who quickly blurted out,
My Alan was the same when he fell for someone else. Walked around like hed caught something dreadful.
Oh, come on, Susan. Dont compare your Alan to my George, Margaret brushed her off.
Whats so special about your George compared to my Alan?
Thats exactly itnothing. Your Alan, hes a charmer, always the centre of attention, a bit of a ladies man, isnt he? My George, bless him, could barely string two words together. I had to ask him to marry me back in the day! If I hadnt moved in with him myself, I swear hed still be on his own.
Last year, Susan caught Alan with another woman. Margaret tried to help her cope.
Forget him, Susan, do something for yourself. Stop crying, chuck him out and get on with your life.
Susan went completely wild for a bit. Chucked Alan out, started frequenting bars, flirted left, right and centre, cut her hair short claiming it was a new style. Margaret watched her, horrified. That wasnt quite what shed had in mindshe meant signing up for some courses, learning to dance, reading something good, or maybe doing some sport.
Well, Susan ended up forgiving Alan eventually. Margaret, on the other hand, couldnt fathom it.
Id never forgive George, not for something like that, she thought.
She and George had been married nearly twenty-six years now. They knew each other inside out, raised two boys, and were almost ready for the quieter years. Still young yet, though, just time to celebrate Georges birthday. Shed already discussed plans with the familyshed let him know soon enough.
They got married right after finishing university. Met on a hiking trip. They studied in different departments but ended up living in the same city. On the fourth year, both faculties went hiking together, not the whole lot but enough. Around the campfire, shed first noticed shy George. She was shy too, at first. Then, as the days passed, she naturally took him under her wingeven mending his shirt when he caught it on a branch.
George carried her heavy backpack; thats how they grew close. What started as friendship soon slipped into love. Margaret took charge, as usual. First to confess her feelings.
Margaret, I think Im falling for you, he finally admitted.
Well then, shed said, we really ought to be living together. Ill bring my things and well register at the registry office, and he hadnt objected.
She moved in right away to Georges place with his old gran, Doris. Georges dad was especially pleasedGran was his own mum, after all, and Georges mum had refused to speak to Gran for decades, wouldnt care for her at all. So George, being soft-hearted, lived with his grandmother. When Margaret moved in, she took on Grans care.
George, your Margaret is a marvelhardworking, practical, always got a project on the go. Thats the wife for you. When you marry, Ill make sure you get the flat. Mind you look after her, Gran used to say.
They married soon after. Gran passed away not long down the road. The boys were born one after anothernow the eldest is twenty-three, the younger twenty-one. Their life together was peacefulusual working years, holidays away. They took the boys everywhere: the Lake District, Cornwall, even a trip or two to Majorca. But recently, George hadnt been himself. Just the other day, he said,
You know, Mags, feels like lifes gone by and weve hardly seen anything truly wonderful. Whats it all been for?
Margaret was indignant.
George, dont talk nonsense! Weve never missed a summer holiday, weve been all overScotland, Cornwall, the Peaks, even Majorca. The boys are grown, well have grandchildren soon.
Not what I mean, he waved her off, fell silent, gave her a look she ignored.
She was busy with her own thoughts.
George, do you think we should invite Tom and Helen to your birthday? I know theyre living in Manchester now but they were always your mates.
Birthday? he seemed surprised.
What do you mean, birthday? Your forty-fifth, in the restaurant, remember?
Oh, right didnt realise youd already decided, he gave that odd look again.
Now there she was, three hours sat alone on the sofa, staring at her feet, unable to cry.
Never thought this could happen to me, she fretted.
George came home early from work todayshe wasnt expecting him at all. For a good year or more hed stayed out late; itd become the norm.
Hello, he said, landing himself in the kitchen, not even taking off his leather jacket.
Hi, George, take your coat off, wash up, dinners ready, she said as usual.
George sat, head down, silent.
Mags, Im leaving. Im sorry, he said quietly.
What do you mean, leaving? Come on, take your coat off. Are you ill? Ive been worried lately lets go to the doctor
He looked her straight in the eye.
Im perfectly healthy, Mags Its not that. The thing is, Ive fallen in loveIve been seeing a woman from work for nearly two years.
Youve found some young thing, havent you? Margaret asked sharply.
No, shes not younger. Shes not even a beauty, just a real woman
What am I then, George? she said, stunned.
You? He shook his head as if shaking off a cobweb. Youre youre my governorIm like your dog on a short lead. I cant take a step without you. You run everything without asking what I want. Everything in lifes been your decisionwhat clothes I wear, where we go on holiday, even how I celebrate my birthday. You never let me go to footballwaste of time, you say. But I love football.
But, George, Im only trying to do right by you, she started, but he interrupted.
Every penny I earn goes to youthen you dish out what I need for ciggies or coffee. Did you never think thats humiliating for a bloke? I cant nip for a pint with the lads after work, cant just relaxI havent any money in my pocket, he said quietly and calmly, typically him.
Margaret crouched in front of him, tried to catch his eye.
But George, weve always done it this way. Why are you suddenly unhappy? If thats what you want, Ill give you money for Fridays out with the boys, Ill go to football with you. Well hit the shops and you can pick your own clothes.
Georges look just grew more distant.
Mags, youre still not listening, his voice rose and she was startled. I want to breathe, to live. I want to make decisions for myself, eat what I want, not what you fancy. Im never anywhere without you, Ive no space for myself, nowhere just for my own thoughts. You push your opinions and wishes on me, and I cant push back but its ended now. I feel like a child, you like my guardianyou run everything.
She realised, finally, that hed truly rebelled. She could do nothing about it. It made her cry, which shed never done before.
Are you crying, Mags? he asked, surprised.
She hugged him, desperately. But George gently pried her arms away, packed a few things, and left with his suitcase. Margaret was left in silence.
I never imagined fate would throw such a curveball. One minute Im a happily married woman, now facing old age alone…
Margaret called Susan. She rushed over to comfort her.
Mags, youre still young enough! Come on, pull yourself together, remember what you always told metake a course, do something new Mine turned out useless, too. Alan begged forgiveness, it was just a fling. He loves mewhere would he find another like me? Maybe Georgell come round. Though deep down, Susan didnt believe it; George wasnt her Alan. He was seriousdifferent.
No, Susan, my George is gone for good. He said thingsI know he wont be back. Youve got to know George.
After Susan left, Margaret just sat, staring at the carpet, lostunsure what to do or how to be. Who would she care for now? Boss around? Give advice to? Shed have to get used to being on her own. Maybe things would change, maybe something new would come. Who can say where the river of fate might next turnperhaps she’ll find her way to a new shore yet…
If theres a lesson Ive learned, its this: old habits can bind tighter than any chainand unless you give your partner space to be themselves, you might just lose them when you least expect it.
