Whod ever want you? Toothless, childless, with no pedigree, Clare.
Whod ever want you? shouted Paul, spitting before storming off.
Clare rushed to the window, watching the man shed spent fifteen years with walk away. She used to think they were soulmates. But in the end, he made it plain: hed stayed only because it suited him.
Family Photo Album Memories
Clare has a flat in London, makes wonderful meals, is a superb homemakershe wouldve done anything for him.
Clare considered flinging open the window and yelling, begging him not to leave.
She was even prepared for such humiliation, thinking, let him stay even if he vanishes for days at a time, off with the other woman…
At least thatd be better than being forty-five and tossed aside, alone. She was ready to open the window but her gaze fell on the portrait of her father. There he stood, proud in his military uniform, chin up, staring into the camera.
Suddenly Clare hesitated, embarrassment flooding inashamed of her own weakness.
She looked out once more as her smart, elegant husband climbed into his shiny car, belongings in tow.
She headed to the kitchen, passing through the hall where an antique full-length mirror from her grandmother still stood.
It reflected back a tired, stout woman with grey hair and dull eyes.
Clare knew she wasnt a beauty. Now her health was faltering too. Her teeth were crumbling and she couldn’t afford new ones. All because Paul needed yet another car, and had to show up at work looking sharp in expensive clothes.
What a joke! Your Paul is dressed like a film star, and youre left with a stretched jumper, an ancient skirt, a couple of old blouses, worn-down shoes, and slippers instead of boots. Your coats so awful even my nan wouldnt wear it. He expects you to cook like a restaurantsteak one day, steamed cutlets, fancy filled pancakes, roast meat. Stuff him! Stop waiting on him hand and foot, love! her colleague Lucy would admonish Clare.
Clare listened, but kept doing things her way. Then, one day, her husband announced he was leaving. For a twenty-seven-year-old girl. Mother to four children.
She’s young, Clare sighed afterwards.
But her friend Lucy found out more, sniffing around on Facebook and asking the neighbours. She spilled the beans:
That womans not got a good word to her name! He even called you low-born! Youre from a good family! Shes never worked, all her kids have different dads, was drinking even eight months pregnant, morally bankrupt mother too. So lets not talk about youth. Still, men sometimes like their easy-going waysand God knows what else. But you can’t build a family on that. Im baffled by your Paul. Just hang in there!
Clare persevered. Her father had left her a fantastic flat, right in the heart of the city.
Sensing trouble, her dad made sure Paul had no legal right to it. Clare decided to let out one of the rooms to ease her finances.
Several buildings were going up in her area, and an engineer moved in a pleasant, cultured gent with a neat beard, named William Percival.
He studied Clare closely, then said out of the blue:
Let me pay you in advance. Go and get your teeth sorted! Such a lovely lady shouldnt have to suffer.
Clare blushed. She never considered herself beautiful, but she longed to fix her teeth.
He paid her extra, insisting she could give it back later if needed. Then Williams brother arrived. Clare had never seen anyone like him. She gasped.
He wore a canary yellow blazer, violet trousers, and sported the most incredible hairstyle.
Said his name was Cyril. He was a stylist.
Hed popped by to see his brother, and took Clare under his wing. When she served her tenants fresh pies, Cyril offered to give her an image makeover.
He did just that. Soon Clares highlighted hair shone, makeup revealed her best features, and her teeth were restored. She started walking to work, shed the extra pounds, even began jogging in the park each morning.
Gone was the dowdy, tired woman. Clare emerged with a gentle smile and sweet dimpleslike a butterfly freed from a drab cocoon.
One evening, the doorbell rang. A tenant went to answer, calling back:
Clare, someones here to see you!
On the doorstep stood her ex-husband. Hard to recognise him at first; in just a year, Paul looked worn out, pale, lost, all his old sparkle gone. He had suitcases at his feet.
What do you want? Clare asked.
She remembered how, once, shed tried to call her husband, but he’d refused to speak. Then he blocked her number altogether.
But now hed come back.
Look at you…! Paul marvelled.
His compliments meant little to Clare. She recalled all those sleepless nights, the despair, the endless tears.
Oh Clare, Ive suffered. That woman just bled me dry. Her kids seemed alright at firstthen it was chaos. All loud, rude, wild. She doesnt want to parent, just sits on her phone, never cooks. She buys frozen foodher idea of dinner was instant noodles! For me! Washed all my shirts together, now theyre all faded. I havent bought myself a thing in ages, everything went to them. Its like Ive lived in a madhouse. Clare… I came back to you. Life was good with you. I never stopped thinking about you. Lets start over, shall we? Please? he pleaded.
But his cruel words still rang in her ears:
Whod ever want you? Toothless, childless, with no pedigree, Clare.
Clare looked him over once more. And just then, the door opened. William Percival peeked in, concerned:
Clare! Do you need help? You, sirwhat do you want here?
Paul, startled, yelled:
And who are you supposed to be?
This is my husband, William. Dont come round here again, Clare replied, closing the door right in Paul’s bewildered face.
She turned and apologised to her lodger for the husband slip. He sighed and confessed:
Maybe nows the time to say itI love you, Clare! How could anyone leave such an amazing woman? Will you marry me, properly?
He was a widower. Clare married him two months later. Now, her husband showers her with roses and theyve bought a cottage.
Sometimes, her ex lurks around the corner, watching them, cursing himself for giving in to temptation and trading in a good woman for nothingending up empty-handed.
While Clare and William stroll hand in hand down the street, happy and in love. Shes even expecting a child.
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