HAPPILY EVER AFTER by Marjorie Owen

“And so they were married and lived happily ever after.” The little girl gave a sigh of blissful contentment, although she must have heard the story at least a dozen times before. Then, with the eternal optimism of children she begged, “Read me one more, granny. Just one.”

Laura Clayton closed the book firmly and stood up. “No more tonight, darling. Time you were asleep. Snuggle down now, and I’ll tuck you in.” This done, she kissed her granddaughter and went to the door, turning to look fondly at the child whose eyes were already closed. She’d soon be dead to the world, Laura thought.

She hurried along to the bathroom. Extraordinary, what a mess one small person’s bath time could make. She could imagine, all too well, the familiar icy look of tight-lipped disapproval on her daughter-in-law’s face if she saw the havoc there; she could hear the impatience, “oh, leave it to me, mother!” This always reduced her to a fumbling, inefficient idiot, of about the same age as her own granddaughter. Tidying away the little garments, putting the soggy towels in the linen basket, cleaning the bath, mopping down the walls, and trying to dry the worst bits of the carpet, her thoughts were scurrying around for the umpteenth time. Why, oh why, had she ever been so foolish as to agree to make her home with Roy and his wife? Working furiously away, she smiled wryly and muttered half aloud, “money, my girl! That’s the beginning and end of that one. What else?”

When her husband died so suddenly, leaving his affairs in such a muddle, and it dawned on everybody there was absolutely nothing left, what alternative was there but to accept her son’s invitation to make her home with him? A woman in her forties with no skills, no training, and no experience, there seemed no other way out. That was two months ago and how bitterly she regretted it. It would have been better to have gone into one room, tried to get some sort of unskilled job, perhaps as a charwoman. They earned enough, God knew! Some cleaner I’d have made, she thought ruefully, regarding her inexpert attempts to get the bathroom cleaned up.

The trouble was she hadn’t known her son’s wife very well beforehand. The two families lived hundreds of miles apart and on their infrequent meetings; everyone was on his or her best behaviour. Laura had decided from the day of Roy’s wedding, she’d never become an interfering mother-in-law and the best way to achieve that was to keep a respectable distance between them. She despised those mothers of only sons who refused to cut the links.

For a few days after her arrival in their home, everything had been sweetness and light. They’d given her a very nice room, there were flowers to welcome her, and Roy seemed genuinely pleased to have his mother under his roof. Her daughter-in-law, Nancy, although no effusive in her greeting, had spoken kindly enough and said she hoped Laura would be comfortable. Then came the night of the dinner party, ostensibly held for her as an introduction to their friends and Roy’s business colleagues. Laura was quite looking forward to a little gaiety; dressed and made herself up very carefully so that she should be a credit to her son and his wife.

The party went with a swing; Laura enjoyed it thoroughly and all the guests were very kind to her. She had a naturally witty way of expressing herself and her trenchant observations on whatever was under discussion caused a great deal of laughter and generated a happy atmosphere. When the last guest left, Nancy was unusually quiet but Laura attributed it to tiredness and they went to their bedrooms, agreeing to leave the clearing up until the morning. Laura was ready for bed when she realized how thirsty she was; she must go down to the kitchen for a glass of water. Noiselessly she opened her door and walked along the corridor toward the stairs. Passing her son’s bedroom, she was brought to a sudden halt by the sound of Nancy’s voice raised in anger.

“Who the hell does your mother think she is? Taking over our guests, monopolizing the conversation, it’s indecent with your father so recently dead. Anyone would have thought she was the hostess, not me!”

Laura was stunned, not so much by the actual words as by the venom with which they were delivered. She didn’t hear Roy’s reply but whatever it was; it failed to pacify his wife.

“Well, the sooner she realizes this is my house, not hers, and that she’s only here out of charity, the better!”

Poor Laura waited for no more; she crept back to her own room and sat on the side of the bed, trying to think what she’d done to bring this injustice down on her head. Her first reaction was fury, followed quickly by helplessness, or was it helplessness? Those few words overheard just now, quite irrespective of their justification or not, proved what she had already dimly suspected, her daughter-in-law didn’t like her; had never wanted her there at all. What was her future in this house going to be like now? It was almost dawn before she slept, making her late for breakfast. She apologized for her tardiness, saying she wanted nothing to eat, only a cup of coffee. This drew an exaggerated sigh of exasperation from Nancy, but Roy, dawdling over his own coffee, smiled and said, “If we’d had the sense we’d all still be in bed, but like an idiot, I’d made an appointment to play golf this morning. There was no need for Nancy to get up, but she likes being a martyr.”

No response from Nancy so Roy ploughed on. “Did you enjoy the party, mother?”

During the sleepless night, Laura had decided on her answer to this question which she knew was bound to bed asked.

“Well,” she said slowly, “it was a lovely evening and very kind and thoughtful of you both to have arranged it for me. But I’ve been thinking, wondering if it was wise. Your friends may have thought me a bit lacking in feeling, so soon after being widowed. But I did my best; I didn’t want to let you down.”

She noted the quick look from Roy to his wife but if she hoped this answer would mollify Nancy she was wrong.

“A pity you let us go to all that trouble and expense if that’s the way you felt!” Was the acid reply.

Over the next month the situation deteriorated. Many a time Laura had the hardest job in the world to keep her temper and a still tongue, but she did it for Roy’s sake. After all, she reasoned, he was the one who’d have to live with his wife long after she was gone; no sense in stirring trouble and trying to divide his loyalties between his two women. How much he guessed or saw, she didn’t know, but like most men he opted for a quiet life. If he ever said anything in the privacy of their bedroom, it had no marked effect on Nancy’s attitude. From that day on Laura never made a third at any dinner or other function in the house if other people were present. She stayed in her room or went to a cinema. Slowly and insidiously all her self-confidence was leaving her. She became withdrawn and mainly silent.

Oh well, she thought ruefully, looking around the now tidy bathroom, at least I have one use, to babysit while Roy and Nancy went out as they had this night. Softly, she opened Emma’s door and peeped in at the sleeping child. The fairy story book was lying on a chair and she picked it up to replace it on a shelf. Standing there, with the book in her hand, she felt the tears coming to her eyes. Amazed at herself, for she hadn’t cried in years, she hurried along to her own room before the uncontrollable sobs overcame her. However she tried. However, she told herself what a fool she was being, she was unable to stop. Even in the midst of her own bewilderment at this unprecedented break down.

Suddenly she realized what had triggered it off; those stupid words at the end of the fairy tale; “And so they were married and lived happily ever after.” What rubbish! What pernicious nonsense to read to any child! What sort of preparation was that for ordinary life! “The end,” it said after those silly words. Didn’t any fool know that when the wedding and honeymoon were over, it was the beginning, not the end? What happened to the romance when the princess found out that the prince snored, or the prince discovered that the princess’s beautiful face and long gold hair hid a brain the size of a pea?!

Laura thought of her own wedding, when she’d expected to live happily ever after. How much in love she’d been, or imagined herself to be. How proud to have married the handsomest man for miles around. That awful horrifying wedding night when she became pregnant straight away, and, his duty done, her husband never slept with her again. She was so innocent, so naive, it was months before she realized he’d married her to hide his true inclinations, in today’s idiom, he was a raving queer! Then, as now, she was helplessly trapped; in those days by the conventional need to cover up her husband’s abnormality for the sake of her son, and today, by lack of money. To do him justice, he’d been discreet and very few people knew the truth lying behind their facade of a satisfactory marriage. She’d cultivated a veneer of witty sophistication, even indulge in a couple of affairs of her own, but it wasn’t until this moment of total breakdown, she could see what it all added up to. Precisely nothing, just a wasted life.

Through her sobs she heard the sound of a key in the front door and shock silenced her. She looked at the clock; it was only ten and they were not expected home until midnight. Scrambling off the bed, she caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror. Oh God, she thought, I can’t let them see me looking like this.

Roy called out “it’s only us, mother,” and she went out onto the landing, keeping well back.

“You’re early,” she said.

“Nancy had a headache so we came home,” he said. “Just going to make a ‘cuppa’. Come and join us.”

She couldn’t possibly face them in that condition. On the spur of the moment she spoke. “As you’re home, I’m going out for a walk.”

Roy glanced up in surprise. “But it’d gone ten o’clock,” he protested, “and it’s turning quite chilly.”

Laura paid no heed; it seemed the most important thing in the world at that moment to get out into the fresh air. Her head was splitting wide open from the crying fit; she felt the house pressing down on her like a physical weight. Roy, no doubt thinking his words had taken effect, vanished kitchen-wards. Hastily she flung on a light coat, snatched up her bag, called out, “I won’t be long,” and slipped out of the door.

For half an hour she wandered aimlessly, thinking, thinking. She knew she’d reached a crisis in her life, but what was to be done about it? Impractical schemes chased each other down the corridors of her mind; she even, fleetingly, contemplated suicide but knew she wouldn’t have the guts to take that final step. Coming out of her abstraction, with nothing decided upon, she found herself in a quiet, tree-lined street of large detached houses and realized she was lost, in fact as well as mentally. Without any conscious volition she stepped off the pavement into the road, she hadn’t heard the car coming up behind her. Fortunately the driver had excellent brakes and was going slowly but even so, she was given a slight glancing blow which caught her off balance and knocked her to the ground.

The driver, white-faced, leapt out and rushed round the bonnet, to find Laura shakily picking herself up. As so often happens in such circumstance his fear turned to anger and he shouted, “You bloody silly woman! What the hell do you think you’re doing? Trying to get yourself killed or -“

He broke off as he saw her face clearly by the light of a street lamp. Then he said, more calmly, “why, it’s Mrs. Clayton, isn’t it?” Laura looked at him dully.

“Yes,” she murmured. “I’m so sorry. It was my fault entirely.”

Concerned now, the man said, “here, take my arm and sit in the car for a minute.” Unresistingly she allowed him to put her into the passenger seat, and leaned back with her eyes closed. He looked at her in some perplexity, what on earth had happened to the woman since he last saw her? Gently he said, “I don’t think you remember me. I’m Carl Hurst, your son’s boss. He invited me to dinner soon after you came to live with him. That’s where we met.” Laura opened her eyes and looked back at him dazedly, trying to smile. A flash of her old spirit made her say, “don’t think he’s as dim as his mothers do you? I’m not usually so foolish.”

Carl smiled reassuringly. “What we both need is a drink to get us over the shock. I live a few doors up, that’s why I was going slowly, thank God. You’re coming in with me for a stiff brandy and then I’ll see you home.”

Without waiting for an answer he switched on the engine and turned the car into his own driveway, a few yards ahead. A plump elderly woman appeared in the hallway when he ushered Laura in and was introduced as his housekeeper.

“Don’t wait up, Mrs. Robins,” Carl said. “I’m giving Mrs. Clayton a drink and then driving her home. I’ll lock up when I get back.”

Having settled Laura down with a large brandy, he took a good look at her as she sat sipping it, and was startled afresh at what he saw now she was in a strong light. He’d been quite impressed with Roy’s mother at the dinner party; thought her a very pretty, scintillating person with a sense of humour which matched his own. But looking at her now, with her pale face, red-rimmed, puffy eyes as if she’d been crying for hours, and generally woebegone appearance, she looked - ‘defeated’ was the only word he could think of. Unaccountably, his heart was stirred by feelings of pity and indignation. Of course, he remembered, she’d been recently widowed, but somehow he didn’t think this was the answer. In his judgment she’d be a woman to bear her grief with dignity. He also remembered her vivacity and sparkle on the night of the dinner party. So what the hell was going on?

He was touched and intrigued, so, shrewdly, unobtrusively, skillfully, he probed delicately with casual questions, small observations. By the time she’d finished her second drink he was pleased to see the colour come back in her cheeks and some of the former sparkle in her eyes. He also formed a fairly accurate picture of what was troubling her! Laura would have been horrified if she’d realized how much she was disclosing to this charming man, but the warmth of the room, the influence of the brandy, and above all, having such a congenial, sympathetic listener loosened her tongue. There was only one small setback which interested him very much. Laura asked him if he was married and he said, “No”. Never had time while I was getting my business on its feet and then I didn’t seem to meet the right woman in the right place at the right time. But don’t worry,” he added with a twinkle in his eyes, “I’m quite normal, I assure you.” Now why did that innocuous remark turn her cheeks paper-white again? Another little mystery to intrigue him.

Suddenly Laura noticed the time and jumped to her feet in alarm. “I must get home,” she said in panic. “They’ll wonder what’s happened to me.”

He drove her back but she pleaded to be set down at the end of the road, not outside the door. “And please, please,” she begged him, “don’t ever mention this to Roy, will you?”

He assured her he wouldn’t but there was no protracted leave-taking; she was in too much of a hurry to get in. He watched until she was safely inside the door and then drove home, very thoughtful indeed.

Laura was greeted by a barrage of questions from her son and Nancy, but to her own surprise she just fended them off by saying, “I’m sorry if you were worried but I’m very tired now and I’m going straight to bed.” And she did! And slept extremely well!

When Roy came home the next evening, his first words were, “you girls had better change into your best bibs and tuckers. The boss is coming round after dinner.”

“Mr. Hurst? Coming here?” Nancy exclaimed. “Whatever for and why didn’t you phone and tell me?”

“Blessed if I know!” Roy answered. “He really invited himself at the last minute and I couldn’t say no, could I? He said something about wanting to ask a favour.”

Nancy rushed upstairs to change her dress in high excitement. Laura sat where she was; she saw no need to alter her own appearance, but when dinner had been hastily eaten and cleared away, she did, to her own amusement, repair her own makeup and rearrange her hair. Nancy eyed her re-entry into the sitting room with some disapproval. No doubt she’d expected her mother-in-law to keep out of the way as usual but Laura felt in a rebellious mood.

Carl arrived in time for coffee - - which, incidentally, Nancy had delayed deliberately, especially for his benefit! - -. Carl said all the right things and then, adding sugar, stirring it busily without looking up, said, “Actually, I’ve come to ask a favour. I’m having a small dinner party on Friday for some business colleagues and wondered if Mrs. Clayton would do me the honour of acting as hostess for me.”

Nancy preened herself and shot a triumphant glance at Roy.

“I’d be delighted!” She answered.

Carl laughed. “That’s very sweet of you, my dear, but I don’t want Roy calling me out at dawn with pistols for two! No - I’m asking Mrs. Clayton senior to do the job for me.”

His observant eyes caught the look of sheer dislike directed from the younger woman to the older. So! He was right, he thought to himself. Here was the fly in the ointment as he’d suspected.

Nancy fixed the smile back on her face and tried to regain the lost advantage.

“I’m afraid you’re wasting your time, Mr. Hurst,” she said sweetly. “My mother-in-law never goes out anywhere. She prefers to stay quietly at home.”

Laura heard herself reply with dignity. “I’m quite capable of answering for myself, thank you, Nancy. I’d be very pleased to act as hostess for you, Carl.” She wanted to giggle like a schoolgirl at the expressions on the two younger faces at her use of his Christian name. Nancy’s eyes, nearly fell out of her head; Roy’s eyebrows nearly shot up into his hair! She stole a glance at Carl, and the answering smile in his eyes, showed that he shared the joke. Oh, she liked this man!

He took his leave shortly after, telling Laura he’d send a car to fetch her on Friday evening. She thoroughly enjoyed the next few days and almost felt sorry for the dilemma Nancy was in. She dare not do anything to displease Roy’s boss so she was mostly silent, which made a restful change. Roy, too, was rather quiet but he had something else on his mind.

The day after Carl’s visit, he’d been sent for to the big office his boss occupied, to discuss some figures, but when the business was completed Carl threw down his pen, leaned back in his chair and said abruptly, “tell me about your father, Roy.”

Roy stiffened in his seat and was silent. Carl looked at him with interest but made no move to break the silence so Roy had to answer.

“What sort of thing do you want to know?” He asked, woodenly.

“What was he like? Was he a good husband and father? Is your mother still cut up over his death? Oh yes, you can tell me to mind my own business and I won’t hold it against you, but I’ve my reasons for asking.”

Roy struggled with his thoughts and then said, “I’ll tell you the truth about my father. He was a homosexual.”

Carl was startled but replied quietly.

“Go on, my boy.”

“It took me a long while to piece it all together. My mother has never mentioned it to me and I’m sure she’s no idea that I know this. But kids notice things, I knew, for instance, they never slept together like other boys’ parents did; just lived in the same house but with dad away a great deal. God only knows what sort of life it was for my poor mother, and my guess is that she stopped with him for my sake at the beginning, and then when I got married, because she had nowhere else to go. And if you’re thinking perhaps I wasn’t his son,” he went on belligerently, “you’d be wrong. I’m a dead ringer for him in looks but not in habits, thank God.” He finished more quietly, “then he died and didn’t even have the decency to leave her any money. That’s why she’s loving with us; not very happily, I’m afraid, but I’m too much of a coward to tell my wife what a rotten life poor old mum’s had. The truth is, I’m ashamed of my father, I suppose.”

Both men were silent; Carl, for once in his life, didn’t know what to say, but his thoughts were busy. Then he said, “thank you for telling me, Roy. There’s no need to say, I hope, that I’ll respect your confidence.”

Roy stood up to leave, thinking the meeting was over, but curiosity prompting him; he paused and asked, “May I ask what your reason was, for wanting to know about my father?”

Carl smiled and amazed Roy by his answer. “Because I’m planning to see a very good deal of your mother in the future, and that’s a confidence I hope you’ll respect.”

Laura wondered occasionally why her son seemed to be gazing at her so speculatively whenever she caught his eye but he would have been hard pushed to tell her. He was trying to see her through Carl’s eyes and was beginning to realize that his mother was still a very attractive woman. He kept his thoughts to himself, however, and shut Nancy up very quickly if she started to say anything controversial.

Friday evening came, and even Nancy had to admit that her mother-in-law looked both radiant and elegant in her severe black dress. Little Emma, who was allowed to watch her granny getting ready, was in ecstasies of admiration. “You look so beautiful, granny, like a queen! Doesn’t she, mummy?” That’s floored her! Laura thought, but was she astounded when Nancy said, “would you like to borrow my pearl necklace? That dress really wants something to liven it up a little.” She didn’t want the pearls but it would be undiplomatic to refuse this olive branch so accepted with thanks.

When the chauffeur-driven car arrived, she made young Emma scream with delight when she said, “I hope it won’t turn into a pumpkin at midnight,” and off she went. She really did feel a bit like Cinderella going to the Ball, she thought with amusement, and didn’t want to admit to herself that most of her excitement was anticipation at seeing Carl again. A greater surprise awaited her, though, because there wasn’t any Ball! He met her at the door, led her into a house which seemed unusually quiet for one where a party was to take place, and when she saw the dining room, the table was only laid for two people.

“Have I come on the wrong night?” She faltered, and Carl laughed delightedly at her bemused face. “Definitely not!” He answered. “This ‘business’ dinner is for you and me. I told the only lie I could think of to get you here.”

Laura tried hard to look outraged at such treacherous conduct but failed dismally, and they both burst out laughing together. What a wonderful evening it was! She’d never felt so at ease with a man before, so comfortable and secure. They ate heartily, a perfect meal, cooked and served by the smiling housekeeper, then sat by the fire with coffee and liqueurs, and talked and talked, and laughed and argued, and learned a great deal about each other. The time flew by on golden wings and midnight passed before Laura said, regretfully, “oh, I’ve had such a marvelous evening, but I suppose I’ll have to think about going. I wish I didn’t.”

“Well?” He said, with the now familiar twinkle. Laura blushed, scolded herself for doing so, and rose to her feet. Then a bit of the old panic took possession of her again. “What am I going to tell Roy and Nancy?” She asked in a fluster. “I’m not a very good liar.”

He smiled. “That I can believe! You blush too easily,” which made her blush again. “Don’t worry; I’ll take you home, they’re sure to be waiting up - and tell all the lies that are necessary.”

Roy and Nancy were indeed still up and Carl dealt with the situation smoothly. “I’ve brought her back safe and sound, you see. Afraid the evening was a bit of a wash out, last minute cancellation, so the least I could do was feed the lady. She’s agreed to stand in again at a later date. No, I won’t come in. We’re both a bit tired. See you at the office, Roy.” And chatting away, without giving Laura a chance to say anything, he said to her, “Straight up to bed with you and let these good people get their rest.” She held out her hand, but instead of shaking it, he put it to his lips and kissed it. In some confusion she murmured a general ‘goodnight’ and vanished into her bedroom. Her son and his wife were left staring at each other.

So began an enchanted summer. The next day flowers were delivered and every few days they came; huge bouquets, a single rose, a posy of pansies, and orchid in its cellophane box. Carl took Laura to theaters, concerts, restaurants; she hosted his business dinners; he introduced her to his friends; they went driving on sunny afternoons. He took to introducing her as “Laura, the lady in my life,” and would wait and watch, with the glint in his eyes, for her to blush. She never failed him! There were small family dinners with Roy and Nancy, whose eyes seemed to perpetually fall out in amazement. Roy’s eyebrows were almost perpetually up to his hairline! When Laura babysat, Carl sat too, and Emma adored him.

But best of all, Laura loved their intimate dinner ‘a deux’, she bloomed, she shed at least ten years, and she never looked to the future; she didn’t dare. She was ashamed of the feelings he aroused in her. “At my age!” She scolded herself. “And a grandmother at that! You’re a disgusting old person, Laura Clayton!” Of his feelings she wasn’t sure although his attentions were remarkably like those of a suitor wooing the lady of his choice. Why didn’t he say something? But if he did, what would she answer?

She found out on the evening they were discussing holidays. Roy and Nancy were going abroad leaving Emma in granny’s charge. Carl didn’t know about this and she told him with some trepidation. As usual he said what she least expected.

“Good! We’ll look after her together and give her the time of her life. We’ll spoil her rotten; she’ll enjoy it. But now let’s talk about your holiday. When they come back, what about you having a break?”

Laura hadn’t even thought about a holiday, and her heart sinking, she asked, “I suppose you’ll be going away, will you?”

“Yes,” he said. “My plans are all made. I’m off to the sun for a few weeks at the end of September.” Then quite casually he said, “how about you come with me?”

Laura was really startled at the unexpectedness of it. “Oh, I don’t think I could do that,” she answered hastily.

“Why not,” he enquired calmly. “Give me some good reasons.”

The only one she could think of was the only one she couldn’t tell him so she stayed dumb. Taking his wallet from his pocket, he extracted a piece of paper from it, handed it to her and said, “Would this make you feel it's possible?”

It was Laura’s turn for the eye popping acts. The piece of paper was a marriage license! Wordlessly, she looked at him, her heart turning somersaults.

“Darling Laura!” He said and put his arm around her. “This isn’t just a ploy to make sure of a holiday companion. I love you desperately; I’ve wanted to marry you almost from the moment I knocked you over,”

“Oh, Carl, my dear man.” Laura took refuge into tears. “You don’t know what you’re saying. I’m old - do you know how old I am?”

“To the day,” he replied promptly. “You’re exactly six months younger than I, and I don’t feel old, I assure you. I feel like any lovesick boy and if you turn me down I’ll - I’ll do something really dreadful. Life would be insupportable without you now and although it may be sound conceited I think you feel the same way about me.”

This was the moment of truth for Laura and she faced up to it. She stopped crying and looking him steadily in the eyes she said, “I do love you, Carl, very much, but I won’t marry you. I’ll come away with you and I’ll sleep with you but I won’t marry you.”

Without haste, not in a burst of rage, but quite deliberately and in cold blood, Carl smacked her face - hard! Before she could recover from the shock, he took her in his arms and kissed her, a long, thoroughly satisfying kiss, which became so ardent, he had to push her away. With a breathless laugh he gasped, “my God! I nearly took you at your word there and then. Get to the other end of the settee and we’ll talk about our marriage plans.”

Feebly, she tried to protest but he was having none of it. “Just out of curiosity, not that the answer will make any difference, why did you make that highly immoral suggestion? Why don’t you want to marry me?”

He deserved an honest answer and he got it. “It’s the sex bit,” Laura explained. “I haven’t slept with a man for so long, I’m afraid I mightn’t come up to expectations. One day I’ll tell you about my husband but not now; just say that I hated it with him. Perhaps I’m frigid, and you’ll be unhappy with me. I’m afraid to risk it because I love you so much, I couldn’t bear to disappoint you. That’s why I think you should try me out first.”

Carl looked at her with great compassion. He felt like carrying her up to his bedroom that very minute and proving the fallacy of her funny little argument but he knew he must go softly and gently.

“Thank you for being so honest, my darling,” he said quietly. “I’ve got to ask you to trust me. I haven’t lived like a monk all my life and I know women. I know you, too, and you’re not frigid! Let’s both forget our past lives from here on, and it’ll be my great delight and pleasure - - and yours as well, I promise - - to teach you all you’ve missed.” Gently he kissed her, and then continued more briskly, “no more arguments or heart searching, and incidentally, Roy’s quite happy at the thought of becoming my stepson.”

“Roy’s what?” Laura was in such a daze. She’d almost forgotten her family.

“I told him weeks ago I was going to marry his mother,” the man said with infuriating nonchalance. “Threatened him with the sack if he didn’t approve! Only joking, darling,” he added hastily. “No. He truly is pleased so let’s go and tell him the good news now.”

“Does Nancy know as well?” She asked.

“No. We agreed to keep it strictly between ourselves until I’d softened you up sufficiently!”

Hand in hand, they presented themselves in the young Clayton’s sitting-room. Carl led her forward and said formally, “Roy, your mother has done me the great honour of promising to marry me. I hope you’ll congratulate me.” Nancy nearly lost her eyes altogether!

Roy kissed his mother fondly, shook Carl’s hand, and was quite obviously delighted. Nancy’s congratulations were subdued and it was equally obvious she would need time to adjust to this startling turn of events. Pulling herself together, she began to talk about plans for the wedding but Carl amazed them, Laura most of all, by saying, “there won’t be much to plan. We’re getting married quietly next week. We shall go away for a few days, be back in time for you two to go on holiday, and then Laura and I will be off for a long stretch in the sun.” Seeing the expression on his beloved’s face, he smiled lovingly. “Didn’t you notice it was a Special License, love? You see,” turning to Roy and Nancy, “I’m in a hurry to start giving her lessons.” Turning quickly back to Laura, he added innocently, “why are you blushing, darling?” Oh, she was going to have trouble with him, she thought blissfully.

The night before her wedding, Laura, after saying goodnight to Emma, was in her bedroom, preparing for a quiet dinner with Roy, Nancy, and Carl. Her thoughts, inevitably, went back to the awful night when she was at such low ebb of misery. Who could have envisaged the train of events, she set in motion when she rushed out of the house in such despair. Her happy reflections were interrupted by a tap at the door. Nancy came wandering in, looking vaguely ill at ease. She came straight to the point.

“I expect you’ll think this is a silly question but I’ve got to ask it for my own peace of mind. Are you marrying Mr. Hurst simply to get away from me?”

Laura was completely taken aback. “What on earth put that idea into your head?”

Nancy had steeled herself for this conversation and was determined to see it through. “I know you’ve not been happy here and it’s my entire fault. I’ve been an absolute bitch to you, but I couldn’t bear it if I thought I’d driven you into an unwanted marriage just to escape from me.”

Laura broke into a peal of joyous laughter. “Good God, girl! Where are your eyes! I should have thought it was apparent to the whole world we’re both head over heels in love. Or do you think that’s daft - impossible for two old fogies like us?”

Even Nancy had to laugh. “I guess I’m the daft one; Roy told me I was a fool but I had to make sure.”

Laura looked at her kindly and then said, “Feeling charitable toward the entire world as I do right now, I’d still like to know one thing myself. Why were you so - unfriendly? - When I came here. What had I done to annoy and antagonize you so much?”

Nancy answered truthfully. “I was jealous of you, jealous of your relationship with Roy. I thought you might try and come between us and I couldn’t have stood that.” She paused for thought and continued, “You may not believe me, but I do love Roy very much. The difference between us is that I’m not demonstrative; not as articulate as you two are. Anyway,” she went on, a shade defiantly, “he knows it. It’s not necessary to keep on touching him and telling him I love him, to prove it.”

“Oh but it is!” Laura replied quietly. “Life’s so short, all too soon we’ll be still and silent forever. So why not say “I love you” while he’s here to listen. He won’t hear it when he’s dead.”

Before Nancy could reply, Carl’s voice was heard in the hall. Laura flushed to a beautiful rose, and rushed downstairs to be caught at the bottom in his waiting arms. Nancy followed slowly, but Laura wasn’t too blind to everyone else to notice her drop a kiss on Roy’s head when he sat down again. Or to see the look of delight on his face when she did so! She smiled secretly. Her little homily hadn’t fallen on deaf ears after all. The evening passed quickly and pleasantly; then Carl left her for the last time.

And so they were married and lived happily ever after.