“I shouldve married Valerie! Shes so put-together, slim, and younger than you. Im still in my prime, and my wifes gone old…” “Whyd you bring up Valerie Simmons? Seen her somewhere? Like shed need youshe married a general and lives like a queen…”
Margaret was frying cheese pancakes for her husbands breakfast. He loved them. Hed wake up any minute, and theyd be readyhot, with a dollop of cream.
“Margie! Where are my trousers?”
He was up. Margaret set the pan aside and went to the bedroom where he was shouting.
“Colin, I put them in the washthey were filthy. Heres a clean pair.”
“Filthy? When did I even get them dirty? Youre always deciding things on your own!”
“Oh, so youd rather wear muck for a month? Stop fussing. Here, take these.”
“Ugh! Hate thesetoo tight, uncomfortable! Hurry up and wash my proper ones!”
“Theyre already in the machine. Go wash up and eat. The pancakes are on the table.”
Colin stomped to the bathroom. Margaret poured his tea, adding two sugars, just how he liked it. She scooped cream into a bowl.
“Ugh, stinking the place out with these pancakes! Nothing better to do?”
“Made them for you, Colin. Whats got into you? Wrong side of the bed?”
Colin ate in sullen silence.
“Teas scalding! Couldnt cool it down? Blimey, burned my tongue! And these pancakesrubbery, tasteless! Shouldve made bacon sandwiches instead. Keep this slop for yourself!”
“Dont be daft. Theyre lovely, same as always. Eat upyou dont need more junk, your bellys big enough.”
“Oh, my bellys the problem now? Whens the last time you looked in the mirror? Let yourself go! And your hairgone grey as a badger. Why not dye it? Look like my gran!”
Margaret stared, stunned. Hed never spoken to her like this. What on earth had gotten into him?
“Colin, watch your tongue! Ive always been curvysince whens it an issue? And Im not dyeing my hairyou know Im allergic. Health comes first. Im not a spring chicken anymore, lovepast sixty now. As for your belly, its the beer. I cook healthy meals, but youre glued to the telly!”
“I shouldve married Valerie! She takes care of herself, stays trim. Im still full of life, and look at youdried up…”
“Whyre you on about Valerie Simmons? Seen her at the shops? Shes got no use for youmarried well, no kids, living the high life. Meanwhile, we raised a fine son, have grandkidsno complaints!”
“Like youd know! Valerie fancied me back thenthrew herself at me!”
“When? Pull the other one!”
“Years ago. Happened.”
“And whatd you say?”
“What dyou think? Im a bloke. Didnt wanna hurt her feelings. She was stunning. Not like you. Mum warned meDont marry Maggie, shes plain and older. Shouldve listened. Now Im stuck with a nag who cant even make a decent sandwich!”
“Let Valerie make your sandwiches, then! Too weak to say no, were you? All these yearswhyd you stay? Torturing yourself with this old nag? Im only three years older!”
“Dunno! Retired now and realized my mistake. Youre dull. All those women chasing meand I came home to you. Never appreciated me!”
“Not appreciated you? Always put you and Mark firstscrimped on myself so youd have the best. When did I ever ask for money? Look at your wardrobe, then mine! Saved for your boat, fishing gear, gadgetsdid I complain?”
“Saved? Dont make me laugh. And your cookings foul. Mums meals were properGod rest her.”
“Colin, was it really so awful, all those years? Not one kind word todaywhats wrong? Are you ill?”
“Youre the ill one! Sod thisIm watching the news. And it wasnt just Valerie. There was Tamara too. Years back, when you visited your mum…”
“Tamara?!”
“Oh yeah. Firecracker, that one. Not like you. Always sicklypills, clutching your chest. Some life I got stuck with…”
Margaret untied her apron and walked out, heart hammering. She couldnt breathe.
So hed strayed. And shed never known. Theyd married for love, sworn vowsnow this. A bad wife, apparently. How dyou live with words like that?
Hed begged her to marry him, gone down on one knee. Shed loved him all her life, bent over backwards. And hed loved her toothough the kind words dried up years ago. But never cruelty like this.
“Tamara… Valerie… How could he?”
Margaret had never entertained advances, though thered been chances. A colleague, an old school flame at thirty-five”Leave him, come to me.” Shed sent him packing.
And her cookingMark and Colin devoured her pies, stews, bakes. What nonsense was this?
“Colin… I gave you everything…”
She wandered the streets, tears cooling on her cheeks. The betrayal burned.
Meanwhile, Colin munched pancakes, glugging tea, telly blaring. Bad mood lingering. Bad dreamMargaret leaving, laughing at him. Woke up furious.
And his head throbbedpub night with the lads. Mick kept refilling his pint. Now this rage.
A sharp knock. He lurched up. Neighbor Diane at the door.
“Colinits Margaret! Quick!”
“What? Whats happened?”
“Just come!”
He grabbed a shirt, ran after her, front door swinging wide.
“Diane, talk to me!”
She hurried him to the park. An ambulance.
“Are you her husband?” The medics voice was grave. “Im sorry. Shes gone. Called it in, but she was already… Did she have heart trouble?”
“Gone? My Margie? She just stepped out! Sheshe took pills for her heart…”
“Stress can trigger these events. Any upset today?”
“No, she was fine.”
“Well need an autopsy. Leave your number…”
…Colin woke at home. Didnt remember returning. Margaret was gone. And it was his fault.
Whyd he said those things? Thered been no other womennever looked twice.
Loved only her. Plump, grey, in her floral apron. Warm. His. Loved hernever said.
Howd he live now? Her food was the best. Their son, grandkidsgood life.
How could his words kill her? Knew her heart was weaknever thought…
Womens hearts break easy. When was the last time hed said something kind?
Shed always smiled, encouraged him. Cooked, cleaned, cared.
What had he done?
The stupid dream… Whatd he tell Mark? The grandkids?
Colin paced like a madman. Too late. Margaret was gone. His Margie…
Shed dreamed of the seaside, a cruise. Grandkids weddings. Never happen now. His fault.
He collapsed on the bed, sobbing.
“Colin! Lunch is readystill napping?”
He blinked. Margaret stood over him.
“Margieyoure alive?!”
“Course I am. Colin, are you poorly? Told you not to drink with Mickhes a bad influence! Pancakes are cold. Time for soup!”
“Margie, forgive me! There was no Valerie, no Tamara! Only youonly ever you!”
He clung to her, kissing her hands.
“Colin, whats got into you? Tamara? Bad dream?”
“II said horrible things. You left… Diane came… Ambulance… You were gone. Thank God it was a dream! Listenyoure perfect! Love you so much, my beautiful girl!”
He babbled promisesno more harsh words, her cooking the best, selling the boat for a holiday…
Margaret hugged him tight.
“There now, Colin. Love you too. Soups readygot fresh cream and chives.”
Best day of his life. Margie alive, smiling. And no more drinkcouldnt risk it.
*Click.* Margaret set the phone down.
“Hello, Diane? Worked a treat! Thank your sisterbrilliant acting with the ambulance lark. He thinks it was all a dream. Apologized like a lamb. Drunkards guilt, I sayserved him right!”
“Good
