Flawed Husband…
Oh, lass, its time you wed. Look at you, blooming like a rose. Have you seen Simeon? Strong as an ox, hands like hammersbends horseshoes without flinching. Hed carry you in his arms, treat you like a queen, mused her mother, eyeing her daughter, Evelyn.
Evelyn burst out laughing. Oh yes, hell pick me up and bend me like a horseshoe out of habit! Then Ill spend my life nose to the ground.
Dont be daft! Im serious. Listen to your mother if you want happiness. I know who you fancyAndrew. But mark my words, hell make a poor husband, sighed her mother.
Evelyn spun around. Whats wrong with him? Hardworking! Their cottage is the tidiest in the village. Every shed in order. Ours will be too!
Her mother chuckled. And who dyou think does all that? His elder brother, Gregory. Everything he touches turns to gold. Your Andrew? Only cares for his accordion and the nearest hayloft. Takes turns cuddling you silly girls.
Mum, dont talk nonsense. Gregorys disabledhead always tilted, hunched, one leg shorter. How could *he* manage it? Evelyn challenged.
Go visit at noon, help Aunt Lucy pick apples. Youll see for yourself, her mother advised.
Evelyn obeyed. Arriving, she found Andrew napping under the awning. She nudged him. You said youd mend the roof at dawn with your father yesterday!
He yawned. Come to check on me? Ive not even proposed yet. Too soon.
Fine. Im helping your mum with apples. Join ustheres a mountain of them.
Andrew scoffed. So the lads can laugh? Look, Andys gone soft! Off you go. He rolled over.
Hurtjust last night hed called her his loveEvelyn took a basket to Aunt Lucy.
As she picked apples, hammering echoed behind the house. Whats Uncle Peter building? Evelyn asked.
Aunt Lucy sighed. Thats Gregory. Peters laid uplifted something heavy, hurt his back. Gregorys always fixing things. Cant sit idle, unlike Andrew. But we say nothing. Gregoryll never wedwhod have him? Andrewll give us grandchildren. Thats life, dear. Go look, but hes shy. Might bolt.
Basket in hand, Evelyn followed the noise. Gregory sat whittling a wooden block.
Hello, she ventured. May I see?
Startled but staying, he handed her the carvingher own face emerging from the wood.
Is this me?
He nodded, then tugged her behind the garden to a shed. InsideEvelyn. In clay, wood, even a tiny sketch.
Why? she whispered.
Youre beautiful. Not like me, he rasped, turning away, shoulders shaking.
She embraced him. You love me?
He met her eyessummer-blue, brimming with such devotion she fled, frightened.
Why did you birth me a monster? Gregory wept to his mother. Drown me at birth! Andrews loved; Im shunned. She *ran* from me. I wont bear her marrying him. Ill end it.
Hush! His mother soothed, stroking his hair. Evelyns kind, hardworking. Any mans luck to wed her. Andrew doesnt love herI know. Your time will come. Fate finds us all.
Yet Evelyn couldnt forget Gregorys eyes. Such love! Strangest of all? Shed stopped seeing his flaws.
Evelyn! Come to me or Mum? Andrew teased. Shes digging, then more apples
No. Im here for Gregory. To apologise. You go onVeronicas waiting by the birch, isnt she? She passed his stunned face.
The village buzzedbeautiful Evelyn wedding broken Gregory? Whispers of spells flew.
Only her mother knew the truth. Evelyn and Gregory sat for hours, heads bent, laughing, eyes locked.
They married quietlyno sneering guests.
Andrew boasted to girls: I nearly proposed! She chose my crippled brother.
Evelyn and Gregory moved to the village edge. He designed their home, building tirelessly with their fathers help. A cottage so fine, folk gaped.
They blessed their parentstwo grandsons, a granddaughter.
Andrew? Still rovingno longer young, chasing warmth where he could, even married women. Tarred and beaten, he shrugged it off.
Evelyns home brimmed with joy. Envy stirred some; others sneered: God gave the beauty a flawed man.
Evelyn laughed. In thirty years, Ill be crooked too! Look at yourselvesaching backs, stiff knees. My Gregory? Only his shells bent. Inside, hes the kindest, finest man alive!
And so it wastrue beauty dwells not in form, but in the hearts unbroken light.
