Auntie Joan, wheres Mikey?
“What do you want with him?”
“We were supposed to go berry-picking this morning.”
“Hes gone, off with the lads.”
“Gone?” The girls lips trembled. “But he promised”
“Listen, Katie, why dyou keep hanging round the lad, eh? Youll be chasing after boys soon enough, and here you are clinging to a kid. Go on, off with the other girls. Leave Mikey be, be sensible about it.”
Joan couldnt stand this wide-mouthed, long-legged girl, gangly as a stork in the marsh. She twisted inside just looking at herstill a child, but so unpleasant somehow.
Katies lips quivered, tears welling in her eyes.
Ugh, more like a nuisance than a girl, Joan thought, shrugging as she walked deeper into the yard. Clinging like thatno peace for the poor lad.
Just then, her son Mikey dashed out from the shed.
“Where to?”
“The woods.”
“Did you clean the pigs pen?”
“Did it, Mum.”
“Straw laid down?”
“Laid down.”
“The chickens need”
“Mum, Ive been working since dawn. Its my holiday, and we were supposed to go to the woods. Thats why I got up so early. The lads are waiting.”
“Which lads?”
“Mum, come on. The usualTommy, Billy, Stevie, Pete, and Dave.”
“Nobody else?”
“No, Mum, Ive got to go.”
“And that wide-mouthed oneher too? A girl tagging along with the boys?”
“Mum, enough, alright? Whats Katie ever done to you? Shes my friend.”
“Friend, my foot.” Joan grabbed his shoulder, whispering fiercely, “Drop her, son. Shell twist you round her finger, mark my words. Just listen to me.”
“Mum, whatre you on about?” The boy wrenched free and ran, leaping onto his bike without a glance back.
“Katie! Katie!” Joan heard his bright voice call. She sat down and wept.
What did that girl want with her boy, eh? What was she after? A few more years and hed be courting, then hed drag that wide-mouthed thing home, saying, “Mum, Dad, heres my wifelove her and be kind.” No. That wouldnt happen. Never.
Joan wiped her tears, stood resolute, and marched to the gate. She stepped outside, paused as if weighing her next move, then strode off.
Years passed.
People say time heals.
No, it doesnt. It dulls the pain, piles on new worries, and pushes the past aside.
Ten years flew by like a blink.
Mike came home visiting with his family, and Katie with hers. They met by chance, exchanged pleasantries, shouldve walked awaybut couldnt.
“Going for a smoke, then popping by Steves,” Mike said that evening.
“Oh no you dont,” Joan blocked the door. “Not happening.”
“Mum, whats got into you?”
“Lucy, go with him. No man should wander alone.”
“No, Joan, hes seeing his friend. Why should I tag along? Let him go.”
“To her, that doe-eyed one? Watch yourself, Mike.”
“Leave it, Mum.”
His feet carried him to the riverbank. The next night too, and the next. He was about to leave when he saw a figure.
Shed come.
Shed come after all.
No accusations, no explanations. Just standing under the old cherry tree, holding each otherstill in love, still heartbroken. Even the moon hid behind clouds, sparing them its bright gaze. The moon didnt care if it was right or wrong, two married souls clinging together. It only knew love when it saw it.
Another ten years. Then twenty more.
Never once did Mike and Katie cross that line.
You might say it wasnt love at all.
But it was. And still is. Along with the weight of responsibilityfor the ones beside them. Were Lucy or Katies husband to blame? Their children? Their grandchildren?
Now Mike stands by his wifes grave, three years a widower. Hed visited his parents resting place earlier. His mother had confessed everything before she passedhow shed torn him from Katie. Hed forgiven her. A mothers love could drive her to madness. The pain had faded long ago, leaving only an ache.
“Mike?”
He turned. Katie stood there, autumn leaves swirling around her, still slight as the girl shed once been, a scarf at her throat. She sat beside him on the bench. They talked of small things.
“Lifes passed us by, Mike.”
“Past us, maybe. But not by.”
“Because we werent together? Maybe it was meant to be Dont hold it against Dave, Mike. He pulled me out of despair back then. And after I grew to love him.”
“Out of gratitude?” Mike gave a wry smile.
“No. Not gratitude. For his gentle soul, for loving me despite everything. All those years side by side I loved you, Mike. Never wanted another. But time changes things.” She stood. “One favordont resent him. And look after him. I must go. Goodbye, Mike.”
“Look after him how?”
But Katie was already walking away.
That evening, Mikes phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Mate”
“Dave? You crying?”
“Katies gone.”
“Where” Mike nearly said she hadnt come to him, then understood. “Im coming. Hold tight, Im coming.”
“Ta, mate”
They sat together, two old friends whod lived lifetimes.
“Shed been poorly. Didnt want anyone told. Your Lucy?”
“Three years now without her.”
“Hard.”
“Hard, mate. A whole life together.”
“Yeah. Lets stick close now. Whos left of our lot?”
“Just Steve and Tony.”
“Right.”
Life had flown like a single day. And yet, looking backno, not a day. Years. Just yesterday they were barefoot kids splashing in the stream, and now
“Same here, mate.”
Maybe his mum had known something, felt something. Who could say? No use judging now.
To live a life is not to cross a field
Its rises, falls, regrets that never yield,
And stumbling blocks laid heavy on the way.
Good day, my dears. Sending warmth and light your way. Always yours.
