“Natalie, you won’t believe what I’ve just heard!” Emily, who usually took everything in her stride, sounded utterly shaken. “It’s unbelievable!”
“What happened?” asked Natalie Wilson, surprised by her friends unusual agitation.
“I cant say over the phone. I’m nearbylet me come over.”
“Of course,” Natalie replied, intrigued.
***
“Well, go on then!” Natalie urged as they sat at the kitchen table, where a freshly baked apple pie, two delicate china cups, and a glass teapot of herbal brew steamed invitingly.
“I dont even know where to begin,” Emily murmured, distracted.
“Start at the beginning,” Natalie suggested.
“The beginning?” Emily paused, gathering her thoughts. “Do you remember Dr. Grace Thompson from our old paediatric clinic?”
“Grace Thompson? Of course! A wonderful doctor! She saved my sonso many children, really. Diagnosed them perfectly, prevented countless complications. Parents called her personal number, begged for home visitsshe never refused. A true healer, blessed with a gift.”
“Exactly,” Emily nodded. “She saved my daughter too. Without her well, things couldve been very different. Disability was a real risk.”
“But why bring her up now? She retired years ago. Last I heard, she sang in the church choir.”
“Sang,” Emily sighed mournfully. “She passed away.”
“What? I saw her just recentlysmiling, bright-eyed as ever! She didnt look ill. Though age, I suppose. She mustve been in her late seventies.”
“Nearly eighty. And perfectly healthy.”
“Then how?”
“You wont believe it,” Emily said bitterly. “Her own children did it. Drove her to the grave. Literally.”
“Good God, that cant be true!” Natalie gasped.
“It is,” Emily said flatly. Her face hardened, and her eyes flickered with something like helpless despair.
***
Grace Thompson, née Grace Whitmore, had married a young RAF cadet fresh out of medical school. Naturally, she followed her husband, William, to his first posting. She worked as a GP wherever they were stationed, moving constantly until they finally settled in a modest cathedral town. By then, they had two childrenJoanna, her fathers image, and little Edward, the spitting portrait of Grace.
William served; Grace held the home together and tended to the towns children.
Only military wives know the weight of that life. Grace carried it allchildren, household, the relentless work of a doctorwhile enduring Williams difficult temper.
But she never faltered. To the world, she was effortlessly cheerful, always immaculate. No one guessed the cracks in her marriage. Outwardly, they were the perfect familya spacious three-bedroom home, a car, well-dressed children.
Grace wasnt just a brilliant doctor; she was a devoted mother and homemaker. The town adored her. Edward, her boy, was a lovable roguemore interested in his guitar and chasing girls than studying. Joanna, thoughsharp as a tack, top of her class, but cold. She fought with Edward, shunned other girls. Grace worried. How would she manage people when she grew up?
As it turned outpoorly.
***
The familys peace shattered overnight. One Sunday morning, William walked out without a word. The children were nearly grown.
Grace had suspected his infidelity for years but swallowed her pridefor Joanna, for Edward. She pretended not to notice, even as William grew brazen. Then, one day, he packed a bag, tossed a casual “Ta-ra!” over his shoulder, and moved in next door. With a widow and her toddler. Whether it was love or something else, no one knew. The RAF community buzzed with gossip, but William soon retired, took his new family, and vanished.
***
Grace was devastated. Twenty years togetherno small thing.
Theyd started with nothing, moved from base to base, even lived in barracks when the children were small. William flew missions; Grace raised two babies alone. It eased when Joanna and Edward started school, but Grace never stayed homeshe worked, healing other peoples children.
Shed never imagined William would betray her. Not in their youth, and certainly not when grey streaked both their hair. Yet somehow, a wall had risen between themsilent, swift.
She saw it plain as day one afternoon.
But she didnt leave. Not for herselffor the children.
And how did they repay her? By blaming her for their fathers abandonment.
Williamthe rare visitor, the beloved stranger. The best father in the world.
Grace had taught them to think so.
***
An invisible war began in Graces home.
Her children treated her like dirt. Every word, every gesture was met with scorn or silence.
Grace endured, smoothing over conflicts, hoping theyd grow to understand.
They never did.
Joanna left for university in London, married some businessman, and lived in luxury. She bought a flat in Graces town but never lived therejust rented it out. She visited once or twice a year, sometimes skipping her mother altogether. Edward? She ignored him entirely.
They lived like strangers.
***
Years passed. Grace grew accustomed to Joannas absence, pouring her love into her patients.
Then Edwardher darling boyunraveled.
By forty, hed burned through two marriages and two children. His wives, tired of his drinking and guitar-strumming idleness, kicked him out.
Where did he go? To Grace, of course.
Another mother mightve disciplined him. Not Grace. She blamed herselffor depriving him of a father, for failing him.
Edward spiraled. First, he drank himself senseless. Then he fleddodging child support.
“My God,” Natalie murmured as Emily spoke. “I had no idea Grace struggled so with him.”
“Oh, thats not the worst,” Emily said grimly. “After Edward vanished, Gracewho adored her grandchildren and was fiercely principledwent to court and took over his child support payments. Can you imagine? She paid them herself!”
“Why?” Natalie stared.
“To spare the grandchildren. And to protect Edward from prosecution.”
“Thats madness!”
“Yes. But Grace couldnt help it. She worked double shifts till the day she retired. And thenEdward came back. With a new girlfriend. Guess where they moved in? Rightwith Grace. She couldnt refuse. Within days, she was their maid and cook. The pair lazed about, drinking heavily.”
“Good Lord!”
“It gets worse. A year later, Edwardegged on by his girlfriendpacked Graces things into a bag and threw her out. Said she was in the way.”
“Thats impossible!”
“It happened. Neighbors heard the shouting. They found Grace sitting on the stairs. They begged her to stay with them, but she refusedEdward will calm down, she said. He didnt. For days, she lived in the stairwell. Wouldnt ask for help. Finally, the neighbors tracked down Joanna. She arrived two days later (a two-hour drive from London), dumped Grace in her rental flat, and sneered, Live here. Pay the rent yourself. Then she left.”
“Just like that? Didnt even stay the night?”
“Just like that.”
***
For months, Grace lived in blissful solitude.
She started attending church. Someone heard her singing and invited her to the choir.
Life seemed to mend.
Then
One evening, Edward turned up, drunk, demanding money. Grace handed over what she had. It wasnt enough. He snatched her pension cardher only income, her meager savings.
“Mum, how will I live?” Grace whispered.
“Figure it out,” he slurred. “Dig into your stash. Or let the church feed you.”
There was no stash. Too proud to borrow, Grace rationed her food, counting every grain. She lasted three months.
Then Joanna stormed in.
“Why havent you paid the rent?” she shrieked. “Now theres a penalty!”
“Darling, I Edward has my card”
“What?!” Joanna cut her off. “You gave him everything? If you love him so much, go live with him. Pack your things.”
Grace barely had time to speak.
Joanna shoved a bag into her hands, yanked her coat from the hook. “Move. Im not joking. I helped youthis is how you repay me? Edwards your favorite? Fine. Live with him. Id rather rent the flat than cover your fines.”
She drove Grace to Edwards, rang the bell, dropped the bag on the step, and left.
Without a backward glance.
***
A drowsy Edward opened the doorsaw his motherand shut it again.
Grace collapsed on the step, weeping.
Just then, an old friend walked in.
“Grace! Ive been trying to catch you for weeks. Why are you crying?”
Grace, broken, confessed everything.
“Come home with me,” her friend insisted. “Ive plenty of space. Itll be nice to have company.”
Grace agreed. Where else could she go?
“Thank heavens,” Natalie breathed. “At least one kind soul.”
“Yes,” Emily nodded. “But not for long. Within six months, Grace became a burden. Her friend called Joanna in a rage: Have a conscience! I wont house your mother forever. Sort this out. Now.”
Joanna arrived a week later. She committed Grace to a locked psychiatric wardno phone, no contact. Only call in emergencies, she instructed the staff.
An emergency came swiftly. Grace died four months later. Lost, confused to the end.
Joanna collected the body, cremated her, and took the ashes. No one knows where.
Edward, when asked, just shrugged. Sometimes, in drunken rambles, he still muses about how nice it was to live off his mother
***
No one knows where Dr. Grace Thompsonbeloved healer, cherished by hundredsis buried.
But shes remembered. Spoken of with warmth.
Her tragic end spreads in whispers, stirring hearts.
Some blame Williamhis betrayal started it all.
Many blame the children.
A few murmur that Grace brought it on herselfstaying with William, spoiling Edward, neglecting Joanna for her patients.
And a handful, after a long silence, say only: “Nothing happens without reason. There are no accidents.”
