31October2025
Dear Diary,
If anyone had ever warned Eleanor that she would become the source of gossip and a wedge between a father and his son, she would have taken those words back in a heartbeat. Eleanor is a simple, country girl, but she can stand up for herself when needed. Still, everything unfolded exactly as it did, and even in the darkest nightmare she could not have imagined that happiness would demand her to endure seven circles of hell.
She had only just moved to Birmingham, though shed begged her mother not to send her to her aunts house. At the family meeting it was decided that Eleanor would go, simply because there was no one else. Her father, Owen, worked as a tractor driver, and now the fields were overflowing with work. Her mother, Hannah, kept the farm running, while her brothers and sisters were either at school or in nursery.
With a small suitcase packed with the essentials, Eleanor set off for Aunt Margarets cottagea place she had seen only once, at a distant christening. People whispered that Margaret Whitaker, because of her sharp temper, had never managed to get along with any of her three husbands. She had no children, and thus no heirs, and Eleanors parents secretly hoped she would leave the cottage to their niece. That turned out to be the case, but Margaret treated Eleanor kindly enough, yet kept her at arms length. She never asked about Eleanors life and let no one into her own world. One might wonder why she needed Eleanor at all. The answer was simple: lately she feared she would die unnoticed, to lie in the damp cellar while the smell of decay attracted a neighbour to call the police.
Margaret had been battling a terminal illness for years, aware that she might not make it today but perhaps tomorrow. To her, Eleanor was a convenient ticket to a timely funeral and wake. Eleanor sensed her aunts anxieties and never pried. She washed, cooked, tidied, shoppedeverything that was asked of her. With no friends, the girl who once preferred to sit on a village bench with peers after a hard day now found herself alone. She barely left the house, content to spend hours on the front balcony watching young mothers stroll with their toddlers or elderly ladies gather at the entrance to chat about the rising cost of butter. Her life seemed split in two: the unpleasant half, running errands for a demanding aunt, and the pleasant half, when Margaret fell asleep after her painkillers. Then Eleanor could brew a fragrant cup of tea and relax on the balcony in peace.
Soon she noticed a charming neighbour, Andrew, who also liked the balcony at the same hour. At first they merely nodded, pretending not to notice each other, then exchanged polite greetings. Eventually their silent meetings felt like teenage infatuation; both rushed to the balcony hoping to catch a glimpse of the other. By the time Margaret passed away, Eleanor and Andrew were already close, having confessed their feelings. After the funeral Eleanor told her parents she wanted to stay in the city to study, though they knew the real reason and let her go without argument.
Confident in both their hearts, Eleanor accepted Andrews courtship and proposal. Andrew lived alone; his mother remarried and moved to the United States after a divorce, while his father, a doctor, worked in Kenya and only visited once a year on holiday. Their wedding was modest but joyous, and the newlyweds felt as if theyd found their forever hand to hold.
Andrew followed his fathers footsteps, training as a surgeon and taking a post at the city hospital. Eleanor, wanting to match her husbands status, enrolled in a nursing course after a brief stint of study. She imagined the two of them working side by side, saving lives together, though not every dream comes true.
Eleanor, my father lands in a week! Get ready, Andrews younger brother shouted.
Right, what does he like? We need groceries, a menu, a deep clean
Relax, its not the King of Kenya, just my dada simple bloke.
Even so, Eleanor fretted. The photos showed a fit, tanned man who reminded her of a Spaniard or Turk, but appearances can deceive. He might be a snob or a perfectionist, finding fault in everything. Or perhaps Andrew would think she wasnt good enough and leave. Yet Igor Whitaker, Andrews father, proved to be a different sort of man. He greeted his son and daughterinlaw with kisses, apologized profusely for missing the wedding, and brought a mountain of gifts. He praised Eleanors stew, saying it was the best hed tasted in years, then left to visit old friends. A month later he returned to Kenya, leaving the young couple on their own.
Sometimes Eleanor wondered why her motherinlaw seemed keen to replace Igor with someone else. The man cooked splendidly, even rising early to make delicate crêpes that few housewives could master, and helped with chores, often advising his son:
Lucky you, lad, youve landed a good wife look after Eleanor, help her, or youll lose your happiness.
Andrew smiled silently, thinking, Where would she go? Eleanor isnt the type to abandon everything. Even if she were unfaithful, she would forgive and carry on as if nothing had happened. Rural life, he believed, was simpler: people live for their children and endure everything. He reasoned that this was the plain truth, so when a nurse began to flirt with him, he dove into a new affair, caring little that his wife was suffering a severe morning sickness for a week. He would always return home after a dinner with Carla, feign exhaustion, then slip back into bed. Eleanor seemed oblivious to his changes, lost in her own new sensations. She welcomed the thought of becoming a mother, yet feared she might not cope, even though she had a caring husband.
When the baby arrived, responsibilities multiplied. Milk ran short, the infant wailed at night, and Andrew grew impatient, demanding Eleanor soothe the child while he retreated to the lounge. When Igor visited again, he barely recognized Eleanor. The oncecheerful, rosycheeked woman had become pale and gaunt, a mere shadow; her son, meanwhile, had thinned and stayed out late.
Dad, could you help your wife a bit?
Love, shes home all day; at least look after the child.
Someone new in your life?
Why ask?
I see youre lighter when youre out, grumpier when youre back.
Just nothing serious, Dad.
Make sure nothing serious turns into a nightmare.
Eleanors to blame. She doesnt look like a woman anymoresee her hair, her face.
Then its your own fault. Eleanor never rests.
Off I go, work wont wait!
Andrew seemed to think Eleanor should manage everything simply because she stayed at home, while only Igor truly understood her without words and tried to help as best he could.
Eleanor, go to bed, and Ill look after the granddaughter.
What if she gets hungry?
Do you think I cant mix a formula and feed the baby? Remember, I raised a bit of a rogueyour husband.
Thanks to her fatherinlaw, Eleanor finally got some sleep. Igor walked the granddaughter, fed and rocked her while Eleanor worked or simply needed a breather. Grateful, she prayed nightly for God to grant him a woman with whom he could share his happiness. It must be lonely for him, with only Andrew and the little girl, while he was back in Kenya. Slowly, Eleanor found herself thinking more of Igor than anyone else. He became a father figure, brother, friend, confidant. He listened, supported, and talked about anything. The thought of him leaving haunted herwhat would she do without him?
Eleanor, you look downcast.
Nothing, really
Here, take this money, get yourself done at the salonhaircut, colour, makeup, manicure. Then go shopping, buy something nice. Dont worry about the girl, Ill look after her.
In a flash she kissed Igor on the cheek, raced to the salon, emerged radiant and happy, and headed home. A mischievous idea crossed her mind: surprise Andrew. She turned toward the hospital where he worked.
Good afternoon, Im looking for Dr. Andrew Whitaker.
Hes in, please come in.
She imagined his delight at seeing her new look, but the sight that met her eyes stopped her cold. A young nurse sat on his lap, her coat halfunzipped, clearly not for a routine checkup. Eleanor fled the room, hailed a cab, and wept all the way home.
What happened, love?
Andrews cheating
Who told you?
I saw it with my own eyes
Igor pulled Eleanor close, stroked her hair.
Cry, love, itll ease the pain. Ill talk to him, make him come home.
I cant stay, Ill take our daughter and leave.
Dont be foolish! Think of the child. Life in the country isnt easy, work is hard, and you have a little one to care for.
No one had held her like that in ages. Though theyd been sleeping in separate rooms for months, his scent, his gentle words, and his embrace made her dizzy. Igor, too, felt an inexplicable draw to Eleanorher vulnerability, her fragility. He lifted her, carried her to the bedroom, and she did not resist. A secret blossomed between them, one they guarded fiercely, though Andrews indifference could have exposed it had he been more attentive. Shame and a strange joy warred within her; she could not help comparing Andrew to Igor, and Andrew fell short in every way.
Soon she discovered she was pregnant again. She was tornAndrew and she had only been intimate for a few months, and he would surely suspect infidelity.
What are you thinking? This is wonderful! I never thought I could be a father again at fifty. Will you marry me?
And Andrew?
What about him? I know we both erred, but hes also at fault. Hell eventually leave you, but I love you and cant live without you.
After their divorce, Eleanor and Igor married and moved to Kenya. Their families could not comprehend the decision; gossip in the village painted her as a pretender, while Andrew spent years telling anyone whod listen how cruelly his wife and father had treated him. Nonetheless, they were content, grateful to have found each other and cherish every moment together.
Lesson learned: love can appear in the most unexpected places, and sometimes the people we think are obstacles become our greatest allies. Trust your heart, but never let it blind you to the truth.
