The Unlovely Bride with a Dowry
“Paul, look… Is that Vincent?” Nina, digging in the garden, glanced up at the sound of the gate creaking open.
“Yes, it is. And hes carrying a big bag,” Paul replied. The couple exchanged knowing looks.
“Looks like hes packed his things… Has Mary thrown him out? Serves him right, the philanderer…”
Paul brushed the dirt from his handshe and his wife had been planting seedlingsand went to greet his brother. Nina stayed behind, watching from a distance. “Paul will tell me whats happened… No need to rush to that vain creature,” she thought, bending back to her work. But then she saw Vincent wave at her with a strained, guilty smile. She waved back, thinking, “Like a cat thats been at the cream… So hes really done wrong and had nowhere else to turnturning up unannounced on his familys doorstep…”
Paul spoke briefly with his brother before returning to the garden, while Vincent went into the house.
“You were right, Nina,” Paul said when he came back. “Marys kicked him out. But good luck getting the truth from himits always her fault, never his. Still, we know the truth. She must have had enough.”
“Could you blame her? She turned a blind eye for years to his drinking and tantrums. And he even raised his hand to her a few times… Its no wonder she snapped. She landed herself a man six years younger, handsomethought herself lucky. And she gave him a daughter after failing to conceive with her first husband for five years. No wonder she was afraid to lose him,” Nina mused.
“True, with her looks… You know what they called her at her old job?” Paul grinned slyly. “The Witch of Wapping!”
Nina raised her eyebrows.
“Seriously?”
“Oh yes. And the odd thing was, she answered to it and even laughed.”
“She had a sense of humour, Ill give her that. But even that doesnt help when your marriage is…” Nina sighed.
…Paul had first met Mary at work. She was twenty-eight then, a dispatcher for a cab company, while he repaired and tuned radios for the drivers. She was married to the firms young director, a charming man named Maxwell. Theyd been wed over five years but had no children. Back then, Paul had been surprised that such a handsome, charismatic fellow had such a plain, brash wife.
One day, VincentPauls younger brotherdropped by the office. It happened to be Marys birthday, and shed invited the lads and the dispatchers to celebrate right there. They had a grand time, but an hour in, Maxwell was called away on business. Mary and Vincentwho flirted shamelessly with every woman in sightquickly hit it off. She roared at his jokes, and he basked in her attention, spinning ever more tales.
Paul never noticed the spark between them, but it happened. It was November when they met, and by March, Mary announced she and Maxwell were divorcing.
“Whats left for me in that marriage? My clocks ticking, and still no children… Ive been checkedtheres nothing wrong with me. But Max refuses to see a doctor. Clearly, children arent in his plans. And hes carrying on with other womenI know it. Everyone pities me, whispering behind my back: Look at the Witch of Wappingwhat does he see in her?”
When Vincent told his family he was getting married, his parents were thrilled, but his brother was stunned.
“To whom?”
“Mary!” Vincent beamed.
“But shes years older than you, and”
“Plain, you mean? So what! Shes got money, Paul. Her aunts the head of a design firm. Mary says shell get me a job there soon. Her mother and brother live in Israelthey run a business there. They send her parcels every month, stuffed with everything from socks to caviar! And her flats lovelytwo bedrooms, fully renovated. They even send her pounds for the bills. The place is in her mothers name, but still… Then theres the cottagetwo floors, big garden, just outside London. Weve been there… A bride with a dowry!”
“A dowrys fine. But do you even love her?” Paul asked.
“Course I do! Shes got a cracking sense of humour!” Vincent grinned. “And she cooks like a dream!”
The family exchanged glances. What could you say to that?
Soon after, Mary and Vincent wed.
When Mary found out she was pregnant, her joy knew no bounds.
“I told Maxwell the problem was him! Three months with Vincent, and already a baby on the way!”
The little girl was born healthy, bringing joy to parents and grandparents alike. Once she turned six months old, Mary and Vincent began leaving her with her grandmother on weekends while they retreated to the cottage. The garden was vast, the orchard endlessalways work to be done.
But Mary once confided in Nina that Vincent often dropped her at the cottage, then vanished back to London, claiming work. He always had money from odd jobs. Paul and Nina sometimes visited to help Mary.
Time flew, and soon little Emily turned three. The family gathered in Marys flat for a celebrationrelatives, godparents. The table groaned with delicacies, thanks to the Israeli relatives and the hostess. Emily was dressed in designer clothes, gifts from her grandmother abroad. But all evening, her father kept slipping into the kitchen to take calls. Mary eyed him suspiciously.
“Vincent, really? Who keeps ringing? Weve got guestspay them some attention!”
“Its just work, they wont leave me alone…” He wouldnt meet her gaze.
Two years passed. Vincent worked at the design firm with Marylight work, good pay. But their blessings didnt end there.
Once, Vincent told his brother they were all going to Israel.
“Her folks want to see Emilytheyve only ever seen her on Skype. Her mums been saving three years to pay for the trip. But the trip never happened. The savings vanished, drained from Marys account in small, unexplained withdrawals. When she confronted Vincent, he shrugged it offcompany expenses, he said, advances on future pay. Then came the job losses: first his, then Marys, both let go when the firm uncovered forged documentsVincents doing. Her aunt, furious, severed ties.
The cottage fell into disrepair, the garden choked with weeds. Mary took odd shifts at a diner, while Vincent drifted between friends sofas, always promising a fresh start.
And now he stood in Pauls kitchen, suitcase in hand, eyes red-rimmed and hollow.
Nina set a cup of tea before him without a word. He reached for it, then faltered.
She threw me out, he said quietly. Said shed rather raise Emily alone than live one more day with a liar.
Outside, rain began to fall, soft and steady, washing the dust from the leaves.
