Everything lies in the deed, Rachel says, flashing a smile at a plump, fortysevenyearold woman strolling past her on the high street. Youre not going to recognise me, are you? You just walk by without a helloare you feeling a bit cocky?
Molly, oh, Molly, Im sorry, I really didnt spot you, the woman replies, pausing to study Rachels face. How could I have known you after all those years since school? We never kept in touch.
The two former classmates hug, their lives having taken different routes. Rachel has stayed in her hometown of Luton, while Molly married and moved north with her husband to the Scottish Highlands.
Look at you, youve grown into a formidable sizemust be all that happiness, Rachel jokes, noting that apart from a few silver strands and fine lines around her eyes, she looks much the same. What wind blew you back to these parts? I thought youd left everyone behind.
Theres my cousin Harriet, remember? Shes older than me
Ah, yes, Ive bumped into her a few times. Why, what happened to her?
Molly sighs. She was buried last week; I came to the funeral. My flight home is tonight, so now Im truly alone here.
Too bad, she was a good woman, very kind.
Rachel, you wont believe who I ran into at the serviceMike.
Mike? Which Mike?
You know, the bloke you dated briefly before I married Andrew. I dont recall much, but you dumped him quickly, didnt you?
Molly shrugs. Hes a distant relative of Harriets, maybe on her husbands side. Hes changed a lotolder, a bit untidy. Weve all changed, but hes been through a lot. He split from his first wife after a short marriage, remarried, had two sons, and the second child was born with a disability. He couldnt handle it, left his wife and kids, and married a third time. He was the only one at the funeral.
Sounds like hes always been hardhearted, Rachel replies, which is why our paths diverged. Thank God for that.
Molly continues, Mikes sisterwho doesnt speak to himtold me everything, and Vera, who also attended, mentioned his second wife and the disabled son. When he abandoned the sick child, the family condemned him, but he snapped back, saying, There are plenty of women without problems; why should I suffer. Can you imagine, Rachel? Thats exactly what he said.
I can picture it, and Im not surprised, Rachel answers.
They chat a little longer, recalling other schoolmates, then Molly has to leave. They exchange phone numbers and part ways. Rachel walks home slowly, still under the spell of the reunion. She thinks back to Mike, the man she dated before marrying Andrew.
God did steer me right, or rather, thanks to my fatherhe saw straight through Mikes true nature, she muses, recalling those early twenties.
At fortyseven, Rachel remains a slim, respectable lady. In her youth she was a pretty girl who attracted a lot of attention, yet she never jumped from one boyfriend to another; she kept things friendly.
She met Mike when she was about twenty. He seemed romantic, brought flowers, took her to the cinema, and they walked together. After three months she even fancied herself in love and imagined marrying himjust a teenage dream.
Mike always escorted her home, and Rachels parents knew about the relationship. Her father, David Clarke, is a genial, chatty man who can talk anyone into anything.
Darling, why dont you invite Mike over for dinner? he suggests one evening. Wed like to meet the bloke youre seeing.
Okay, Dad, well come together, Rachel promises.
The next day she tells Mike, Mike, come over; my parents want to meet you.
Alright, if they want me, Ill be there, he replies.
When they arrive, David is about to sit down for dinner.
Come in, Mike, David says, shaking his hand. Both of you, have a seat. Dont wander off hungry till midnight.
Mike sits opposite Rachel, and she feels a flicker of shyness under her parents gaze, even though shes at her own home. Her mother, Helen, is frying fish in the kitchen.
Their cat, Misty, roams the garden and darts in when she smells the fish. As everyone gathers at the table, Helen places a piece of fish in a bowl for the cat.
If I dont give her, she wont leave me alone, Helen jokes, watching Misty circle her feet.
David chats with Mike while Helen keeps offering him bites. Suddenly Misty lunges, choking on a bone. Everyone leaps up except Mike, crowding around the cat, unsure how to help.
Misty coughs violently; Helen scoops her up and dashes outside.
Shell have to spit the bone out, she says, on the brink of tears. David follows her.
While the family fusses, Mike remains seated, eating calmly, his expression unchanged. After a tense moment, the bone dislodges, and Misty recovers.
Thank heavens, Helen sighs, letting the cat back onto the floor. You gave us a proper scare, Misty.
Rachel chuckles, Misty, youve really startled us.
Mike, still composed, remarks, All this fuss over a cat? Shell be fine. There are plenty of cats out there.
Rachels parents exchange a puzzled glance.
Mike, do you have a cat at home? Helen asks earnestly.
No, I cant stand having pets in a flat, Mike replies dismissively.
After tea, Mike suggests a walk. Rachel, noticing Davids furrowed brow, decides she doesnt want to stay out long.
Mike, Im not feeling like walking tonight. Ill head home, she says. Its close, I can get there myself.
Fine, I wont walk you then, Mike answers, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
When Rachel gets back, her parents are lounging on the sofa, discussing the nights events. She joins them, aware that her father is fair and perceptive, while her mother is gentle, often softening her words.
David looks Rachel straight in the eye, his tone firm. Listen, Im not going to see that man around you again. Hes not worthy of you.
Rachel stays silent, already having considered his words.
People reveal themselves in different ways, David continues. You can judge a man by how he treats animals. Today, when the cat choked, he didnt flinch. He sat there as if nothing happened. Thats a sign of an unreliable personhell abandon you when things get tough. End it now before it goes any further. You havent committed anything to him, and youll find someone better.
Okay, Dad, thats why I came home early, Rachel replies, sighing. I didnt want to keep walking with him. His comments about Misty and cats didnt sit right with me either.
She tells him outright that shes ending things. Whether she ever truly loved Mike is moot; her fathers words have settled deep in her mind, and parting is easy.
The following day, Mike runs into Rachel on the high street. He greets her brightly, leaning in as if to plant a kiss on her cheek, but she pulls away.
Whats your problem, Mike? Why are you showing off?
Mike, I need to tell you theres no future between us. Ive decided were done, so lets just be friends.
Why now? Did your family not like me? he snaps.
Both reasons. I dont want to see you any more, she says, walking away as harsh comments about her and her parents fly after her.
Good, I made the right call, Rachel thinks, relieved. Dad was right.
Time passes. Mike never contacts her again, and Rachel enjoys the peace of not having to chase after him.
Eventually she meets Andrew, the love of her life. They marry, raise two children, and now have a granddaughter. Their lives are intertwined.
As Rachel approaches her front door, thoughts of Mike still twirl from her conversation with Molly.
I still cant shake that night, she reflects. Im grateful to my father. If he hadnt invited Mike to dinner, if Misty hadnt choked, I might never have seen what kind of man he truly was. Perhaps I would have discovered it later, but it would have cost me more.
Her former classmates warning about Mikehow he abandoned his wife and disabled childechoes the cat incident. The memory cements the lesson: true character shows itself in small deeds.
