“You should’ve married Valerie! She’s so well-kept, slender, and younger than you. I’m still in my prime, and look at my wifegetting old…” “Why bring up Valerie Simmons now? Seen her somewhere? She wouldnt give you the time of dayshe married that colonel and lives in luxury.”
Rosemary was frying cheese pancakes for her husbands breakfast. He loved them. Hed wake soon, and theyd be readyhot, with sour cream.
“Rose! Where are my trousers?”
He was up. Rosemary set the pan aside and went to the bedroom where he was shouting.
“Nick, I put them in the washthey were filthy. Here, wear these instead.”
“Filthy? When did I get them dirty? Youre always deciding things on your own!”
“Would you rather wear them dirty for a month? Stop fussing. Here, clean ones…”
“Ugh! I hate thesetheyre tight and uncomfortable! Hurry up and wash my proper ones!”
“Theyre already washing. Stop shouting. Go wash up and eatthe pancakes are on the table.”
Nicholas stomped to the bathroom. Rosemary poured his tea, adding two sugars, just as he liked. She dolloped sour cream into a bowl.
“Ugh, stinking the place out with your greasy pancakes! Nothing better to do?”
“I made them for you, Nick. Whats got into you? Wrong side of the bed?”
Nicholas ate in sullen silence.
“Teas scalding! Couldnt cool it down? Blimey, burned my tongue! And your pancakes are rubbery. Shouldve made proper bacon sandwiches insteadkeep your slop to yourself!”
“Dont be dafttheyre perfect, as always. Eat up. You dont need more sandwiches, not with that stomach…”
“Oh, now my stomachs the problem? Whens the last time *you* looked in the mirror? Gone to seed! And your grey rootswhy bother dyeing them? Look like an old hag.”
Rosemary stared, stung. Hed never spoken to her like this. What had come over him?
“Nicholas, watch your mouth! Ive always been curvysince whens it an issue? And I *cant* dye my hairyou know Im allergic. Health comes first. Im not a girl anymorepast sixty now. *Your* guts from all that lager. I cook healthy meals, but you just sit glued to the telly!”
“You shouldve married Valerie! She takes care of herselfunlike you. Im still full of life, and look what Im stuck with…”
“Why mention Valerie? Seen her lately? Shes *married*, Nick. Spoilt rotten, no kids, living the high life. Meanwhile, we raised a fine sonsuccessful, helps us out. Grandkids, too. Whats to complain about?”
“As if youd know! Valerie fancied methrew herself at me…”
“When? Dream on.”
“Years back. Happened.”
“And whatd you say?”
“What dyou think? Im a man. Didnt want to hurt her feelings. She was gorgeousunlike you. Even Mum said Id regret marrying youRosies plain and older. Shouldve listened. Now Im saddled with a frump who cant even make a decent sandwich!”
“Let *Valerie* make your sandwiches, then! Couldnt say no, could you? Well, whyve you stayed all these years? Suffering with your old hag?”
“Dont know! Retired, and it hit mewhat a mistake. Youre dull. So many women fancied me, and I came home to *you*. Never appreciated me!”
“*Not appreciated you*? Everything for you and our Simon! I skimped on myself so youd have the best. When did I ask for anything? Look at your wardrobemines all cheap. Saved for *your* car, *your* fishing gear, *your* gadgets. Said a word?”
“Like you sacrificed much! And your cookings foulnothing like Mums, God rest her.”
“Nick, was it *all* bad? Cant you say one kind thing? Whats *wrong* with you today? Are you ill?”
“*Youre* the ill one! Sod thisIm watching the news. And it wasnt just Valerie. There was Tamara, too. Ages agoyou were visiting your mum…”
Rosemarys hands trembled. “Tamara?”
“Oh, Tamara was *fire*not like you. And youre always poorlypills, clutching your chest. Some life Ive got…”
Rosemary untied her apron and walked out. The air felt thick, her chest tight.
Hed *cheated*? All those years, shed thought them happy. Married for love, vows, a good lifeand now this. A *bad wife*, apparently. How could she face this?
Hed *proposed on his knees*. Shed loved him, bent over backwardsand hed loved her too, though the sweet words dried up. But never *this*.
“Tamara… *Valerie*… How?”
Shed never strayed, though men had trieda colleague, even an old school flame at thirty-five: *”Ive loved you forever. Leave himIll take you and the baby.”* Shed sent him packing.
And her cooking? Simon and Nick devoured her pancakes, pies, roasts. What *was* this? A deathbed confession at sixty?
“Nick… I gave you *everything*…”
She wandered the streets, thoughts churning. Her cheeks were wet, but she barely noticed. The betrayal *burned*.
Meanwhile, Nicholas sat watching telly, devouring pancakes, sandwiches, gulping hot tea.
Mood foul. Bad dreamRosie leaving on a train, laughing at him. Woke furious. And hungovertoo many pints with the lads last night. Mick kept refilling his glass.
Then *bam*a knock. He rushed to the door. Neighbour Diane stood there, pale.
“Nick, its Rosie… *Hurry*!”
“What? Whats happened?”
“Just *come*!”
He grabbed his shirt and ran after her, door swinging open.
“Diane, *talk*!”
She led him to the park. An ambulance waited.
“Are you her husband?” the medic asked. “Im sorryshes gone. Called it in, but she was already… Did she have heart trouble?”
“*Gone*? My Rosie? She just stepped out! She… she took pills for her heart, but…”
“Could stress have triggered it? Any distress today?”
“She was *fine*.”
They zipped the bag. Nicholas swayed.
—
He woke at home. No memory of returning. No Rosie. *His fault*.
*Why* those cruel words? Thered *been* no other womenonly *her*. Plump, grey, in floral aprons. Warm. *His*. Loved her, never said it.
How would he live alone? Her food *was* the best. Their son *was* wonderful. They *had* been happy.
And now his words had killed her. Knew her weak heartnever thought…
A womans hearts fragile. When had he last said *”I love you”*?
But *she* always smiled, cooked, cleaned, cared.
What had he *done*?
No more seaside tripsshed dreamed of that. No cruises. No grandkids weddings. *Because of him*.
He sobbed into the pillow.
—
“Nick! Lunch is readysleeping again?”
He blinked. Rosie stood over him. *Real*.
“Rosie… *Youre alive*?”
“Course I am! Nick, are you poorly? Told you not to drink with Mickhe spikes your ale! Look at youasleep past noon! Pancakes are cold. Soups readygot fresh cream and spring onions.”
“Rosie, *forgive me*! There was no Valerie, no Tamarajust *you*!” He clung to her, kissing her hands.
“Nick, whats got into you? Bad dream?”
“I… I said awful things. You left, collapsed in the park. Diane told me. Saw the ambulance… Thought Id lost you! Thank God it was a dream! Listenyoure *perfect*. I love you, my beautiful girl! Never againnot a cross word! Your pancakes are *golden*, your hairs *lovely*! Ill sell the fishing gearwell go to the seaside! A *cruise*!”
Rosie laughed, hugging him back.
“Thats my Nick! Love you too. Nowlunch! I got fresh cream for the soup.”
For Nicholas, it was the best day ever. Rosie alive, smiling.
