Margaret heard the latch click — her daughter had returned from university. Footsteps approached.
«Fancy a bite?» Margaret called, not lifting her eyes from her knitting.
«Later. Mum, need a word.»
«Trouble?» Margaret glanced up. Emily stood before her with an enormous bouquet of crimson roses.
«Blimey! Let me guess… David proposed,» Margaret ventured.
«Honestly, Mum, that’s ruined the surprise!» Emily pouted, arranging the flowers on the table before settling beside Margaret. «How’d you know?»
Margaret set aside her needles. «Wasn’t exactly rocket science. You’ve known David since nursery, been dating over two years, inseparable. Besides, lads don’t give bouquets like that for nothing. He give you a ring?»
«Look.» Emily extended her hand, displaying a gold band with a white stone. «Lovely, isn’t it?»
«Smashing. But you don’t seem chuffed. Something amiss?» Margaret’s tone sharpened.
«I am pleased. Only… I’m not certain about marrying now. He’s grand company, I miss him dreadfully if a day passes. But I cherish having my own space at day’s end. Suppose I’m not ready for more.»
«Or perhaps someone else has caught your eye?» Margaret probed.
«Being admired by other lads is flattering. But no one compares to David. What if this isn’t… real love? The forever kind? Like you and Dad?»
«You’re grown but daft as a brush.» Margaret pulled Emily close. «You’ll only know real love by living it.» She sighed. «Most girls your age dream of weddings and clinging to their beau night and day. Yet you hesitate. Might be wise to hold off. What did you say?»
«I agreed… but asked to wait till exams finish.»
«Spot on. Savour being engaged. Everyone rushes to wifehood. But a wife carries duties — tending another, responsibilities, cares. Disappointments too. Living cheek by jowl shows flaws you mightn’t abide. Only love helps bear that. And children…»
«My thoughts exactly! I adore how things stand now. Though I pine for David… Do you think I don’t love him?»
«You’re simply taking it seriously. Sensible girl, that’s all. Explaining is key. If he loves you, he’ll wait,» advised Margaret.
«He’s taken the hump,» Emily murmured gloomily.
«Naturally. He imagined he’d made you overjoyed, and you ask to delay. That stings like refusal,» Margaret observed wryly.
«Maybe I don’t love him as fiercely as he loves me. What if it’s not lifelong? What if I’m disappointed? Plenty divorce…»
«Sadly, passion cools. Not everyone weathers that.»
«How did you know you loved Dad?» Emily perked up.
«Fancied him before I’d even clapped eyes on him,» Margaret smirked.
«How? He visited your dreams? Tell me!» Emily wriggled, getting comfortable.
«Right-o. I was at university then. Had a mate, Laura — proper looker, bit flighty though. From out of town, lived in halls. During exam term, my parents went off to Brighton — Dad’s dodgy joints needed the spa waters. So Laura moved in with me to revise peacefully. She’d been seeing Robert for months. Bored me silly going on about him — handsome, soulful eyes, lovely curly hair…»
«Just like David!» Emily interjected.
«Precisely. Not met him, yet pictured him clear as day. Always fancied such a chap. Laura turned every head, while I felt plain.»
«Nowt of the sort! David said you’re lovely. Dad thinks so too,» Emily protested.
«Young girls never see themselves straight. Thought others prettier or slimmer — like Laura. Me? Chunky legs, flat chest. Prince Charming for my friend. Then, after finals, he met us at uni gates. Recognised him instantly — like spotting a dream chap in the flesh. But he was Laura’s serious beau.» Margaret sighed; Emily squeezed her hand.
«There was James — chap in our year. Played guitar like an angel, gave goosebumps when he sang. Girls swooned over him; he collected us like stamps.»
«You were smitten?»
«Me? Hardly! He didn’t know I existed. But Laura? They briefly dated. Laura couldn’t bear him flirting with every skirt in town. Later came Robert… One evening she returned fluttery with flowers and a tiny ring. ‘Said he’d buy bigger.’ Robert had proposed. Then I blurted I’d want no finer
Hope heard the lock click – her daughter was back from university. Footsteps approached in the hallway. “Hungry?” Hope asked, not looking up from her knitting. “Later. Mum, I need to talk.” Hope raised her head. “Something wrong?” Before her stood Katy holding an enormous bouquet of red roses. “Blimey! Let me guess… Christopher proposed.” “Mum! That ruins the surprise!” Katy protested, placing the flowers down and joining her on the sofa. “How’d you know?” Hope set her knitting aside. “Where’s the mystery? It was bound to happen. You’ve known Christopher since you were kids, been together over two years, spend all your time together. Plus, you don’t get bouquets like that for nothing. Did he give you a ring too?” “Yes, look.” Katy held out her right hand, showing a gold band with a white stone. “Lovely, isn’t it?” “Very. But you don’t seem over the moon?” Hope asked cautiously. “I am pleased. I’m just not sure I want to get married *now*. He’s fun, I miss him terribly if a day passes, but… I like coming home and sleeping alone. Maybe I’m not ready for such a big step.” “Or maybe there’s someone else?” Hope suggested. “I enjoy attention from other lads, sure. But no, I fancy no one more than Christopher. But what if it’s not real love? Not the forever kind, like you and Dad have?” “You’re a grown woman but still a bit daft sometimes,” Hope sighed, pulling her daughter close. “You only know if it’s true love by living it. Girls your age usually dream of weddings and white dresses, desperate to be with their man every second. But you have doubts. Maybe waiting *is* wiser. What did you tell him?” “I said yes. But I asked him to wait until I finish my degree.” “That’s sensible. Enjoy being engaged. Everyone rushes to become a wife, but that means duties, responsibility, worrying about someone else – not just yourself. Disappointments too. Living side-by-side is tricky. You learn their faults, and not all are bearable. Only love makes that possible. And children…” “Exactly! I like how things are. I like being on my own sometimes, even missing him. You think I don’t love him?” “It just shows you’re taking it seriously. You’ve got your head screwed on, that’s all. Talk to him. Explain. If he loves you, he’ll understand and wait,” Hope advised. “He’s upset,” Katy said glumly. “Course he is. He proposed, thought he’d made you the happiest girl alive, and you ask him to bide his time. It feels like a rejection,” Hope smiled ruefully. “Maybe I just don’t love him as much as he loves me. What if it’s not real? What if I end up disappointed in him? Plenty of people marry and divorce.” “Sadly feelings cool over time, not everyone’s ready for that.” “But how did you *know* you loved Dad?” Katy perked up. “I fancied him before I even set eyes on him,” Hope chuckled. “How? Did he appear in your dreams? Tell me!” Katy wriggled on the sofa, getting comfortable. “Alright then. I was at university too. Had a friend, Polly. Pretty, but a bit flighty. The uni halls were noisy, hard to study. My parents went on holiday – Dad got a spa break in Buxton for his rheumatism. So Mum went too. I asked Polly to stay at mine. She moved right in. Polly had been seeing this lad for months. Non-stop she went on about him – handsome, clever eyes, lovely curly hair…” “Sounds like Christopher,” remarked Katy. “Spot on! I hadn’t met him but could picture him perfectly. Exactly what I dreamt of. Polly was a stunner, lads fell over themselves. I reckoned I was ordinary. Nothing special.” “No way! Christopher himself says you were beautiful. Dad always says it too,” Katy argued. “Like any girl, I didn’t see myself clearly. Thought others were more glamorous, slimmer. Like Polly. Me? Full legs, small bust. My prince went to my friend.” “One day after exams he met us outside the university. Knew him instantly. Like meeting someone you’ve dreamt about. He was exactly as I imagined. But he was Polly’s boyfriend.” Hope sighed, and Katy hugged her tighter. “Then there was Gary in our year. Played guitar like a dream, voice gave me goosebumps. All the girls swooned. He loved it. Changed girls like socks.” “And you swooned?” “Me? No chance. He barely noticed me. Polly was different. They went out briefly, but she couldn’t handle him flirting with every girl. Then Victor appeared…” “She came back one day with a bouquet. Like you now. Lit up with joy. Showed a little ring, thin thing. Said Victor proposed, hinted he could’ve afforded bigger. I just blurted out that if *he* gave *me* that ring, I couldn’t ask for better. Polly nearly blew her top. I instantly regretted it. Apparently Victor wondered why no lads were after someone like me.” “Two days later, Gary rang Polly asking to meet. I warned her off. Told her he couldn’t stand being dumped – the star, she dared ignore him, then got engaged! Polly wouldn’t listen. Said I was green with envy. Off she rushed. She’d forgotten her phone. Gary called again; Victor saw, got upset and left.” “Polly came back raving Gary had declared serious love. ‘What about Victor?’ I asked. ‘Victor? Couldn’t even buy a decent ring.’ Gave it back, said she loved another… started raving about Gary singing serenades on the green…” “‘Don’t you see?’ I said. ‘He only said it to stop you marrying! He’ll ditch you soon. What then? Go back to Victor? What if he won’t forgive you?’” “But Polly insisted I was jealous. Lads proposed to *her*, declared love, while I had no one. Gary the artist! We argued again. Victor came to me, broken. I hated seeing him like that. One day he asked if Polly and Gary were serious. I told him the truth – Gary’s ego was bruised. We walked and talked for hours.” “Turned out we loved the same films, the same books, had similar dreams, somehow… we started seeing each other.” “What about Polly?” Katy asked. “Polly went home convinced Gary would visit. Of course, he never came, wouldn’t answer calls. She turned up at his door – he was with another girl. Ran to me sobbing, then asked after Victor. I didn’t lie. Told her we were together.” “‘You’re seeing *him*? Traitor! Sly little cow. Waited your chance then pinched him!’” “She screamed, called me names. I felt rotten, tried apologising. Polly hoped she could beg Victor back, but that ship sailed. We argued again, she left.” “fornia Victor proposed to me a month later. I knew it was quick; I wondered if I was just his rebound. Still, I said yes. I fancied him terribly. Felt he was my other half. I loved him. Later… he grew to love me.” “I rang Polly, told her, invited her to the wedding.” “And she came?” Katy gasped. “She did. We made up. Polly brought a bottle of wine. I took a sip, she drained most of it. Moaned about her life, regretted dumping Victor – said she’d be the bride now, not me. Victor found us just after she arrived; she was already half-cut
He gently kissed Margaret’s forehead, their shared history echoing in the comfortable silence that settled over their empty living room, filled only with the scent of Emily’s roses.