The Tale of Mother Lucy
The knock at the door was unexpected. A young woman stood on the threshold, her face pale.
“Hello, does Alex live here?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“Yes Whats this about?” came the sharp reply.
“Are you his mother?”
“Me?! Im his wife! Who are you, girl?”
“Hes in hospital, and they wont tell me anythingonly family can know. May I come in?” Her lip quivered.
Lucy sighed and gestured toward the kitchen. “Fine. Sit down. But I dont understand why you care about my husbands health. Who even are you?”
The girl perched on the edge of the kitchen chair, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket to dab her forehead. Lucy busied herself by the stove, waiting for an explanation.
“Would you like some water?”
“No Actually, yes, please.”
“Well? Are you just going to sit there? Did you come here to gawk?”
“Alex promised to marry me,” the girl blurted, then added quietly, “This autumn!”
“Oh, did he now?” Lucy scrubbed a pot vigorously. “That changes thingsexcept bigamys illegal, love.”
“Im not here to joke.”
“Neither am I. Ive no sense of humour where this is concerned.”
“You dont understand. Hes marrying me in autumn. Hell divorce you first, and then”
“Hmm. Why come now? Why not wait till autumn? Whats your name?”
“Emily Emily Carter.”
“Im Lucy. So, Emily, why not summer? I can see youre well along. His doing?”
“Yes. Alex and I are expecting. He said hed file for divorce after your birthday.”
“Ah, now it makes sense. That scoundrelstill the same, isnt he? A leopard doesnt change its spots.”
“What do you mean? I dont follow.”
“Oh, I understand you perfectly. Where are you from?”
“A village outside Manchester. I worked at the factory.”
“Come to conquer the city, then? Alex cant stand babies crying. Whens yours due?”
“Two months.”
“Ha! No wonder hes dodging. Wants to spare his nerves. When our first was born, he moved in with his parentssaid he couldnt sleep for work. Though his jobs hardly back-breaking.”
“Will you tell me how he is?”
“Why not? Stable but serious. Dont fretyour eyes are popping. Hell live.”
“What should I do?”
“How should I know? You didnt ask my advice before hopping into bed with him.”
“Im in my third year at university, part-time. My mother and little brothers are at home. Ive nowhere to go. Alex said youve been like strangers for yearsthat he only stays for the children.”
“Did he now?” Lucy felt her patience fraying. “Leave me your number and address. Ill call you.”
“What for?”
“When hes discharged, you can fetch him.”
“Fetch him where?”
“To your mother and brothers.”
“Shes got no room.”
“Where are you staying now?”
“A hostel.”
“Well, theres your answer. Dont eye my flat. It was my nansuntouchable in a divorce. Why the blink? Hes no claim on my home.”
“Youre being cruel. We love each other.”
“Then live in a tent. Now scram, while Im still civil. You remember the door?” Lucy flung the pot into the sink, nearly scouring a hole in it.
Three sleepless nights had passed since Alexs accident. At first, the outlook was grim, but hed pulled through. Exhausted, Lucy answered the hospitals call: hed been moved to a ward, and shed need to care for him.
And now this pregnant waif had appeared, sniffing after her home. Oh, how she longed to drag Emily by her thin hair down five flights. But she was too drained, body and soul.
Head bowed, Lucy trudged toward the hospitalwhether to tend him or berate him, she wasnt sure. Well, shed “tend” him so fiercely hed regret it. At least hed spared her birthday.
Emily sat on a bench outside.
“Aunt Lucy! Aunt Lucy!”
“Persistent, arent you? Didnt I say all there was?”
“Arent you visiting Alex?”
“And?”
“Take me with you.”
Lucy said nothing. They walked in silence. On the bus, Emily sat beside her, but Lucy stared out the window as if they were strangers.
At the hospital, Lucy introduced Emily as a niece. “Wait here. Ill go first.”
Alex lay alone, his leg in traction.
His wife entered. He woke under her glare, mustering a weak smile. But Lucys heart was heavy.
He gazed at her with puppy-dog eyesa battered mongrel, bruised and broken.
“Hello, Alex.”
“Lucy! You came. Ive missed you.”
“Missed me, did you?”
She pulled homemade food from her bag, hands shaking.
“Roast potatoes and chops, just how you like. Eat before theyre cold.”
“Lucy, youre flushed. Are you ill?”
“Worse! I waited for you after your service, Alex. Defied my parents to marry you. Remember the years of baked beans? The sleepless nights with the boys? Have you forgotten everything?”
“As if I could. Lucy, why bring this up now?”
“Because its not all in the past, Alex.” A lump rose in her throat.
“Lucy, whats wrong?”
“Youve stabbed me in the back. Straight through the heart.”
“Lucy, forgive me. I didnt mean”
“How could you?”
“Lucy, well get another car”
“Blast the car!” She tossed oranges onto the bedside table.
“Then what? That I nearly died? I know I look rough”
“Dont fret over looks. Youll heal by autumngood as new.”
“Autumn? What?”
“Emily. Emily Carter. Ring any bells?”
“Who?”
“The girl carrying your child.”
“What child? Lucy, have you hit your head?”
“Me? You found some girl to knock up, and Im the mad one?” Tears spilled at last.
“Lucy, lets call a doctorthis is nerves”
“Nerves? I brought her. Shall I fetch your shameless Emily? Shes planning to move into my flat after you divorce me this autumnafter my birthday!”
Alex turned ashen, speechless.
“Cat got your tongue?” She flung the door open. “Emily! Get in here!”
The girl entered, hand on her back. Her eyes dartedthen froze.
“Wheres my Alex?”
“Whos this?”
“Aunt Lucy, is this a joke? This bald man isnt my Alex.”
“What?”
“Mines young and handsome. Ive a photo.” She fumbled with her phone. “Here we are.”
“Youve got the wrong Alex?” Lucys lips twitched.
As Alex gaped and Emily flushed, Lucy collapsed onto a vacant bed, howling with laughter.
“Wait!” She caught Emilys arm. “Explain properly.”
And so Lucy learned the truth: her Alex had given the wrong address. Whod have guessed another Alex lived there?
She rallied friends and tracked down the right oneunharmed, never hospitalised. Hed lied to shake Emily off, never intending to divorce his wife.
Fate had brought them together. Lucy, warm-hearted, didnt turn away. She helped Emily find a flat, collected her from the hospital, and ensured the cad paid child support.
The feckless father stayed absent, but the money arrived on timehe knew Lucy would hunt him down otherwise. Shed not forgotten whod carelessly given her address.
Thank goodness shed taken Emily to the hospital. The girl called her “Mother Lucy, my guardian angel.”
Years later, Lucy introduced Emily to a decent man from her circle, arranged the wedding, and danced as guest of honour.
So Mother Lucy kept her own joyand gave it to others.
