Family Secrets
It was long ago now, but I still remember how Margaret returned from yet another journey. In those days, she was always travelling for work and, that morning, she hurried up the familiar stone stairs to her flat, heart beating with anticipation. The thought of her husbands delighted face made her smile, and she rang the bell eagerly. But the door remained closed. She pressed the bell again and again, thinking perhaps Charles was sound asleep, as he tended to be until sevenhis job didnt require him until nine. When no answer came, Margaret, with a sigh, rummaged through the depths of her handbag, found her key, and let herself in.
Charlie, Im home! Where are you, darling?
Where on earth could he be at this hour? Normally, he would be tucked up in bed. The bedroom was perfectly neat, the bed made. The kitchen, too, was spotless, and the meal shed prepared before leaving sat untouched in the fridge.
I dont understand Could Charlie truly be having an affair? All those times Ive been away from Londonwas he staying with some other woman?
A dreadful sense of foreboding settled over her, squeezing her heart and bringing hot tears to her eyes. She sank to the living room floor, eyes fixed on her suitcase. Inside were the usual trinkets and gifts shed gathered for her husband during her travels; this time, a rare sake, slipped through customs by luck or fate. Abruptly, she stood up, dashed away her tears, and dialed Charless number. All she wanted was to give him a piece of her mind, but the phone refused to connect; only the operators voice came through, repeating, The person you are calling is temporarily unavailable, please try again later.
So, that’s how it is, she muttered bitterly, you even turned off your mobile to make sure you wouldn’t be disturbed
Margaret paced from room to room with the restless ferocity of a lioness, muttering aloudher usual habit when upset or agitated. Exhausted from her flight and worn down by confusion, she made herself a strong cup of tea, lit a cigarette, and let her mind wander to darker places. She kept thinking, where had she gone wrong? Charles had been such a simple, straightforward man when theyd met, and she fell head over heels for him from the start.
She remembered every detail of their first encounter: shed gone to the local garage to have her oil changed, and there he was, covered in grease but smiling warmly. Something about him melted the heart of the young stewardess, and she found herself giving him her card. He telephoned that very evening; they spoke through the night. She found out hed grown up in an orphanage and moved straight into work at the garage once he finished school. Margaret, too, had been raised in a childrens homeshe understood the hardships he’d faced. Memories flooded back of the horror she endured at fourteen, when the homes director assaulted her. The scandal was public; the man was tried and imprisoned, but the pain remained. Shed fallen pregnant and endured a lonely, secret abortion. Ever since, Margaret found it hard to trust men, especially those much older than herself. If it hadnt been for the new matron, who took her for counselling and helped her thrive after leaving the homehelped her get into the Civil Aviation universityMargarets life might have been very different. Now, she was a stewardess, living in a comfortable three-bedroom London flat, driving a shiny new Mini. She had it allexcept a settled personal life.
Her first serious relationship lasted three years, but ended when she learned shed never be able to have children, the result of that terrible ordeal in her youth. Recovery was slow, but eventually she met Peter, who surrounded her with kindness and made her feel as though she were living a fairytaleuntil, of course, she found hed been married all along. She ended things herself, determined never to be made a fool of again.
She swore off men, but there was something about Charleshis unpretentious honestyshe simply couldnt resist, so she made the first move. She was right to trust her instincts; they began seeing each other, and within a month were living together. A year passed, and they were marriedwith no formal ceremony, but Margaret didnt mind. She was just happy to be Charless wife. He was domestically inclined, never needing to be asked twice; he tidied up, cooked suppers, took out the rubbish, even redid the bathroom himself. On her days off, they wandered the parks hand in hand, never tiring of one anothers company. And now, she couldnt understand what would drive him to betrayal.
She checked her reflection in the mirror. The navy blue of her stewardess uniform fit her like a glove. Her long chestnut hair was swept back, her large blue eyes reminiscent of a porcelain doll. Doffing her uniform and donning her jogging suit, she walked out to the Mini and, after some thought, drove to Charless garage. He wasnt there, but his mates told her hed taken two days off for family matters.
Theyd never had any trouble at home before, so Margarets suspicions grew. She drove around the city for a while, trying to clear her head, before making her way home. Hours passed; still no word from Charles. By evening, her unease had become panic. She spent the whole night awake, waiting for dawn, then rushed out to the police station to file a missing persons report.
They found Charles quickly, within a day, but what unfolded next seemed little short of a nightmare.
Hed been in a car crash and was lying in a ward at the local hospitalnot the main city one, she was told, but the nearest to where the accident occurred. While Margaret tried to collect herself, a young woman with tired eyes and a faded jacket approached.
You must be Charlies wife?
Thats right. And you are?
Im Im the mother of his daughter.
Margaret stared, stunned. That cant be possible.
Oh, its possible, alright. We were married once. I drank too much, he couldnt stand it, so we split. I left our daughter with my mum and headed to the city to find work. Took up with another bloke there, but hes not fussed about raising a child not his own. Charlie did what he could, sent my mum money when he could manage it. My mums passed on now, though, and theres no one to look after little Mary. Iwell, for reasons best left unsaid, I cant. And Charlie, he didnt want to burden you, since hed never told you about Mary. I was going to put her in care, but Charlie wouldnt hear of it; said he’d take her in. Only, he crashed on his way Looks like Ill have to send her to the childrens home after all
Waitbring the girl here, please. If Charles wanted to care for her, then thats what well do.
You mean it? You wont change your mind?
I wont.
The woman hurried off for the child, and Margaret collapsed, exhausted, into a chair in the corridor. How strange life can be, she thought. She, who could never bear children, offered a little girl no one wanted a home. And Charlesshed doubted him, but he hadnt betrayed herhed just carried a hidden sorrow, unable to share it for fear. There was much to be done: meeting Mary, helping a child already twice abandoned feel wanted, and nursing Charles back to health. But Margaret believed with all her heart that they would manage it together. Shed raise Mary as her own daughter, shed see her husband back on his feet. All would be wellas long as there were no more secrets between them.
