LOVE BELIEVES ALL
My granddaughter visits my husband and me often. Emily brings us groceries and helps unravel the mysteries of new gadgets. Together, we bake pies and cakes, swap recipes, and confide in each other with things wed never say aloud to anyone elsethose secrets tucked deep in our souls.
Today, Emily arrived with tears brimming in her eyes.
Theres a ritual we share: whenever shes troubled, we sit down together and reason through what might be done, how best to steer her way out of the quagmire. The final word is always hers; I never force my opinions on her. My task is to let her vent, to help her regain her calm.
Granny, put the kettle on, we need to talk! Emily announced as soon as the door swung open.
She handed me a box of cupcakes, some bags of chocolates, and a net of oranges, then slipped off to the sitting room to say hello to Granddad. I quietly walked to the kitchen and filled the teapotblack tea with bergamot, Emilys favourite. She swears its the elixir of truth. I tend to agree. Tea is miraculous: it revives the spirits, soothes the nerves, and keeps hope and faith anchored, without which, life would hardly mean a thing.
I suppose its not just the tea, but the gentle, trusting atmosphere that lets us drop every pretence, every mask. I do my best to be not only a grandmother to Emily but a friend she can confess her faults to, without fear of judgement. Im proud she opens her heart to me.
I sliced an orange and popped the wedges into our steaming teacups. On the table, I set out cherry jam, sweets, raisin cakes, and some still-warm scones with clotted creamalmost as though Id known Emily would pop round. Only ten minutes before she arrived, Id pulled the last batch fresh from the oven.
I didnt rush her. Theres time for everything.
When her tea was nearly gone and her thoughts gathered, Emily finally spoke.
Granny, I wanted to talk to you about Ben. You know himhes the one who set up Granddads laptop and mobile a while ago. Do you remember?
I noddedof course, I remembered Ben, especially since Emily had talked of little else lately.
So, yes. I did as you advised. I paid attention to how Ben treats me, my parents, his friends, even how he handles money and belongings. Granny, hes got so many good qualities. I think I really like him. Do you think thats possible?
I poured her another cup and nodded.
I think so, love.
Last night, Emily went on, Ben told me he loves methough hes said so before. But then, Granny, he proposed. Properly, just as in the films, with flowers and balloons! He got down on one knee, pulled out a box with a ring, and slipped it onto my finger. Lookits so lovely!
She held out her handa pretty gold ring gleamed there, with a little stone that winked in the light.
I was overjoyed and at the same time, frightened. Can you understand? Emilys brows arched in anxiety, her expression like a lost child in a busy shop.
I smiled and nodded gently.
I accepted the ring, Granny, but told Ben Id need a week to think things through.
She watched me closely, searching for my reaction.
I listened carefully, sifting through her words, trying to catch a glimpse of what was really going on in that heart of hers.
Experience is something I pass to Emily in tiny morsels. I never pour out a whole sack of hard-won wisdom; it does little good coming all at once, and she wouldnt suddenly grow wise from a handful of seeds. At her age, it takes time to nurture them, let them take root, and yield any harvest.
Its a huge decision, she said, nibbling a scone, Maybe the biggest of my life. I cant afford to mess it up.
Think carefully, my dear, then give your answer. Measure twice, cut once, I replied, offering her an old English saying.
Oh Granny, Im so scared! This is for life! Emilys eyes searched mine, full of dread.
Do you love Ben? I asked. And be honest with yourself, sweetheart. If you hesitate, wellyouve got your answer.
After a moments silence, Emily murmured, I do, then closed her eyes.
She sat at the table for a long time. Her tea had gone cold, but she still stared into her cup, silent.
At last, she stood up, came round behind me, and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.
Granny, when Granddad asked you to marry him, did you have any doubts? Did you really know youd be with him for better or for worse, richer or poorer, till death parted you? Were you sure? Emilys voice was barely more than a hush.
Old, flickering memories surged through my mind like scenes from an ancient black-and-white film. The joyful moments of my youthalong with the not-so-joyfulflashed by in vivid detail.
I remembered Michael and me, sitting on a park bench in the evening, the summer breeze gently stirring the leaves. I could see he wanted to tell me something important.
I was eighteen, he was twenty-three. I thought I knew everything about him, but in truth, I didnt even really know myself.
Come here, pet, let me see your eyes, I said, bringing myself back to the present. You asked if I knew your Granddad was the right one for me.
Emily filled the kettle.
Yes, Granny, I want to know, she said earnestly.
I loved Michael completely, before and after the wedding. Everyone knows that. As the years go by, I keep falling in love with him all over again. I want to know everything about him. I adore watching him water my roses in the garden, seeing how thoughtful and wise he is. Watching him pour my coffee in the mornings. Kissing his nose, his lips, his cheeks. Spoiling him with crumpets, puddings, and cakes. Dreaming and breathing with himjust sitting together in silence. Sometimes you dont need words. With him, I always feel like a little girl again. And thats precious. Do you know what Michael says to me?
He calls me, My darling, youll always be the young Cathy I used to sneak apples for from the neighbours tree. Youre my one and only, the soul wholl always believe in me.
But to answer your question, Emilydid I trust Michael? I trusted him more than I trusted my own kin. Over time, we became closer than familyour souls, thoughts, and dreams intertwined.
I decided to share a story Id never told anyone, not even Emilys mum.
A couple of weeks before our wedding, Michael rented a flatwe wanted our own space. He moved in and decided to do a bit of decorating. My mother, using her contacts, got him some paint; he wanted to repaint the kitchen and window frames.
That day I was at work, and Mum decided shed drop the paint round at Michaels, maybe help him a bit. He was meant to come from a night shift that morning. When Mum arrived and knocked, nobody answered. From behind the front door she could hear voicesone man and one woman. She kept knocking, but said he wouldnt let her in because he was with another woman.
Mum sat on the bench out front for a solid two hours, but no one came out.
When I got home, Mum told me everything.
Your fiancé, she sneered, was in the flat with some hussy. Ignored me at the door and carried on flirting. Want to guess what else they got up to?
My heart broke. How could Michael have done this to me?
Of course, this was the age before mobiles, and he didnt have a landline in the flat, so we couldnt even speak.
That evening, Michael came round to ours as if nothing had happened. Mum answered the doorI didnt want to see him.
What followed was chaosMum shouting, accusing him of cheating. Michael said nothing, not a word, just listened. Then, when her voice finally wore out, he quietly said hed not been home all day. Hed been alone at the garage, tinkering with his fathers old motorbike, which hed managed to break even further. The voices Mum had heard? Hed left the radio on in the flat. He swore the conversation she heard came not from him, but from the wireless.
What do you take me for, an idiot? my mother yelled. I heard two voicesyours and your fancy womans. You were having a laugh at my expense. Cathy! Come here! Have a look at this rascal.
I forced myself to go into the living room.
Michael stood there, pale as a sheet, Mum beside herself with rage.
Cathy! I swear I did nothing wrong. I was at the garage all day. The radio was on. Please, believe me, Im not lying to you, Michael pleaded, hope in his eyes.
I couldnt bear to look at Michaelwhat if I was wrong to trust him? Finally, I mustered the courage to look him in the eye. Emily, I swearin his eyes, there was more honesty than in all of Mums evidence.
What, Cathy, you trust him over your own mother? Mum fumed in disbelief.
Yes, Michael. I believe you, I said firmly.
From then on, Michael and I made it a rulespeak the truth to one another, no matter what, and trust each other, even if the whole world doubts us. Were a team, for life, no matter what comes.
What a story! Emily exclaimed. Granny, why havent you told me that before?
There was never a reason to, I told her.
At that moment, Michael popped his head round the kitchen door. Mind if I join you two? Emily, pour me a cuppa then lets have a game of cards. And just so you know, no matter how hard you try, you wont beat me
Love always believes, always hopes. If its real, that is.
