In her childhood, lively and mischievous Molly was lovingly called “Sunshine” by her family. With her fiery red hair and sparkling laughter, she had an energy that made her one of lifes bright sparks from the very start.
Molly grew up bathed in the warmth of her parents’ love, and the gentle affection of both sets of grandparents. She received abundant care and attention throughout her early years and youth, so even as young adulthood crept up, she never lost the habit of sharing her warmth with those around her.
As she matured, Mollys cheery spirit stayed with her. Everything seemed to go her way, and anything she tried her hand at, she managed with a spark in her eye. She studied with enthusiasm, helped about the house as though it were a game, and was not one for fuss or contradiction.
Her gran once mused, “I look at Molly and think, shes not especially pretty, but I cant take my eyes off her. Her hair shines like spun gold, and her eyesI swear, they glitter like stars. And her temperament! Light as a feather.”
“Thats the best bit about Molly,” nodded her mother, Elizabeth, “If she was a true beauty, thered be more to envy. This way, shes loved for her warmth.”
“Envy might be a lesser concern,” said Gran, “but therell always be those drawn to her fire, wanting to bask in her glow or, worse, smother her flame altogether.”
Elizabeth kept quiet but thought to herself that her daughter wasnt just cheerful and charmingshe was quick-witted too, never at a loss for words. Shed never start a row, but shed quickly put anyone in their place if they tried to step out of line. It came from her keen sense of fairness and a good measure of self-respect.
Friends would descend on Mollys house in droves. Her parents sometimes sighed at the crowd, but always made them welcome, finding warmth in seeing how much people were naturally drawn to their daughter.
In time, the local lads began to take notice of the red-haired, dimpled Molly, inviting her for walks or surprising her with wildflowers, hopeful for a laugh or perhaps a kiss. None, however, ever truly touched her heart. Mollys laughter was clear as a bell, and with an apt word she would put boors and pushy types in their place. Shed befriend the boys but kept her heart untouched.
Then, love arrived. It was nothing like her previous suitors; perhaps thats why Oliver managed to catch her unawares, as deftly as one might a little bird.
Molly was studying at a teachers college and thought of becoming a foreign language teacher. She met Oliver at a large university eventhed graduated and was now in postgraduate studies, working successfully for a thriving London firm.
When Oliver, tall, charming, and impeccably dressed, struck up a conversation, Molly wasnt flustered in the leastshed met plenty with wit and style before. Yet the more they spoke, the clearer it became he was unlike anyone else in her circle.
He spoke beautifully, could hold his own on any subjectEnglish or foreign poetry, music, art, politicsyou name it. He did so without arrogance, always with sincerity, and genuinely listened with interest.
“Shall we move past all this formality?” suggested Oliver with a smile. “Weve been nattering away for ageslets talk like old friends.”
“Lets,” Molly replied, her smile as broad as ever. She liked this gentlemanly, interesting chap. A funny sort of feeling stirred inside her, one shed not known before.
“Your eyes,” Oliver murmured, “I could lose myself in them. Never seen eyes quite like yours. And that smilewell, it sends a warm tingle all up my arms. Sorry, that was rather forward.”
“Dont worry,” Molly answered, cheeks tinged pink, secretly pleased by his words.
She surprised herself. Usually lively and bold, Molly found herself a little shy for onceand her knees even felt a bit wobbly. Annoyed with herself, she gave her side a little pinch, but Oliver caught her at it.
“Why on earth are you pinching yourself?” he whispered, wide-eyed.
Molly realised how odd it must have looked, and burst into laughter. Oliver followed suit, and the people around started to glance their way, pretending not to notice. It was plain to seesomething was blossoming. Her eyes sparkled; he couldnt look away.
Molly and Oliver started courting. She soon learned he was from a good familyhis parents were comfortably off and had already bought him a flat. Molly had always thought that sort of young man would be haughty and entitledand certainly incapable of deep feeling.
But Oliver was quite the opposite: gentle in his affection, ever respectful, and never tried to dominate. He was endlessly interesting. If Molly brought up a lecture that impressed her, Oliver always joined the conversation, listened to her thoughts, and shared his own.
“Ive never been like this,” Oliver confessed one day, “I see you every day, and the moment we part, Im missing you already.”
“Me too,” Molly admitted softly, blushing anew. He reached corners of her heart no one else had found.
Oliver soon brought Molly home to meet his parents. His father was often away on business, but one meeting was enoughhe warmly approved of his sons choice. Mrs. Mary Neville, Olivers mother, was thoroughly charmed.
“Shes a marvel!” Mary declared after Mollys visit. “I never thought such girls existedsweet and genuine. Not a rare beauty, but a joy to look at. I could watch her and listen to her lovely bell-like voice all day!”
“I didnt realise Id find such a treasure,” Oliver replied. “Shes my little rainbow-bird. When shes near, everythings brighter.”
“Shes eighteen, at least?” asked Mary.
“She isnearly twenty,” Oliver nodded.
“What are you waiting for, then?” his mother cried. “Ask her to marry you before another lad whisks this treasure away!”
“You and Dad always said not to rush marriage,” Oliver said, a little surprised.
“Thats for fear you’d be snapped up by someone after your money or your flat,” Mary said. “Fall for the wrong sort and shell cling like ivy, give you a brood, and never do a thing about the house. Best youll get is paying her maintenance.”
“Molly’s nothing like that,” Oliver protested. “Shes simple and cheerful, with a good heart, and already keeps house well enough.”
“Exactly my point,” agreed Mary. “So dont delay. We support you both.”
Molly never thought shed wed while still a student, but when Oliver proposed, she instantly said yes. She was certain her parents would approve, and so they did. Both grandmas gave their blessing, too. After announcing the engagement over tea, though, the table briefly fell silent.
“Darling, are you sure you dont want to wait a bit?” Elizabeth asked gently. She liked Oliver very much but hadnt expected her daughter’s first love to turn straight into marriage.
“Mum, Ill be twenty soon. Werent you my age when I was born?” Molly replied.
“True, but” Elizabeth sighed, unable to finish her thought, a strange unease settling over her.
Gran shook her headshe knew the young heed only their hearts, and she wouldn’t talk Molly out of her choice, though her heart ached knowing her carefree granddaughter would soon be a wife, and perhaps a mother.
Mollys father, George, didnt object. He was not a man to impose his will. He kissed his daughter, ruffled her hair, and promised to support her however he could.
Molly sensed her familys reluctance to see her join another household, but she was too happy to dwell on it. She poured out her joy to her friend Amy, but even she was pensive.
“Olivers a handsome chap and bright, and he does seem to love you,” Amy noted. “But do you really know him?”
“Of course I do!” laughed Molly.
“Youve only been together a few months,” Amy insisted. “He could be stingy.”
“Hes the most generous there is!” laughed Molly again. “He brings flowers, bought me a lovely ring just recentlyif we marry, Ill have to handle our finances or hell spend the lot.”
“Maybe his mothers a dragon?” Amy wondered aloud. “If his mum dislikes you, it’s misery ahead.”
“Marys wonderful,” Molly grinned. “She liked me right awayshes the one who encouraged Oliver to propose!”
“Perhaps he drinks? Or smokes?”
“Neither, not a drop nor a puff!”
“Untidy, then? Will he leave socks everywhere?”
Molly burst into laughter. Oliver was fastidious, tidy at home, and always sharply dressed.
“Well, then, I wish you all happiness,” Amy conceded. The friends hugged, and Molly hurried home to prepare for her seminars and lecturessoon shed be a wife with less time for study.
The wedding was merry but small. Their parents were ready to throw a big do, but it was decided better to save the extra pounds for the newlyweds. They could spend it as they pleased.
“In summer, let’s travel somewhere!” Oliver suggested. “Well both be freeholiday for me, break for you. Now, we play at being married folk first.”
“Id love that,” Molly replied with her sunshine smile.
Oliver gazed at her, head over heels. He didnt imagine, in those early days, that his rainbow-birds smile would become so rare, and soon her bright eyes would lose their shimmer.
Molly knew family life could be tricky, but she never expected trouble would appear the very next day.
“Molly, youre awfully messy at cooking,” Oliver sighed, coming into the kitchen. “Bits of carrot here, beetroot there”
“Im making stew, love,” Molly replied, dicing away. “Ill clear up when Im done.”
“If you wait that long, the kitchenll look like a tip,” muttered Oliver, grabbing a brush to tidy up as she worked, fussing and mumbling about order and mess.
The next morning, Molly made Turkish coffee for both of them, poured it neatly, and began slicing cheese and ham for breakfast.
“Molly, youve splashed coffee everywhere!” Oliver huffed. “I dont have time each morning to wipe up after you.”
“Sit, eat. Ill wipe it after,” she said cheerfully, then stared at the tablethere was barely a drop to be seen.
“You wouldnt notice,” Oliver sighed, “Youre not attentive. A drop here, one theresoon we wont know our own kitchen.”
“Dont fuss,” Molly smiled. “Once weve eaten, Ill clean up.”
She downed her coffee quickly and skipped her toast, wanting to avoid missing her lectures.
“Molly, would you not rinse the mugs?” Oliver fussed with an arch expression.
“If theres time, I will; if not, Ill do it in the evening. Or you could wash them,” Molly replied.
Oliver pouted. His wife stood brushing her hair in the mirror, leaving dirty crockery. His own mother would never have allowed that.
With a sigh, he washed the mugs himself but felt vaguely wronged.
“Ive got a grand idea for the weekend!” Molly chirped one evening as they dined on her delicious roast chicken.
“Deep clean the place?” Oliver replied, eyes on his plate.
“Oh, so droll,” Molly squinted. “No, of course not.”
“I rather thought you might,” Oliver shrugged. “Were due a proper cleaning.”
“Why?” Molly asked, baffled. “If we keep up regularly, theres no need for marathons.”
“Youre right about keeping up,” Oliver said pointedly, “But you dont do that.”
Molly frowned. She dusted, vacuumed, and cleaned quickly, having learned to treat it as something to be done lightly, not as a dreary duty. Hours scrubbing seemed a total bore. A big thorough clean two or three times a year was plenty.
“Twice a year?” Oliver gasped, looking quite alarmed.
“Love, I dont see your point,” Molly said seriously. “Youre fanatical about tidying, but I prefer clean enough, not spotless.”
“Its not me, Molly,” her husband insisted. “You have a problem with standards. I kept hoping youd settle and keep the place right, but its growing filthier by the day.”
Molly looked around in astonishment. The place was bright and clean. No dust, no mess. Shed washed the windows just yesterday. If Oliver was this particular, they should get the proper gadgets.
“Oliver, if you want everything spotless, we should buy a window cleanerits not expensive.”
“A window cleaner?” Oliver scoffed darkly. “A proper housewife relishes polishing her own nest. Youd pawn off cleaning on some soulless contraption!”
“Then the vacuum cleaner is soulless,” Molly replied calmly. “Lets not scorn modernitytheres wedding money left. Why not get a little dishwasher and a window cleaner?”
“Shall I fetch a robot vacuum while Im at it?” Oliver shrilled.
He looked aghast at his wife. Who had he married? Hed speak to his mothershed know how to explain home-making.
Mary listened solemnly to her sons complaints, then invited Molly for tea. She told her about moving to her new husbands country house years agono piped water, no washing machine. Housework in the city had been a joy by comparison, Mary said, and she cherished keeping the home spotless.
Molly left that visit with a heaviness in her heart. Mary had been kind, but Molly felt weighed down, both by her mother-in-law and her husband. Oliver was a good manhe didnt drink, didnt smoke, was polite and earnest about cleanliness. So why did she feel increasingly burdened?
That was the label Oliver started to give her nowuntidy, messy Molly. Hed say it as he hugged and kissed her, then quietly point out a dusty patch in a corner Molly couldnt even spot.
Shed once longed for weekendsoutings with Oliver, strolls in the park, or meeting friends. Now, she obsessed over scrubbing the house to Olivers satisfaction.
She dreamt one night of collapsing from endless cleaning, with Oliver and Mary hunting for a speck of dust. Molly now waited for her husband with dread, not joy.
“When did you last clean the light fixture?” Oliver asked one evening after dinner. Everything gleamed. Molly checkedthere was nothing to criticise. But Oliver gazed up, spotted a speck on the chandelierdamn the thing!
Oliver, trying to please her for her birthday, invited all her college mates and did most of the prepping himself, even roping in his mother for cake. Yet, the following day, the sniping returned.
“We had dozens of people here, and you still didnt clean the loo?” Oliver huffed.
“I did clean it!” Molly snappedprivately cursing the party and how shed had to scrub every inch afterwards, not that it was truly dirty, but because Oliver would nitpick regardless.
“Not well,” he complained. “Its unhygienic. Dont you see?”
At times, Molly meekly complied to avoid rowsothers she bit back. Sometimes she dreamt of waking up truly free, with no scrutinising spouse hovering. She could leave, couldnt she? But she imagined telling her mum or gran: Is he drinking? Does he hit you? Is he cruel or absent? Has he found another?
“No,” Molly would think, “he just wants the house spotless, and Im apparently a slattern,” scrubbing the floors as she ruminated.
Soon Olivers complaints moved from cleanliness to her fading sparkle.
“I dont see your usual dazzling smile,” hed observe. “Your eyes used to make me feel I could fly. Now, your light seems dimmed.”
Molly tried. She forced a smile, but it was always wan. Her eyes, however she tried, were perpetually sad.
One day, Oliver went away for work. Elizabeth decided to visit. Shed never been to Mollys new home, but motherly worry won out. Shed sensed, from brief visits, her daughter wasnt herself.
Elizabeth was shocked to see Molly answer, cleaning cloth in hand, and even while pouring tea couldnt stop wiping things down.
“Sit, darling, have tea. Lets talk,” Elizabeth said gently.
“You drink, Mum, Ill carry on,” Molly replied. “Sorry its such a mess.”
“A mess?” Elizabeth exclaimed. She glanced aroundeverywhere sparkled. “Theres not a speck! Windows gleam, tables shine. But”
“But what?” Molly fretted. “Are the walls grimy?”
“Not at all,” Elizabeth shook her head sadly. “But your eyesgone flat. Theres no light. Tell me truly, whats wrong, my sunshine?”
Molly shook her head, dropped into a chair, cloth still clasped, and told her mother everything.
Elizabeth listened, speechless at how her bright spark of a daughter had become this weary soul. Even Mollys golden hair seemed dulled, her dimples faded, her skin grey.
“Why didnt you say sooner, love?” Elizabeth asked quietly. “I wanted only to let you live your life.”
“And rightly so,” Molly replied sadly. “Even if youd meddled, you cant help a messy daughter. Oliver reminds me often enough.”
“Hes a fool!” Elizabeth exclaimed, gathering her things to leave, but not before giving Molly the warmest hug, whispering thanks in her ear.
“For what, my kitten?” Elizabeth asked tearfully.
“For listening and not judging,” Molly said, and for the first time in months, felt a little lighter.
Elizabeth told George all that was happening in Mollys home. Calm and reserved as he usually was, even George was roused.
“Were fetching her home tomorrow, without argument,” he declared.
“But youve never forced your views, not even with Molly,” Elizabeth smiled.
“This times different,” George replied, fists clenching with unspoken fury at his son-in-law. “Our daughter’s happiness comes first now.”
The next morning, Mollys parents fetched herOliver still away, unable to intervene. Molly was flustered, but her fathers resolve was enough. As she packed, she realised a quiet joy in yielding to her parents this once. Her father meant to rescue her from the snare shed fallen into by youth and inexperience.
She felt shame for Oliverknew it wasnt right to leave him thus, so she called with the news.
“Sorry, Oliver, but its over. I cant go on. I failed as your wifeI couldnt make myself happy, or you either.”
Oliver was baffled and pleaded by phone, tried everything to change her mindeven promised a dishwasher and gadgets for spotless windows. But Molly wanted none of it.
On the day they stood in the registry office to file for divorce, Oliver was still pleading. Molly was resolute.
Months later, Oliver passed Molly by chance in the street, and his heart nearly stopped. Her eyes sparkled, her smile radiated warmth once more, her red hair glowed. She truly was his rainbow-birdjust to see her painted the world bright again.
She smiled widely at her former husbanda warm, unforgettable smile. For a fleeting moment, Oliver thought of reconciliation, but let the idea go. He knew hed lost his rainbow-bird for ever.
