Hey love, let me tell you Immys wild ride. If anyone ever warned Imogen that shed become the cause of endless gossip and a rift between her dad and his son, shed have snapped that warning right back. Shes a simple, country girl, but she can stand up for herself when she needs to. Still, everything fell into place just like that, and even in her darkest nightmare she never imagined shed have to trek through all seven circles of hell to find happiness.
Imogen had just moved to Manchester, though shed begged her mum not to send her off to Aunt Margarets place. At the family meeting they decided Imogen was the one to go, simply because no one else was free. Her dad, Peter, used to be a tractor driver, but now the fields were swamped with work. Mum kept the farm going, and her siblings were either at school or in nursery.
She packed a tiny suitcase with the basics and headed to her aunts flatshed only ever seen Margaret once, at some cousins christening. Folks whispered that Margaret, with her sharp tongue, never got along with any of her three husbands. She had no kids, no heirs, so Imogens parents secretly hoped shed leave the flat to her niece. Thats exactly what happened, but Margaret treated Imogen kindly enough, yet kept her at arms length. She never asked about Imogens life and didnt let anyone in. So why keep Imogen around? Just because. Lately shed been scared of dying alone, of rotting unnoticed until some neighbour finally called the police because the smell got too bad.
Margaret had been battling a terminal illness for ages, knowing shed likely pass away tomorrow or the day after. To her, Imogen was a convenient ticket to a proper funeral and wake. Imogen didnt pry, she just washed, cooked, cleaned, ran errandseverything Margaret demanded. With no friends, the lonely village girl missed sitting on the park bench after a hard day, chatting with peers. In the city she barely left the flat; the only relief was the balcony, where she could watch young mums strolling with prams or older ladies gossiping by the lift. Her life split into two parts: the miserable grind of running errands for her ailing aunt, and the brief bliss when Margaret fell asleep after her painkillers. Then Imogen could brew a strong coffee, step out onto the balcony, and finally relax.
Soon she met a charming neighbour, Andrew, who also liked the balcony at the same hour. At first they just nodded, pretending not to notice each other, then exchanged greetings, and eventually their chats turned into the sort of youthful flirtation you see in teen dramas. Both would rush to the balcony hoping to catch a glimpse of the other. By the time Margaret passed, Imogen and Andrew were already close, even confessing their feelings. After the funeral Imogen told her parents she was staying in the city to study, even though they knew the real reason, and they didnt argue.
She was sure about her love, so she happily accepted Andrews proposal. Andrew lived alone after his mother remarried and moved to the States. His dad, a doctor, worked overseas in Kenya and only visited once a year on holiday. Their wedding was modest but full of laughter, and they felt like the luckiest couple on earth, finally getting to spend their lives side by side.
Andrew followed his fathers footsteps, training as a surgeon and landing a junior post at a city hospital. Wanting to keep up, Imogen did a short nursing course and got in. She imagined them saving lives together, but not every dream comes true.
Immy, dads coming in a week! Get ready, Andrews mum shouted one day.
Yeah? What does he like? We need groceries, a menu, a deep clean
Mum, relax! Its not the king of Kenya, just my dadhes a regular bloke.
Still Imogen fretted. Shed seen his photostall, tanned, a bit like a Spaniard or Turkbut looks can be deceiving. What if he turned out to be a snob or a perfectionist? What if Andrew thought she wasnt good enough and left? But when her dad, John Vasquez, finally arrived, he was nothing like those worries. He greeted Andrew and Imogen with a big kiss, apologized for missing the wedding, and showered them with gifts. He raved about Imogens stew, saying it was the best hed had in ages, then left to visit old friends. A month flew by, and John was back in Kenya, leaving the newlyweds on their own.
Sometimes Imogen didnt get why her motherinlaw seemed to want to swap John for someone else. John was a brilliant cook, whipping up delicate crêpes that would make any housewife jealous, and he often helped with chores, nudging Andrew: Lucky you, youve got a good wife look after Immy, mate, or youll lose yours.
Andrew would smile, thinking, Where would she go? Immy isnt the type to abandon everything. Even if she cheated, shed probably forgive and pretend nothing happened. Rural folk are simplelife revolves around kids, and they endure everything. He believed that was the truth, so when a nurse started flirting with him, he dove into a new affair, ignoring his own wifes nasty morning sickness that left her unable to cook. Hed come home full, eat with Karen, drive her home, then pretend to be exhausted and retreat upstairs. Immy seemed oblivious to the shift, lost in her own feelings. She was thrilled at the thought of becoming a mother but terrified she wouldnt manage, even though she had such a caring husband.
When Immy finally gave birth, the demands exploded. Milk ran short, the baby cried nonstop. Andrew snapped, demanding Immy calm the child while he retired to the lounge. When John visited again, he barely recognised his daughterinlaw. The oncecheerful, rosycheeked Immy was now pale and gaunt, a shadow of herself, while Andrew had thinned out, staying out late.
Help your wife out, will you? John asked.
Dad, shes home all day, could you at least look after the baby?
Someone new in your life? he pressed.
Why ask? she replied, I see how happy you look when youre off and how irritable you get when you come back.
Nothing serious, Dad.
Just make sure it doesnt turn into a disaster.
Immys to blame, shes not even looking like a woman now. Look at her hair, her face
Its your fault, you know. She hardly rests.
Alright, Im off, work wont wait!
Andrew barely listened to his father, assuming Immy should juggle everything at home. Only John seemed to understand her silently and pitched in wherever he could.
Immy, go hit the sack, Ill watch the grandbaby.
What if she gets hungry?
You think I cant mix a formula and feed her? I raised a proper ladyour husbandafter all.
Thanks to her fatherinlaw, Immy finally got some sleep. John would walk the baby, feed and rock her while Immy was busy, giving her a breather. She prayed every night for a woman who could bring John his own happiness. It was lonely for him in Kenya, and Immy found herself thinking about John more and more. He became more than a fatherinlawhe was a brother, a friend, a confidante. She could talk about anything with him, and hed always listen.
One day John noticed she seemed down.
Immy, you look glum.
Just
Here, take this money, get a fresh cut, colour, makeup, a manicure. Then hit the shops, buy something nice for yourself. Dont worry about the baby, Ill look after her.
Immy darted off, plantkissed John on the cheek, and rushed to the salon. By evening she was glowing, feeling like a new woman.
She thought about surprising Andrew and swung by the clinic where he worked.
Hello, Im looking for Dr. Andrew Vasquez.
Hes in, go right in.
She expected a warm reaction, but walked straight into a shocking scene: a young nurse perched on his lap, her coat halfbuttoned, clearly not for a medical exam. Immy bolted out of the consulting room, hailed a taxi, and burst into tears once home.
Whats wrong, love? Andrews mother asked.
Andrews cheating
Who told you?
I saw it with my own eyes
John gently pulled Immy into his lap, rubbing her head.
Cry it out, love, itll feel better. Ill talk to him, make him come home.
I cant stay here, Ill take the baby and leave.
Dont be foolish, where will you go? The village isnt a holiday resort, work is hard, and youve got a little one.
No one had held Immy like that for ages. Though Andrew and she had been sleeping in separate rooms for months, the tenderness of Johns scent and his soothing words spun her head round. He, too, felt a pull toward hershe was fragile, vulnerable, deserving of protection. He lifted her, carried her to the bedroom, and she didnt resist. Their secret stayed hidden, because Andrew, preoccupied with his own drama, never noticed. Immy felt both shame for the brief lapse and joy that someone loved her fiercely. She even started comparing Andrew to John, and sadly, John outshone him in every way.
Soon Immy discovered she was pregnant again. She didnt know what to doshe and Andrew had only been intimate a few months before, and hed surely suspect infidelity.
What are you worried about? Its great news! I never thought Id be a dad at fifty. Its up to you nowwill you marry me?
And Andrew?
What about him? I know we both messed up, but hes also to blame. Hell eventually walk out, but I love you and cant imagine life without you.
After a messy divorce, Immy and John married and moved to Kenya. Their families were baffled, the village gossiped that shed only pretended to be modest, and Andrew kept telling anyone whod listen how cruel his exwife and father had been. They didnt careboth were happy to have found each other and cherished every moment they shared.
