I was waiting in the waiting room of the Birmingham GP surgery when Sophie hobbled in, clutching her leg. Shed twisted her ankle badly the night before and was barely able to put weight on it. A bald bloke darted past her, cutting in line and disappearing through the door right in front of her. Sophie collapsed onto the chair opposite me, exhausted, and muttered under her breath, Men never think of anyone else!
A woman sitting nearby heard her and replied, Hes been here twice already today, still cant get his prosthetic fitted. He mustve run a marathon, thats why hes so quick! She laughed aloud, Good lad, Andy, my neighbour. Lifes never been kind to him he lost his leg up to the knee and his wife left him. Thought hed drown his sorrows, but look at him now, limping along like a stickfigure. No kids, no family.
Just then the doctor emerged, a slight limp in his step, smiling. He winked at Sophie and the woman and said, Ladies, shall we get on with it? before heading for the exit.
Sophie managed a faint smile. The word ladies no longer fit her. Shed married young, a man twelve years her senior. Both of them were born under the sign of the Dog, and Paul, her husband, was a true dog lover. Within months theyd welcomed a golden retriever called Rex, and soon after Sophie discovered she was pregnant.
Friends gushed, What a perfect family a flat in the city, a car, a cottage up north, a dog, and a baby on the way. But at six months Sophie suffered a miscarriage; their little boy never got a chance. Paul tried to comfort her, then said, Were not as young as we used to be, but weve still got Rex. Sophie adored Rex; Paul took him to shows all the time, but a dog could never replace a child.
At one of those shows Paul met Olivia, a fellow breeder with a sleek Labrador. They hit it off, and soon Paul dropped a bomb on Sophie: Olivias expecting a child. Shes younger, will have a healthy baby. Shes like a freshfaced version of you, only younger. Olivia was indeed almost twenty years younger than Paul, and the universe seemed to favour her. Sophie began to feel old, as if life had sped past her in a flash. Retirements just around the corner, Paul would say, as though it applied to her too.
One week later, after her ankle had almost healed, Sophie returned to the surgery and ran into the same bald man again.
Excuse me, miss, please go ahead of me. I cut in earlier, he said, offering a sheepish grin. When she left the doctors room, he was still waiting by the door.
The next! shouted the nurse from the back.
Youre invited in, he called, his voice warm. Im Andy, and you are?
Sophie, she replied, a hint of amusement in her tone. If Im the pretty one, you dont look much like a cripple either.
They walked out together, Andy supporting her as she still limped. He pointed to a tiny café across the street. Lets pop in. Its cheap, tasty, and I havent had breakfast yet.
The conversation flowed easily. Andy suggested they meet again, and Sophie didnt refuse.
One afternoon, while they were sharing a scone, Andy confessed, Sophie, dont think Im in a rush, I just worry someone will overtake me at the next turn and Ill be left standing there again. Im a lame, bald man and youre a beautiful young lady. He paused, then, with a daring smile, Sophie, marry me. Dont say we barely know each other I want to spend the rest of my life learning everything about you. I have a flat, a steady job, Im strong enough for you. He fell silent, eyes searching hers. When she stayed quiet, he added, These days everyone wants a healthy, wealthy partner, not a cripple.
Sophie laughed, Andy, youre impossible, but Ill say yes!
Miraculously, after the wedding Sophie discovered she was pregnant almost immediately. She had never imagined bearing a child again after the loss; shed long thought that part of her life was over. Yet joy rushed over her like a tide, making her feel young, beautiful, and loved once more.
When their son was born, they named him Sam. Look at our little curlyhaired Sam, Sophie cooed, eyes shining.
Andy ran his hand over his bald scalp, I may be bald and a bit uneven now, but I used to be a goldenhaired lad. Look at our boy his eyes are yours, his curls yours. He chuckled.
Sophie pressed against him, I cant stop staring at Sam. It feels unreal that hes ours. She broke down, tears spilling, If wed never met, none of this would exist.
Andy, taken aback, whispered, Dont cry, love. Look at our son he had to be born. We met for a reason; without you Id have disappeared.
She wiped her tears, smiling through the lingering drops, Im crying from happiness at last. Her lashes glittered like tiny diamonds.
We were rich in the only way that mattered with a child and love. In England, as elsewhere, the greatest wealth is family, and true happiness lives in the heart.
