Lucy, 39, is about to have her first baby. Her mother, Mary, 62, laughs at the news. Its not too late for you, dear, she says, patting Lucys growing belly. Give it to God, love; Hell bless you with a bit of happiness.
Lucy lives with Mary in a modest cottage on the edge of a Kent village. Mary is spry, loves digging in the garden, and Lucy helps on weekends while she works as a geography teacher and deputy head at the local primary school.
On a cool Saturday morning Lucy gets up early to turn the vegetable beds. The summer has just turned swelteringly dry, but the heat isnt at its peak yet.
Morning, Lucy, calls Anne, the neighbour across the lane.
Anne isnt originally from the area; she married Michael, who brought her back when he was posted with the army in the north of England. They moved here while Anne was pregnant.
Hi, Annie, Lucy replies.
Did you hear that Aunt Margarets son has turned up? Anne says, echoing what her husband told her. His school friend Oliver stopped by last night.
Lucy straightens up and leans against the wooden fence.
Oliver, you say? Whats he doing here?
Exactly, Anne answers. Michael mentioned hes the only son Margaret has, though she also has a daughter.
Yes, I know Margarets older daughter, Olga, Lucy says, catching the name.
Hes not just visiting; hes thinking of staying. Michael told me hes a former serviceman, spent years in the Far East and on the coast, and now hes drawing a small pensionabout five thousand pounds a year. Hes almost forty and wants to become a farmer. Hes looking after a derelict farmstead and hopes to put up some glasshouses.
Did he come with his wife?
No, says Anne. Hes divorced, so were all single ladies watching the younger ones. Soon Aunt Margarets lot will be in a rush to sort things out. Anne bursts into laughter and waves away.
Lucy takes a deep breath. Annie, you dont realise I once planned to marry Oliver. It never happened; I ended up marrying Stephen. It wasnt my choice to pick a husband.
Lucy and Stephen live next door, while Oliver lives a short walk away on another lane. The three of them have been friends since childhood; Oliver is a year older than Lucy but was always the smallest. Stephen teased him, calling him little Oliver, but Oliver never took offense. By the time he was sixteen hed grown taller than Stephen, and everyone marveled at his sudden height.
Now Olivers taller than Stephen by a head, Lucy jokes.
Stephen remains the joker of the group, always quick with a quip. As they grew up, they stopped swimming in the river and fishing, and started heading to the village hall for dances and the local cinema.
Lucy, once an awkward girl, has become a striking beauty. The other girls envy her when she struts into the hall with two handsome lads at her side. Whispers follow her: which man will she choose? Both suitors are attractive but very different. Oliver is strong and dependable, Stephen is a merryhearted charmer.
Oliver finished school early, never went to university, trained as a driver, and then rejoined the army.
Friends, Oliver says, hugging Stephen and Lucy, Ill keep writing, and you write back.
Of course, Ollie, Stephen replies.
Ill be following you into the army, Stephen adds.
Oliver sends letters; Lucy and Stephen reply. Then Olivers letters stop coming.
Mrs. Margaret, why isnt Oliver writing? Lucy asks his mother. He used to write all the time, and hes supposed to finish his service soon and come back.
Mrs. Margaret sighs. Hes decided to sign a permanent contract and stay in the forces, so he wont be home for a while.
Lucy feels hurt. He never told me, and I was waiting.
No one knows that Lucy had already decided to marry Oliver, a secret even he didnt know. Stephens letters also cease. Stephens mother tells Mary that Stephen has been wounded in a hotspot overseas and is recovering in a hospital.
Why isnt he writing? Lucy asks.
He cant, his mother explains. A letter arrived saying his injury is minor; theyll discharge him soon. Hes hoping to see Lucy at the hospital, but he hasnt told her.
Lucy doesnt know Stephen had once written to Oliver asking him to join the army, nor that he had promised to propose to her after his recovery. From his hospital bed Stephen writes: Oliver, I will tell you everything later, but I still love Lucy and want to marry her. I realised this when I was close to death. Ill come home and ask her straight away. Please help me; she probably thinks of me as a friend.
All this is hidden from Lucy. Oliver never writes again. At last Stephen returns and blurts out, So, Lucy, when do we start sending matchmakers? She shrugs, halfjoking. Our friend isnt here yet; maybe when Oliver comes back well wait.
Stephen adds, By the day after tomorrow hell be here for two days, just passing through, his parents allowed him to come home.
Lucy stands alone. Oliver does arrive, and the three gather as they used to.
This evening Ill get everything settled, once and for all, Lucy decides.
The night doesnt go as she hoped. The conversation stalls, jokes fall flat, and Oliver remains unusually quiet. When everyone leaves, Lucy follows Oliver to the front garden.
Stephen wants to propose? He dreams of marrying me? she asks Oliver.
I know he replies.
And how do you feel about me?
It doesnt matter now, Oliver says. He wants to marry you, and I wont stand in his way.
So you all decided for me without asking me? Maybe I love you, not Stephen, Lucy says, then rushes home, hoping Oliver would stop her. He doesnt. The next morning she learns Oliver has left town.
She eventually gives her consent to Stephen; they marry, but the marriage brings no happiness. After a while Lucy becomes pregnant but cannot carry the baby to term, and they have no more children.
Stephen senses that Lucy doesnt love him. He starts drinking heavily and picking fights. He shouldnt drink after his lingering wound, but he does. They live like neighbours, and soon Stephen moves north for work and dies in a car crash.
One afternoon Lucy stands in the hallway before the mirror when a tall, wellbuilt man steps through the garden gate. Its Oliver, returning from his service in the Scottish Highlands and later on the coast. He never comes back to his hometown; he buys his parents seaside holidays, and they all vacation together. His marriage fell apart quickly.
None of the trio ever finds a smooth life. Lucy once had a choice, but her friends made the decisions for her.
Lucy stands by the window, looking at her reflection, when the gate opens and a tall, dignified man walks in. She recognises Oliver instantly; her heart flutters. She smooths her hair and steps onto the porch.
Good thing Mums gone to the shop, she thinks, I should invite him in, otherwise the whole village will gossip.
Hello, why are you here? she asks bluntly.
Before her stands the same Oliver, looking healthier and stronger. His serious, attentive gaze pierces her, making her feel oddly uneasy.
Just wanted to talk, whats wrong with that? Oliver stammers.
Youve taken ages to get here. Come in.
He places a sleek leather bag on the table. Its a gift for you.
Why now, not when I was waiting for you? she asks.
I was on my way, but Stephen stopped me. He said if you dont marry him, he wont live. He asked me, as his best friend, to leave quickly. I understood; after his injury he could do anything
Why didnt anyone think of me?
Lucy, Im sorry. I loved you deeply, and I never wanted to hurt a friend. I still love you, Oliver steps forward and embraces her tightly.
From then on they stay together, marry, and Lucy expects a child. Soon a son is born, named Stephen after their late friend. Hes a healthy, sturdy little lad, a true little strongman, just like his father.
