Its strange how life brings people together. After Dad passed away, Mum was lost in grief, and I could see it every day. Shes not old, thankfully still working, and her colleagues help distract her, but I do my best to keep her spirits up in the evenings.
Son, its so hard without your father. Remember how we used to play poker together? I loved it, you knowits my passion. Some women gossip, but Id rather play cards. Will you play poker with me?
Mum, you know cards arent really my thing.
One evening, I came home to find Mum with a guesta lively, slightly plump woman with a powdered face, full of energy. She was laughing and playing poker with Mum at the kitchen table.
Well, Mums found herself a partner. Thats good, I thought, relieved.
Good evening, I greeted.
Hello, she replied. Im Margaret, but you can call me Maggie. You must be Elaines son, she said, extending her hand.
Thats how we met. I have a spacious flat in central London, but Mum doesnt want to live alone since Dad died, so I stay with her. Im a devoted son and love her dearly. Maggie started visiting often, much younger than Mum, but they shared a love for cardsa rare bond.
I run my own business, started two years ago with Dads help. Im twenty-eight, still single, and graduated from university, but work keeps me busy and Im not quite established yet.
One night, while I was buried in paperwork, Maggie popped into my room.
Elaine said youre struggling with the numbers. Let me help, she said, diving into my accounts.
Within minutes, she spotted a mistake Id missed. I grimaced, embarrassed.
Thanks, Maggie, I muttered, and she left quietly.
The next evening, Mum brought it up at dinner.
Mark, youre such a lone wolf. Why dont you pay Maggie some attention? Shes a brilliant accountant. You should thank her properlytake her to the cinema or something.
I looked at Mum, surprised.
Mum, I said thank you. The cinema? Shes your friend Are you trying to set me up?
Shes not a model, but shes clever, knows her way around accounts, and cooks wonderfully. Most importantly, she likes youshe told me herself. Shed make a wonderful wife.
Mum?! Are you serious? Or is this all about the cards?
Mum blushed a little.
Mark, hire her. Shes a great specialist, and shes having trouble finding work
I listened and hired Maggie, making her my deputy. It was a good decisionsoon, the business started bringing in pounds.
Mark, when are you getting married? Mum kept asking. Its time to start a family.
I could have married ages ago, but none of the women Id brought to my empty flat felt right. Maggie, though, never gave up hope. She lost weight, dressed elegantly, but to me, she was always Mums friend.
One morning, rushing down the stairs, I knocked over a bucket of water and nearly collided with a young woman in a cleaners uniform. She was far too young for the job, probably just out of school. I apologised and hurried off, but thought about her all the way to the office. Mum had mentioned her beforeI should ask for details.
That evening, over dinner, I asked Mum about the cleaner.
Oh, thats Faith from the next block. She lives with her mum and gran in a two-bedroom flat. Her grans bedridden, so Faith works to help out.
Faiths mum is a pretty woman, always hoping to remarry but never lucky with men. She had Faith young, and Faiths father vanished as soon as he heard about the pregnancy.
Sometimes a man would visit their flat, once staying nearly a month. Faith was eight then and asked him, Uncle Nick, can I call you Dad?
Why? Ive got my own kids, and youre nothing to me. Just an extra with your mum and gran
Faith was hurt but said nothing to her mum, and Uncle Nick left three days later. Faith was relieved. Her gran worried too, knowing not every man would want to live with a bedridden old woman.
If only I had my own room, Gran would sigh. Im stuck in the hallwaywhod want to dodge past an old lady in bed?
Mum, do you think Ive got the energy to look for a man? I just want to sleep. I work shifts, cook, feed and wash you, do massages. At least Faith helps, but shes busy too.
Gran noticed Faith never went to the cinema, out with friends, or dated boys. She studied at university, on a scholarship, choosing the closest one to home so she could manage everything.
Faiths internship was at a small firm, just a few bus stops away. She was shocked when she walked into the directors office and saw meMark Robinson from the next block. Id nearly knocked her over once when she was cleaning. She hoped I wouldnt recognise her.
She was embarrassed, but I did recognise her.
Faith, my neighbour? She blushed and nodded.
Faith worked hard and did well, even I noticed. Maggie, though, watched her closely. She didnt like my idea of hiring internsespecially since some were attractive young women.
But soon she realised Faith wasnt a threat. Faith dressed plainly, wore little makeup, but had striking eyes. I noticed her and invited her to my office. Maggie saw, but I told her:
Margaret, please draw up a temporary contract for Faith.
Youre going to pay her? Shes just a student, Maggie said, surprised.
Yes, but shes promising. Ive watched hershes quick to learn. Once she graduates, we might offer her a job, if she wants it. Maggie didnt like it, but kept quiet.
Id recognised Faith as the cleaner from the block, and after asking Mum about her family, learned Faith and her mum had just buried her gran, borrowing money for the funeral. Thats why I offered her the temporary job. At first, I wanted to help by giving her cash, but when I called her to my office, she refused, looking at me with those deep blue eyes, so I said she was hired for a while.
Maggie and Mum played poker, and Maggie confided:
I think Marks slipping away from mehes interested in that quiet student girl.
Which girl?
Oh, from the next block. I know her, she used to clean the halls. Dont worry, Maggie, Ill keep an eye out. I doubt Mark will choose her. Shes not a beauty, very modest Just make sure he doesnt hire her permanently.
Neither of them realised my feelings for Faith had grown beyond work. I couldnt stop thinking about her, but didnt know how to approach her. As director, I could always discuss work and maybe more.
Eventually, I called her in, talked business, then drifted into a casual chat. I felt it wasnt a coincidence wed collided in the hallwayit was fate.
Faith is so well-read, I thought as she left. Shes wise beyond her years, loves philosophy, and, best of all, has no interest in cardswhich suits me perfectly.
She nodded happily when I told her wed keep a place for her after graduation.
But Faith didnt come back after the agreed time. I regretted not getting her phone number. I asked Maggie for her file, but shed erased Faiths number, sensing something. She congratulated herself for it.
But Maggie hadnt expected me to go to Faiths home, using the address from her file.
Nervous as a schoolboy, I rang Faiths doorbell. A man answered, but Faith appeared quickly.
Nicholas, hes here for me. Thats Mums partner, she said dismissively. Mark Robinson, what brings you here? Faith was flustered. Im glad you caught meIm moving out, renting a room in a shared house. I dont want to stay here
Why didnt you come after graduation? We agreed you would.
Faith looked down.
I came to the office, but Margaret said there was no job for me.
I understood immediately.
Faith, forget the shared house. Theres a company flatstay there for now, and come to the office tomorrow. Theres a job for you. Actually, two, I laughed. Pack your things, give me your number, heres my card. Call when youre ready, and well help you move.
Three months later, Faith and I were married. I had to let Maggie go after a difficult conversation with her and Mum, but I apologised and even gave her a gift.
Faiths mum stayed with Nicholas, whom Faith disliked, so she rarely visited. Faith and I were happy, and soon we were expecting our first child.
