Harriet, Im getting married, Molly says, a nervous grin tugging at her lips, the ceremony is next Friday. Will you come? Id love to see you there.
Are you joking? Harriet snaps, the news chilling her inside as if a betrayal has just rippled through her. She never imagined hearing something so painful. She has always pitied Molly, wondering if anyone would ever take her as a wife.
Why the sudden news? Molly asks. Trevor and I have been together for six months now.
Why didnt you tell me? Harriet presses. Who is he? Ive never seen him. Where have you been hiding him?
Hiding him? Molly laughs. We work together at the building site most of the time, talking on breaks. I didnt expect anything to happen, and then he proposed and I said yes!
Is he also a painter like you? Harriet says dismissively, pursing her mouth.
Trevor does everything. He runs the construction firm Im employed by.
Harriets breath catches. She cant find a quick reply, watching her friend as if trying to gauge whether shes being pranked. Molly looks calm, far from anyone who would joke about this.
The two have been at the same school since Year 7, friends from the sixth form. Harriet has always been the better student, the prettier, slimmer one, always dressed more sharply, with boys orbiting her like satellites. No one ever notices Molly; Harriet feels sorry for her, as if fate and nature have conspired against the poor girl. Molly lacks a striking face or figure, she struggles academically, and after Year 11 she apprentices as a plasterer.
Isnt there a more interesting career? Harriet once asked. Can I switch to something else?
No point, Molly replied. My mothers been a plasterer on building sites all her life. Thats why I followed her.
Do you really want to spend your whole life in dirty overalls? Why not pick a modern, wellpaid job? Sit in a clean office among cultured people. Im thinking of studying design.
I dont know anything about design, Molly said. Ive helped my mum plaster and paint a lot, I enjoy it. Ive learned a lot of tricks, and with my grades I couldnt get into university anyway.
Harriet didnt get into university either, but she didnt give up. She finishes a college course, then manages to win a place at a design institute on merit. Their educational paths diverge, yet the girls keep meeting and their friendship endures. Harriet is sociable and often invites Molly out with her lively crew, where Molly suddenly looks more attractive by contrast and attracts a lot of attention from the lads. Harriet is convinced shell marry a handsome, welloff, promising man.
Then the news drops. How could this happen? Where is justice? The plainspoken Molly decides to outshine Harriet.
So, will you be at the wedding? she asks again.
Of course, Ill be there! Harriet replies firmly. Will I meet the groom?
Naturally.
Harriet hopes Trevor will turn out to be a bald, pudgy old man who married Molly just to save on the cost of interior finishes in the new houses he builds. All the family money would stay intact, a winwin.
Instead, Trevor is not a model of fitness, but he is reasonably goodlooking, cheerful, and sports a tidy beard. He looks at his bride with adoration, ignoring everyone else.
At the wedding Harriet circles Molly constantly, trying to draw Trevors eye to herself. The young couple only look at each other, oblivious to Harriets efforts. Their mother, Margaret Hughes, notices.
What are you playing at? she pushes Harriet aside. Look, Im just a workingclass woman, Ill tidy up the stray hair quickly.
I dont understand what you mean, Harriet says.
Youll get the idea soon. I wont warn you twice.
My fiancé isnt anyone like your soninlaw, Harriet lies, well be married soon too.
Then play along, Margaret smiles, keeping an eye on Harriet all evening, guarding her daughters happiness.
Harriet cant calm down; her pride is bruised. She recently split from her latest boyfriend and cant even get her mothers unemployed son to the registry office. Molly snagged a decent guy, but he only fell for her because Harriet wasnt there. If Harriet had been present, the groom might have chosen her instead.
After the wedding Trevor and Molly move into his flat, and Harriet becomes a frequent visitor. She feigns concern for her friend, while secretly hoping to spark Trevors interest. Trevor spends whole days on site, while Molly suffers severe morning sickness. Harriet feels increasingly at home in their flat.
Let me make lunch, she offers, nudging Molly out of the kitchen. If youre that sensitive to smells.
I really cant stand looking at food right now, Molly admits. Ive asked Trevor to take me to a café until this nausea passes.
A café is nice but pricey, homecooked food is better. Dont worry, Ill handle it.
On time, Molly gives birth to a daughter, Lily, and Harriets help becomes valuable again. Both grandmothers are still young and only come on weekends. Harriet, still at university, darts between lectures to seize any chance to be near Trevor. He remains indifferent to her charms, which only fuels her determination.
Take a break, Ill walk the baby, Harriet persuades Molly. A stroll in the pram will be good for her.
Molly, still weak after delivery, agrees. Harriet times the walks to coincide with Trevors return from work.
Look, Lily, whos that coming? Your father, she coos, pointing to Trevor as he peeks into the pram.
Is she sleeping? Harriet asks. Hi Lily! Hi Harriet, wheres Molly?
Shes probably dozing. Birth was hard for her, narrow hips and a delicate figure made it tough. Ill help, were friends. Lets feed you, Ive made a tasty stew.
Despite Harriets efforts, her relationship with Trevor stays purely friendly. He adores Molly and treats Harriet politely. Harriet ups her game, shows up more often and stays longer. One day she bumps into Margaret.
What are you doing here? Margaret snaps, catching sight of Harriet after work. Molly, is she running your household?
Mother, whats that about? Harriets been a huge help. I couldnt manage alone.
Did you hire her as a domestic worker? Think of anything smarter? You want to stay single without a husband?
Why are you always so nasty to me? Harriet erupts. I just want to help.
I know what you want. She just gave birth, I saw you at the wedding eyeing Trevor. Get out while you can
Margaret literally pushes Harriet out of the flat.
Dont be a naïve fool, she scolds, dont you see where this leads? Men are weak, youll end up a single mother.
If he leaves, he doesnt love me. I wont hold him by force. In my view youre wrong, youve hurt Harriet for no reason. Shes helped me a lot.
You foolish girl. Dont ignore your mother, dont weep later. Show her up!
She wont even come now, Molly sighs sadly.
But Molly misjudges. A few days later Harriet arrives earlier than usual, while everyone else is at work, so no one can thwart her plan. Molly has just rocked Lily and is folding laundry in the big living room, trying not to make noise.
I was scared you wouldnt come, Harriet says, sitting on the sofa, crossing her legs. Your mother told the whole truth, you just dont see it, or you pretend not to.
We and Trevor have loved each other for ages. Hes just scared to admit it. He feels sorry for you, dear, but you think someone could fall for you?
She points at Mollys hair, Three strands in five rows, legs like a goats. Thats you, beauty! Haha! Not the brains of a designer, just a painter!
Who do you think you are? He married you out of pity, maybe for convenience, having his own painter at home while running the building business.
God stop, Harriet, Molly whispers, her lips turning pale, please, be quiet.
Ive been silent too long, but I cant any more. Trevor and I will have a child soon, and he loves only me, truly! Let him go, dont torment him.
Molly looks helplessly at the bedroom door. Harriet also turns away, stumbling in confusion, not knowing where to run.
At the doorway stands Trevor, returning for lunch, hoping for a quick nap, and unexpectedly witnessing the messy scene. He steps quietly toward Harriet, wraps an arm around her shoulders, and leads her toward the exit. She follows, stunned by his sudden appearance. He waits while she slips on her shoes, then opens the door and gestures the way out.
Dont come back here, he says. He shuts the door and returns to the room where a sobbing Molly sits.
Dont trust a word she says, he declares sternly, nothing ever happened between us, and it never could. I dont need her, shes not my type.
Molly bursts into tears. I dont believe it either, but why does she hate me so much?
Shes just jealous, thats all, Trevor replies, lifting Molly into his arms and taking her to the bedroom to comfort her.
Exactly nine months later, the happy family welcomes baby Charlie, a spitting image of his father.
Where Harriet is now, Molly no longer knows or cares. She no longer needs assistants.
