DO I REMEMBER? HOW COULD I FORGET!
Polly, bit of a situation here Long story short, do you remember my daughter out of wedlock, Daisy? My husband was being mysterious, and it always set my teeth on edge.
Do I remember? How could I ever forget? Whats happened now? I perched on the edge of a chair, bracing myself for bad news.
Well… shes begged me, in tears, to take in her daughter. My granddaughter. Frank was mumbling, unable to meet my eye.
Out of the blue, really? What about Daisys chap? Has he lost his marbles? Now he had my full attentionI was actually quite curious.
Well, the thing is, Daisy… she hasnt got long left, love. Theres no husband. Her mum married an American years ago and lives across the pondtheyve not spoken since a massive falling out, and theres nobody else. So shes asking Frank mumbled, picking at a loose thread on his sleeve.
And…? What are you planning to do then? Id already made up my mind what Id do.
Thats why Im asking you, Polly. However you say, thats how well do it, Frank finally looked at me, eyes pleading.
Honestly. So you misbehaved in your youth and now expect me to shoulder someone elses child? Charming, I said, trying to disguise my annoyance.
Polly, were family. This kind of thing should be decided together, Frank protested with a hint of feigned resolve.
Oh, look who suddenly cares about family decisions! When you were gallivanting about with that woman, did you come running to ask me first? I am your wife, you know! Tears sprang up and before I knew it, Id fled to the next room.
Back at school, Id been seeing my classmate Trevor. But then a new boy, Charlie, appeared and, truly, I forgot Trevor even existed. I gave Trevor the boot and let Charlie walk me home, kissed me on the cheek like it was going out of fashion, and plucked flowers for me right off the local council beds. Within a week, he whisked me off to his room andwell, old story, isnt it? I fell head over heels for Frank (back then he was just Charlie to me) in record time.
We finished school and Charlie was called up for National Service in a different city. I wept buckets at the train station as my one true love boarded the train, handkerchief in hand. We wrote for a year, then Charlie came home on leave. I was so giddy I practically laid out the red carpet for himfloated about, hung on every word. Charlie waxed lyrical:
Polly, Ill come back in a year and well get married. Youre as good as my wife already.
After that declaration I melted entirely, as if I was a Mr Whippy left on a sunlit bench. Thats how it wasCharlie would give me those syrupy eyes and Id dissolve, every single time.
But six months later, a letter arrived. Charlie needed us to split upseems hed found real love on the military base and wasnt ever coming back to our quiet little corner of England.
And there I was, pregnant with Charlies child. So much for walking down the aisle. My gran always said, “Dont trust the blossom; trust the harvest.”
Eventually, my son, Jack, was born. Trevor (yes, the ex-boyfriend) offered to help, and I let him, desperation being the mother of all bad decisions. Did our paths cross again? More than that. Trevor and I got close, but I never really expected to see Charlie again.
Except one day, Charlie turned up. Trevor answered the door.
Am I allowed in? Charlie looked both sheepish and surprised.
Well, if you must, Trevor grumbled, reluctantly making way.
Sensing the tension, baby Jack started wailing and clung to Trevor for dear life.
Trevor, could you take Jack out for a stroll? I suggested, not sure what else to do.
Trevor left, Jack in tow.
Husband? asked Charlie, rather pointedly.
Does it matter? Why are you here? My anger brimmed overI never saw this coming.
I missed you, so here I am. Looks like youve moved on, eh, Polly? All settled down. Didnt wait for me, clearly. Right, Ill be off then. Sorry for barging into your newfound bliss, Charlie turned to go.
Hang on, Charlie! Why have you come back? To torment me? Trevors just helping me fend off loneliness. Hes the one raising your two-year-old son, you know. My love for Charlie smouldered on.
Ive come back for you, Polly. Will you have me? He looked at me with hope.
Come on, youll be in time for lunch, my heart somersaulted. He was back, and suddenly none of the rest mattered. Why pretend?
Trevor was out on his ear again. My Jack needed his real dad, not a stand-in. Later, Trevor married a smashing womantwo children from her first marriage, a real ready-made family.
The years flew by. Charlie never did manage to love Jack as his own; he always thought Jack was Trevors. Hed never admit it, but I saw right through him. Truth be told, Charlie was never one to pass up a fling. Hed get distracted, fall in love ten times before breakfast, and part ways just as easily. At one point, he cheated with everyonemy friends, their friends, you name it. I sobbed my little heart out but kept loving him, determined to keep the family afloat.
Oddly, my lot was simpler than Frankshe had to juggle lies and cover stories. Me? I just loved him. He was my sunshine. Some nights, I considered packing a bag and leaving. But in the dark I scolded myself for such nonsense. Where would I even go? Besides, FrankCharlie? hed never manage without me. I was wife, mistress, and mother rolled into one.
Charlie lost his own mother when he was fourteen. She died peacefully in her sleep. Maybe thats why he was always chasing affectionnever quite felt he got enough as a child. I forgave him everything, every last speck. Once, we had a raging row and I actually tossed him out. He lugged his bag to a relatives house.
A month passed. Id forgotten what sparked the fight, but Charlie stayed away. I ended up trekking over to his aunts. She looked surprised to see me.
Polly, what do you want with Charlie? He says youre divorced. Hes got himself a new girlfriend now.
Thats how I found out, courtesy of the aunt, where the lovely new lady lived. I turned up, nerves rattling.
Good afternoon! Can I see Charlie, please? I tried my best to be civil.
She smirked and slammed the door in my face.
Charlie came back a year later. That woman had a daughter, Daisy. Ive always blamed myself for sending him awaywe might never have had Daisy if I hadnt. So I bent over backwards after that, loving Charlie all the more, showering him with affection.
We never discussed Daisyhis daughter from the other woman. The subject was taboo. Talk about it, and itd all crumble like a soggy biscuit. So we just left it alone.
So what if theres a child from someone else? Honestly, whose husband hasnt been through something similar? These women do seem dead set on luring married men in.
And so we bumbled on. Charlie eventually settled, mellowed out, and preferred his spot in front of the telly over chasing skirts. Our Jack married young and produced three grandkids. And then, out of nowhere
DaisyCharlies daughter with the other womancame out of the woodwork, asking us to take in her own little girl.
Made us think twice. How on earth do you explain the sudden arrival of a random girl to Jack? Hes no idea about his dads adventures in his wild years.
Of course, we adopted little five-year-old Lily. Daisy passed away, her story over at thirty. Every grave grows over, but life goes on.
Charlie insisted on having a heartfelt chat with Jack. Our son, after hearing his fathers confession, just shrugged.
Mum, Dadwhats done is done. Im not here to judge. The girls familyof course, we have to take her in.
Charlie and I breathed a massive sigh of relief. Our Jack turned out properlykind-hearted and sensible.
Lilys sixteen now, absolutely adores Granddad Charlie, always whispering secrets to him, calls me Nana Polly, and says shes the spitting image of me in my youth. And, honestly? I have no reason to argue with that.
