Natasha, you wont believe what Ive just heard! gasped Irina, who was usually the picture of calm, now sounding utterly flustered. Its unbelievable!
What on earths happened? asked Natalie, baffled by her friends rare burst of emotion.
No, I cant say over the phone. Ill pop roundIm just down the road.
Of course, come over, Natalie replied, curiosity thoroughly piqued.
***
Right, out with it! Natalie urged, ushering Irina to the kitchen table where a freshly baked apple pie, two delicate china cups, and a pot of herbal tea awaited.
Honestly, I dont even know where to start, Irina muttered, distractedly stirring her tea.
Start at the beginning, Natalie suggested helpfully.
The beginning? Alright
Irina took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts, then finally asked,
Remember Dr. Laura Spencer from our old GP surgery?
Dr. Spencer? Of course! Wonderful womansaved my sons life, Natalie said warmly. And not just mine! I could tell you a hundred stories about her. She had a giftdiagnosed kids in seconds, caught complications before they even started. Everyone had her personal numbershed even do home visits. Never turned anyone away. A proper angel in a white coat.
Exactly, Irina nodded. I owe her my daughters health too. If it werent for her sharp eye, who knows what mightve happened? Couldve ended up disabled.
Why bring her up now? Natalie frowned. Shes been retired ages. I heard she sang in the church choirsaw her there once.
*Sang*, Irina corrected grimly. Past tense. Shes gone.
What? No! I spoke to her not long agosmiling, bright-eyed as ever. She didnt look ill. Though age, I suppose. She mustve been, what, late seventies?
Nearly eighty. And fit as a fiddle.
Then how?
You wont believe it, Irina said bitterly. Her own children dug her grave. Quite literally.
Dont be daft! Thats impossible! Natalie gasped.
Oh, its possible, Irina replied, her face hardening.
***
Dr. Laura Spencerback then just young Laurahad married a cadet from Sandhurst fresh out of medical school. Naturally, she followed her husband, William, to his first posting, working as a GP wherever they went.
They moved constantlymilitary life meant never staying putuntil they finally settled in Manchester. Laura always worked; small towns needed doctors desperately, and even in the city, her skills were in demand.
By then, they had two children. Jane, the eldestspitting image of her father. And little Tommyhis mothers double.
William served, Laura held the fort and treated half the neighbourhoods children.
Only army wives know what its like to be an army wife. Laura juggled it allkids, housework, Williams moodson top of a demanding job.
But she made it look effortless. Always smiling, always put together. Nobodynot even her closest friendsguessed things werent rosy at home. Outwardly, they were the perfect family. Big three-bed house, nice car, well-dressed kids.
Laura wasnt just a brilliant doctorshe was a saint. Tommy, though a scallywag, was everyones favourite, strumming his guitar and chasing girls instead of studying. Jane, meanwhile, was book-smart but icypreferring solitude to friends. Laura worried shed struggle with people later in life.
Turns out, she was right.
***
The familys peace shattered overnight. One Sunday morning, William walked outno explanation, no goodbye.
Laura had suspected his affairs for years but bit her tongue for the kids sake. They were teenagers nowold enough to understand, young enough to be scarred. So she played the fool, pretending not to notice.
And William? He got bolder. Stopped hiding. Then one day, packed a bag, muttered Cheerio, and moved in next door. With a widow and her toddler. True love? Midlife crisis? The gossip mill churned, but nobody knew for sure. Soon after, William retired, whisked his new family away, and vanished.
***
Laura was devastated. Twenty years togetherno small thing.
Theyd started with nothinglived in barracks, scraped by with two babies while William was deployed. Things eased when the kids started school, but Laura never sat idle. She worked, saved lives, kept smiling.
Shed never dreamed William would cheat. Not after all this time. But one day, she noticed the wall between themthen saw it personified in the widow next door.
Still, she stayed. Not for herself. For the children.
Who later *blamed her* for their father leaving.
Because Dadrarely home, rarely presentwas the hero.
Mum taught them that.
***
An invisible war began in Lauras home.
The kids stopped respecting her. Every word, every gesture was met with eye-rolls or silence.
Laura endured, smoothing every conflict, hoping theyd grow up and understand.
They never did.
Jane left for university in London, married some finance bloke, and lived lavishly. Bought a flat in Manchesternot to live in, just to rent out. Visited maybe twice a year, if that. Barely acknowledged Tommy.
They might as well have been strangers.
***
Years passed. Laura accepted that her daughter was absent.
She poured herself into her patients instead.
Then Tommyher darling boyturned her life upside down.
By forty, hed burned through two marriages and two kids. Both wives turfed him outuseless layabout, more interested in guitar and pints than providing.
So where did he go?
Mums, of course.
Another mother mightve kicked sense into him. Not Laura. She blamed herselfbelieved shed failed him by depriving him of a father.
Tommy spiralled. Drank himself stupid, then vanished to dodge child support.
Good grief, Natalie murmured as Irina recounted this. I had no idea Dr. Spencer was dealing with all that.
Oh, thats not the half of it, Irina said darkly.
After Tommy fled, Laurawho adored her grandkidswent to court and *took over his child support payments*.
*What?* Natalie nearly spat her tea.
She didnt want the kids to suffer. Or Tommy to get in trouble.
Thats madness!
Yes. But Laura couldnt help herself. Worked double shifts till retirement. Thenguess who slunk back? Tommy, with a new girlfriend in tow. Moved right in. Made Laura their skivvycooking, cleaning, while they lounged and drank. Worse, they *threw her out*. Packed her things and left her on the doorstep!
No!
Oh yes. Neighbours heard the row. Found her sitting on the steps. Offered help, but she refusedconvinced Tommy would chill and let her back. He didnt. She slept in the hallway for days. Finally, someone tracked down Jane. She hauled Laura to *her* flat, tossed her the keys, and snarled, Sort your own rent. Then left.
***
For months, Laura lived in blissful peace. Just her, the quiet, and the church choir.
Then Tommy turned updrunk, demanding cash. Laura handed over her purse. Not enough. He took her *pension card*her only income.
How will I live? she whispered.
Dunno, he slurred. Dig into your savings. Or let the care home feed you.
There *were* no savings. Too proud to borrow, Laura rationed every crumb. Stretched three months.
Then Jane stormed in.
Why havent you paid the rent? Now theres a *fine*!
Darling, Tommy took my card
You gave him *everything*? Jane cut in. Well, if you love him so much, *live with him*.
She packed Lauras bags, shoved her into the car, and dumped her at Tommys. Didnt even stay to knock.
Tommy took one look, shut the door, and left his mother weeping on the step.
A neighbour found her, took her inbut six months later, called Jane, furious: Im not your mothers keeper! Sort it out.
Janes solution? A *psychiatric ward*. Locked wing. No phone.
Laura died there four months later.
Jane cremated her, took the ashes, and told nobody.
Tommy? Still mooches about, occasionally slurring, Mum did everything for me.
***
Nobody knows where Dr. Laura Spencer is buried.
But they remember her. Speak her name kindly.
Some blame Williamsay his betrayal started it.
Most blame the children.
A few mutter Laura brought it on herselftoo soft, too self-sacrificing.
And the quietest voices just sigh, Ah well. Everything happens for a reason. But in the church where she once sang, a single white rose appears every Sunday on the piano bench, never left there by anyone anyone can see. And sometimes, when the choir hesitates on a note, an old womans voice, steady and sure, seems to guide them back in tune.
