Mabel adored Oliver. So much that she forgave him for virtually everything.
They tied the knot when Mabel was barely out of her teens just nineteen. Shed been chasing Oliver since she was sixteen, even trying to look older than she was. At first he barely gave her a glance; she was just a little thing to him. Then she grew up, turned into a knockout, and Oliver thought, Why not grab whats floating right into my lap?
He was twentyfour, Mabel eighteen. Their relationship kicked off odd, a touch crooked.
Oliver could vanish for days on end. No phone, no replies to texts. Just out wandering somewhere. Then hed pop back up as if nothing had happened, and Mabel would be there, waiting. Of course there were tears, but Oliver kept telling her he loved only her. He claimed his nature was freespirited, as if he hadnt already had his fill of wandering.
Mabel clung to the hope that one day hed change, that hed love her as fiercely as she loved him.
Mabels childhood chum was David. Theyd been pals since the playgroup, grew up in the same culdesac, later went to the same secondary school.
David was secretly headoverheels for Mabel, but he knew she only saw him as a mate. It hurt him that she didnt value herself enough, that she didnt recognise she deserved the best.
He also knew that if Mabel ever returned his feelings, hed move heaven and earth for her. But he understood that wasnt going to happen. She was smitten with Oliver, as if the man had cast a spell on her. So David kept his distance, hovering just out of sight.
Whenever Oliver disappeared again or kicked up a pointless argument, Mabel would pour her woes into David.
Why does he treat me like this? I love him so much shed sigh.
Maybe you should stop loving him, David would snap, halfirritated.
I cant, you dont understand
David got it, of course. Hed gladly quit loving Mabel too, but he couldnt bring himself to do it, so he kept his peace, silently feeling her pain.
Oliver grew more unmanageable. He started drinking heavily and flirting openly with any girl who crossed his path. Mabel, in a textbooklevel act of lovedriven foolishness, got herself pregnant. She naïvely thought a child would set everything straight that Oliver would mature, get his act together, cherish her, and adore his baby.
At nineteen she announced it to Oliver, but his face showed no hint of jubilation.
Well have to get married, I suppose, she murmured, cheeks pink. Before the bump shows.
Probably, he grunted, looking sour.
Why Oliver finally decided to tie the knot was a mystery. Maybe he fancied a bit of normalcy, maybe he simply hadnt figured out how to back out.
Mabel felt like the happiest bride in Manchester. For David, however, the day was a proper funeral. He stared at Mabel, glowing with hope, and thought, If I could just whisk her away, lock her in my house, shed see Im far better than Oliver. Of course he never acted on that. He feigned wellwishes for her future with Oliver while drowning his own disappointment in pints at the local pub.
Mabel and Oliver welcomed a son, whom they christened Arthur. At first Oliver tried to be a decent dad and husband. He stopped disappearing, cut back on nights out, helped with the baby, and didnt argue with Mabel.
But soon enough he realised that domestic life wasnt his cup of tea. When Arthur turned one, Oliver fell back into the bottle. He vanished for three days, leaving Mabel frantic, calling every hospital, every GP, and every of Olivers mates.
David was there again, looking after Arthur while Mabel scoured the seedier parts of town, hunting for her husband. She even filed a police report before Oliver finally shuffled back in, looking hungover and halfaware.
How could you not answer me? Mabel wailed, demanding explanations.
Im not obliged to report to you, Oliver snapped, marching into the kitchen. Arthur began to whimper, but his dad barely gave him a glance. He was too busy nursing his hangover.
From that point Oliver stopped pretending. Hed pop in, pop out, and each time Mabel would welcome him back, still hoping hed change.
When Arthur turned three, Oliver finally packed his bags for good. At first he disappeared again, and Mabel thought hed just gone out for a quick drink. But after she picked Arthur up from nursery, she found the house empty of his belongings.
While she was trying to make sense of the chaos, a text buzzed on her phone.
Im filing for divorce myself. Dont wait for me!
Mabel was beside herself, wailing as if the world had collapsed. David arrived at a sprint, staying the whole day with her, looking after Arthur and making sure she didnt do anything rash.
When Mabel finally gathered a breath, David spoke.
So, heres the deal. Ill be your husband now, and Arthurs dad.
Mabel looked at her old friend and shook her head.
Im sorry, David. I love you as a friend, and Im ever grateful for your support. But as a husband I just dont feel that way.
I know, David replied coolly. But I love you more than just as a mate, and I wont let you suffer any longer
Words failed David, and Mabel, broken, simply nodded. Let him stay.
David didnt waver. He kept to his promise, caring for Arthur as if he were his own, never pushing for a timeline. Mabel watched David and realised there was no better option. No one would love her son the way David did, nor look after her as he did.
She surrendered, not out of love, but out of sheer desperation.
David was on cloud nine when Mabel finally said yes to marrying him. When Arthur first called him Dad, David even teared up.
Life settled into a happy, enviable family routine. Sometimes David fancied that Mabel might love him as a husband, not just a friend. Other times he feared a ghost of Oliver would appear, that Mabel might abandon everything and run back to her wayward ex.
So he lived between two fires, rejoicing in their bliss and waking up at night from nightmares.
Then the nightmare turned real. Arthurs sixth birthday arrived. Mabel and David threw a grand party. First, Arthur and his mates bounced around a trampoline centre, then they came home to a cake and presents.
Just as Arthur was about to blow out the candles, there was a knock at the door.
Someone else came to wish you happy birthday? Mabel smiled.
Ill get it, David said.
He didnt peek through the peephole, just opened the door, and a cold shiver crawled up his spine. Standing there was Oliver, clutching a bizarre plush rabbit.
He glared at David.
Still hanging around, are you? Wheres my son? I came to wish him a happy birthday.
Whats going on, David? Mabel shouted from the kitchen, turning pale. Arthur bolted out, then froze.
Hello, Oliver grinned, holding out the rabbit. Happy birthday, lad!
Arthur stared at Oliver, then at David.
Dad, whos that? he asked.
Olivers face darkened. Dad, then
David, get Arthur out of here, Mabel said, her voice dry.
Please she pleaded.
The look in Olivers eyes was like a spell returning. David had always known this moment might come. The one thing he was sure of: he would never hand Arthur over. He was his son in every way that mattered.
David played with Arthur in the living room, surrounded by gifts. Yet his mind raced, listening to the tense silence at the door, waiting for Mabel to signal that he should leave. He dreaded the moment.
Mabel stepped back in, hands trembling, a forced smile on her face.
So, hows the party going? she asked.
Were playing! Arthur shouted. Did uncle leave?
He left. Weve blown the candles but havent eaten the cake yet!
Right! the birthday boy cried, dashing to the kitchen. David grabbed Mabels elbow, looking at her.
Whats wrong? she asked, still smiling.
Lets go before Arthur turns the cake into a dental disaster, David joked.
She laughed, then leaned in and kissed him.
Hes not coming back. Arthur doesnt need him; hes got a real dad now.
And you? he asked.
Me? All I need is you.
David smiled, took her hand, and they walked back to the kitchen together.
Perhaps the wild, reckless love of her youth was truly over. Perhaps a sliver of feeling lingered for Oliver, but the folly of her younger self had been replaced by wisdom. Davids steady love had finally melted the ice around Mabels heart, and she now knew she was happier than ever. The tempest of her past romance could stay where it belonged in the past, where it never really belonged at all.
