Hey love, youve got to hear this whole mess thats unfolded around our flat on the second floor in Camden. So, Mark and I were both thirty, with our cheeky sixyearold, Jamie just tucked in next to a brandnew family. Theyre Tom, his wife Lucy, and their fiveyearold daughter, Mollie. We all moved in around the same time, so weve been bumping into each other a lot.
Lucys a proper country girl at heart, loves nothing more than baking. Shes always got a tray of scones, a batch of cupcakes, or a loaf of sticky buns on the counter. Honestly, the kitchen looks like a minicanning museum, jars everywhere, and shes always hauling a big basket in and out, like shes preparing for a fair. Mark and I started teasing her, calling her Puff because shes a bit rounder than most, and the nickname stuck. Shes got this cosy, wornout dressing gown and a tiny ponytail that never seems to stay neat, but shes always smiling, and Tom tall and wiry as a scarecrow never seems to go hungry. Thats basically Lucys whole charm, and Im sure youd agree I think Im a bit more polished than that.
Toms a longhaul truck driver, so hes on the road most weeks. He met Lucy in some tiny village shop when she caught his eye while he was buying a packet of cigarettes. She flirted right then and there, and before he knew it, he was smitten. Nine months later, Lucy gave birth to a baby girl thats Mollie and Tom drove the whole lot into the city for a proper home. When I introduced the new little family to my mum, she flatly refused to accept Lucys country ways or the newborn granddaughter, so Tom had to find a flat of his own.
Mark always made a fuss about Lucys looks. How can you not love yourself? A woman should hed start, then trail off. Anyway, a few weeks back Jamies grandma fell ill, and we were all taking turns looking after her. Eventually we thought wed need a livein carer, and Lucy volunteered. Ill help out a bit for the friendship, and I need to get my husband a rubber boat for fishing keep it a surprise, will you? she said, all bright-eyed.
I warned her, Lucy, dont overload my mum with food shes lost her appetite. Then work sent me on a long assignment out of town. I handed Mark the house keys, gave Jamie and Lucy a quick rundown, and off I went.
A month later Im back. Mark looks a bit nervous, Lucy avoids my eyes. Our son, Jamie, darts over the moment I step through the door and blurts, Mum, can you make the same tasty mash as Aunt Lucy? Her meatloaf was brilliant. I ask, Did Aunt Lucy treat you? He nods, She brought Mollie over and took Dad away. I started piecing things together Toms on a route, Im on a job, something doesnt add up.
That evening I sit down with Mark after dinner, give him a gentle nudge. Mark, I know whats going on, dont play dumb. Jamie told me everything, I say, hoping Im just making a mountain out of a molehill. Mark just looks pale, I was fixing the tap for Puff, thats all. I try to lighten it, Come on, relax. It was just a quick fling, right? Im not thinking youre going to run off with Lucy. He seems relieved, but since then hes been popping over to his mums flat more often, staying hours.
I pop over to Lucys place to ask about the Puff thing and her husband, but the door opens to a weary Lucy, and behind her, Marks lying in bed looking even more frail. I feel my world tilt. The next thing I know, Lucy confesses to Tom that shed been seeing Mark behind his back. I have no idea how Tom reacted, but a week later the whole lot moved out. As he left, Tom turned to me, pride in his voice, No wonder it all fell apart. Who could resist my Lucy? He walked off, and I was left standing there, stunned.
A while after that, I run into Lucy at the local market. Hey, love! Still mad about it? she asks with a grin. Dont be. Its all just village drama, you know? My husbands still happy, and youre off on your jobs, cant leave a bloke starving for long, she jokes, tossing me a cheeky tip about rural life 101.
And thats the whole tangled tale. Can you believe it? I swear, life in this block is never boring. Talk soon!
