Life must go on. Run, and keep on running. If only there were a decent man, but no, hes a rogue. Well raise the child ourselves, dont worry!
Paul was brought up by his mother and his grandfather. He could barely recall his grandmother; she vanished when he was five, leaving only the memory of her fragrant scones. He never saw his father. The man had fled before Paul was even born, slipping away with his mother, Agnes, to a tiny hamlet in the Cotswolds.
There he met Agness parents, a wedding date was set, but the groom vanished at the last moment. No one searched for him. Agnes wept bitterly; she was already with child.
Tears wont help you here, said the old lady, eyes like fogged glass. Life must go on. Run, and keep on running. If only there were a decent man, but no, hes a rogue. Well raise the child ourselves, dont worry!
Paul wanted nothing in his youth, yet he grew up without a hint of indulgence. He studied well. His grandfather was a stern tutor, teaching him respect for elders and gratitude for what he had. Paul could do anything; whatever he set his mind to, he would achieve.
By thirty he was the envy of every bachelor: handsome, a promising career, a tidy salary of £45,000 a year, a threebedroom flat in a leafy suburbeverything at his fingertips.
Women swarmed him, but he did not hurry. He was busy, and on weekends he always drove to his mothers cottage. The grandfather had passed, and Agnes was often weak. She still tended the garden, but in recent months it grew harder.
Paul urged her to move in with him, but she refused.
Why should I go there? she said. Ill never see my grandchildren again. Ill stay here, quietly, on my own
Live through the summer, then a stay at the health resort, then come to me. You need rest. Youll recover and return home, perhaps Ill even travel home with you!
You have work! Agnes sputtered. What can you do in a village?
People work in villages too, Paul waved a hand.
At that time he was courting two women and could not decide whom to choose.
The first was a modest country girl, Eleanorhomeloving and gentle.
The second was Felicitybright, striking, a laughfilled spark who seemed more likely to chase breezes than bake a loaf.
Paul never invited either to live with him; their meetings took place on neutral ground. Yet the time for choice had arrived, and he could not bring himself to part with either.
He decided to introduce them to his mother first. Agnes had just returned from the health resort, refreshed by the sea air.
Eleanor arrived first, hardly needing persuasion. She beamed, as if a dream were finally taking shape. A fiancé at last! Not just a casual introductionmeans marriage is on the horizon!
Its spacious, Paul, you say, looking around the flat, Eleanor remarked.
Yes, spacious. Mother likes it too; shes a bit under the weather.
Why does she live here with you? I thought she was only visiting. Is she ill?
She is.
I must tell you nowI wont be looking after her
Im not asking you to! Paul blinked. Ill manage.
But
Nothing. Its just better to live separately. You said your mother lives in the village, right? She has a cottage there; itll be better for her, and for us without her.
Mother will always be with me. Thats not up for debate.
Oh, really! I thought you were serious, but youre just a mothers boy! If you change your mindcall!
Eleanor slipped away without even a cup of tea.
Well, there you go, Paul thought, she fled as quickly as she came. Felicity will probably vanish even faster, and Ill be left without a bride
He told Felicity about his mother straightaway.
Mother will always be with me! he declared.
I dont understand, Felicity said, surprised. Why tell me that? I get it, your mother stays with you, but
If we live together, how do you feel about sharing a roof with her?
Fine! Are you proposing?
Paul smiled.
Maybe. Lets go meet my mother.
Oh. Will she like me? Right now?
She will. What are you afraid of?
I dont know. Just fear.
Felicity and Agnes liked each other at once. They walked together by the garden wall, waiting for Paul to finish his shift, then the three of them drove to the village. Strangely, cityborn Felicity found the countryside charming, and Agnes decided to stay.
Summers over, I feel well, she said.
Six months later a wedding was held.
Now Ill finally meet my grandchildren! Agnes declared.
And she did. First a granddaughter, then a grandson.
Felicity and Paul lived with their children in the city. The kids grew, preparing for university. Their mother also moved in with them, while they still holidayed in the village. Agnes could never part from her little cottage.
Felicity, forgive me if the timings off. I want to go back to the village. Shall we move? she asked her daughterinlaw.
Of course! Well wait for Paul; hell be back from work soon.
Good. Lets go straight away. Tell him, its urgent
The village was as quiet as ever; each year fewer people remained.
Thats it, Im home for good, Agnes announced suddenly. Sell my house. No one will pay much, but it would be a shame to let it crumble.
Mother, what are you saying?! Paul exclaimed. Were leaving now!
Yes, yes, Felicity echoed. What are you both saying?
Fine, Agnes waved a hand. Put the kettle on, please. I want tea
After tea, Agnes retreated to her bedroom for a brief rest. Paul and Felicity lingered at the kitchen table.
Mother, we must be going! their son finally shouted.
But there was no answer.
Paul entered the bedroom and frozeAgnes was gone.
They buried her in the village churchyard.
She felt it, the coming. She came one last time Felicity wept. I loved your mother as my own
Ive noticed. For a long while. What shall we do with the house?
Selling would be a loss
A loss, a fragment of the past. Let it stand for now
And so they left the cottage standing, a quiet anchor for future visits, perhaps even for grandchildren yet to be born.
