Claire married late, at twenty-five. Her groom wasnt exactly a dud, but youd struggle to call him the envy of her friends. Did she love him? She wasnt even sure herself. Shed grown used to him. They had a son, Timmy, who turned out clever and earnestwhat more could she ask for? Not that she dared ask for much. Shed resigned herself to the fact that her Geoff was dull as ditchwater. Tight-fisted, too, but Claire stopped noticing. She worked at the local primary school, minded the after-school club, looked after her boythat was her life. Yet shed been a beauty once, turning heads wherever she went! Golden waves framed her delicate face, and her figure was the stuff of daydreams. A proper stunner, sharp as a tack. She couldve had her pick of the lot.
Geoff never fit in with her family. They ribbed him mercilessly. Hed sit silent through conversations, miss every joke, and always hurry her along: *”Its late, lets go home. Early start tomorrow.”* Soon, they werent even invited round anymore. The two of them lived like outsiders.
Old age crept up, grey and joyless. What had Claire ever seen of life? Nothing, really. Their only holidays were at the dreary resort owned by Geoffs engineering firmthree meals a day, and dances in the evenings. The Browns never joined in. *”Whats the point?”* Geoff would say. *”Thats for folks looking to hook up. Not us, yeah?”* Claire would nod obediently.
He wouldnt let her shop at proper boutiques either. *”Too dear! Theres decent stuff at the marketTurkish imports, half the price.”* Shed sigh but never argue.
Then disaster struck. Geoffs memory started slipping. He wasnt even that old, looked better than he had in his youthyet there it was. The doctors verdict: early dementia after multiple brain infarctions. Soon, he barely recognised their son or grandchildren. *”Who are these kids?”* hed ask.
*”Geoff, love,”* Claire would say gently, as if to a child, *”Thats Danny and Alfie, our grandsons. The taller ones Tim, our boy.”*
*”Whys this the first Im hearing of them? Did they just arrive?”* Geoff would blink, baffled. Five minutes later, hed ask again.
But he always knew *her*. How could he not? She tended to him like a toddlerwithout her, hed have wandered out in his pyjamas. Now the money was hers to manage, but shed lost all interest in new dresses. Not from thrift. Shed just forgotten how to want things. Shed walk past high-street shops without a glance, yet shed splurge on fancy treats for Geofflet him have something nice. He trailed after her like a lost lamb, begging her not to leave him too long at the shops. *”Youre all Ive got,”* he mumbled once. *”Id be lost without you.”*
Shed never heard such words from him before. *”Its an ill wind,”* as they say. But what use was this affection now? Claire would lock herself in the bedroom, weep silently, then wipe her face and carry on.
…This tale came from my neighbour, a trim, lovely woman despite her years. Not a trace of self-pity in her voice. Shyly, she added, *”I wrote Geoff a little rhyme. Want to hear? My faithful friend, youre by my side, while I steer lifes uncertain tide. Forgetting seasons? Thats all right. Just keep me in your thoughts at night… I pray with all my hearts desiredont let your love for me expire.”*
I hugged Claire tight and wished her strengthand patiencein spades.
