Alone

Pat walked through the village as she thought about life as a divorcee. She wondered if Bob had told her the truth? Could failure to give him a child be construed as unreasonable? Did he really have a mistress? Two children? Yet she was alone. She smiled slightly as she reached the church, wandering inside she looked up at the Cross above the Alter.

"Pat?"

"Hello." She looked up to see Sarah approach her. The clergy man's wife looked worried as she reached her.

"I was just putting flowers ready for Sunday. Are you alright?"

"People keep asking me that. I just went for a walk, ended up here. Bob and I. We were married here. The last vicar - Reverend Roberts did the service. It was lovely."

"Weddings always are."

"Oh we didn't have two shillings to put together." She smiled. "1929, I was sixteen years old. Too young. Far, far too young. I could have made something of myself. Stayed at school, maybe even gone to university. Women did, then. You'd have been a baby."

"I'm not so much younger than you."

"I gave my youth up for that man. For what? To end up divorced? Disgraced."

"What?"

"He's left me. Has a woman and family in London. A whole life he has kept hidden from me." Pat sighed. "I've been a fool for 21 years. He was right. I am an idiot."

"No. No he's not right! You are not an idiot and you are not alone. You have friends, the WI." Sarah touched her arm. "Marek?"

"I."

"Oh." Sarah paused. "I overstepped the mark."

"No, no you didn't." Pat blushed. "I."

Sarah nodded as the older woman tried to find the right word. Her raised eyebrows caused Pat to look behind her.

"Marek." She smiled at the soldier stood behind her. Sarah bit her lip, stepping away from the couple. She smiled slightly, picking up her flowers before heading into the Vestry.

Xxxxxxxx

Kate woke as her father parked the car outside their home. Erica nudged her.

"We're home."

"Oh."

"Your sister will be waiting for you." Will smiled as he stepped out of the car. His lungs burned; his back ached but none of that mattered. The only thing that did was having his family together. He knew his cancer would take him eventually - it had been delayed; not cured. He didn't know how much time he had left but he was determined to savour every moment he had with his girls. Sighing he watched as Erica and his daughter walked towards the house. He prayed he had longer with them but he knew he didn't have the future with them he wanted.

Xxxxxx