“I Want to Marry a Decent Man”
“He bought a new sound system,” Emma said quietly, not shifting her position. “A ridiculously expensive one. Meanwhile, Ive been skimming from my wages for months to save up for a new washing machine because ours howls like a siren. He told me, ‘You dont appreciate investing in the arts.’ The arts, Grace… Can you believe it?”
The tea in the pot had gone cold, leaving behind a bitter, dark sludge. The baguette slices on the plate had hardened, the cheese forming a waxy crust, and Grace couldnt seem to comfort her friend. Emma had come over after yet another row with her husband and, having cried herself dry, sat curled up, knees to her chest, staring blankly at the wall.
They hadnt seen much of each other in the last three yearsEmmas husband never let her go out alone and generally disliked her friends. But this time, the bloke had laid hands on her, and his usual restrictions no longer mattered.
To distract her from the gloom, Grace offered,
“Em, do you want to hear an old love story? I once got to see real devotion.”
Emma gave a disinterested nod.
“Go on. Just no soppy fairytales about princes. Ive had enough of that.”
Grace stood, walked to the stove, and flicked on the hob under the kettle. The quiet hiss of gas filled the pause.
“No princes, love. This really happened, right in front of me,” Grace smiled. “And its not even about people. Years ago, I worked in a warehouse out in the industrial estate. You know the sortplace like that needs guard dogs, so there were always a few strays running about. One day, someone dumped two puppies on us: a plump little black bear they called Whiskers and a ginger girl, Saffy. They grew up inseparable. Whiskers was a lively troublemaker, Saffyquiet, clever, with eyes like an old woman whos seen it all. Everyone doted on them.”
Grace paused. Seeing Emmas eyes flicker toward her, even if still distant, she continued.
“Then disaster struck. One day, Saffy got caught under a lorrydriver didnt see her. We thought she wouldnt make it, but mutts are tough. Only, she could never walk right again, dragging her hind legs behind her. Clever as anything, though. Knew everything. Broke your heart to watch.”
“Poor thing…” Emma breathed.
“But you know what?” Grace grinned. “She didnt give up. She became our top watch-dog! Stranger steps onto the lotshed bark the alarm before anyone else. And Whiskers and the others would charge right where she pointed. They made a proper team.”
Graces face turned serious.
“Then Saffy grew up, went into her first heat. Suddenly, every stray mutt in the area was sniffing round our yard. A pack of hungry, brazen dogs. They hounded her, poor thingshe couldnt run, couldnt fight. Just whimpered, crawled, hid between our legs. We shooed them off, but they kept coming back.”
Emma was frozen, listening.
“Whiskers? Where was Whiskers?”
“Whiskers…” Grace sighed. “At first, he was useless. Ran in circles, barking, too scared to take on the pack. Instincts, scents… it all scrambled his head. But then… they vanished. Came back three days later. And Whiskers? You wouldnt recognise him. He walked ahead, hackles up, growling low in his throat. Saffy trailed behind. And if any other dog so much as looked at her, Whiskers turned into a hurricane. Went for them like hed rip them all apart. He *understood*. Knew he had to protect her.”
Emma clenched her fists, fresh tears wellingdifferent ones now.
“We thought thatd be the end of it. No more pups, surely… But a month later, Saffy was round as a barrel. And Whiskersimagine thisnever left her side. Brought her the best bits from his bowl, licked her clean, slept curled up with his head on her belly. So tender, so careful… We all fed her extra, worried over her. The women especially.”
Grace turned away, voice trembling.
“The labour started on a scorching day. We didnt notice at first. Whiskers was the one who raised hell. He didnt howl. He made this awful, guttural shrieking, darting between our legs, nipping at our trousers, dragging us to where Saffy had hidden under the old porch. But it was too late… She was already gone… couldnt deliver.”
The wall clocks ticking suddenly seemed deafening.
“We wrapped her in an old coat… buried her behind the garage. Had to lock Whiskers in the storeroom for a bit. He went madscratching the door, howling… That sound… still haunts me sometimes. When it was over and we let him out, he tore round the yard, sniffing every crack, every corner… Searching. By evening… he was gone. Never came back.”
Grace wiped her eyes. Emma sat motionless, hands clenched.
“Bloody hell…” she whispered. “Thats… love. And me and Mark… were just two strangers sharing a flat. Dont even notice each other. Only time we talk is to argue. Otherwise, were just… existing in different worlds.”
“Maybe its just a rough patch? You were mad about him at the start. It was good once.”
“It was never good, Grace. We rowed over every little thing from day one. I wanted the wedding so badly, dragged him to the registry office, never thought Id be carrying everything alone after. Now Im paying for it. Right, Id best go. Thanks for this.”
***
After that night, the friends barely spoke for months. Work, life. Theyd grown used to the distance. Occasionally, a message popped up: *Hey, hows things?* *Alright. You?* *Same.*
Then, on a grim autumn evening, Emma texted: *Grace, fancy tea? Ill bring cake.* Two hours later, she was on the doorstep. Behind her stood a tall man with a calm, slightly shy face.
“Grace, this is Steven,” Emma introduced him, eyes shining like never before. “Were getting married soon.”
Stunned, Grace let them in. Over tea, Steven won her over with his quiet, steady simplicity. He didnt show off, but the way he passed Emma her cup, the way he looked at herit said everything.
When Steven stepped out onto the balcony, Grace gaped at her friend.
“Alright, whered you find him? What about Mark?”
Emma smileda new, happy smile.
“After I left yours that night, I cried all the way home. Not over Mark. Over Whiskers and Saffy. Because I finally saw the plain truth about my so-called marriageno one had ever loved me. I realised I didnt want to live like that anymore, that I deserved something decent. Loyalty. Care. If dogs can manage it… Anyway, next morning, I packed my things and left.”
“And Mark?”
“Doubt he noticed at first. Probably relieved in the end. He knew we werent right either. Wasnt looking for anyone, wanted to be alone a while. Met Steven coming out of the courthouse. Literally bumped into him in the doorway. I was a wreck, nearly in tears, and he just asked, You alright? Turned out hed just got his freedom too. We got talking… went for coffee. And… well,” Emma rested a hand on her stomach. “Babys on the way.”
“Quick work, mum,” Grace smirked.
“Didnt plan it. But Grace… its so different with him. I finally know what its like to be part of something real. To be safe. To be loved. You can see it, cant you?”
Grace looked at her friend, nodding, smiling through her own tears.
