Emily Turner hobbles into the local GP surgery, her ankle twisted badly after a misstep. A bald man darts past her, slipping right in front of the doctors door before she can even catch her breath. Exhausted, Emily collapses onto a chair, muttering under her breath, Typical men they never let anyone cut in line! A woman nearby chuckles, Hes already been here twice today, still cant get a proper prosthetic. She laughs aloud, Good bloke, Andrew, my neighbour. Lifes never been kind to himlost a leg, his wife left him. Thought hed drown his sorrows, but look at him, still limping about like a onelegged duck. At that moment a slightly limping man emerges from the consultation room, grinning, and winks at Emily and her companion, Alright, ladies, shall we carry on? He stomps out the door.
Emily smirks at the word ladies. Marriage came early for her; her husband Paul Whitaker was twelve years her senior. Both were born under the sign of the Dog, and Paul adored canines. Soon they got a Labrador called Rex, and Emily soon fell pregnant. Friends gushed, Youve got the perfect lifeflat in Manchester, a car, a country cottage, a dog, and a baby on the way. But at six months Emily suffers a miscarriage, and the baby doesnt survive. Paul comforts her at first, then says, Were not as young as we used to be, but we still have Rex. Emily loves the dog; Paul takes him to dog shows, yet a pet cant replace a child.
At a showcase Paul meets Olivia Hayes, who also has a show dog. He soon tells Emily the hard truth: Olivias going to have a child soon, a healthy one. Shes young, unlike you, whos getting on in years. Olivia is almost twenty years younger than Paul, and the two families become intertwined. Emily feels older, as if life has slipped past her in a blink. Retirement will be here before we know it, Paul jokes, as if it applies to her too.
One week later, as Emilys ankle heals, she returns to the GP and encounters the same bald man again. Excuse me, miss, please go ahead of me, he says with an apologetic grin, slipping past the queue. The nurse calls out, Next! and Emily, surprised, watches him linger outside the consulting room.
Come right in, he says. Im Andrew Miller. And you? Emily? I guessed itwhat other name could a brighteyed, cheerful girl have? Mind if I escort you a bit? Im a bit of a cripple myself, after all. Emily laughs, If Im a pretty lass, you dont look much like a cripple. They walk together, Andrew offering his arm as Emily still limps.
Fancy a coffee? he suggests, pointing to a tiny café across the street. Cheap and tasty, my treathavent had breakfast yet. Their chat is easy, and Andrew asks to meet again. Emily doesnt refuse.
One evening Andrew confesses, Emily, dont think Im rushing, I just dread being left behind at the next bend, ending up stuck again. Im limping and bald, and youre a beautiful young woman! He pauses, then blurted, Emily, marry me! Dont say we barely know each otherI want to spend the rest of my life learning about you. I have a flat, a steady job, Im a sturdy man. He looks at her expectantly, then lowers his head, as if sensing her hesitation. No one wants a cripple these days; everyone prefers someone healthy and rich.
Emily bursts out laughing, Youre impossible, Andrew! It felt awkward to agree at first, but Im in! Against all odds they wed, and Emily becomes pregnant almost immediately. She never imagined having a child again after the loss, feeling as if life had turned back the clock, making her young, beautiful, and loved once more.
Look at our little Charlie, his curls are something else! Emily gushes. Andrew runs his hand over his bald scalp, Im a bald, onelegged bloke now, but once I was a goldenhaired eagle. Our son has Mums eyes and Dads curls. Emily clings to his shoulder, I cant get enough of Charlie; it feels surreal that we have a child together. If we hadnt met, none of this would exist. Tears spill, and Andrew, startled, whispers, Emily, stopdont cry, my dear. Look at our boyhe had to be born, Im sure of it. We wouldnt have crossed paths otherwise.
Emily wipes her eyes, Im crying from happiness. She leans tighter into Andrew, For the first time in my life Im shedding tears of joy. A smile spreads across her face, and tiny droplets glitter on her lashes like diamonds. She feels rich and content. After all, the greatest wealth is children, and true happiness is love.
