“I Want to Marry Someone Proper”
“He bought a new sound system,” Emily murmured, not shifting her posture. “Cost a fortune. Meanwhile, Ive been scraping together my wages for a new washing machine because ours howls like a siren. He said I dont appreciate investments in art. In art, Sophie… Can you believe it?”
The tea in the pot had gone cold, leaving behind a bitter, dark sludge. The slices of baguette on the plate had hardened, the cheese forming a waxy crust, and Sophie couldnt seem to comfort her friend. Emily had come over after yet another row with her husband and, having cried herself dry, now sat hugging her knees, staring blankly at the wall.
They hadnt seen much of each other in the past three yearsEmilys husband never let her go anywhere alone and despised her friends. But this time, hed raised a hand to her, and his usual restrictions hadnt held.
To distract her from the gloom, Sophie offered, “Em, want to hear an old love story? I once got to see real loyalty in action.”
Emily gave a lifeless nod. “Go on. Just no sickly-sweet fairy tales about princes. Ive had enough of those.”
Sophie stood, walked to the stove, and flicked on the gas beneath the kettle. The quiet hiss filled the silence.
“No princes, love. This happened right in front of me,” Sophie smiled. “And it wasnt even about people. Years ago, I worked in a warehouse on an industrial estate. You know the sortguard dogs everywhere, a pack of strays always lurking. Someone dumped two puppies there: a plump little black bear they called Biscuit and a ginger girl, Rusty. They grew up inseparable. Biscuit was a scrappy little troublemaker; Rusty was quiet, sharp, with eyes like an old woman whod seen it all. Everyone doted on them.”
Sophie paused. Seeing Emilys gaze flicker toward herdistant, but presentshe continued.
“Then disaster struck. Rusty got caught under a lorrys wheelsdriver never saw her. We thought she wouldnt make it, but mutts are tough. Only, she could never walk right again, dragging her hind legs. So clever, though. Knew everything. Broke your heart to watch.”
“Poor thing…” Emily exhaled.
“But guess what?” Sophie grinned. “She didnt give up. Became our best lookout! Stranger on the grounds? Shed sound the alarm with that sharp bark of hers, and Biscuit and the others would charge wherever she pointed. A proper little team, they were.”
Sophies face turned solemn.
“Then Rusty grew up. First heat came. And every stray for miles turned up at our yard. A pack of hungry, bold dogs. They hounded hershe couldnt run, couldnt fight. Just whimpered, crawled, hid in our legs. We shooed them off, but they kept coming back.”
Emily froze, listening.
“And Biscuit? Where was he?”
“Biscuit…” Sophie sighed. “At first, he was lost. Ran in circles, barking, too scared to take on the pack. Instincts, smells… all muddled him. Then… they disappeared. Came back three days later. And Biscuit was different. He walked ahead, hackles up, a low growl in his throat. Rusty trailed behind. If any other dog tried to get near her? He turned into a storm. Went for them like hed tear them apart. He understood. Understood she needed protecting.”
Emily clenched her fists, fresh tears wellingbut different ones this time.
“We thought that was the end of it. Puppies? No chance… But a month later, Rusty grew round. And Biscuit? Wouldnt leave her side. Brought her the best scraps, licked her clean, slept curled up with his head on her belly. So tender, so careful… We all fed her extra, worried. The women especially.”
Sophie turned away, voice wavering.
“She went into labour on a sweltering day. We didnt notice at first. Biscuit was the one who raised hell. Didnt howljust this awful, shrieking whine, darting between our legs, nipping at our trousers, dragging us to where Rusty had hidden under the old porch. But it was too late… She was already going… couldnt deliver.”
The ticking of the wall clock grew deafening.
“We wrapped her in an old coat… buried her behind the garage. Had to lock Biscuit in the storeroom. He went madscratching the door, howling… That sound… still haunts me. When it was over and we let him out, he tore across the yard, sniffing every crack, every corner… Searching. By evening… he was gone. Never came back.”
Sophie wiped her eyes. Emily sat motionless, hands clenched.
“Christ…” she whispered. “Thats… love. And me and Michael… two strangers sharing a flat. Barely notice each other. Only time we talk is to argue. Otherwise, just… ghosts in the same house.”
“Maybe its just a rough patch? You were mad about him at the start. It was good once.”
“It was never good, Sophie. We fought over every little thing from day one. I wanted the wedding so badly, I dragged Michael to the registry officenever thought Id be carrying everything after. Now Im paying for it. Right, I should go. Thanks.”
***
After that night, they barely spoke for months. Work, life. Theyd grown used to the distance. Occasionally, a message flickered up: “Hey, how are you?” “Fine. You?” “Same.”
Then, on a grim autumn evening, Emily wrote: “Sophie, fancy tea? Ill bring cake.” Two hours later, she was on the doorstep. Behind her stood a tall man with a quiet, slightly shy face.
“Sophie, this is Stephen,” Emily introduced him, her eyes brighter than theyd ever been. “Were getting married soon.”
Stunned, Sophie let them in. Over tea, Stephen won her over with his steady, unassuming warmth. He didnt try to impressjust the way he handed Emily her cup, the way he looked at her, said enough.
When Stephen stepped onto the balcony, Sophie gaped at her friend.
“Well? Whered you find him? What about Michael?”
Emily smileda new, happy smile.
“After I left yours, I cried the whole way home. Not over Michael. Over Biscuit and Rusty. Because I saw the plain truth about my so-called marriageno one ever loved me there. I realised I didnt want to live like that anymore. That I deserved something proper. Loyalty. Care. If dogs can manage it… Anyway, next morning, I packed my things and left.”
“And Michael?”
“Probably didnt even notice at first. Then he was relieved. Hed known we werent right either. Wasnt looking for anyone, wanted time alone. Met Stephen outside the courthouseliterally bumped into him in the doorway. I was a wreck, nearly in tears, and he just said, You alright? Turned out hed just got his freedom too. We talked… went for coffee. And… well,” Emily rested a hand on her stomach. “Babys on the way.”
“Quick work, mum,” Sophie smirked.
“Tell me about it. But Sophie… its so good 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?”
Sophie watched her friend, nodding, smiling through her own tears.
