Short story
Deadly Love By Karen Ryan
Joe sat nursing his pint, his world shattered. Looking around him people were talking, laughing yes laughing – how could they, he thought. Yet life does go on. ‘So sorry for your loss Joe,’ another neighbour said. ‘Thanks’ he replied. His lovely wife Alice gone, their two daughters were laughing and running around, delighted to see some of their cousins. Too young to really understand, that they will never see their mum again. Ann came over ‘it’s getting late Joe, will I take the girls back?’ ‘Oh that would be great, if you don’t mind. I won’t be much longer.’ ‘Ok there’s no rush,’ she replied. When he stumbled home later, much later than he had intended he found that the girls were in bed asleep and Ann asleep in the spare room. Next day when he finally managed to get up, he found the house silent. Going downstairs he found Ann in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee and reading the paper. ‘Where are the girls he asked?’ ‘Oh I dropped them to school.’ ‘School’ Joe said astounded, ‘I had intended to keep them at home for the rest of the week.’ ‘Yes well I just thought it would be better for
them to get back into a routine.’ Too tired and weary to argue he just shrugged, and even though he had planned to keep them home, he had to admit the quietness was just what he needed. Ann really was a great help, he didn’t think he could have got through this, without her. They had grown up together, lived on the same street, and gone to the same primary school. But then with different secondary schools/ college, had drifted their own separate ways. It had been through Ann, that he had met Alice. At a club in town he had bumped into Ann and first he could not believe it was her, all grown up and looking lovelier than he remembered. He had been quiet smitten until her friend turned round and he found himself being introduced to Alice. From then on he only had eyes for her, and it was that old saying love at first sight. Alice always said it was the same for her from the moment she met him, she knew he was the one. Two years later they had married and then along came their lovely daughters Claire who is seven and Orla who had just turned four. Joe sat deep in his thoughts and realised Alice would never see them grow up, go to college or get married. He would never be able to speak to her again, there were so many things he wanted to say to her, he would
32 Senior Times l May - June 2020 l www.seniortimes.ie
never be able to see her or hold her again. Feeling teary he looked at the time, Ann was still engrossed in the paper. ‘Nearly time to leave and get the girls’ he said. ‘Oh no it’s okay I will get them for you’ said Ann, ‘you rest and take it easy, you have had a lot to deal with and anything I can do to help I will. It will take time after the shock and suddenness, you need time Joe to accept what’s happened and come to terms with it.’ ‘Are you sure?’ asked Joe, ‘Yes no problem officially I am still on holiday, so am free for the rest of the week, you leave the girls to me, I am more than willing to help.’ ‘Thanks Ann, you have been a great help and I’m sorry that you had to cut your holiday short.’ ‘Joe, don’t be silly, Alice was my dearest friend, of course I had to come back, anyway the weather was not that great in the West.’ The following Sunday Ann was bustling about the kitchen, ‘Really Ann I am not that hungry.’ ‘No Joe you have to eat and so do the girls, I don’t mind cooking and to tell the truth, it is ages since I have cooked a roast, living on my own I don’t get the chance much. In fact I have been thinking Joe, your back to work next week, I am still owed some holiday and could take it now, too give you time to get childcare in place if you want?'
