|
‘I really can’t thank you enough, and you’ll never know how the break helped us to resolve things’, stated Emily, as she handed me beautifully wrapped gift. I accepted the heavy gift firstly telling her that all had been fine and that Alex had behaved well, and that we’d been busy with games all week-end. ‘You must have a way with toddlers, and you must give me some hints’ exclaimed Emily. ‘He’s been no trouble at all, and he’s enjoyed playing in the girls’ new tent’. ‘How are things now’, I enquired. ‘Well, sit down and I’ll tell you’. I popped the kettle on and Alex made a fuss of Emily, showing her the pictures he’d painted. He clearly doted on his mum.
I’d first met Emily at the local toddlers club, and we were like-minded in that we’d both had careers and had our children later in life. Emily had Alex at 39 years of age. She had beautiful home and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle, but neither she or her husband could fully adapt to being parents. With Alex now at 16 months old, Emily had just discovered that she was pregnant again. Initially she was devastated as she could barely cope with Alex, let alone another new baby, and he husband was begging her to have a termination. Under great pressure, Emily had confided in me, and telling me that they longed for a week-end away together. In offered to look after Alex from Friday until Sunday while Emily and Robert, her husband went off to London for a break. They’d agonised over their future plans and thankfully had decided that it would be lovely for Alex to have a little playmate.
The thank-you gift revealed a beautifully engraved crystal jug, ideal for flowers, or as a nice water jug to put on the table at dinner parties. I hugged Emily and thanked her, but of course, she needn’t have bought it as I was only too happy to help out.
All this happened 32 years ago and every time I use the jug I’m vividly reminded of Emily and Alex, and how desperate she became knowing she was pregnant again. Sadly we lost touch as the family suddenly left the area and although we exchanged Christmas cards for several years, Emily was the one to discontinue correspondence. I often wonder how life worked out for them, and I never like losing touch, but some people obviously don’t share my sentiments.
|
