So, is a marriage certificate really stronger than just living together? – The lads teased Nadine

Well, is a marriage certificate really stronger than just living together? the men laughed at Edith.
Im not going to our thirty-year university reunion, Edith almost shouted into her phone when her only friend called.
Id be in a blue funk for weeks afterwards.
Let those who went every year keep going, they wont even realise how much theyve changed.
But why, Edith, what do you look like now that youre so afraid? Margaret asked, surprised.
Didnt we see each other just five years back?
You looked perfectly fine.
Have you really put on that much weight or something?
Thats not it, just leave it, Rita.
Im not going. Edith tried to end the call, hoping her friend would move on down the list of names.
But this time, Margaret clung to her like a barnacle.
Edith, our group is thinning out
What, somebodys snuffed it? Edith said reflexively, half-joking, though she didnt consider herself young any more, but not old enough for her peers to start shuffling off.
Of course not!
Wellexcept some left the country, what with things as they are.
Its only Andrey Bush who passed, twenty-five years ago, poor lad.
Remember, I told you?
Dont be a donkey, everyones comingfour whole cohorts, but only thirty people in total.
Your lads finally got married, didnt he?
Well, you can use a little fun yourself.
Margaret said more, but Ediths thoughts drifted back to poor Andrey Bush.
Hed always looked tired, deep shadows under his eyes, his gaze heavy, and the other boys dismissed him as weak.
Turned out, he had a weak heart.
He was a good student, wanted to design a great suspension bridge in his sleepy English town, but his time ran out.
But what had Edith achieved?
Only fallen in love with George, a burly site foreman shed worked with after graduation.
George stayed in town on contract, then always left for his family.
They went out for years; hed even introduce her as his wife in front of everyone, saying, Living together, thats what real love isnobody stays for a bit of paper, its for love
Then, just as Edith found herself expecting a child, George stopped turning up.
Turns out, he had a sick wife and three children back home.
He left his job for personal reasons, and never said a word to Edith.
She realised she couldnt expect anything from a man with three kids and an ill wife.
She left the construction site herself before anyone caught on.
One of the men had the cheek to joke as she left, Paper wins in the endmarriage certificate, not living together!
Edith didnt care; shed taken a job in the local corner shop, arranged by a neighbour.
Even after the baby, she worked two days a week.
Her mother looked after little Jamie, lamenting her daughters foolishness and loss of such a good job.
You raised me this way! Edith snapped one day, when her mothers nagging became too much.
Well, I hoped youd have some decency.
I slaved for your studies, kept you at university, and lookyou silly girl! Mother shrieked.
Well, you reap what you sow, dont you? Edith hurled back, then immediately regretted it.
Later, they held each other and cried, but what was the use?
Where was she to go now
So, when Rita rang up to drag her to the five-year university reunion, Edith, naturally, stayed away.
What could she say to them, with all their families, holidays, jobs, and holidays snaps, when she was scrubbing floors in three placesin the stairwells, at the local school, and in a nursery?
Or rather, what would they say to her?
For Jamies sake, she did everything; he was her only comfort.
Especially when, as soon as Jamie started nursery, Ediths mother declared her motherly duties finished, packed up for her sisters cottage in Norfolk and left, claiming the city air made her ill and she needed countryside breezes.
A few years on, out of the blue, Edith got lucky: a part-time engineering role in her own field.
Jamie had started primary school, and she even managed to pick him up after lunchmuch to the envy of other mums.
Soon, a co-worker tried to woo her, but Edith stopped that sharpish.
Her son didnt need a strange man at home.
No one could take the place of his father, and trouble comes easy enough.
At work, Edith surprised everyone with her skills, and as Jamie grew older, she got promoted to full engineer.
Her pay went up, but inside, she still felt lesser, always quiet, guarded in plain clothes, never dying her hair; by forty, shed grown grey.
It seemed she didnt deserve happiness, after what shed done with a married man, nearly taking a father from his children.
Bright clothes, lipstick, drawing attentionthese were forbidden; that way, no one would notice her again.
And she no longer believed in happy endings, either.
There were plenty of divorced women about, nothing set her apartperhaps she was even worse
Yet Jamie grew up kind and grateful, undamaged by his mothers sacrificial life.
Every summer, hed go stay at Grandma Irene and Aunt Lizs cottage, helping them however he could.
Hed dig the garden, plant potatoes, carrots, beets; help with the weeding and watering; gather spuds in autumn and help the old ladies jar up the fruit and pickles.
Strong and handy, Jamie split logs for firewood and stacked them like a pro.
Even Ediths mother admitted, Its a blessingmy lovely Jamie, not like Liz and me left high and dry.
What use now was a café meet-up or a university reunion?
All these familiar thoughts whipped through Ediths head in seconds.
She realised Margaret was talking again:
So, you remember?
The café opposite the halls, next Friday at three.
Come, give me some company, will you?
Ive no one either.
Will you?
Ritas voice wobbled unexpectedly, and Edith, not even sure why, found herself agreeing: Yes, Ill come
After hanging up, she instantly regretted it.
She stared at herself in the mirror, then reached for the phone, intending to call Rita back and say the yes just slipped out.
But the line was always engaged and suddenly Edith felt awkward, silly.
Late that night, she opened the wardrobe and pulled out the blue dress her son had bought her for his wedding.
Jamie and his wife had insistedNatasha took Edith shopping, put her through endless fittings, until the blue dress pleased everyone, even Edith.
Then they chose matching shoes, and Natasha even dragged her to the salon for a hairdo and highlights.
That was last year; Jamie and Natasha now lived happily on their own.
Ediths grey had started showing again; there was no one left to dress up for.
She styled her hair, put on the blue dress, dabbed a little lipstick, then wiped it offfar too bold.
The café was lively and packed when Edith arrived at the appointed hour.
Rita spotted her immediately and rushed over: Edith!
Look at youstunning!
I cant tell you how happy I am to see you!
Margaret, a bit plumper than before, somehow looked better for ityouthful, even.
They chatted over drinks until someone called Rita away.
Edith, left alone, sipped juice, listened to the old tunes from their student days, scanned the faces.
Suddenly, over the music, a voice: May I have this dance? She looked up and recognised him at onceAlex Harris, from the parallel group.
Married by their third yearEdith used to pine for him a little.
Edith, you look incredible.
First reunion Ive ever attended, I dont recognise a soulexcept for you.
Alex held out his hand and Edith took it, catching the look of surprise on Ritas face as she returned to their table.
They danced two or three numbers in silence.
Then Alex asked quietly:
Edith, may I walk you home?
Just so you know, Im long divorced.
But if someones waiting for you, Ill just walk you to your doorits late, thats all.
Alex saw her safely home.
The next day they met again, and after that, never parted.
It was Natasha, now softly rounded with Ediths coming grandchild, who helped her choose another wedding dress and shoes.
Edith blushed to be the bride.
She allowed herself to be happy, at last.
And Natasha whispered, Mrs.
Barkeryou really are beautiful!
Jamie and I are so thrilled; you deserve happiness at any age, never forget!
Edith, sitting at her wedding feast and gazing at Alexher new husbandfelt her heart glow.
I suppose its time.
Im allowed to be happy now.
And finally, Edith forgave herself, and allowed herself happinessOutside the window, late sunshine slanted across the city rooftops, painting golden bars on the tablecloth.
Edith watched Alex raise his glass to her, his eyes shining with equal parts warmth and disbelief, like he too couldnt fathom how, after all these years, happiness had waited quietly for them both.
She felt the laughter, chatter, even clinking cutlery recede into the background as Jamie caught her hand from across the table, squeezing it with a sons fierce pride.
In that moment, Edith forgave everythingthe hurried choices, the quiet years, the old regretsbecause it all had led here: to this circle of family, old friends, new beginnings.
Joy, she realized, had simply bloomed in its own time.
When the music started and Alex led her to the floor, Edith spun beneath the lights, feeling more herself than she ever had as a quiet girl in college, or a weary mother at a checkout.
Her laughter mixed with the music, her steps sure, her heart so full it almost stung.
Later, as the last guests slipped away and the city glittered outside, Edith leaned into Alexs shoulder, feeling a gentle, unexpected peace.
Outside, the world kept spinning, but inside their small home, everythingat lastwas just beginning.
And so, after all the days she thought shed missed her chance, Edith discovered life held out its gifts to the patient and the bruised, after all.
She smiled at the future.
Come along, she whispered to her new husband.
Lets go home.