The Last Love “Ira, I told you, I have no money left! Yesterday I gave my last penny to Natasha! Yo…

LAST LOVE

“Ellie, I havent got a penny left, honestly! Gave my last tenner to Lucy just yesterdayher two little ones have eaten us all out of house and home! You know what its like,” said Anna Thompson, hanging up the phone with a sigh of utter defeat.

Frankly, shed really rather not dwell on the guilt trip her eldest daughter had just treated her to.

How did it come to this? Anna muttered. We raised three children together, John and I. Did everything for them, made sure they all had a proper education, good jobs, decent houses. And yet here I am, pensioner of the year, and I cant get a moments peace, let alone any help.

Oh John, why did you leave me so soon? Anna thought, addressing her late husband with a wistful glance at his favourite photograph on the mantelpiece. Everything was much easier when you were around.

Her chest gave a painful little squeeze, and she instinctively reached for her pillsonly to discover there were but one or two capsules left rolling around the bottom of the bottle. If things got worse, thered be nothing left to take. The chemists was beckoning but, alas, so was dizziness. She tried to stand but promptly slumped back into her favourite armchair as the room spun giddily about.

Its fine, the pill will kick in soon, she consoled herself, squinting at the floral wallpaper.

But time sauntered on, utterly unsympathetic, and Anna felt no improvement whatsoever.

She dialled her youngest daughters number. Lucy darling, was all she managed before being cut off.

Mum, Im in a meeting. Ill ring back later!

Next, Anna called her son. Charlie, love, Im not feeling too clever, and the pills have run out. Could you possibly But Charlie was already interjecting.

Mum, Im not a doctor and neither are you! Just ring for an ambulance if its that bad, alright?

Well, fair enoughhe had a point. Anna sighed and decided that if she didnt feel better in half an hour, shed call NHS 111. She carefully reclined in her chair, closed her eyes, and tried counting to a hundred to settle her nerves, drifting in and out of half-consciousness.

Somewhere distant a noise buzzedoh, the phone!

Halloo? Anna croaked, barely opening her lips.

Anna, hello! Its Peter! Had a funny feelingthought Id check in on you!

Oh, Peter I dont feel very well at all.

Ill be right round. Can you open the door?

Peter, its always open these days.

She dropped the phone. Fetching it felt like a trek up Ben Nevis. Let it ring, she thought. The Queen could call and I wouldnt budge.

Scenes from her youth paraded through her mind like a grainy black-and-white film: herself as a bright-eyed university fresher at London School of Economics, flanked by two strapping young men in uniformPeter and Johneach gripping balloons, inexplicably.

Ridiculous! Anna remembered thinking. Great hulking lads with balloons.

Oh yes! It was the ninth of MayVE Day celebrations! And there she was, squashed in the middle with Peter and John, trying not to let go of the balloons or the moment.

Shed chosen John back thenhe was the bolder one, and Peter, well, hed always been shy, stuck in his shell. Life had packed them off in different directions: John to a posting in Kent, Peter somewhere in Germany. Decades later, theyd all met again back in their hometown, retired from active service, and Peter had stayed resolutely single, the neighbourhoods most eligible (and elusive) bachelor.

People used to ask why

He always brushed them off with a joke: Ive no luck in lovemaybe I ought to try my hand at the horses!

Anna heard other voices thena proper din. She just about peeled her eyes open to see Peter standing above her, next to what could only be a paramedic.

Shell feel better soon, said the medic. Are you her husband?

Yes, yesabsolutely, Peter replied, without a blink.

Peter listened carefully to instructions and then sat at her side, gripping Annas hand until the fuzzy spell began to pass.

Thank you, Peter! I honestly feel so much better.

Thats the ticket! Here, have a spot of tea with a slice of lemon. Cant go wrong.

Peter bustled about the kitchen, refusing to leave Annas side even after she regained her colour. He seemed eager, bustling about with the kettle, unwilling to let her out of his sight.

You know, Anna, I only ever loved you. Thats why I never married.

Oh, Peter, I always got on so well with John. I respected him; he loved me. You never said a thing when we were young! If you had, perhaps But look, whats done is done. Years have gone and they wont come back.

Well then, Anna, how about we make the most of the time we do havebe happy together and see what happens?

She lay her head on Peters shoulder, squeezing his hand and laughing, almost like a schoolgirl again. Alright then! Why not?

A week later, Lucy finally called. Mum, you tried to ring ages ago, didnt you? Sorry, everythings madI completely forgot

Oh, that? Nothing really. Now youve called though, best tell you before its all over Facebook: Im getting married!

The silence on the line was deafeninga long, gasp-filled pause as Lucy tried to locate her jaw and the right words.

Mum, have you lost the plot? Theyll be charging you rent for your spot at the cemetery soon, and youre getting married? Whos the love-struck fool?

Anna bristled but answered evenly, tears prickling. Thats my business, darling. And she hung up.

She turned to Peter. Brace yourself, theyll all be round tonight, spoiling for a row.

Let em come. Where theres tea, theres hope, Peter laughed.

That evening, the whole clan assembled at the door: Charlie, Ellie, and Lucy herself.

Come on then, Mum, lets meet the Casanova! said Charlie, oozing sarcasm.

No need for introductionsyou all know me, Peter said, emerging with a sheepish grin. Ive loved Anna since forever. When I saw her so poorly last week, I knew I couldnt lose her. So I proposedand she very kindly accepted.

You must be joking! Ellie snapped. Youre both pensionerswhat sort of nonsense is this?

And what exactly do you mean by at our age? Peter said calmly. Weve barely hit seventy! Life in the old dogs yet. And your mother, if I may say, is still the belle of the ball.

Right, so you just want the flat, dont you? Lucy piped up, channeling every solicitor on telly.

Darlings, dont be absurd! Youve all got your own places, Anna interjected, exasperated.

Nevertheless, our share of your place is sitting right here! Lucy insisted.

Oh, do stop, Peter replied, shaking his head. I dont want anything but Annas company. And lets have a bit more respectwe are still your parents! Lets not make a scene.

Charlie puffed out his chest, looking ready to star in a boxing advert. Who do you think you are, you old Lothario? Who asked your opinion anyway?

Peter didnt flinch, holding his gaze until Charlie blinked first.

Im your mothers husbandwhether you like it or not.

And were her children! shrieked Ellie.

Exactly. And tomorrow, were shipping her off to a care homeor the madhouse! Lucy added, always one for theatrical flair.

Oh, give it a rest! Come on, Anna, grab your coat, lets go.

So, hand in hand, Anna and Peter simply walked out, heads high, not glancing back. They were happy and, at last, free as a pair of cheeky robins. The lopsided lamplight followed them down the street, illuminating their path.

The children watched them go, utterly baffled. After all, what did they know about love at seventy?