Trampled by a Schemer: How a Brazen Woman Fifteen Years My Senior Turned My Life Upside Down, Broke …

TRODDEN ON BY A PASSING STRANGER

Son, if you dont leave that brash woman, you might as well say youve no mother! That Ninas at least fifteen years older than you! said Mum, as she had many times before.

Mum, I cant help it! Even if I wanted to I tried to explain.

When I was eighteen, Id fallen for a lovely girl named Emily, just fourteen innocent, modest, and oh so dear to me. We met at a school dance, and from the first moment, I was smitten. I did everything I could, even through her friends, to manage a date. But do you think she agreed? She did not! Like a hunter, I set about my pursuit. I found Emilys number, rang her, begged her to meet me. At last, she relented, but only if I met her mum first.

I stood nervously outside Emilys door, sweating and blushing, heart pounding. Her mum turned out to be a cheery woman with a sharp wit. Generously, she entrusted me with her precious daughter for two hours.

Emily and I walked through the park, chatting and laughing, everything perfectly innocent. Suddenly, she said,

Tom, Ive got a boyfriend. I think I love him, but hes such a flirt. Im tired of always catching him with other girls. I have some pride, you know. Lets try being friends. Are you up for it?

I raised my eyebrows, now even more intrigued. So, Emily might seem untouched, but she could love too I was even more enchanted.

The two hours flew by. I returned Emily to her mum.

As time passed, I couldnt imagine my life without Emily. Mum adored her too, this little ray of sunshine, shed say. Emily visited often; mother taught her all sorts of womanly tricks and secrets. Sometimes theyd chat and forget all about me.

When Emily turned eighteen, we started talking about marriage. There was never any doubt for any of us, parents included it was simply meant to be. The wedding was set for the autumn.

Summer arrived. Emily went off to her grandmothers place in the countryside, and I stayed at our cottage the whole summer, helping Mum with the garden.

One day I was watering the tomatoes when someone called out,

Young man, could I please have a drink?

I turned to see a woman around thirty-five. She looked a bit unkempt, wild hair, eyes burning with life. I didnt recognise her as a local. Still, I wasnt about to refuse. I filled a mug with cold water from the well and handed it to her.

Have a drink, miss

She drank gratefully, then said, Oh, thank you, young man! Nearly died of thirst. Ive some homemade liqueur here take a bottle, as thanks.

She pressed a bottle into my hand. Well, if someone offers, you dont say no. I called after her, Thanks!

That night, after dinner, alone at the cottage (Mum had gone back to town), I tasted the liqueur. Mum would never have let me touch such a gift had she been there.

Next day, to my surprise, the woman showed up again. We struck up conversation. Her name was Nicola, and she lived in a nearby village. I invited her in, and shed brought more of that sweet liqueur. I quickly whipped up a salad and sandwiches. We were so lost in chatter, the liqueur soon ran dry. Looking back now, I curse myself for what happened next.

Nicola, with more experience, simply took charge. I was completely under her spell, like a meek calf on a lead. I had no idea what was happening to me, moving in a thick fog.

When I finally came to, Nicola was gone. Mum was standing over me, shaking me awake.

Tom, what happened here while I was gone? Who were you drinking with? Whys your bed in such a state, like a herd of horses ran through?

My head pounded, hands shook, and I could barely open my eyes. I had no real answer for Mum. By evening, things cleared a little, and I was consumed with shame thinking of my dear fiancée, Emily

Yet, within a week, Nicola returned. To my own shock, I was glad to see her, maybe even missed her a little. Mum came out to the door, hands on hips.

What do you want, woman?

I pulled Mum into the house. Mum, really! Is that how we greet visitors? Maybe shes just thirsty, no need to go on like that.

Visitor? Thats Nicola from the village! Everyone knows her drifts from cottage to cottage, turning mens heads and ruining families! Useless! She wants you too, but I wont allow it be rid of her, and quick! Mum was furious.

But Mum had no idea it was already too late. Nicola might have bewitched me with her honeyed liqueur, enchanted as I was. I knew I didnt love her she wasnt right for me, but still, I followed her around like a lost puppy.

Id forgotten all about Emily. When I told Nicola about my fiancée, she just laughed:

Tommy, your first crush isnt your fiancée.

The wedding plans fell apart. Mum invited Emily over and explained everything.

Forgive young Tom, dear. He has no idea what trouble hes walking into. Hell regret it, but by then itll be too late. You get on with your own life dont wait for him, Mum apologised on my behalf.

Emily married well in the end. My kind-hearted mother, desperate to break me from Nicola, even went to the army recruitment office to ask them to call me up for service. Id had a delay until then. And so, I was sent off to Afghanistan. I wont go into detail. All Ill say is, I came back minus three fingers on my right hand a light wound compared to others.

My mind was changed too. I came back stoic, cared for little. Nicola was still there, waiting for me, with a growing little boy, our son. Before heading to conflict, uncertain Id return, I thought Id best leave a legacy. Our boy was born. Out there, I dreamt of five children.

Mum never warmed to Nicola, doted instead on Emily knitting socks and bonnets for her daughter, somehow convinced the little girl was mine. I wouldve loved that, but it wasnt so.

Emily would visit Mum, ask about me. Mum would only sigh:

Oh Emily, Toms still with that woman. I dont know what he sees in her

Years later, Emily shared these laments when we met. For now, I signed up to work up north. Nicola and our three children came along too. Two more children were born there, and my mad wish for five children was granted. But tragedy struck our five-year-old daughter died of pneumonia. The climate was harsh. We came back home; somehow, sorrow is easier to bear under your own apple tree.

Increasingly, I found myself thinking of Emily, my forsaken fiancée, and missing her in ways I couldnt have imagined. I asked Mum for her number, and she gladly gave it, with a warning dont disturb her marriage.

I called, and we met immediately. Emily had grown lovelier. She invited me to her home to meet her husband, introduced me as an old childhood friend. Her husband, clearly secure, left for the night shift leaving us alone with leftover champagne and fruit on the table. Emilys daughter was away at her grandmothers.

Well, Tom, its good to see you, she said, gazing into my eyes. Mums told me everything about you now tell me yourself, hows life?

Forgive me, Emily. Everything went wrong. Nothings as it should be. Ive four children I stammered.

Theres nothing to forgive or fix, Tom. We met, we reminisced, thats enough. Its your mother I feel for shes suffered all these years for your sake. Be kind to her, Emily said softly.

I looked at Emily, unable to turn away; time had left her untouched. I took her hand and kissed it gently.

I love you, Em, just like in those days. But our love sailed us by. I cant tell it all, cant live life over. Im sorry for everything!

Its time to go home, Tom. Its late, Emily said, drawing a line under our meeting.

Yet how could I leave so easily? Emotion swept over me with a force I couldnt resist.

In the morning, I slipped away quietly as Emily slept. For three years, we met in secret, until her family moved to the suburbs and our connection ended for good.

Nicola and I divorced once the children grew up. Mum had been right a drifters a drifter. She walked through my fate, trampled my heart.

You can boil water all you want, but water it remains.

And in the end, only one child turned out to truly be my own my firstborn son.

Life has taught me this: when your path crosses that of a wandering soul, dont lose sight of your own journey. Guard your heart, for love, once lost, is rarely regained, and the only thing that endures is what you choose with wisdom.