CHAPTER 22
‘Marge I really am sorry I don’t know what else to say to you.’
‘But I thought it would be a short term thing. I thought you said Jack thought it was just a temporary blip and he would see sense and come back to me?’ Marge was desperately grasping for understanding of Jeremy’s behavior. She beseeched Rose to explain to her why it was happening.
‘He can’t love her, can he?’ she asked cautiously.
‘I don’t know the answer to that Marge.’ Rose knew her words stung but she wasn’t going to lie to Marge just to try and make her feel better. She saw no point in that, no point at all. Best to be honest with her and be there to help her deal with whatever happened.
Suddenly the realization washed over her.
‘He loves her, doesn’t he?’ Marge hung her head.
Rose reached across the table and gently placed her hand over Marge’s pale, lined, trembling one.
‘I think he probably thinks he does Marge. It will never be what you and he shared. Nobody can create a life in such a short time that can compare in any shape or form to what you and Jeremy shared for 42 years. But, if I was you I would try to accept it’s a different type of love and it is real for him.’ She looked into Marge’s sad eyes. ‘For your own sake you have to accept it Marge.’
Marge reached for the handkerchief in her sleeve. Dabbing at her tears she said.
‘You’re right, I know you’re right Rose. Really I do. I just keep hoping….…’ the words hung in the air as both women sat he companionable silence lost in their own thoughts.
Rose wondered how Marge was still functioning, let alone thinking of trying to forgive Jeremy if the opportunity arose. She would have gratefully killed him with her bare hands if it had of been Jack. The woman lost her son and grandson and then her husband leaves her high and dry just when she needs him the most. He wouldn’t still have functioning limbs if it was her. But to Marge she said.
‘You are so strong and resilient Marge. It’s time you started thinking of yourself and moved on with your life, just as Jeremy has done with his.’
‘Really Rose?’ Marge looked like a lost child as she looked at her friend. The coffee in front of her was now cold in its porcelain mug.
‘Yes, really. You have your friends in the bridge club. It’s time you started to take control. You have to, otherwise your life becomes nothing more than a shrine to Jeremy and he certainly doesn’t deserve that.’
‘Yes, yes, you’re right.’ Marge lifted her head resolutely. ‘Why should I let him ruin my life? I deserve to be happy and I am a capable woman.’
‘That’s more like it Marge. The best thing you can do now is pick yourself up and move on. Show Jeremy you don’t need him and that your life is filled with wonderful things without him there.’
‘I will. You’re right. It’s time for me. Thank you so much Rose. I’m afraid I was falling into a very deep hole of self pity. Thank you for helping me see my way out. You’re a good friend.’ Marge smiled a tight smile at Rose.
Rose thought to herself. Poor Marge. She found it so hard to express herself. A smile was like a distant cousin for her. It only came to visit on rare occasions and even then the relationship was usually strained and forced. But, as they say, fake it till you make it. If it could work for Marge it could work for anyone, thought Rose.
‘I’m just glad you could confide in me dear.’
‘But I thought it would be a short term thing. I thought you said Jack thought it was just a temporary blip and he would see sense and come back to me?’ Marge was desperately grasping for understanding of Jeremy’s behavior. She beseeched Rose to explain to her why it was happening.
‘He can’t love her, can he?’ she asked cautiously.
‘I don’t know the answer to that Marge.’ Rose knew her words stung but she wasn’t going to lie to Marge just to try and make her feel better. She saw no point in that, no point at all. Best to be honest with her and be there to help her deal with whatever happened.
Suddenly the realization washed over her.
‘He loves her, doesn’t he?’ Marge hung her head.
Rose reached across the table and gently placed her hand over Marge’s pale, lined, trembling one.
‘I think he probably thinks he does Marge. It will never be what you and he shared. Nobody can create a life in such a short time that can compare in any shape or form to what you and Jeremy shared for 42 years. But, if I was you I would try to accept it’s a different type of love and it is real for him.’ She looked into Marge’s sad eyes. ‘For your own sake you have to accept it Marge.’
Marge reached for the handkerchief in her sleeve. Dabbing at her tears she said.
‘You’re right, I know you’re right Rose. Really I do. I just keep hoping….…’ the words hung in the air as both women sat he companionable silence lost in their own thoughts.
Rose wondered how Marge was still functioning, let alone thinking of trying to forgive Jeremy if the opportunity arose. She would have gratefully killed him with her bare hands if it had of been Jack. The woman lost her son and grandson and then her husband leaves her high and dry just when she needs him the most. He wouldn’t still have functioning limbs if it was her. But to Marge she said.
‘You are so strong and resilient Marge. It’s time you started thinking of yourself and moved on with your life, just as Jeremy has done with his.’
‘Really Rose?’ Marge looked like a lost child as she looked at her friend. The coffee in front of her was now cold in its porcelain mug.
‘Yes, really. You have your friends in the bridge club. It’s time you started to take control. You have to, otherwise your life becomes nothing more than a shrine to Jeremy and he certainly doesn’t deserve that.’
‘Yes, yes, you’re right.’ Marge lifted her head resolutely. ‘Why should I let him ruin my life? I deserve to be happy and I am a capable woman.’
‘That’s more like it Marge. The best thing you can do now is pick yourself up and move on. Show Jeremy you don’t need him and that your life is filled with wonderful things without him there.’
‘I will. You’re right. It’s time for me. Thank you so much Rose. I’m afraid I was falling into a very deep hole of self pity. Thank you for helping me see my way out. You’re a good friend.’ Marge smiled a tight smile at Rose.
Rose thought to herself. Poor Marge. She found it so hard to express herself. A smile was like a distant cousin for her. It only came to visit on rare occasions and even then the relationship was usually strained and forced. But, as they say, fake it till you make it. If it could work for Marge it could work for anyone, thought Rose.
‘I’m just glad you could confide in me dear.’
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