* THE OTHERS

“The office is having a Christmas party this year. Well, they’ve had it every year since I’ve been there, except for the war.” Matthew explained, rubbing the back of his neck. He didn’t know why he was so nervous; they had been married nearly a year. “And all the others bring their wives so I was…wondering if you’d like to go? It’s not very fancy; it’s just at a restaurant in Ripon.”

as a young woman christmas’ main appeal centered around the grand parties, and excuses to wear new chiffron dresses adorned with beads and lace. as an adult, married, it’s appeal became far more humble. meerely spending time with her family, and most importantly matthew, seemed perfectly suitable. a smirk, builds over the corner of mary’s lips, it’s nice that after a year of marriage she can still make him nervous. she looks at him over her tea, “if the others bring their wives, then i must attend.”

       “ – – and i bet you’d thought you’d seen the last of me.”  his voice echoes from behind her;  they are in LONDON, and finally he has return from a long hiatus in poland.  charles had stayed longer than expected for a myriad of reasons, and he knows that perhaps he is too late.  charming as ever, he leans against the nearest wall, eyes soft for her.  it’s funny, how when evelyn had spoken constantly about her in the past, he couldn’t understand what napier had seen in her.  and yet now, here he is, transfixed.  they are GOOD together.  

or, perhaps, they were.  

“i would hate to think we are only two ships passing in the night.  shall i steal you away from this dull affair?”  and it is dull, one of the usual stuffy dinner parties.  charles had made a late appearance, as he is wont to do.   “perhaps two old friends can catch up.”

one would argue the pair was slightly more than friends, but cursed into an eternal space of grey and uncertainty. she wasn’t ready for marriage, let alone another man in her life, when charles aluded to giving him a chance. her mind needed time, but oh, how her heart ached to see him go. “they thought he was gone, but the cat came back.” she offers humour as thin veneer over her true feeling, a plunging mixture of relief and melancholy. she loved henry, mary finds herself having to remind herself the man she chose to marry stands six feet away from them — engaged in conversation with tom. she watches him, momentarily, with an even gaze, “yes, i want to hear all about your life.”

uh 

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