Sonia sat in her sitting room remembering back over the past two months, so much had happened. Mabel had been such a good friend to her and had helped her carry on and care for her new babies.
Sonia was so very grateful for all her help, she couldn’t imagine how she would have managed otherwise, but between them they had planned the funeral and it had gone as well as could be expected and now her new life was starting. Sonia was amazed at Mabel’s energy, she had two small children of her own to care for and another on the way, but she still found time to support Sonia and encourage her to keep going.
Around two weeks after Jack had died Sonia had been sitting with Mabel, Lisa had been at school and the twins had been asleep and so for a little while peace had reigned in the house and the two ladies had been sitting, savouring the quiet. In the silence Mabel had been studying Sonia and weighing up whether it was her place to say anything or not and on coming to a decision she had said “Sonia, are you going to be able to run that shop by yourself? It’s a long way from the house and with the babies…” Mabel had then tailed off not sure what else she should say. Sonia had sighed and looked pleadingly at her and replied “What choice do I have? We need an income.” Mabel had been quick to respond “I grant you that but what if you had a shop nearer where you lived?” Curiosity had shown on Sonia’s face, she hadn’t heard of anything that was being sold near where they lived.
Mabel had then continued “I am not really explaining this too well, you see I have seen a house on the other side of the village for sale it’s rather large and it came to me perhaps you and the children could live upstairs and you could run a shop downstairs? It’s expensive, but you have a very successful business, to be honest we have been quite envious of your success, your husband was a very good salesman and I am sure you would get a good price if you sold it.”
That had been then and this was now, Sonia stood looking round her new home, it certainly was huge and Mabel had been right Jack had made a success of their family business and it hadn’t been hard to find a buyer. Sonia had been glad to move, it was too painful in the home she and Jack had lived in together, it just reminded her of all the plans they had made. She had felt a new start would help her move on and a shop downstairs from her home would make it so much easier to look after her twins and make the money they need to survive. Day by day Sonia was growing stronger, the hopelessness was leaving her and instead she now felt a new determination to take care of her young family, there was still an aching hole in her heart, but working hard helped dull it for a bit and the hard work also exhausted her and helped sleep come quickly at night.
She looked round her new business, if it wasn’t for the circumstances this would have been an exciting opportunity. Yet she still felt an expectation, here her children would grow up and one day this place would be Bailey’s and he would marry and have children here. She felt the old house housed her past and this new place was full of future possibilities and so she did her best to look forward to all that was ahead of her.
Life is looking up for Sonia. Moving would be a good solution for her, leaving the painful memories behind and starting a new future for her and the children. Mabel is a great friend!