Jenny finished telling Auntie Ella why she was leaving Ted. Ella had listened in silence, now she looked thoughtfully at Jenny drying her eyes.

“The first thing is a cup of tea my girl” she said suiting action to the words. “Go and wash your face and try to calm down. There’s a way round this if we can but find it.” Jenny did as she was told and by the time she came back the tea was made and Ella was pouring it out. Taking her cup she sat down and looked expectantly at Ella.

Ella had been thinking hard and as they drank their tea she started to reiterate what Jenny had poured out. “Now have I got it right? Ted doesn’t do any of the things for you that Dad does for your Mum?” Jenny nodded. “Things like bringing in the coal, hoovering, all the heavy jobs around the house?” “Yes” said Jenny, “and..” Ella interrupted her “Let me finish before you add anything else otherwise I’ll get confused.” “Sorry Auntie.” Jenny interjected.

“You think this means that Ted doesn’t love you, is that right?” continued Ella. Jenny nodded miserably, tears filling her eyes again. Ella passed her the box of tissues before going on. “All right, now have you talked to Ted about this?” “No, Auntie, not yet” “Why ever not!” “Well, if he still loved me he would surely do these things for me” “Why!” Ella exclaimed. Jenny looked surprised “Well that what husbands do for their wives, isn’t it?” Ella rolled her eyes heavenward, “Jenny whatever gave you that idea? “Well it’s what Dad does for Mum all the time and he loves her. I thought all men did it for their wives.” “How old are you Jenny?” “20, you know that Auntie.” “How old were you when they adopted you?” Jenny replied “I was 14, but why are you asking me about that? What has that got to do with Ted and me?” “It’s the answer to your problem Jenny. You have only known family life with your Mum and Dad and whatever scenes you see when visiting the families of your friends. Now, listen carefully. Long before you came on the scene Mum was very ill, she nearly died and her recovery was very slow. The whole thing frightened your Dad so much that he has done the heavy work ever since. He loves her so much and he wants her with him for as long as possible and feels that if he helps her in this way she won’t be ill again. You are right that it is a labour of love but that is the reason behind it. What matters to him is that she stays well, not the extra work it entails.” “Oh dear, I thought that when I’ve seen other wives whose husbands didn’t help them it meant they weren’t loved. When Ted didn’t do it for me I thought he didn’t love me. Auntie Ella, Mum is alright now isn’t she?” Jenny anxiously asked. “Oh yes Jenny she’s fine now and has been for the past 10 years but she was told at the time not to over exert herself and Dad makes sure she doesn’t!” “Is that why they adopted me instead of a baby or small girl?” “Well that’s something you must ask them yourself. I do know that when they were going round the orphanage on Open Day both Mum and Dad were so impressed by you they couldn’t get you out of their minds and as they talked about you together it became obvious to them that you could be the one child who would make there lives complete and they have often shared with me that is just what you have done. “If you only knew all the anxiety they went through. First, the adoption board vetted them then you came for visits to see whether you felt you would fit in and like to be with them. I’m telling you a rare old time was had by us all until both you and the board said yes!” Jenny’s face was radiant and she looked so different from the unhappy girl who had arrived at Ella’s only short time ago. Ella asked, ”By the way, why haven’t you shared this with your Mum?

“I didn’t want to worry them, they think the world of Ted and I didn’t want to spoil things for them before I had to.” “Do you still feel that Ted doesn’t love you?”

“Oh no Auntie Ella,” was Jenny’s smiling response. “Good, now off you go and get Ted’s meal ready.” Jenny whispered, “Thank you Auntie Ella, I do love you” hugged her and went on her way smiling. Ella watched her go, “ Ah, young love. What it is to be newly weds. Still she’ll settle down to married life by the end of the month.” Ella thought to herself as she shut the front door.