first_in_time | New Lives and Mourned Pasts

The trip was long but at least they had jobs to go to and somewhere to live even if it was small. They each had one suitcase half filled with clothes and a life they were leaving behind. Once they were left in the by the side of a dusty road on the outskirts of a small country town Barbara walked with Ian to their new home, unconsciously holding onto his hand as she had done so many times before. Their real estate agent waited at the door of their new home to hand them a set of keys. He wished the newly weds ever lasting happiness then left them to it.

"It seems I've missed my own wedding," Barbara said with a sigh as she put the suitcase down in the middle of the almost empty lounge room and chuckled a little. She was tired and felt dirty from all their traveling.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

first_in_time

"That's a bit of a shame," Sandra said but was still smiling, "it would have been nice to live next door to my girls' teacher."

Barbara brought a cup of tea in for their guest and placed it on the coffee table between them.

"Do you have children?" she asked.

"Twin girls," Sandra replied. "Are you planning on having any sometime soon?"

From:

splendid_roman

Ian was a lot less sure about the idea of living next door to a student's parents - it was impossible to tell what sort of parent she might be.

"Not just yet." He managed not to blush at the question, but he supposed it was something people assumed you did one you were married. "We've only just got married."

From:

first_in_time

"Newly weds!" Sandra grinned, "oh how exciting. Are you enjoying the life?"

Barbara smiled at Ian. "It's working well enough so far."

"What was the wedding like?" their new friend asked, "there weren't too many arguments I hope."

From:

splendid_roman

"Er, no. We eloped," Ian said bashfully.

"Oh, really?" Sandra sat up straighter upon hearing that. "You don't hear of many people doing that these days. What made you choose to elope?"

From:

first_in_time

Barbara paused for a moment, struggling over what to say. "There was a lot of pressure to do things the way out parents, friends, siblings and the like wanted us to and of course their requests were nothing like what we wanted."

From:

splendid_roman

"That's the trouble with marriage," Sandra agreed, "Everyone has an opinion."

Ian nodded and relaxed a little, glad Sandra was accepting of their lie. "We're glad to just be married and away from our family's disappointment at not including them."

From:

first_in_time

Barbara reached for Ian's hand since that seemed like a married thing to do and Sandra cooed at them.

"Aw! The two of you seem very sweet together," she said, "how did you meet? Did Ian sweep you off your feet?"

From:

splendid_roman

Ian was glad they looked like newly weds to their neighbour. "We taught at the same school. We were friends and we just gradually fell in love."

"That's just as sweet, even without being swept off your feet," Sandra said, sipping at her tea.

From:

first_in_time

"I think it was better in a way," Barbara told Sandra while deliberately not looking at Ian in an attempt to ward off another blush. "I made a very good friend and the love feels more natural in a way, rather than meeting a man at a dance and expecting sparks like we all used to in our younger years. And it means that I'll always have a best friend by my side, not just a husband."

From:

splendid_roman

Ian squeezed her hand, sure that what Barbara had said was how she really felt.

"That's so lovely to hear." Sandra sighed happily. "I hope you still feel the same way in ten years time."

"I'm sure we will," Ian said.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara smiled just a little at the squeeze. It wasn't as though they'd truly spoken about how they felt other than 'I love you'.

"How did you meet your husband?" she asked

From:

splendid_roman

"The traditional way: at a dance." Sandra chuckled at that. "We danced together all evening and then were inseparable after that. But it was two years before we could afford to get married. It was a long two years," she added, as an aside to Barbara.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara guessed what Sandra was hinting at and nodded, attempting to appear understanding. "That wait is always frustrating but it's worth it in the end. You're left in peace and you can live as you like without parents trying to catch you out. But now you're married, have a home together and two children who I'm certain are beautiful. It's probably better to have all of that after studying."

"Yes, it was although I wouldn't have agreed with you at the time, but now here you two are! You'll turn this place into a home and then you'll have children of your own to make it complete!" Sandra told them both.

From:

splendid_roman

Ian nodded. "We're not in a hurry. We're just going to get used to living here and teaching in a new school first."

"Of course there's no rush." Sandra smiled at him.

From:

first_in_time

Barbara hoped that Sandra was the only person to bring up their having children in the near future during conversation but she knew that was a pretty fruitless thought. Everyone was expected to have babies when they married. It sometimes seemed like the only reason people got married. According to the general populace, anyway.

"I like to think that we could save a bit of money and enjoy being married for a time first," Barbara said with a warm smile. "Particularly with how life changing children can be."

From:

splendid_roman

"Oh, they are," Sandra agreed. "Your life is never your own when they are small. I am glad mine are old enough to play on their own now, so I finally have some time for myself."

"It's not all that bad, is it?" Ian asked, chuckling.

From:

first_in_time

"No, I suppose it's a little worse but it's worth it," she quickly added and sipped from her tea some more.

From:

splendid_roman

"If it wasn't worth it, no one would ever have children," Ian said. "But twins must have been especially hard."

From:

first_in_time

"It certainly was. I think we'll be catching up on sleep for many years yet but they've brought us so much joy that I don't think I mind too much."

"It must be wonderful to see them grow each day," Barbara said and Sandra nodded.

From:

splendid_roman

"It is. I'd have liked to have a son, but you can't choose that sort of thing and two small children and a baby is a bit much, so we just had the twins and stopped."

Ian nodded. "That sounds sensible."

From:

first_in_time

"I don't suppose you were expecting twins?" Barbara asked.

"No we weren't really. There are twins in the family but they were distant. We had half expected girls since there are so many in the family, and we were right. Just doubly so," Sandra added and chuckled.

Barbara smiled in return. "I can hardly imagine raising one child, let alone two at the same time."

From:

splendid_roman

"You get used to it. You have to." Sandra finished her tea and put the cup on the coffee table. "I should be going - the girls will be expecting their tea soon." She stood up. "It has been lovely talking to you."

From:

first_in_time

Barbara let go of Ian's hand and stood up with Sandra. "You as well. We'll have to have you and your family over for dinner once we've settled in a little more," she added and shook their neighbour's hand.

Sandra shook her hand and Ian's as well, then made for the door at a leisurely pace. "Not if we don't invite you both over first!" she said and happily left the couple to return to their settling.

Barbara shut the door and went to clean up their tea things. "Are you still interested in having children?" she asked Ian with a light chuckle.

From:

splendid_roman

"I am," he said, smiling, and helped her take the tea things to the kitchen. "There aren't any twins in my family, as far as I know."

From:

first_in_time

"Nor in mine so I guess we should be safe from that at least." Barbara put their things in the sink and turned to face Ian. "But it's quite a way off still. I hope at least - I was telling the truth when I said I just want to be married and settle in before having children."