Celia
decided to leave Henry on July 23rd 1993, the twins’ third birthday.
She caught him in a clinch with Daphne Mortimer in the summerhouse when he
should have been blowing up balloons.
After
consideration, and believing her children deserved a stable home, she put her
decision on hold and accepted Henry’s apologetic diamonds gracefully.
Each
subsequent affaire earned her another rock, which for twenty years eased the chafing of her self-imposed
bondage.
What
broke the final link in the chain was catching Henry in flagrante in the
hayloft – with the groom she had hired
specifically for her own amusement..
......................................................................................................
Please do leave a comment below, and feel free to browse back through my earlier posts including the daily stints through April for the A-Z Challenge. Oh yes - and my APARTMENT page if you fancy buying your own place in the sun!
Oh, very good - didn't see that ending coming!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan - I'm glad the surprise worked!
DeleteBeautifully paced - and a great twist at the end!
ReplyDeleteHelen / TN
Thanks TN - glad you liked it.
DeleteLol! What a great take on the photo prompt. Liked the twist ending :-)
ReplyDeleteI thought of "Take these chains from my heart" - who sang that? A black singer with a dark rough voice that sent shivers down my teenage spine.
DeleteDear Liz,
ReplyDeleteA most excellent use of the prompt. The ending was certainly an unexpected twist. I liked this very much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Thanks Rochelle.
DeleteUnexpected twist and I like the imagery.
ReplyDeleteThak you raesquiggles. I had to read yours because your icon/picture is the same as a blogger here in Tenerife!
DeleteThat's taking things just a bit too far. Great twist.
ReplyDeleteWhat's taking things too far? Henry stealing Celia's squeeze or Celia for hiring one?
DeleteI did not see that coming (and usually I – you paced it so well, Liz. Celia should have learned long before! Very good story.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dawn - it takes a very large sledgehammer to break the heavy chain of wealth!
DeleteStealing her man was going to far. What kind of husband...:)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely a step too far! After all, she'd turned a blind eye all those years and then ...
DeleteLOL, this was a great twist. Celia must have accumulated quite some wealth with all these rocks, but if the man doesn't know where to pull the brakes... Great story.
ReplyDeleteAt least Celie won't leave with nothing. Kids old enough to leave home, a pocketful of diamonds, and no doubt proof of Henry's serial infidelity ... time to start living!
DeleteOh, that's funny. She's got her head screwed on - not so sure how well she succeeded in the stability angle though. Love this story, and great title.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margirene - I did wonder if anyone had notice my classical reference!
DeleteHa. That was funny.
ReplyDeleteI guess he was a "share and share alike" kind of guy.
Better it was the groom than the horse.
Randy
That thought opens up a whole new possible story, Randy!
DeleteHa.. yes that would be devastating. And to find such double play, but I guess she had enough rocks to sustain herself, and when I saw Randy's comment I'm glad I was not drinking coffee
ReplyDeleteAs it happens, bjorn, I was! *signs off to clean keyboard*
DeleteSome things can't be forgiven, no matter how large the diamonds on offer!
ReplyDeleteI've never been offered diamonds, so I wouldn't know, but I'd like to test the theory!
DeleteClever!
ReplyDeleteThakns for scrolling down, Linda.
Delete