Friday Fictioneers : A fairy tale ending

PHOTO PROMPT© Jan Wayne Fields

 

Some anniversaries through their thirty year marriage he’d left a hastily scribbled card on the mantlepiece – though more often there was nothing but the carriage clock and an unpaid gas bill. Life had delivered her Prince Charming only for him to turn into a frog the moment she had a ring on her finger.

This year, fairy lights, candles, a bottle of the sparkling wine she’d liked from their trip to Italy years before.

He gave her a shy peck on the cheek. ‘Thought you deserved something special.’

Her heart – dormant for so long – began to beat.

 

Written for Rochelle Wisoff-Field’s Friday Fictioneers. See the prompt pic and write a dazzling tale. See here to join in and to read the other stories.

79 thoughts on “Friday Fictioneers : A fairy tale ending”

    1. I thought it might be nice to write something cheerful for a change – most people seem to die in my fiction. Your cheerful tone must have rubbed off on me this week! Thanks so much Rochelle 🙂

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  4. Ah redemption. Of course, I would be immediately suspicious that he was learning romantic tricks from somebody else and was doing this out of guilt. In my experience, old dogs seldom change their ways. Well done.

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    1. Ha! I was tempted to have the wife suspicious of his motivations, but a sudden rush of blood to the head made me give the couple at least a whiff of a happy ending. At least no one died this week! Thanks for reading Josh

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  10. Well, I definitely understand that feeling of “let’s not have them die in this one!” 🙂 Great as always, Lynn, though I stumbled on the first “their,” which I thought referred to “some anniversaries.” The bottle from the trip to Italy is a nice detail showing the thought he put into it, and of course her heart starting up again at the end. Well done!

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    1. Thanks Walt and thanks for flagging up that first ‘their’ – I rejigged that opening (and the ending) several times and it always felt a little dodgy. Thanks so much for reading

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  13. I am happy for her. Great that he understood , they mattered to her, and most of all, the acknowledgement. Loved that last line. 🙂 ❤

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  14. I’m a cynic, too. But sometimes just the thought of getting older and of losing whom we take for granted can revive the buried love. It’s good to see it happen here. Lovely story, Lynn, it’s good for the heart.

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    1. Ah, thanks so much Gabi. Easy to take those we love for granted and not a bad thing to give yourself a scare from time to time, just thinking of how different your life would be without them. Thanks so much for reading and for the kind comments

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    1. Let’s hope so, though I think even if he doesn’t, the gesture might have made enough impact to tide her over for a while. I still remember my husband writing ‘I love you’ in red peony petals on the floor – and that must’ve been back in the 1990s! 🙂

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    1. Ha! I nearly wrote a cynical ending (that maybe she knew he was having an affair and that’s why he’s changed his ways, to cover his tracks). But for once I went for the sweet and hopeful – nobody died this week, which is really unusual for me! Thanks for reading

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    1. Very true Michael. He’s a lucky man to have a woman stick around for so long. But then I’ve seen this kind of relationship a lot – it might be a cliche, but a lot of men just don’t do romance, it makes them uncomfortable. And the women in their lives know and accept that. It’s just how some relationships work. Thanks for reading

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  18. And why not have him wake up – finally! I like your happy turn-around. Many times, we think they don’t show their love but they have their own ways, don’t they? He finally decided to show it in a way that she would appreciate!

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    1. Very true, Dale! We’re not all romantics, but we can be thoughtful – making someone a meal when they’re shattered, buying their favourite breakfast cereal … little things mean a lot too 🙂

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    1. Thans so much. Yes, it only took him decades to work it out! Not sure he’s changed entirely, but he knows now to make an effort from time to time, so it could be worse. Thanks for reading 🙂

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    1. Ha! Yes, I know. Pretty unusual for all of my characters to make it out unscathed. I’m sure normal service will be resumed with the next post 🙂 Thanks for reading Penny

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    1. Ha! Some women just accept what men are like, don’t they? I know a few who put up with blokes who only occasionally remember to buy them a card, give them money to buy their own Christmas present. Not all ladies are bowled over by hearts and flowers either. Thanks for reading Alicia 🙂

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  24. Sorry, Lynn. My take on this will have me signing up for cynics anonymous. I definitely thought his actions were highly suspect. Time to hire a private detective I reckon.
    Well done.
    xx Rowena

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  25. Great story, Lynn, but I don’t trust the guy. As a bitter divorcee, my theory is that all the women in the other ports have got together and played some sort of nasty trick on him (who can blame them?) and she’s all he has left. Still, maybe he’s learnt his lesson and will be a model husband from now on.
    See, that’s the thing – you have no control over what slant your readers will put on the story, so even when you try to be kind to your characters, someone like me comes along and stamps all over them… 🙂

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    1. Ha! You weren’t the only one who suspected him of foul play. Not sure if that says more about my writing or you readers! And in this post no one died, whic was nice 🙂

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  27. I loved the role reversal from Prince to Frog. Her initial perception could have been wishful thinking. I’m not as skeptical as Jane. Perhaps his metamorphosis just took longer than expected.

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    1. All very possible Russell. She wouldn’t be the first person to have their judgement clouded by hormones or the delusion their partner is something other than they are. Thanks for reading Russell

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    1. Thanks so much Sascha. You weren’t the only one to suspect that poor man and I nearly wrote it that way too, but veered towards a happier ending for a change! Thanks for reading 🙂

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  32. Lovely story. I have to admit, the cynic in me was immediately suspicious of him and his motivations. The romantic in me, though, was happy that he had a change of heart and wasn’t taking her for granted. I really enjoyed it!

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