​

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

 

 

 

​

​

 

 

There were only two qualities that Aveton admired in men.  Power and wealth.  She knew this was shallow, but she knew herself.  She had admired Jeff, worshipped him, but he was a fallen idol.

 

Aveton knew she was attractive, she always knew, and knew it would be the secret to her success.  Except it wasn’t a secret.

 

She was an open book.

 

Men would not let her down again.  She would be in control.

 

Ironically Terry was the first lad in school to have a car.  That was powerful.  He was always impeccably dressed and stylish.  Terry was the male equivalent of Aveton and she knew that – he knew that.  They were going to be the perfect couple.  Her parents didn’t want them to marry so young.  Aveton was 20 but that was not considered young in the day.  Terry did not know her secret, she never told him.  It was not a marriage based on trust.

 

All the girls fancied him.  He was of his age.  Aveton had won him – friends were envious, she had the prize.

 

She had a prize fighter.

 

It was style over substance.  There was no substance.

 

Parents have insights that children do not heed.  Parents nurture their children.  They do so for the rest of their lives.  Children who are adults, especially so.  Aveton did not heed their warnings.  They had warned her against him.  Aveton did not listen.  Aveton only listened to her own thoughts, her own desire, her desire to succeed.

 

Aveton’s beautiful face.  The face that had launched.  The face that had determined her life.

 

It was destroyed.

 

Sunglasses, long skirts, arms covered.  This was not Aveton.  Only a parent notices.

 

Terry was not always right, he just thought he was.  He was always right on target.

 

As Aveton put on her immaculate make-up, make-up now used as a disguise, she faced a world in which she was acting. 

 

But someone saw through this.

 

Although Aveton held back, he could not.

 

One evening Terry was found nearly beaten to death in an alley.  No-one was arrested.

 

Aveton’s father had bruising on his knuckles.  Nothing was said.

 

A last present.

​

*

**

 

The marriage lasted two years.

 

Divorce.

 

No children.

​

*

**

 

 

She was always noticed.  Picked out from the crowd.  Aveton was still attractive.  She was still young, she was only twenty-five.  She was a professional at her job.  Her job was to be noticed.  Roger noticed her.  She was everything he desired.  Charisma, glamour, stylish.  He was everything she wanted.  He was older, rich and powerful.  Roger owned the casino where Aveton worked.  When they married Roger would not allow her to work again.  He was the perfect host and she was the perfect hostess.  Endless dinner and cocktail parties.  Roger was outgoing, their life was full.  Their house, their enormous house, was everything she was determined to get, what she aimed for in life.  Everything was immaculate.  She didn’t lift a finger, everything was paid for.

 

Aveton was bored out of her mind.

 

She was bored for 16 years.

​

*

**

 

 

 

After sixteen years Aveton was still attractive.  She worked at it, there was nothing more for her to do.

 

As attractive as you can look, can be, there is always someone waiting in the wings.  The replacement.

 

Aveton did not need to lift a finger but the one who did raised her finger to her.

 

Aveton was not the only female to have determination, to aim high.  And Roger was rich, and he was powerful.

 

He divorced her for the maid.  The maid who was not necessary.  She was pretty and attractive and alluring, all the qualities that Aveton had once had.  She thought she still had them.  So, she was surprised.   Aveton was disappointed.  Disappointed in the shallowness of life, the shallowness of her husband of sixteen years, and disappointed at how little she cared.

 

Aveton had taken a gamble but it was ultimately a gamble that did not pay off.  And it was always about money. 

 

Two years later Roger was bankrupt and the maid had disappeared.

 

He begged for Aveton to take him back.  He was contrite, he was genuinely sorry.  Aveton thought that it was perhaps the only time they had been genuine towards each other.  She believed him but, if you have always been a proud woman, if you have always come first, you will never accept being second best.

​

*

**

 

 

The marriage lasted sixteen years.

 

Divorce.

 

No children.

*

**

​

 

 

Modesty wasn’t a word that usually featured in her life.  But Aveton led a more modest life after Roger.  She did not really have a choice.  Aveton’s choices had always been defined by men.  Now she was alone.

 

Roger was bankrupt.  There was no money to claim.  Aveton received nothing from him when the maid was around and now, there was no money to give.  No money and no power.

 

When she did see him, she saw an old man.

 

He was not her old man any more.

 

Aveton had always protected herself.  She had some personal savings and she had invested well.  It was a small house but was decorated immaculately, as immaculate as her own appearance.  Her pride had not fallen so low.  It was the only time in her life that she had been alone.

 

She wasn’t lonely.

 

She had been lonely for sixteen years.

 

Her expectations were low.

 

Attraction had always been the key to her life.  Men still glanced, she still had pride.

​

*

**

 

 

Tony did not glance at her, did not give her a second look.  He was totally focused repairing a garden wall.  Aveton thought he worked hard and was efficient but it seemed to take so long.  It seemed unbearable.

 

She awaited the conflict, the argument over the bill.  Aveton could stand up for herself.  She may be on her own but she had never been a weak woman.  She was ready for the fight.

 

Tony under-charged her.  That was not what she expected, that had put her defences down.  Now it was her arguing his corner.  “You worked hard, you did a good job, you just took so long”.

 

“I just couldn’t take my eyes off you”.

 

The man who didn’t glance.

 

The only man that never seemed to look, who never seemed to notice.

 

He had noticed all along

 

She just never saw it.

 

Aveton noticed herself, noticed how she had tried a little bit harder, wore a little bit more make-up, a little more stylish.  Aveton had not realised this in herself, the one person she knew so well.

 

She knew nothing.  She knew nothing about life.

 

She was going to start to learn how to live.

​

*

**

 

 

 

Tony was the love of her life.  He had neither power nor money, but he had love.  It was the greatest gift she had ever received since the dungarees she had rejected.  Aveton had been remorseful every since.  She was not insensitive.  Now she had finally learnt her lesson.  Tony was husband number three but to Aveton he was the only real husband she had ever had.

 

It was the quietest of weddings and the quietest of marriages.  Two witnesses.  His brother Cliff was best man.  Anne was her matron of honour.  She had been the only friend to stand by her.

 

Aveton wore her grandmother’s ring.

 

She wore it with pride.

 

The marriage lasted fifteen years.

​

*

**

 

 

Tony died.

 

No children.

 

 

​

​