PROLOGUE
10 FEBRUARY 2021
The Scottish Chronicle Newspaper
Obituary
It is with deep sadness that the family of Dr Kenneth Manson, MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery), FSSoS (Fellow of the Scottish Society of Surgeons), announces his sudden passing on the 5 February 2021.
Throughout his dedicated service and esteemed career as one of the country’s most respected and eminent cardiac surgeons, Dr Manson was relentless in his pursuit of surgical excellence and exemplary patient care.He leaves behind a grieving family, and a wealth of friends, colleagues and former patients.
In a prescient foreshadow of his untimely death, Dr Manson was asked during a recent guest lecture at the University of Glasgow what he considered his eulogy should be.His reply was, ‘Think of not just the life he lived, but the lives he saved.’
Dr Manson’s funeral will take place on Sunday 21 February at 10a.m., at Glasgow Cathedral, followed by a private gathering for invited guests at the St Kentigern Hotel.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the British Heart Foundation.
5 YEARS LATER
21 FEBRUARY
8A.M.–10A.M.
1
BERNADETTE O’BRIEN
As Bernadette gradually transitioned from a dream-filled sleep to the semi-awake awareness of a new chilly morning, her gaze didn’t fall on the empty space beside her in bed.Or the light from the lamp post outside the window that was casting a beam through the still-dark morning.Nope.The first thing her eyes settled on was the pair of high-grade elastic, waist-to-knee, extra-firm control knickers that were draped over the chair in front of her dressing table.And her first thought was that the prospect of getting them on was almost as terrifying as the dream she’d just had.
Determined not to relive another moment of it, she picked up her mobile phone from the shabby chic, white wooden chest of drawers beside her cream padded headboard.Her daughter, Nina, would tease her that, like much of this house, the bedside chest was definitely shabby, but perhaps not so chic, but Bernadette didn’t give a damn what anyone thought.This little two-bedroom cottage on the outskirts of Glasgow’s West End was the first and only home she’d ever bought by herself and it was so much more than just bricks and questionable décor choices.
When she’d come over from her home city of Dublin as a newly qualified nurse, she’d shared a rented flat with friends, until she’d married Kenneth Manson and moved into his family home, only a couple of miles but a whole world away from where she lived now.This little slice of heaven had been her first purchase after she left Kenneth almost ten years ago, after thirty years of marriage.She’d furnished the whole place by herself, from thrift stores and second-hand furniture websites, and she adored every last nook, cranny and chalk-painted wonky table leg.It was all hers and, as far as she was concerned, it was perfect.More importantly, it was peaceful.And after a lifetime of marriage to Kenneth, that was worth more than all the swanky furniture in the world.
As she did every morning, she pushed herself up in bed and dialled Nina’s number.‘Good morning, love.Well, how are you feeling?Excited about tomorrow?’
Nina spoke loudly to be heard over the familiar noise of merriment in the background.Bernadette’s grandchildren, Casey and Milo, were twelve and ten, and their favourite games all involved a volume control turned to high.Bernadette didn’t mind one bit and Nina was a master at tuning it out.‘Oh, Mum, I can’t wait, honestly.Are you looking forward to it?’
Bernadette’s answer was automatic.‘Of course.You know how much we love Gerry.And your marriage and those two gorgeous children are worth celebrating.’
Tomorrow, their whole family and friends were gathering for Nina and Gerry’s vow renewal, on their fourteenth wedding anniversary.Bernadette had been surprised when her daughter had shared her plans – Nina wasn’t usually one for big events or romantic displays of affection – but, well, this generation celebrated so much more than hers had.Baby showers.Gender reveals.Hen weeks abroad.Pregnancy announcement parties.Babymoons.Push presents.Nursery school graduations.And now, the first vow renewal in the family.Bernadette wasn’t judging.Any excuse to get the people she loved together was fine by her.If there was a bonus, it might even wipe away some of her memories of Nina and Gerry’s original wedding.Kenneth had been so suave and handsome as he’d walked his daughter down the aisle and at the reception afterwards, he’d been the perfect father of the bride: hospitable, charming, debonair and an all-round personification of success and achievement.At least, that’s how it had seemed.But the truth?It was all a sham.Kenneth Manson was an eminent cardiac surgeon and George-Clooney-esque pillar of the community on the outside, but on the inside, he was a controlling, insidious, emotionally abusive, unfaithful man who had made Bernadette’s life a misery.That day, he had constantly hissed criticism and abuse at Bernadette: her outfit wasn’t up to his standards, she wasn’t saying the right things, her make-up was running when she cried, she was embarrassing him… On and on until Bernadette was just counting the minutes until she could go home and quell the churning anxiety in her stomach.It had been that way for decades, and she’d tolerated it for reasons she chose not to relive now.Although, she still sometimes wondered if she would have left if she’d known that at that time, he was already having an affair with a woman in her twenties called Lila, who’d eventually showed up on their doorstep on the day Bernadette had finally walked away from the marriage a few years later.
Bernadette also found out later that much as Nina loved her father and was sheltered from the worst of his faults, she’d been made well aware that Kenneth didn’t approve of her choice of husband.He’d foreseen a fellow doctor for his beloved girl.Perhaps a wealthy banker.Someone of note and influence.He definitely didn’t count on a working-class electrician stealing her heart, but Nina had been proven right because, all these years later, they were still going strong.Nina was working full time again as a psychiatric nurse on a mental health ward at Glasgow Central, the same hospital where Bernadette had spent her whole career.And Gerry had left his job as a spark for a housing association, set up his own company and now had a thriving business that had afforded them a lovely home and a couple of holidays a year.
Bernadette knew that Kenneth’s narcissistic resentment, jealousy and snobbery would have hated that.He’d also have been spitting that their son, Stuart, had forged a successful career as a criminal justice lawyer and was still settled and content with Connor, his partner of a decade now.
Kenneth had made Stuart miserable right into his early twenties, forcing him to live a secret life, too terrified of his father to admit that he was in a relationship his dad would disapprove of, while pursuing a career he didn’t want, because Kenneth had insisted his son follow in his footsteps to become the next great Manson surgeon.Her son had found the courage to defy Kenneth on both counts.Eventually, Bernadette had taken her own path too.
Thinking back to that time in her life made Bernadette shudder.There was nothing about marriage to Kenneth Manson that she wanted to remember, so she was absolutely in favour of making as many wonderful new memories with her family as possible.
‘And I’ve got my outfit all ready.’Bernadette’s gaze went back to the knickers, but then veered to the hanger on the front of the wardrobe, where clear plastic covered a cream velvet shift dress adorned with tiny black crystals around the neckline.It was perhaps the most glamorous and expensive dress she had ever bought, but tomorrow’s occasion would be worth it.Besides, Nina had persuaded her to splash out, and when they’d added the accessories and a floaty black velvet jacket, Bernadette had felt lovely in it.She was pretty comfortable in her body, well aware that there were more important things in life than a flat stomach or boobs that still pointed forwards, but if a pair of magic pants restored her arse to its natural position, and a lush jacket camouflaged the bingo wings, then she was all for it.
‘Glad to hear it.You’ll look gorgeous… Milo, darling, stop hitting your brother with that banana.What was I saying?Oh yes, you’ll be gorgeous, Mum.’
‘I can assure you, no one will be looking at me when you’re there, my darling,’ Bernadette laughed.‘I can’t wait to see your dress.I still wish you’d let me come with you to pick it.’
Nina’s breathing had got a little faster and Bernadette could picture her wrestling a banana from the little hands of her mischievous grandson.
‘I know, but I want this time to be a surprise, even for you.I promise you’ll love it.What time is Jack arriving?’
