“Wait a minute,” he said. “I popped out at your station for just a second, and when I got back to the carriage, my things were gone. I looked out the window, and there was some bloke walking off with my bag. I dashed after him, but he vanished into thin air…”
“And you couldnt just get back on the train and sort it out later?” asked Emily.
“You see, while I was looking for that chap, my train left without me…”
Emily was exhausted on her way home from work. She ran a small florists shop right in the city centre. It was always busy, but around Christmas? Absolute madness.
The air was biting, and snow fell every day. Emily trudged along the pavement, bundled up in her thick winter coat.
She hadnt sat down once all day. Now, all she could think about was collapsing into bed the second she got home.
Lost in thought, she barely noticed the stranger approaching until he was right beside her. Emily stopped and gave him a wary glance.
The man looked about forty, dressed rather oddly. She sidestepped to avoid him.
“Excuse me, could you help me?” he blurted out suddenly.
She paused, surprised.
“I” The man shook his head and closed his eyes briefly. “I was on my way to see my daughter in London. And then this happened…”
He hesitated, giving Emily a pitiful look. She tried to sidestep him again.
“Hold on,” he said. “I just nipped out at your station, and when I got back to my seat, my things were gone. I saw a man walking off with my bag through the window. I chased him, but he disappeared…”
“And you didnt think to get back on the train first?” Emily asked, exasperated.
“By the time I stopped looking for him, the train had left…”
“Well, you shouldve reported it somewhere,” Emily said, her patience wearing thin.
“I did! They told me to wait. The next train isnt for hours. I didnt fancy sitting in the station. Everything was in that bagmy clothes, my documents, my money… I just wanted to clean up and warm up. Ill pay you back,” he pleaded.
“Oh, brilliant. Shall I hand over my house keys while Im at it?” Emily scoffed.
“See? Everyone treats me like some sort of criminal. Why wont anyone believe me?” He looked up at the sky with such sad eyes that Emily almost felt sorry for him.
She studied him critically.
Dressed like a scarecrow Maybe he really had lost his things. But he seemed harmless enough.
“Fine. Come on, before you catch your death. Ill see if Ive got anything thatll fit you.”
“Thank you. Youre very kind. Everyone else just walked right past me,” he said, trailing after her.
Once inside her flat, Emily slumped onto the hallway stool. All she wanted was sleep.
“Bathrooms there,” she nodded towards the narrow corridor. “Ill dig out some clothes for you. Whats your name, by the way?”
“William,” he said, flicking on the light before shutting himself in.
Soon, the sound of running water filled the flat.
Emily sighed. So much for her nap.
Her brother had moved to Brighton years ago, but some of his old clothes were still lying around.
“He wont miss them.”
She gathered what she could and knocked on the bathroom door. When the water stopped, she called out that shed left the clothes on the hallway table.
She ladled soup into a bowl and microwaved it, sinking onto a kitchen chair. If Mum came home now, shed jump to all the wrong conclusions. I mean, what would you think if your daughter was heating up food while a strange man showered in her flat?
“Please, let Mum be held up at the shops or at Auntie Margarets,” Emily muttered to herself.
But the universe had bigger problems. The front door clicked open.
“Emily, love, you home?” her mum called. Then, peering into the kitchen, “Oh, I thought that was you in the shower. Whos in there, then?”
“Mum, dont shout. He missed his train. Hes just cleaning up, then hell be off,” Emily explained as calmly as possible.
“So you gave him your brothers clothes? What happened?”
“I told youhe missed his train. His things got stolen.”
“Good Lord. And you brought him home? You dont even know him! Did you think this through? Thank goodness I came back when I did. Should we call someone?”
“Mum, dont be daft. Hes already tried everything. The next trains ages away. Hell freshen up and go,” Emily whispered.
The bathroom went quiet. The door creaked open and shut.
“Hes taken the clothes,” Emily guessed.
Her mum planted herself by the door, arms crossed, waiting.
Soon, William shuffled into the kitchen. He greeted them awkwardly, looking guilty. Emily realised hed overheard.
“Right then. How does a great big bloke like you manage to get into such a mess?” her mum demanded, staring him down.
“Sorry for imposing. I was on my way to my daughters wedding in London. Now Ive no phone, no ID, no money,” he said, spreading his hands helplessly.
“Alright. But howd you end up here? Were nowhere near the station.”
“Mum! Let the man eat. Why the third degree?” Emily snapped. “Sit down, William. Ive heated up some soup for you.”
“Emily, when you were little, youd bring home stray cats. Now its grown men,” her mum grumbled, but she moved aside.
“Eat up, William. But be carefulif Mum takes a liking to you, you might never leave,” Emily said dryly.
“Because youre always working! No social life. Youre nearly thirtytime to settle down. Of course I worry!”
“Mum, stop. Williamll think were trying to marry him off,” Emily joked weakly.
“Dont worry,” she reassured William.
“Oh, for heavens sake,” her mum huffed, stomping off to her room.
“Your mums quite the character,” William said, pushing his empty bowl away.
“She raised me and my brother alone. Shes just terrified Ill end up a single mum like her.”
“I see. What do you do for work?”
“Florist. Ohhow will you get a ticket without ID or money?” Emily fretted.
“They said theyd sort it. Could I use your phone? I should let my daughter know I wont make the wedding. And my mate…”
“One sec,” Emily headed to her room.
“Mum, what are you doing?” Her mum was emptying her jewellery boxgold rings, bracelets, the lot.
“Shh!” her mum hissed. “What if hes… I dont know who? Im taking these to Auntie Margarets.”
Emily didnt bother stopping her. Pointless.
She handed William the phone, then stood by the window.
He called his daughter, and from his expression, Emily guessed she wasnt exactly heartbroken hed miss the wedding.
Then he called someone else and asked for Emilys address.
“Well, my mates sending a car. Shouldnt have come at all. My ex didnt want me meeting her new husband. My daughter insisted. Waste of time,” William sighed.
“Waityou have a driver?” Emily blinked.
William was growing on her. In her brothers clothes, he looked almost respectable, even if they were a bit too tight.
“My mate and I run a small electronics repair business. He said not to driveYou dont know London, youll be drinking at the wedding, all that. So I took the train. Shouldve flown.”
He gave her a rueful smile. “Dont worry, just a few more hours and Ill be out of your hair.”
Emily studied him, realising her mum had a point. What if she came home to a husband, maybe kids? A life with purpose?
She was almost thirty, still living with her mum. No prospects.
Thered been Daniel. They were engaged. Then she came home early once and found him with her best friend. Lost both in one go.
“Youre kind. Thingsll work out for you,” William said suddenly, snapping her out of it.
“And you? Whyre you alone? Youve got your life togethereven a business.”
“Ah. Noticed I was flying solo to the wedding. Clever girl. Just never clicked with anyone. Divorced. Never met someone as decent as you. Modern women are too… calculated. Men too, I suppose. Youre tired, and here I am, bothering you. Sorry.”
They talked for hours. Dusk had fallen when the phone rang.
“Thatll be my lift. Sams here,” William apologised, taking the phone.
“He
