Life has its own way of unfolding things.
“Rebecca, Ive got news for youNicholas is coming back from the army tomorrow, so well be getting married soon. Youll come to our wedding, wont you?” chattered Emily.
“How do you even know? Last I heard, you two were just friends when he left. And how do you know hes arriving tomorrow?”
“My mum ran into Aunt Irene. Well, well see about the just friends part. Thats what he thoughtwhat everyone thoughtbut Ive loved him for ages. I wont let him slip away now,” Emily said, beaming.
“Alright then, keep dreaming. I doubt youll reel Nicholas in. Hes always been his own man. And now, after the army? Hes probably grown up, got a bit wiser. Back in school, he was such a scamp,” Rebecca replied, and Emily frowned slightly.
Emily had always fancied Nicholas from the parallel classmischievous, quick-witted, but handsome all the same. By the ninth form, hed shot up taller than all the other lads, yet he never paid the girls any mind. They were all just mates to himjoking, laughing, spending evenings with his mates, never walking anyone home after the pictures.
Emily always found a way to be near him. If she heard he was going to the cinema with his friends, shed dash off to the village hall too. Hed chat with her, joke around, maybe even put an arm round her, but nothing more. The girls secretly fancied him, whispering among themselves, “Nicholas is odd, isnt he? All the other lads walk girls home, but he always goes alone.”
When he left for the army, a few of the girls quietly waited, each hoping hed notice one of them when he returned. After all, hed have to settle down someday, start a family.
Eleanor worked at the local school, transferred there four years earlier after finishing university. She lived with her mother, Anne, her father having passed when she was young. Her mother had been relieved when Eleanor moved from the countryside to townno more living alone. Still, shed sometimes muse, “As glad as I am to have her here, one day shell marry”
That morning, Eleanor saw her mother off to the busAnne was heading to her elder sisters cottage for the summer. Eleanor herself walked on to the school. Though term had ended, there was still work for the teachers.
Her love life had been quiet since a betrayal years ago. Paul, a fellow student, had promised to take her to his city, even proposedonly to change his mind at the last moment. “Ive decided not to marry, Eleanor. My parents expect me home alone. Goodbye.”
Heartbroken, shed taken the village post. Now, at twenty-eight, shed yet to fall in love again.
Sitting in the headmasters office, planning the summers work, the deputy head popped in. “Eleanor, theres a young man asking for you.”
“Interesting. Who might this be?” the headmaster chuckled. Eleanor shrugged.
“Lets find out.”
In the corridor stood a young man in uniform, his back turned as he gazed out the window. When he turned and smiled, she notedstrong, sturdy, a paratrooper. Who could it be?
They met halfway.
“Good morning, Miss Eleanor.”
“Good morning. You were waiting for me?”
“Indeed. Who else?”
“Forgive me, but have we met?”
“Oh, we havelong ago.” His open smile brought out dimples.
“Nicholas?” She recognized her former pupil, pressing her hands to her lips.
“The very same. Changed much?”
“My word, you have.” They embraced. She patted his back, then stepped away.
“Let me look at you. A proper man nowbroad-shouldered, grown. Id never have recognized you in town.”
“Dont flatter me. These are for you.” He handed her flowers. “Im just an ordinary bloke. But Id have called out if youd passed me by.”
“How did you find me here?”
“Knew where you worked before I enlisted.” He grinned. “Came straight from the stationservice done, free man.”
“Where are you staying? Youve still to get to the village. Oh, you must be starving. Right, let me fetch my thingsyoull come to mine. Its not far.”
While Eleanor warmed lunch, Nicholas washed up, stripping to his vest in the heat. Returning to the kitchen, he asked, “Need any help?”
“No, sit down.”
Eleanor turned to the stove, heart fluttering as she stole glances at him. Nothing remained of that scrawny lad from the ninth formhere was a man. She stood, spoon pressed to her lips.
*Goodness, whats come over me?*
Nicholas, meanwhile, struggled to stay seated. How he longed to embrace Eleanor, the woman hed loved since schoolkind, beautiful, unmarried. His mate Simon had written as much; his aunt was the schools deputy.
“Eat up,” Eleanor said. “Well have tea after.”
They reminisced about her time at the village school, where Nicholas had been her pupil. Shed always sensed his gaze but dismissed itteenage lads often fancied young teachers.
“I wonder how the village is now. Who took my place? Id love to see everyone.”
“Another young teacher, Vera. My elder brother married her. Theyve a son now.” Nicholas hesitated, then blurted, “Eleanor” dropping the formality for the first time”Ive come for you. Marry me. Ive loved you since school.”
“Marry?”
“Yes. Im asking properly. Ive grown, but my heart hasnt changed.”
“But Nicholas, darling, theres eight years between us.”
“Forget that.” Calmly, he took her hands. “Those years dont matter. Back then, it was fourteen and twenty-two. Now? Weve evened out. Im a man nowIll provide, protect.”
Pulling her onto his lapshe sat stunnedhe continued, “Well build a house in the village. Big, with room for children.”
Speechless, she nodded.
“Youve not said yes, and already youre on about children.”
“I saw it in your eyes. You burned right through me.”
“You dreamer,” she laughed at last.
“That I am.”
They talked late into the night. Come morning, they set off to the cottage to introduce Nicholas to Anne and share their news: Eleanor was returning to the village with him.
Arriving, Nicholas grabbed a spade, dug a few rows. “Plant what you like.” Then he fixed the wobbly gate.
The women bustled about the table.
“Youre a handy one, Nicholas.”
Over lunch, they announced their engagement. Anne and her sister were stunned but congratulatory. Seeing Annes sadness, Nicholas said, “Dont fret about staying alone. Well build a house and bring you with us. The village is lovelyyoull like it. My mothers kind; Eleanor knows.”
After, they caught the train to the village. Nicholas rang ahead: “Expect me on the six oclock. And Im not alone.”
“Whos he bringing?” wondered Irene. “A girl?”
“Wait and see,” said Boris, his elder brother, already there with his wife and son.
Irene kept glancing out the window but still missed their arrivalonly spotting them at the gate: her grown son and Eleanor, his old teacher.
“Mum! Nicholas is here!” Boris bolted outside, embracing his brothernow half a head taller, shoulders wider.
“Blimey, youre solid. Proper paratrooper.” Then, recollecting himself: “Miss Eleanor.”
Irene rushed out, hugging her son. “Eleanor! How wonderful youve come. Everyone remembers you fondly here. However did you meet Nicholas again?”
“Mum, enough questions. Lets go inside.”
At the table, Boris poured wine. Nicholas stood.
“I know youre wondering. Eleanor and I are to marry.” He drank alone, the others gaping.
Eleanor clasped her hands; he covered them with his. Silence. Then Irene burst out laughing.
“Im delighted! Truly!” She glanced at Vera, pregnant again, and chuckled. “Eleanor taught here before you, Vera. Now youll be on leave, and shell take your placethen swap when she has a child!”
Laughter filled the room. Then the door openedEmily and Rebecca.
“Hello! We heard Nicholas was back”
“Come in,” said Boris. “Weve newsNicholas is engaged!”
The girls exchanged glances but sat briefly before slipping away.
