Hey love, so picture this: Emma, a proper country girl from a little Yorkshire farm, gets the shock that shes being sent to her Aunt Margarets flat in Manchester. Shed begged her mum not to send her off, but the whole family decided theres no one else to look after the place, so off she went with a tiny suitcase of basics.
Her dad, John, used to be a tractor driver back home, now hes swamped with extra work on the fields. Mums kept busy on the farm, and Emmas siblings are either at university or still in nursery. Aunt Margaret isnt exactly the warmest she never really clicked with any of her three husbands and never had kids of her own, so the family hoped Emma would eventually inherit the flat. She does, but Margaret keeps her at arms length, barely letting her in. Why does she even bother with Emma? Honestly, shes just scared that shell die unnoticed, that shell end up rotting in her flat until someone finally calls the council because the smell gets too bad.
Margarets been fighting a nasty illness for ages and knows she wont live much longer. To her, Emma is just a convenient hand for the funeral and the wake. Emma doesnt press for answers; she just washes, cooks, cleans, shops everything shes asked to do. Shes got no friends in the city, and after a long day shed usually sit on the park bench with her mates back home. In Manchester she barely leaves the flat, but she does have a balcony where she can watch young mums strolling with prams or older ladies gossiping outside the block. Her life splits into two parts: the grind of running Aunt Margarets errands, and the few blissful minutes after Margaret nods off on her painkillers, when Emma can brew a strong mug of coffee and soak up the quiet on the balcony.
One day she notices a handsome neighbour, Andrew, whos also been popping out onto his balcony at the same time. At first they just nod, pretending not to notice each other, then they start saying hello, and before long theyre flirting like teenagers on a first date. They both race to the balcony hoping to catch a glimpse of the other. By the time Margaret passes away, Emma and Andrew are already practically a couple, having confessed their feelings. After the funeral Emma tells her parents shes staying in the city to study, even though they all know its really about Andrew. They just let her be.
Emmas sure about her love, so she happily accepts Andrews proposal. Andrew lives alone; his mum remarried and moved to the States after a divorce, his dads a doctor who works overseas in Nigeria and only visits once a year on holiday. Their wedding is modest but full of laughter two people finally getting a chance to spend their lives side by side.
Andrew follows his dads footsteps, studies medicine and becomes a junior surgeon at the city hospital. Emma wants to keep up, so she signs up for a nursing course and gets in after a bit of hard work. She dreams of them both saving lives together, but life has other plans.
One evening Andrew jokes, Emma, my dads coming next week youll have to get the house ready! She rolls her eyes, What does he like? I should stock up on groceries, plan a menu, do a deep clean He laughs, Relax, its not the King of Nigeria, just my dad, a simple bloke. Still, Emma worries. Shes only seen pictures of him tanned, cheeky, a bit like a Spaniard or a Turk but looks can be deceiving. What if hes a snob or a perfectionist? What if Andrew decides shes not good enough and leaves? When her dad, Harold, finally arrives, hes nothing like the stiff stereotype. He greets them with a big kiss, apologises for missing the wedding, and showers them with gifts. He raves about Emmas cooking, saying its the best hes ever tasted, then heads off to visit old friends. A month flies by and Harold jets back to Nigeria, leaving the newlyweds to their own devices.
Emma sometimes doesnt get why her fatherinlaw seems so eager to replace her own dad, but hes a brilliant cook, often up at dawn whipping up delicate pancakes only a seasoned housewife could handle. He even helps Emma with the chores and gives Andrew a peptalk: Lucky you to have a good wife look after her, or youll lose your own happiness. Andrew smiles, thinking, Shes not the type to run away. Even if Emma were to stray, shed likely forgive and move on thats how folks from the country roll, we stick together for the kids.
Things get messy when a junior nurse starts flirting with Andrew. He dives into a new affair, barely noticing that Emmas been sick with a nasty morning sickness for weeks, unable to cook anything. He still comes home full, dines with his friend Karina, drops Emma off at her doorstep, and pretends to be exhausted. Emma, meanwhile, is thrilled at the thought of becoming a mum but scared she wont manage, even though shes got such a caring husband.
When Emma finally gives birth, the chaos multiplies. Milk runs low, the baby cries nonstop, and Andrew snaps, demanding Emma quiet the child while he retreats to the lounge. Harold swings by again, barely recognizing Emma the radiant, rosycheeked woman is now pale and gaunt, while Andrew looks thinner, staying up later and coming home later.
Dad, could you help out more? Andrew asks. Shes at home all day, she needs someone to look after the baby. Harold shrugs, Anyone else pop up? Did you get someone new? Why ask? I see youre happy when youre out, but irritable when youre back. Andrew waves it off, Nothing serious, dad. Harold warns, Dont let this turn ugly. Emma sighs, Its my fault, Ive stopped looking like a woman. Look at my hair, my face. Harold retorts, Youre the one who never rests. Emma darts off, Ive got to run, chores wont wait!
Harold ends up looking after the little girl, feeding and soothing her while Emma finally gets a breather. She thanks him constantly, praying God gives him a partner wholl bring him joy. Being alone must be hard for him, with only Andrew and his granddaughter, while hes stuck in Nigeria. Emma finds herself leaning on Harold more than anyone hes become like a dad, brother, confidant, even a friend. She worries what will happen if he leaves.
One day Harold says, Emma, you look down. Here, take these pounds, get a makeover haircut, colour, makeup, nails. Then hit the shops, buy yourself something nice. Dont worry about the kid, Ive got her. She darts off, plants a quick kiss on his cheek, and rushes to the salon. By evening shes looking radiant, strolling home feeling like a queen.
She decides to surprise Andrew at work, walks into his clinic, and sees a young nurse perched on his lap, her coat halfbuttoned, clearly not for a routine checkup. Emma bolts out of the room, flags a taxi, and cries all the way home.
Whats wrong, love? Andrew asks. Hes cheating on me Who told you? I saw it with my own eyes. Harold pulls Emma close, strokes her hair, Cry it out, sweetheart. Ill talk to him, make him come round. Emma, desperate, says shell take the baby and leave. Harold pleads, Dont go, love. Think of the child. Life in the country isnt easy, works hard, youve got a little one.
Shes never felt such an embrace. She and Andrew had been sleeping in separate rooms for months, but his scent, his gentle words, made her head spin. Harold, too, cant ignore how drawn he is to Emma shes vulnerable, fragile, and he just wants to protect her. In a sudden rush he lifts her, carries her to the bedroom, and she doesnt resist. They keep this secret, hidden from Andrew, whos busy with his own dramas and his friend Karina.
Emma feels a mix of shame and a strange joy that someone loves her. She starts comparing Andrew to Harold, and sadly, Harold seems to win every time. Then she discovers shes pregnant again. Shes terrified if Andrew finds out, hell think shes cheating again.
Harold, over fifty, jokes, Cant believe Ill be a dad again! He asks, Will you marry me? Emma smiles, And Andrew? Harold shrugs, Hell go his way eventually, but I love you and cant live without you.
After the divorce, Emma and Harold get married and move to Nigeria. Their families back home scratch their heads, the village gossiping that Emma pretended to be modest but was really Meanwhile Andrew keeps telling anyone wholl listen how badly he was treated by his wife and his dad. But both couples are happy, grateful they found each other and cherish every moment they share.
