“Wait,” he said. “I stepped off for just a second at your station, and when I got back to the carriage, my things were gone. I looked out the window and saw some bloke walking off with my bag. I chased after him, but he vanished”
“Why didnt you just get back on the train and sort it out later?” asked Emily.
“You dont understandwhile I was looking for him, the train left without me”
Emily was exhausted on her way back from work. She managed a small florist in the heart of London, and the shop was always busyespecially around Christmas.
The air was crisp, snow falling daily. Bundled in her thick winter coat, Emily trudged along the pavement, lost in thought. She hadnt sat down all day. All she wanted was to get home and collapse into bed.
So lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the stranger approaching until he was right beside her. She stopped and gave him a wary glance.
He was a man in his forties, dressed oddly. Emily sidestepped to avoid him.
“Excuse mecould you help me?” he suddenly asked.
Startled, she paused.
“I” The man shook his head, briefly closing his eyes. “I was on my way to see my daughter in Manchester, by train. And then this happened”
He hesitated, then glanced at Emily with such sadness that she almost felt sorry for himalmost.
“Wait,” he continued. “I got off for a moment at your station, and when I returned to my seat, my things were gone. I spotted a man through the window walking off with my bag. I chased him, but he disappeared”
“Why didnt you just get back on the train first and deal with it later?” Emily pressed.
“By the time I finished looking for him, the train had already left”
“You shouldve gone to the authorities,” Emily said, irritation creeping in.
“I tried. They told me to wait, but the next train wasnt for hours. I couldnt just sit at the station. Everything was in that bagmy clothes, my wallet, my ID I just needed to clean up and warm up. Ill pay you back,” he pleaded.
“Oh, brilliant. Should I hand over my house keys while Im at it?” Emily scoffed.
“And here we go. Everyone treats me like Im some kind of criminal. Why wont anyone believe me?” He looked up at the sky with such despair that Emilys annoyance wavered.
She studied him. His clothes were rumpledmaybe he really had lost his things. But he spoke well, didnt seem dangerous
“Fine. Come with meyoull catch your death out here. Ill find you something to wear.”
“Thank you. Youre very kind. No one else would even listen.”
At her flat, Emily slumped onto the hallway stool. All she wanted was to sleep.
“Bathrooms there,” she nodded down the narrow corridor. “Ill find you some clothes. Whats your name, by the way?”
“David,” he said, flicking on the light before shutting the bathroom door.
Soon, the sound of running water filled the flat. Emily sighed. So much for rest.
Her brother had left some clothes behind when he moved to Edinburgh.
“He wont miss them.”
She gathered what she could and knocked on the bathroom door. When the water stopped, she told him shed left the clothes on the hallway table.
She reheated some soup in the microwave and sat at the kitchen table, lost in thought. If her mum walked in now, shed get the wrong idea. What else would anyone thinkEmily heating up food while a strange man showered?
“Please, let Mum be delayed at the shops or with a friend,” she muttered.
But fate had other plans. The front door clicked open.
“Emily, you home?” her mum called. “Oh, I thought that was you in the shower. Whos in there, then?” She squinted at her daughter.
“Mum, dont shout. He missed his train, lost his things. Hes just cleaning upthen hell leave.”
“So thats why youve got Jamess clothes out? What happened?”
“I told youhe got separated from his train. His things were stolen.”
“Good Lord. And you brought him home? You dont even know him! Have you lost your mind? Thank goodness I came back in time. Should we call someone?”
“Mum, dont be ridiculous. Hes been to the station already. The next trains ages away. Hell freshen up and go,” Emily said quietly.
The bathroom door creaked open and shut again.
“Hes taken the clothes,” Emily guessed.
Her mother sat facing the hallway, arms crossed, waiting.
David emerged awkwardly, greeting them with an apologetic smile. Hed clearly overheard them.
“Right, then. How does a grown man end up in this mess?” her mum demanded.
“Im sorry for intruding. I was going to my daughters wedding in Manchester. Now Ive no phone, no money, no ID.”
“And how exactly did you end up here? Were miles from the station.”
“Mum! Let the man eat. Why the interrogation?” Emily snapped. “Sit down, David. Ive got soup for you.”
“Emily, when you were little, you brought home stray cats. Now its men off the street” But she shifted aside, making space at the table.
“Eat, David. But be careful. If my mum takes a liking to you, youll never leave,” Emily said dryly.
“Because youre always at work. No social life. Youre nearly thirtyits time you settled down. How can I not worry?”
“Mum, stop. David will think were trying to marry him off.”
“Dont worry,” Emily reassured him.
“Oh, for heavens sake.” Her mum waved a hand and retreated to her room.
“Your mothers quite something,” David said, pushing his bowl away.
“She raised my brother and me alone. Shes just afraid Ill end up like herstruggling alone.”
“I see. What do you do for work?”
“I manage a florists. Waithow will you get a ticket without ID or money?”
“They said theyd help at the station. Could I borrow your phone? I need to call my daughterlet her know I wont make the wedding. And a friend”
“Of course.” Emily fetched her phone.
Her mum was emptying her jewellery boxgold rings and trinketsinto a pouch.
“Mum, what are you doing?”
“Hush,” her mother hissed. “What if hes I dont know who he is! Im taking these to Auntie Margarets.”
Emily didnt stop her. Pointless.
She handed David the phone and stood by the window as he called. His face fellhis daughter didnt seem too upset he wouldnt make it.
Then he called someone else and asked for Emilys address.
“My friends sending a car. I shouldnt have come. My ex-wife didnt want me meeting her new husband. My daughter invited me, but well, it was a wasted trip.”
“You have a driver coming? Who *are* you?”
David was growing on her. In her brothers clothes, he looked decentthough they were a bit snug.
“My mate and I run a small electronics repair business. He warned me not to drivesaid Id get lost in Manchester, and wedding drinks dont mix with driving. So I took the train. Shouldve flown.”
Emily watched him, thinking her mother might be right. Wouldnt it be nice to come home to someone? A family?
She was nearly thirty, still living with her mum. No prospects.
Thered been Mark. Shed loved him, nearly married himuntil she came home early and found him with her best friend.
“Youre kind. Things will work out for you,” David said suddenly, snapping her from her thoughts.
“And you? Why are you alone? You seem to have it togethereven a business.”
“Ah. Noticed Im solo at the wedding? Sharp, you are. It just never happened. Divorced. Never met someone as good as you. Modern women are too cautious. Men too, I suppose.”
They talked until dusk, when her phone rang.
“Thatll be Steve. Hes here.” David stood. “Thank youtruly. Ive left my number in your phone. Saved as *David from the train*. Doubt youll call, but if you ever need anything.”
He hesitated. “Apologise to your mother for me. Think she reckoned I was trouble.”
Emily almost teared up. A stranger, yet she didnt want him to leave. But who was she to him?
“Try not to get stranded again.”
“Wont. Ill drive or fly next time. No more trains.”
She watched from
