“Wait,” he said. “I stepped out 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 into thin air…”
“And you couldnt just get back on the train *then* sort it out?” asked Emily.
“See, while I was looking for him, my train left without me…”
Emily trudged home after a long day at work. She managed a small florist in the heart of London, and customers flooded inespecially in the run-up to Christmas.
The air was biting, snow dusting the pavement daily. Bundled in her thick coat, Emily shuffled along, dreaming of collapsing into bed the second she got home. She barely noticed the stranger approaching until he spoke.
“Excuse me, could you help me?”
Emily startled. The manfortyish, dressed oddlyrubbed his temples, looking utterly lost. She sidestepped, but he continued, voice frayed.
“I was on my way to my daughters wedding in Edinburgh. And then this happened.”
She sighed. “What, exactly?”
He ran a hand through his hair. “I nipped out at your station, came back, and my bag was gone. Saw some chap swanning off with it. I chased him, butpoofgone. Then my train left me behind.”
“And you didnt think to *stay on the train* first?”
“I was too busy playing detective,” he admitted miserably.
Emily pinched the bridge of her nose. “So report it! The stations got cameras, lost property offices”
“I did! They told me to wait. Next trains not for hours. I couldnt stand the station, and everything was in that bagclothes, passport, *money* I just need to clean up, warm up. Ill pay you back”
“Oh, brilliant. Shall I hand over my house keys while Im at it?” she snapped.
His shoulders slumped. “No one believes me. Christ, why does everyone think Im some dodgy beggar?” He looked up with such pitiful eyes that Emilys irritation wavered.
She studied him. Scruffy coat, but well-spoken. Maybe he *was* telling the truth
“Fine. Come on, before you freeze. Ill find you something to wear.”
“Thank you. Youre the first person whos listened.”
At her flat, Emily slumped onto the hallway stool, exhaustion hitting hard. “Bathrooms there,” she nodded. “Ill dig out some clothes. Whats your name, by the way?”
“James,” he said, vanishing inside.
The shower hissed to life. Emily groaned. So much for her nap. She rummaged through her brothers old thingshed moved to Manchester but left a few jumpers behind. “He wont miss one,” she muttered.
A knock. “Clothes are on the side!” she called.
She microwaved soup, sinking into a chair. If Mum walked in now
*Please let her be stuck at Sainsburys.*
No such luck. The lock clicked.
“Emily? Whos in the Oh!” Her mothers eyes narrowed. “Why is there a *man* in our shower?”
“Mum, relax. He missed his train, lost his stuff. Hell be gone soon.”
“*You brought a stranger home?*”
“Hes harmless! Been to the police and everything. Just let him eat, yeah?”
Mum huffed but sat at the table, eagle-eyed as James emergedclean, sheepish, and swimming in Emilys brothers jumper.
“Right. Explain,” Mum demanded.
James fidgeted. “Was heading to my daughters wedding. Now no phone, no wallet, no train.”
“And howd you end up *here*? Were miles from Kings Cross!”
“Mum! Soups ready. Sit, James.”
As he ate, Mum muttered, “First stray cats, now stray men”
Emily rolled her eyes. “Careful. If Mum likes you, youre *never* leaving.”
Mum shot back, “Thirty years old and still single! Can you blame me?”
James choked on his soup.
Later, he borrowed Emilys phone. His daughters reaction to his absence was underwhelming. Then he called a friend, asking for a lift.
“Who *are* you?” Emily blurted.
“Small tech repair business. Mate warned me not to driveYoull get lost in Edinburgh, then turn up drunk to the wedding. So I took the train. Shouldve flown.”
Emily studied him. Mum *was* rightshe *was* thirty, still at home. No prospects since Leon, her ex-fiancé, cheated with her best mate.
“Youre kind. Thingsll work out,” James said suddenly.
“And you? Successful, decent alone?”
He chuckled. “Wife left me. Modern women are too clever. Men, too. Youre tired, and Im intruding. Sorry.”
They talked for hours. When his lift arrived, James hesitated. “I wrote my number down. Doubt youll call, but if you ever need help.”
Emily forced a smile. “Dont get stranded again.”
“No more trains. Planes or nothing.”
She watched him leave, heart inexplicably heavy.
Mum reappeared. “Gone, then?”
“You *wanted* me to keep him?”
“He was nice. I could tell.”
“Then whyd you hide Grandmas silver?”
Mum waved her off. “I panicked!”
Three weeks later, on New Years Eve, Emily was convinced shed imagined him. Busy at the shop, she barely noticed the Santa outsideuntil he strode in, beard fake but voice familiar.
“Knew youd be working. Thought Id cheer you up,” James grinned.
Her boss sighed dramatically. “Go on, Emily. Enjoy life.”
A month later, she quit and moved to Edinburgh.
Mum was thrilled. “Daughter sorted! Next, grandkids. Wholl babysit if not me?”
Funny how we call bad luck “fate” and good luck “accidents.” But theyre two sides of the same coin.
