Life always unfolds in its own way.
“Rebecca, Ive got news for you,” chattered Emily. “Olivers coming back from the army tomorrow, so well be married soon. Youll dance at our wedding!”
“And how do you know that? You werent even writing to him when he leftyou were just friends. And how do you know hes arriving tomorrow?”
“My mother ran into Aunt Margaret. But well see if were just friendshe mightve thought so, and so did everyone else, but Ive loved him for ages. I wont let him slip away now,” Emily said, beaming.
“Well, well see,” Rebecca replied skeptically. “I doubt youll catch Oliver. Hes always been his own man. And now, after the army, hes probably grown up a bitgot more sense than that cheeky lad he was in school.” Emily frowned slightly at that.
Emily had always fancied Oliver from the parallel classa bit of a rascal, quick-witted, but handsome. By Year 10, hed shot up taller than any other boy, yet he never paid the girls any special attention. They were all just mates to himjoking, hanging about with his mates in the evenings, never walking any of them home after the pictures.
Emily made sure she was often near him. If she heard he was off to the cinema with the lads, shed dash to the village hall too. Oliver would chat and laugh with her, even sling an arm round her shoulders, but that was it. The girls all fancied him in secret, whispering amongst themselves:
“Olivers a strange one, isnt he? All the other lads walk girls home, but he always goes back alone.”
When he left for the army, some of the girls quietly began waiting. Each hoped that when he returned, hed finally notice one of themafter all, hed have to settle down someday.
Elizabeth worked at the local school, having been transferred from the countryside four years earlier, where shed gone fresh out of university. She lived with her mother, Helen, her father having passed when she was young. Helen had been glad when her daughter moved to townno more lonely evenings in the flat. Still, she worried:
“Im happy Lizzies with me, but one day shell marry…”
That morning, Elizabeth saw her mother off to the bus; Helen was heading to her elder sisters cottagesummer had begun, the season for gardens and fresh air. Elizabeth walked on to the school. Though term had ended, there was still work for teachers.
Her own life had seen little change. Once burned by Paul, a fellow student whod promised to take her to the city, even proposedonly to back out at the last moment, saying his parents expected him alone. Heartbroken, shed left for the countryside. Now twenty-eight, she hadnt loved since.
Sitting in the headmasters office, planning summer work, the deputy popped her head in.
“Elizabeth, theres a young man asking for you.”
“Well, well,” the headmaster smiled. “Who might this be?”
Elizabeth shrugged. “Ive no idea. Ill see.”
Stepping into the corridor, she spotted a man in uniform at the far end, his back turned as he gazed out the window. When he turned and smiled, she noted his sturdy framea proper soldier. Who could it be?
They met halfway.
“Good afternoon, Miss Bennett.”
“You were waiting for me?”
“Indeed. Who else?”
“Forgive me, but have we met?”
“Oh, we havelong ago.” His grin brought out dimples.
“Oliver!” She pressed her hands to her lips. “Goodness, youve changed.”
“Have I?”
“Beyond words.” They embraced briefly, then she stepped back, studying him. “Look at youa proper man now. Broad shoulders, all grown up. Id never have recognised you in town.”
“Dont embarrass me, Miss Bennett.” He offered her a bouquet. “Im just the same. But Id have called out if youd passed me by.”
“How did you find me here?”
“I knew where you taught before I enlisted.” He stood straighter. “Came straight from the stationfree man now.”
“Where are you staying? Youve still to get home to the village. Oh, you must be starving. WaitIll fetch my things. Youre coming to mineits not far.”
As Elizabeth warmed lunch, Oliver washed up, stripping to his vest in the heat. Returning to the kitchen, he asked, “Need any help, Miss Bennett?”
“No, Oliver, sit.”
She turned to the stove, heart fluttering as she stole glances at him. Nothing remained of that wiry lad from Year 10this was a man. She pressed a spoon to her lips.
“Whats come over me?”
Meanwhile, Oliver struggled to contain himself. Hed loved Elizabeth since schoolkind, beautiful, unmarried. His mate Simon had written as muchhis aunt was the deputy head.
“Eat up,” Elizabeth said. “Tea after.”
They reminisced about her time at the village school where hed been her pupil. Shed sensed his glances then but thought little of itolder boys often noticed young teachers.
“I wonder how the village fares. Whos taken my place? Id love to see everyone.”
“Another young teacher, Victoria. My elder brother married hertheyve a son now.” Oliver paused, then blurted, “Elizabeth” Hed never used her first name before. “I came back for you. Will you marry me? Ive loved you since school.”
“Marry?”
“Yes. Im asking properly. Ive grown, but my heart hasnt changed.”
“But Oliver, dear Oliver, theres eight years between us.”
“Forget that.” He took her hands. “Forget those years. They meant something when I was fourteen and you twenty-two. Now Im a manIll provide, protect.”
Drawing her onto his lapshe was too stunned to resisthe continued, “Well be happy. Build a house in the villagebig, roomy, for our children.”
Speechless, she nodded.
“I havent said yes yet, and youre planning children?”
“I saw it in your eyes. They burned right through menearly set me alight.”
“You dreamer!” She laughed at last.
“Aye, that I am.”
They talked late into the night. Come morning, they set off for the cottage to meet Helen and share their newsElizabeth was leaving with Oliver.
There, Oliver set to workdigging beds, fixing the gatewhile the women fussed over tea.
“Handy chap, Ill give you that.”
At the table, they announced their plans. Helen and her sister were startled but pleased. Seeing Helens sadness, Oliver said, “Dont fret about staying alone. Well build a house in the villageyoull come with us. Its lovely thereyoull see.”
Later, on the train home, Oliver rang his mother. “Catch the six oclock. And Im not alone.”
“Whos he bringing?” wondered Irene. “A girl?”
“No use guessing,” said his brother Benjamin.
By the time Oliver and Elizabeth arrived, the family was waiting. Benjamin hugged his brothernow taller, broaderthen greeted Elizabeth politely.
Irene embraced her son, then Elizabeth. “Lizzie, dear! However did you meet again?”
“Mum, questions later,” Oliver laughed.
Inside, Benjamin poured wine. Oliver stood. “I know youre wondering. Elizabeth and I are to wed.” He drank alonethe room was stunned.
Elizabeth, hands clasped, felt his over them. Silence helduntil Irene suddenly laughed.
“Im glad, OliverLizzie. Truly glad.” Then, eyeing VictoriaBenjamins wife, expecting againshe chuckled. “Lizzie taught here before you, Victoria. Now youll be on leave, and shell take your placethen swap with you when her time comes!”
The table erupted in laughterjust as Emily and Rebecca arrived.
“Hello! We heard Oliver was back”
“Come in,” Benjamin said, as Oliver kept his arm round Elizabeth. “Celebratinghes brought his bride-to-be.”
The girls exchanged glances but sat briefly before slipping away.
