Oh, you won’t believe this storyits like something straight out of an old English folktale.
Emily and her husband William came home from the funeral wake, exhausted and heavy-hearted. Theyd just buried Williams mother, MargaretEmilys mother-in-law.
“At least shes at peace now,” William sighed. “Next to Dad, just like she always wanted. Even when she was bedridden, she kept asking about it.”
“Mm. She knew wed never bury her anywhere else,” Emily murmured. “But still, it was all she could think about. Poor thingthat illness was cruel and relentless.”
They spent the evening in quiet sadness, each lost in their own thoughts. Emilys mind drifted to her own pastespecially her life before marriage. There hadnt been much joy in it. Shed lost both parents young, in a terrible fire at her grandmothers house after her grandfathers funeral. Theyd stayed the night, and by morning, none of them made it out.
Emily had been home with her older brother, Tom, when they heard the awful news. Villagers helped them bury their family, whispering things like, “Old Arthur took his wife and Emilys parents with him.”
Tom was seventeen, nearly grown; Emily was just thirteen. They lived together in their little cottage after that. Tom worked odd jobs in the village while Emily went to school. Some things just arent fair, and her life had been one of those things. Even now, she sometimes couldnt believe it had all really happened.
Their village was smallonly forty-two houses. The school only went up to Year 4, so from Year 5, kids had to walk three miles to the next village. In winter, theyd cut across the frozen river to make it quicker. There used to be an old man, Ned, whod take them by horse and cart on Mondays and fetch them back Saturdays. The kids stayed at the boarding house all week.
But not everyone wanted to stay, especially the older boys. They had an agreementled by Jack, the son of the local councilman.
“Anyone walking home today, meet by the bench after lessons. Well go together.”
Three miles wasnt so bad in a group. Alone, the woods were scary, but together, it was just a walk. The lads were starting to notice girls, slipping them notes, asking to meet in the evenings. Weekends were for dances at the village hall. By Monday, everyone knew whod walked whom home and who fancied who. Back then, the village was livelyif anyone stepped out, theyd end up at the hall. Films were rare, so even the grown-ups came along sometimes.
Emily went to that school too. As she grew older, the whole village couldnt help but notice herpretty as a picture, soft as an angel. Boys her age and older all turned their heads when she passed. If she so much as glanced at one, hed be lost in a daydream. And if she spoke? That gentle voice of hers lingered in their ears for hours.
She was perfect in every waykind, clever, beautiful. Its rare, but sometimes a person just *is*. The only mark against her? She was an orphan. She lived with Tom and his wife, Sarah, whod just had a baby.
Sarah never liked her. No matter how hard Emily triedhelping with chores, minding the babyshe always felt like a burden.
“Ill leave for town after school,” shed think. “Train as a cook or something. Get out of here. Sarah will never let me be.” She never complained to Tom, though. It was his family. She wouldnt come between them.
The lads respected her toonever a cruel word, just hoping one day shed pick one of them. But Emily was reserved, kept her distance.
Then, suddenly, whispers spread: Jack, the councilmans son, and Emily were courting. Walking hand in hand in the evenings, leaving school together. Jack was tall, broad-shoulderedalready looking more like a man than a schoolboy. Clever, too, like Emily. They had plenty to talk about.
The other lads admired himhe never drank with them, though some of the older boys sneaked pints on holidays. Jack and Emily made a striking pair. Smitten, inseparable.
“Two lovebirds,” the village women would whisper when they saw them. “Mark my wordstherell be a wedding soon.”
But not everyone was pleased. Jacks parents disapproved. Robert, the councilman, was the wealthiest in the villagefirst to own a car, a sturdy farm, a motorbike Jack sometimes rode. When Robert heard his son was sweet on an orphan girl, he put his foot down.
“Listen, Margaret,” he told his wife. “Whats this Emily thinking, setting her sights on our Jack? Pretty, sure, but shes got nothing. Lives off her brother, and hes barely scraping by.”
“Robert, I dont knowour boys head over heels. Out with her till all hours. No parents to keep her in check, though the women say shes modest.”
“I want him wed to a girl from a good family. The chief agronomists daughter over in Farthinghamnot as pretty, but their house is full, theyve got a car. A match like thatthats what he needs.”
“But how do we even talk to him? Hes besotted.”
“Leave it to me.”
Robert tried reasoning with Jack first.
“Son, step outside. We need to talk.”
Jack, halfway out the door, sighed. “Cant it wait? Emilys expecting medont want her upset.”
“Upset? Shell live. Sit down. This is serious.”
Jack clenched his jaw. “We love each other. Weve got plans.”
“Listen. Forget her. Ill find you a proper wife, not some penniless girl. Her brothers no better. Theyre not our sort. Refuse, and Ill handle it my way.”
“Im not marrying anyone but Emily.”
“Dont cross me, boy.”
Robert realized brute force wouldnt workJack was grown now. So he schemed.
Next day, he stopped by Toms cottageknowing hed be at workand called for Sarah.
“Sarah! A word.”
She peered out, baffled. “What brings *you* here?”
“Listen. Youve got that auntyour mothers sisterlives up in Yorkshire, doesnt she?”
“Edith? Shes ancient. Why?”
“Heres the thing. Get Tom to send Emily packingoff to Ediths.”
Sarahs eyes widened. “You want to split them up? Jacks smitten!”
“Out of sight, out of mind. Ive got a better match for him. Do this, and theres money in it for you.”
Money talked. Sarah convinced Tom”Lets send her to Ediths. Maybe shell make something of herself up there.”
Tom agreed. With tears and little choice, Emily was put on a train north, clutching an address.
Jack was devastated. He barely spoke to his parents. Even Margaret regretted it.
Then came his military service. He wrote stiff, formal letters home. Stationed in Yorkshire, near the end of his service, he sent word: *Found a girl. Bringing her home.*
Robert crowed, “See? Told you hed forget her.”
The village buzzed. Jacks return with a mystery bride! When the taxi pulled up, everyone gathered. Out stepped Jacktaller, broaderand a woman in white.
The crowd gasped.
Emily.
“Meet my wife,” Jack announced.
The villagers cheered. Robert and Margaret had no choice but to smile and welcome her.
They lived happily. Had two sons. Emily forgave her in-lawseven cared for Margaret like a daughter.
Years passed. Robert went first, then Margaret.
Now, Emily and William sit quietly after the funeral.
Grief fades. Life goes on.
And some people? Theyre just meant to be.
