THE ANNOYING NEIGHBOUR
“Luv, got any salt? Forgot to buy some,” said the smiling man on her doorstep. Emma silently went to the kitchen and scooped some into a jar. When she turned around, he was still there, glancing around. “Cosy place you’ve got,” he remarked. Emma scowled. “Did I invite you in? No. Take the salt and leave.” He shook his head. “Bit unwelcoming, arent you? Were neighbours, after all.” She marched past him and held the door wide. “Just go. Youre a nuisance.”
The two-flat house had once belonged to Emmas grandfather. After his passing, a long-lost illegitimate daughter suddenly appeareda sharp woman who produced proof and claimed two rooms through court. Worse, she sold them off to some stranger, who partitioned the space with a separate entrance. The stress of it all sent Emmas grandmother to an early grave.
Emma was fifteen when it happened, old enough to remember every detail. Ever since, shed loathed the neighboureven if he wasnt the root of her troubles, she couldnt help it. Her mother had remarried soon after, vanishing into a new life with some bloke who wanted nothing to do with Emma.
The reason? Emmas face. A large birthmark covered the right side, earning her cruel nicknames as a child. “Patchy” was the kindest. “Shell scare off the neighbours with that face,” her stepfather had once sneeredwords Emma never forgot. She wasnt afraid of people, just preferred to avoid their stares. So when her belly rounded with a son years later, the whole village was stunned. Who?
No one knew shed begged her old schoolmate, Jack, to father the child. Hed agreedfor a priceand kept quiet. Jack had his own reputation to mind, and Emma? She only cared for her boy.
When little Tommy turned five, the old neighbour passed, replaced by a new onea nephew, maybe. He renovated his half: plumbing, gas, an extension. Emma gritted her teeth through the drilling, the hammering. Worse, Tommy kept sneaking over, sitting quietly to hammer nails into scraps of wood. She knew he missed a fathers presence, but this friendship irked her.
She confronted the neighbour”Uncle Oliver,” as Tommy called him. “Let him learn mans work,” Oliver shrugged. “My dad gave me a hammer at three. Dont fretIll watch him. Raised my brothers myself.” Emma tried keeping Tommy away, but the boy would sulk in silence until she relented. His eyes would light up as he cheered, “Uncle Oliver, Im coming to help!”
What grated most was Olivers constant borrowingsalt, matches, sugar. He always repaid in full, leaving bags on her porch. At first, she refused, then gave up. If he had money to waste, shed use it.
Then one day, she overheard Tommy and Oliver talking. “Mums pretty,” Tommy said, “but Ive no dad. Cant tell her everything.” Emma froze. “Aye, your mums a beauty,” Oliver replied. “But shes fierce independentlets no one close.” Tommy sighed. “I punched Billy Carter. He said Mums face looks like a witchs wart.” Oliver laughed. “Witch? True enough. I meant to sell this place, but after seeing your mum? Couldnt leave.”
Emma called Tommy for supper. “Can Uncle Oliver stay?” he pleaded. She forced a tight “Fine.”
After tucking in Tommy, Oliver lingered. “Tea, or heading home?” Emma asked. He turned. “Both.” Then he kissed her. Dizzy, she pulled back. “Whatre you doing?” He grinned. “Youre all prickles, but whats underneath?” She scoffed, pointing at her face. “This doesnt bother you?” “Hardly notice. Its your stubbornness, your tenderness I fancy. That mark? Easy to fix, if it troubles you.”
Emma burst into tears. “Youve no idea how its haunted me. I work remotely so no one pities me.” He held her. “Hope its the worst life throws at us.” She blinked. “Us?” “Aye. Reckon its time we made one home. Start tomorrow.”
For the first time, Emma breathed easy. Here was a real manone who saw past her face to her soul. Beauty fades, but depth? That lasts.
