**The Return**
“Emily! Where are you? Emily!” Kate burst into the house, scanned the empty room, and dashed back to the porch, her heels clicking, doors slamming behind her. “Where on earth could she be?” Frustrated, she stamped her foot.
From around the corner, a petite figure appeared, clutching a plastic washing basket.
“Finally! I’ve been shouting myself hoarse…” Kate hurried down the steps toward her friend.
“I was just hanging the laundry. What’s the matter?” Emma set the basket on the porch.
“Matter? Oh, something’s happened alright.” Kate’s dark eyes sparkled under her thick fringe. She wanted to tease her friend, draw it out—but the news burst from her before she could stop herself. “Nick’s back.”
“Seriously?” Emma’s expression flickered—disbelief, joy, confusion, then disbelief again.
“I’m not joking. Saw him myself. Doubt his mum’ll let him out of her sight—missed him too much.”
“Let’s go!” Emma laughed, already sprinting off.
The village glowed under the generous afternoon sun, the river winding lazily through overgrown banks, the whole world impossibly beautiful. But Emma noticed none of it. Her heart pounded—*Nick, Nick!*—eager for the long-awaited reunion.
“Look, there he is!” Kate grabbed Emma’s arm.
Up the lane came Nicholas in his military uniform. Spotting them, he broke into a run.
Joy flooded Emma’s chest. She tore forward, launching herself into his arms, pressing close, trembling.
Kate watched from the side, envy gnawing at her. She fancied Nicholas too, but he’d only ever had eyes for Emma. Finished school early, stayed to help his parents—big farm, sold produce, milk, meat. Then off to the army.
*What does he even see in her? I’m prettier. Why does she get everything?* Kate bit her lip, angry tears pricking her eyes. She fled home, flung herself onto the bed, and sobbed into the pillow.
“What’s wrong?” her mum called from the kitchen.
“Nothing,” Kate snapped.
“Right, right. Jealous, are we? Plenty of fish in the sea. Take Alex—can’t keep his eyes off you, decent job, good-looking, owns his own place.”
*”Mum!”* Kate wailed louder. “I’m leaving. Soon as I get my A-levels. Off to London.”
“Don’t be daft. Like they’ll be waiting for you there. No, love—home’s where the heart is. You go, and they’ll stay…”
*No chance.* Kate lifted her head. *I’m prettier, better figure. Emma’ll balloon if she has kids. Just need a plan. Keep them apart.* The tears dried.
“Knew you’d see sense,” Mum said approvingly, returning to her cooking.
Later, Emma rushed in, eyes alight with happiness. Kate’s chest twisted, but she forced a smile.
“Back so soon?” Kate couldn’t hide the spite.
“Family’s all gathering for his welcome-home. He’ll come to the dance tonight. Oh, Kate, I’m so happy! Why the long face?”
“Didn’t want to intrude. Plus, nothing to wear. You know Mum won’t fork out for a new dress.”
“Take mine—the one you liked. It’s tight on me now, but it’ll suit you perfectly. Come try it on.”
Kate barely stifled her glee. She preened before Emma’s mirror, admiring herself. The dress fit like a glove.
“Sure you don’t mind?”
“Not a bit.” Emma hugged her. “Keep it. Now, I’ve got dinner to cook.”
“See you tonight!” Kate pecked her cheek and dashed home.
That evening, Emma collected Kate, and they headed to the village hall.
Light and music spilled from the red-brick building. Inside, girls danced, lads played pool. Emma scanned the room.
“No sign of him. Let’s dance.” Kate twirled into the center, arms raised, eyes darting to the door.
When the music paused, she stepped outside, fanning her flushed face. Early June evenings were still crisp. She shivered. Nearby, Alex smoked.
Kate squinted into the dusk—then spotted Nick. Recognized the uniform. Without thinking, she descended the steps and flung her arms around Alex’s neck. Her pale dress glowed in the twilight.
“Kate? What—”
She crushed her lips to his. Alex, startled but game, pulled her close. When she shoved him away and glanced back, Nick was already retreating. Alex tugged her in again.
“Get off!” Kate hissed, bolting inside.
Perfect. The dress had done its work. Nick must’ve thought it was Emma kissing someone else. No wedding now!
“Seen Nicholas?” Emma asked when Kate returned.
“Saw him hover by the door, then leave. Come dance.”
*”Leave?”* Emma sprinted out.
Kate, innocent as you please, joined the dancers.
Emma caught Nick at his gate.
“Wait! Why’d you go?” She grabbed his hand.
“Waiting for me, were you? Picking out your dress? Wear it for whoever you were snogging,” he spat, wrenching free and stomping inside.
Emma stood stunned, arms limp. Then she trudged home.
Next morning, she knocked at Nick’s.
“Morning, Aunt Gail.” His mother glared.
“Don’t know what you’ve done, but Nick came back in a state. Said no wedding.”
Emma ran to Kate—who else to confide in? Sobbing, she spilled everything.
“Let’s visit old Marge. She reads folk like books. Maybe Nick’s got some army sweetheart?”
“No.” Emma shook her head. “He wouldn’t. I know it…” She dissolved again.
They reached the ramshackle cottage on the outskirts. The porch groaned under their steps. Emma froze.
“I’m not going in.”
“What? Don’t be silly—” Kate grabbed for her, but Emma twisted away and fled.
Kate turned—and jumped. A low voice rasped behind her.
“Changed your mind?”
A stout woman filled the doorway, apron straining over her belly, wild grey hair escaping a floral scarf. Dark eyes bored into Kate, who shuddered.
“Come in, since you’re here.” Marge vanished inside.
Kate followed into the dim, herb-scented room.
“Sit.”
Kate perched on the chair’s edge. Marge sat opposite, the furniture creaking under her.
“Friend ran off? Scared?”
“Well, I—”
“Hush. See it plain. Jealous, are you? Steal her man? No happiness in it. Dead in ten years, they’ll still end up together. But you can change it.”
Kate trembled, bolted up, and fled.
“What’d she say? You’re shaking!” Emma waited outside.
“Fine! All fine!” Kate’s attempt at a smile looked more like a snarl.
Nick stayed away. Emma avoided Kate. She withered, crying herself hollow.
“Phoned your aunt. Pass your exams, come stay in London. Waste away otherwise. Barely eating. Rosa’ll help find work. Out of sight…” Mum said, tired of her misery.
So Emma slogged through exams, got her grades, and left. No visits home, though she ached to. Mum called with news—how Nick and Kate married.
Aunt Rosa got her a salon receptionist job. Emma learned styling in her free time.
Meanwhile, Kate had a daughter, then a son. Nick strayed—villages talk.
Mum begged her home. Emma missed it too. Surely she could face them now? She boarded the bus.
Stepping onto the dusty roadside at midday, she inhaled the quiet, the clean air—like she’d never left. Smiling, she walked home. Mum spotted her, rushed out, hugged her.
“Look at you! Magazine-cover material.”
And she was—slimmer, stylish cut, makeup skills. Men noticed. But none measured up to Nick.
They talked for hours, catching up.
“Enough, Mum. My head’s spinning. Off to the river—missed it.”
“Mind the midges!”
Emma wandered the bank, listening to rustling grass, village sounds. The water lay dark, smooth as glass. She snapped a twig to swat bugs.
Footsteps. She spun—*Nick.* Her heart leaped. His gaze prickled her skin.
He’d filled out, hair thinning—but the eyes were the same.
“Waited for you.” He stepped closer. “Proper city girl now. Staying long?”
“Alright. You?”
“Not alright. Dream of you. In that dress.”
“Which one?”
“The white one, flowers on the hem.”
“I gave that to Kate years ago.”
“Kate? When?” He stiffened.
“The day you got back. It didn’t fit me anymore—she hadNick’s eyes widened with understanding, and as he pulled Emma close, the years of heartache melted away beneath the warmth of the setting sun, proving that love, even when tangled by time and trickery, always finds its way home.
