Two Nights and One Day
Emily kept glancing at the clock. Time crawled like a snail, slow and sticky. There was still a full hour left before the end of the workday.
“Keep staring at the clock—somewhere important to be?” asked Margaret Williams, the head accountant.
“No, but—”
“A man, then? At your age, it’s always a man that makes a woman rush the hours. At mine, we wish we could stop them.” Margaret sighed. “Fine, go on. You’re no use to me like this anyway.”
“Thank you!” Emily hurriedly closed the program on her screen.
“In love?” Margaret asked with wistful curiosity.
“Yes.” Emily met her boss’s gaze squarely.
Their desks were angled just so, and Margaret could see her perfectly. The cramped office left no room for rearranging the furniture. Emily felt like she was under constant examination.
“Why hasn’t he married you, then? Not asking?” Margaret removed her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Ah. Married. Kids too, I’ll bet. Classic. Hid the truth at first, and by the time he came clean, you were already in too deep. Promised to leave once the children were older. Am I right?”
“How did you know?” Emily blinked in surprise.
“I was young once too. Think you’re the first to fall for that?” She sighed. “If he hasn’t left by now, love, he never will. Cut your losses while you still have your pride.”
“But I love him.”
“When he tires of you—or God forbid, his wife finds out—it’ll only hurt worse. Spare yourself that. And don’t wreck your karma over it.” Margaret adjusted her glasses, her expression turning stern again.
“Think on it. And don’t be late Monday,” she said without looking up from her papers.
“‘In love’… tch,” Margaret muttered with a shake of her head as the office door shut behind Emily.
Emily raced down the stairs, waved at the security guard, and burst onto the street bathed in golden May sunlight. She spotted Daniel’s car immediately and hurried over.
“Finally. Thought you’d never clock out. Felt like a sore thumb sitting here,” Daniel grumbled as she slid into the passenger seat.
He turned the key, pulled away from the office, and merged into the stream of London traffic.
“Where are we going? Your call didn’t explain anything,” Emily asked.
“Surprise.” He shot her a look that sent her pulse skipping, warmth spreading through her chest.
The car left the city behind, speeding down the motorway before turning onto a narrow, winding country lane. Emily watched the road unfurl, wishing they could just keep driving—somewhere far, just the two of them. Eventually, a cluster of cottages came into view.
“Here we are,” Daniel announced cheerfully.
“You have a cottage?”
“Friend’s place. His wife’s due any day now—won’t be going anywhere for a while. So, it’s ours for the weekend.”
“And your wife? She just let you vanish for two days?” Emily eyed him skeptically.
He parked beside a weathered wooden fence.
“We’ve got two nights and a whole day ahead of us.” Daniel leaned in to kiss her.
*Two nights and one day*, she thought bleakly. *Then back to the same old shadows.*
Breaking the kiss, he climbed out to unload bags from the boot. Emily stepped into the crisp country air, breathing in grass, damp earth, and something achingly familiar—like her grandmother’s garden.
*Two nights! A whole day together!* Her heart surged with disbelief.
“Like it?” Daniel grinned at her reaction. “Take this, then—let’s head in.” He handed her a bag and shouldered a duffel, nudging the gate open.
Inside, the cottage was quiet, the stillness so thick it swallowed sound. A dried bouquet sat on the dresser, gingham curtains framed the windows, and a patchwork quilt covered the bed. Modest, cozy—like stepping into a memory.
“I wish we could stay here forever,” Emily whispered later, curled against him. “Just us. No one else.”
“Mm,” Daniel mumbled sleepily.
She woke first, lying motionless, savoring the hush. *Needs geraniums on the sill*, she decided. *And a lace tablecloth with tassels.*
A muffled ringtone shattered the quiet. Daniel groaned, fished his phone from his jeans.
“Yeah?” His voice was rough with sleep. “No—what noise? Just stepped in for water… Later.” He tossed the phone aside.
Emily clenched her jaw. Margaret was right—one more night, then back to stolen moments, half a life…
It rang again. Daniel ignored it.
“Answer it,” she said.
He pulled her close, kissing her fiercely. The phone fell silent—then started once more.
“*Answer it.*” She shoved free.
With a sigh, he picked up. Emily tugged on his shirt and stepped outside. Dawn hadn’t yet touched the treetops; birdsong and a woodpecker’s drill filled the air. She memorized the scents, the sounds—knowing she might never have this again.
“There you are.” Daniel’s arms encircled her. She leaned into his warmth, eyes closed, until another ringtone pierced the calm.
He left. The magic dissolved.
Margaret’s words echoed: *”Being the other woman gets old fast. Crumbs from his table won’t satisfy you forever. Walk away now—save your dignity.”*
Dressed and packed, Emily paused at the door.
“Where are you going? I turned it off—she won’t call again,” Daniel called.
“I’m leaving.”
“I’ll drive you.” He looked wounded.
“No.” She shut the door behind her, hurrying down the path.
How far was the motorway? Could she hitch a ride? She glanced back—empty road. The cottages vanished behind trees. Her heels sank into mud; her feet ached. Daniel hadn’t even let her pack proper shoes.
A cloud darkened the sky. Rain fell, cold and relentless. No umbrella. *Idiot.* She almost wished she’d stayed.
A car slowed beside her.
“Need a lift?” a man asked through the window.
Too tired to hesitate, she climbed in. Heat blazed from the vents.
“Someone hurt you?” he asked.
Emily stared at the wipers.
“Only shock or desperation makes a woman take a stranger’s car in the middle of nowhere.”
Her stomach lurched. “Stop. Let me out.”
Trees pressed close. Suddenly, the light seemed to dim.
“Where’ll you go? The motorway’s miles off. Just woods—and trouble.” He slowed. “Stay or go, but choose fast.”
“Wife waiting?” Emily sneered, then flushed. This man owed her nothing.
“My daughter. Close the door.”
She studied him—calm face, no threat. The car rolled forward.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. But a woman alone in the woods, in this rain…”
Silence.
“Dropped my mum at her cottage early. Wanted to get back before my girl woke.”
“How old is she?”
“Eleven.”
“And her mum?”
“Gone. A year and a half now.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I wanted to die too, once. But who’d have raised her? You’ll survive this. Everything passes—except death.” His tone was firm, almost chiding.
They drove in silence until London’s skyline emerged. His phone buzzed.
“Awake already, Mouse? Nearly home.” He pocketed it. “Daughter. I’m James.”
“Emily.”
At a block of flats, he disappeared inside. Emily sat, thinking: Daniel hadn’t come after her. Did he ever love her? Maybe Margaret was right.
James returned with a girl who clambered into the back.
“Why’re you all wet?” she asked.
“Got caught in the rain. Your dad rescued me.”
“I’m Isabella-Rose. But everyone calls me Bella. Your name’s pretty.”
“Thanks. Yours is lovely too.”
They chatted until her building appeared.
“Thank you,” Emily said, stepping out.
James and Bella waved.
*This* was what she’d wanted: a family, laughter, shared meals. Inside her flat, she toed off her ruined shoes and cried.
Her phone buzzed. Daniel. She declined. It rang again.
“Don’t call me. Ever.” She powered it off.
Monday, Margaret peered over her glasses.
“Good weekend?”
Emily shrugged.
“You listened. Left your married man, ran from that cottage.”
“How—?”
“Bella mentioned her dad picked up a soaked woman named Emily. They’re my neighbors. I watch her sometimes.” Margaret sighed. “No one warned me when I was your age. By the time I realized, it was too late to start over. James is a good man.”
Emily didn’t answer.
“It’ll work out. Give it time.” Margaret adjusted her glasses. “Right—back toThe next evening, James knocked on Emily’s door with Bella holding a homemade cake, and as the little girl grinned up at her, Emily realized this was the fresh start she hadn’t known she was waiting for.
