The Return
“Jenny! Where are you? Jenny!”—Kate burst into the house, swept her eyes over the empty room, then rushed back onto the porch, her heels clicking, doors slamming behind her. “Where could she be?” Frustration and impatience made her stamp her foot.
From around the corner of the house appeared a slight figure—Jenny, clutching a plastic basin.
“Finally! I’ve been shouting for ages…” Kate hurried down the steps toward her friend.
“Was hanging the laundry in the yard. What’s happened?” Jenny set the basin down on the porch.
“Something has.” Kate’s dark eyes flashed beneath her thick fringe. She wanted to tease her friend, to hold back the news, but excitement bubbled over. “Jack’s back.”
“Really?” Disbelief flickered in Jenny’s gaze, then joy, confusion, then doubt again.
“I’m not lying. Saw him myself. Doubt his mum’ll let him out of her sight—missed him too much.”
“Let’s go!” Laughing, Jenny bolted from the yard first.
The sun bathed the village in golden warmth, the river snaked between overgrown banks, the world shimmered with beauty. But Jenny saw none of it. Her heart drummed a joyous rhythm—Jack! Jack!—alive with anticipation.
“Look, there he is!” Kate grabbed Jenny’s arm.
Down the lane came Jack in his uniform. Spotting the girls, he broke into a run.
Joy swelled Jenny’s chest. She tore forward, threw herself into his arms, trembling against him.
Kate stood aside, watching the lovers with envy. She’d fancied Jack forever, but he never noticed anyone but Jenny. Finished school early, stayed to help his parents—big farm, selling crops, milk, meat. Then the army called him away a year later.
“What does he see in her? I’m prettier. Why does she get everything?” Kate gnawed her lip, tears pricking. She fled home, flung herself onto the bed, buried her face in the pillow, and wept.
“What’s wrong?” Her mum peered in from the kitchen.
“Nothing,” Kate snapped.
“Mm. Jealous? Think there’ll be no lads left for you? Look at Alex—always eyeing you up. Good job, handsome, owns his own place.”
“Mum!” Sobs wracked her harder. “I’m leaving. Soon as I finish school. To the city.”
“Don’t be daft. Who’d want you there? No, love—home’s where you’re meant to be. You leave, they stay…” her mum began cautiously.
“No. I’m prettier, I’ve got the figure. Jenny’ll bloat up if she has kids. I’ll think of something. Just can’t let them be alone.” She lifted her face, tears dried to spite.
“That’s the spirit,” her mum said approvingly before retreating.
Jenny arrived soon after, face radiant. Kate’s heart clenched. She forced a smile.
“Why’d you part so quick?” She couldn’t mask the spite.
“Family’s gathering to welcome him back. He’ll come to the dance tonight. Oh, Kate, I’m so happy! Why the long face?”
“Don’t want to intrude. And nothing to wear—you know Mum won’t buy me a new dress.”
“Take mine—the one you liked. It’s tight on me now, but it’ll fit you perfect. Come try it.”
Kate barely stifled a gleeful gasp. She twirled before Jenny’s mirror, admiring herself—the dress clung just right.
“You sure?” She feigned hesitation.
“Absolutely.” Jenny hugged her. “Keep it. I’ve supper to cook.”
“See you tonight!” Kate pecked her cheek and dashed home.
Evening came. Jenny fetched Kate, and they walked to the village hall together.
Light and music spilled from the brick building. A few girls already danced inside; lads played pool in the corner. Jenny scanned the room.
“He’s not here. Let’s dance.” Kate whirled into the center, arms raised, eyes flicking to the door.
When the music paused, she stepped outside, fanning her flushed face. June evenings still carried a chill. She shivered. Nearby, Alex smoked.
Kate squinted into the dusk until she spotted Jack—recognized his silhouette. Without hesitation, she slipped from the steps and draped herself around Alex’s neck. Her pale dress glowed in the dim light.
“What’s this, Kate?” Alex blinked.
Instead of answering, she crushed her lips to his. He recovered fast, arms locking around her. When she shoved him away and glanced back, Jack was retreating.
“Get off!” she snarled at Alex and fled inside.
It had worked better than she’d dreamed. That dress played its trick—Jack must’ve thought it was Jenny kissing another. No wedding now!
“Seen Jack?” Jenny asked when Kate returned.
“Saw him. Loomed by the door, then left. Dance with me?”
“Left?” Jenny bolted for the exit.
Kate joined the dancers, smug.
Jenny caught Jack by his gate.
“Wait! Why’d you go?” She grabbed his arm.
“Waiting for me, were you? Picking out dresses? Wear that one for your new lad,” he hissed, wrenching free.
Jenny stood stunned, arms limp. Then she trudged home.
Next morning, she went to Jack’s.
“Morning, Aunt Mary.” She greeted his mum.
The woman glowered. “No idea what you’ve done, but Jack came home black as thunder. Says no wedding now.”
Jenny ran to Kate—who else could she turn to? Weeping, she spilled the story.
“Let’s visit Mad Maggie. She reads folk like books. Maybe he sweetheart left behind?”
“No.” Jenny shook her head, tear-streaked. “Never. I’d know…”
They reached the tumbledown cottage on the outskirts. The porch steps groaned underfoot. Jenny halted.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” Kate grabbed for her hand, but Jenny yanked free and fled.
Kate turned—a raspy voice spoke behind her.
“Changed your mind?” A heavyset woman filled the doorway, apron straining over her stomach. Wiry grey hair escaped her scarf; dark eyes pinned Kate. She shuddered.
“Come in, since you’re here,” Maggie said, vanishing inside.
The dim room reeked of incense and herbs.
“Sit.” Maggie nodded at the table.
Kate perched on the chair’s edge. The woman sat opposite; the wood creaked.
“Friend ran off? Scared?”
“I—”
“Quiet. See it plain. Jealous, aren’t you? Aim to steal her love? No happiness that way. Ten years—you’ll die. They’ll reunite. But you can still change it.”
Kate trembled, bolted outside.
“What’d she say? You’re shaking,” Jenny asked by the neighbor’s fence.
“All fine!” Kate’s attempt at a smile twisted into a snarl.
Jack stayed away; Jenny avoided Kate. She wilted, a fire without kindling.
“Phoned your aunt. Finish exams, go live with her. Else you’ll waste away. Barely eat—next stop, the grave. She’ll find you work.”
So Jenny took her A-levels, got her results, and left for London. She didn’t return, though she ached to. Mum called with news: Jack married Kate.
Her aunt got her a salon receptionist job. In free moments, she studied styling.
Meanwhile, Kate had a daughter, then a son. Jack strayed—villages talk.
Mum begged her home. Years had passed; surely she could face them now?
At noon, she stepped off the bus onto dusty tarmac. The hush, the clean air—like she’d never left. She smiled. How had she stayed away?
She walked lightly toward home. Mum spotted her, rushed out, embraced her.
“Look at you! Magazine-cover pretty.”
Jenny had changed—sleek haircut, makeup skills, admirers. But none could replace Jack.
They talked for hours.
“Enough, Mum. News overload. I’ll walk by the river—missed it.”
“Mind the midges.”
She strolled the bank, listening to rustling reeds, village sounds. The water lay dark, smooth as glass. She snapped off a willow switch for swatting bugs.
Footsteps crunched behind her. She spun—Jack! Her heart leaped, fluttered trapped in her ribs. His gaze raised gooseflesh.
He’d broadened, hair thinning—but his eyes were the same.
“Waited for you.” He stepped closer. “Proper city now. Back for long?”
“Alright. You?”
“Not alright. Dream of you. In that dress.”
“Which dress?”
“The white one, flowers on the hem.”
“Gave that to Kate years ago.”
“Kate? When?” He stiffened.
“Day you gotThat night, as the village slept beneath a sky thick with stars, Jack quietly slipped his arm around Jenny’s waist, and she smiled, knowing no ghost or prophecy could ever tear them apart again.
