The husband sent his wife to the countryside to lose weight because hed lost his head over his secretary and wanted freedom to indulge.
*”Stephen, I dont understand what you want,”* said Emily.
*”Nothing serious,”* replied Stephen. *”I just need some time alone to rest. Go to the countryside, relax, shed a few pounds. Youve let yourself go a bit.”*
He cast a dismissive glance at her figure. Emily knew shed put on weight from medication but said nothing.
*”Where is this countryside place?”* she asked.
*”Somewhere very picturesque,”* Stephen smiled. *”Youll love it.”*
Emily chose not to argue. She needed a break too. *”Maybe were just tired of each other,”* she thought. *”Let him have his space. And I wont return unless he asks.”*
She began packing.
*”Youre not upset, are you?”* Stephen pressed. *”Its just temporaryfor your own good.”*
*”No, its fine,”* Emily said with a weak smile.
*”Right, Im off then,”* Stephen said, kissing her cheek before leaving.
Emily sighed deeply. Their kisses had long lost their warmth.
The drive took far longer than expected. Emily missed the turn twicethe GPS acted up, and there was no signal. Finally, a sign appeared for the village. The place was remote, the cottages quaint with well-kept wooden carvings.
*”No modern comforts here,”* Emily thought.
She wasnt wrong. The house looked shabby. Without a car or phone, shed have felt transported to another era. She checked her mobile. *”Ill call him now,”* she told herself, but still no bars.
The sun dipped low, and exhaustion set in. If she didnt find shelter, shed sleep in the car.
She had no desire to return to the city, nor to give Stephen the satisfaction of saying she couldnt cope.
Stepping out, her bright red coat clashed comically with the rustic setting. She laughed at herself.
*”Alright, Emily, no getting lost now,”* she muttered.
The next morning, a roosters shrill crow woke her in the car.
*”Whats all that racket?”* she grumbled, rolling down the window.
The rooster stared with one beady eye before squawking again.
*”Why are you yelling?”* Emily snappedjust as a broom swung past the window, silencing the bird.
An elderly man appeared by the roadside.
*”Morning!”* he greeted.
Emily blinked. The villagers seemed plucked from a fairy tale.
*”Dont mind our rooster,”* the man said. *”Hes harmless, just loud as a foghorn.”*
Emily laughed, her grogginess fading. The old man chuckled too.
*”Staying long or just passing through?”*
*”For a breakhowever long it takes,”* she replied.
*”Come in, love. Have breakfast. Meet the missus. She bakes the best scones and no one to eat them. The grandkids visit once a year, the kids even less”*
Emily didnt hesitate. She wanted to know these people.
Peters wife was every bit the storybook grandmaapron, headscarf, toothless grin, and kind wrinkles. The cottage was cosy and spotless.
*”Its wonderful here!”* Emily exclaimed. *”Why dont the family visit more?”*
Mary shrugged. *”We tell them not to. The roads are dreadful. After rain, its a week before you can leave. There was a bridge once, but it collapsed fifteen years back. Were cut off. Peter only goes to the shop weekly. The boat cant take more. Hes strong, but age”*
*”These scones are heavenly!”* Emily said. *”Does no one look after you? Someone should.”*
*”Whats the use? Only fifty of us left. Once there were hundreds. Everyones gone now.”*
Emily frowned. *”Thats odd. Wheres the council?”*
*”Other side of the bridge. With the detour, its forty miles. Think we havent begged for help? Same answer every timeno funds.”*
Emily knew shed found her project.
*”Tell mewheres the council office? Or take me? Doesnt look like rain.”*
The couple exchanged glances.
*”You serious? You came to rest.”*
*”I am. Rest comes in many forms. And if it rains? Id better act fast.”*
The pair smiled warmly.
At the council, they told her:
*”How long will you pester us? Making us out to be the villains. Look at the town roads! Wholl fund a bridge for fifty souls? Find a sponsor. Like Thompson. Heard of him?”*
Emily nodded. Of course she hadThompson owned the firm where Stephen worked. Hed grown up here before his family moved to the city when he was ten.
After a sleepless night, Emily made her choice. She had Thompsons numberStephen had called him from her phone often. Shed approach it casually, not mentioning Stephen.
The first call failed. On the second, Thompson listened, paused, then burst out laughing.
*”Blimey, Id almost forgotten I was born there. Hows it looking?”*
Emily brightened. *”Lovely. Peaceful, wonderful people. Ill send photos and videos. James, Ive tried everythingno one will help the elderly. Youre the only one who could.”*
*”Ill think on it. Send the picsfancy a trip down memory lane.”*
For two days, Emily filmed and photographed for Thompson. Messages were read, but no reply came. Just as she gave up, he called:
*”Emily, could you pop by my office tomorrow at three? Bring a rough plan for the work.”*
*”Of course, thank you, James!”*
*”Funny, feels like being a kid again. Lifes a whirlwindnever time to stop and dream.”*
*”I know. But you should visit. Ill be there, no doubt.”*
Hanging up, she realisedit was the same office where Stephen worked. She smirked, anticipating the shock ahead.
Arriving early, she parked and headed to Stephens office. His secretary was absent. Hearing voices from the break room, she peered inand found Stephen and his secretary.
They froze at the sight of her. Emily stood rooted as Stephen leapt up, fumbling with his trousers.
*”Emily, what are you doing here?”*
She bolted, colliding with James in the hallway. Shoving documents at him, she fled in tears, scarcely recalling the drive back.
The next morning, a knock woke her. James stood at the door with a team.
*”Morning, Emily. You werent up for talking yesterday, so I came myself. Fancy a cuppa?”*
*”Sure, come in.”*
Not a word about last night. Over tea, villagers gathered outside. James gazed out.
*”Blimey, quite the crowd! Emily, isnt that old Peter?”*
Emily smiled. *”It is.”*
*”Thirty years ago, he was already a grandad, and his missus fed us her scones.”*
The man looked worried, but Emily reassured him. *”Marys in fine formstill baking her famous scones.”*
The day buzzed with activity. James team measured, noted, and calculated.
*”Emily, may I ask? About your husband do you forgive him?”*
She pondered, then smiled. *”No. And Im grateful it happened this way So?”*
James was silent. Emily stood, surveying the scene.
*”If the bridge is rebuilt, this could be something special! Fix up the cottages, create retreats. Untouched nature. But no ones managing it. What if I didnt go back?”*
James watched her, impressed. She was sharp, determined. Hed never noticed before.
*”Emily, may I visit again?”*
She met his gaze. *”Whenever you like. Id be glad.”*
The bridge construction raced ahead. Villagers thanked Emily; younger folk returned. James became a regular visitor.
Stephen called repeatedly, but Emily ignored him, eventually blocking his number.
At dawn, another knock came. Still drowsy, Emily opened itexpecting troublebut found Stephen.
*”Hey, love. Come home now. Enough sulking. Sorry,”* he said.
Emily laughed. *”Sorry? Thats it?”*
*”Alright Pack up, were leaving. You cant kick me outits my house too, remember?”*
*”Ill kick you out now!”* she retorted.
The door creaked shut. James appeared in
