Life always has its own way of unfolding.
«Bethany, Ive got news for youOlivers coming back from the army tomorrow. Well be getting married soon, so youd better save the date!» chattered Emily.
«How do you know? Last I checked, you two werent even writing to each other when he left. You were just friends. And how do you know hes arriving tomorrow?»
«My mum ran into Auntie Margaret. Anyway, well see if were just friends or not. Thats what he thoughtwhat everyone thought. But Ive loved him for ages. I wont let him slip away now,» Emily said, beaming.
«Well, good luck with that. I doubt youll be able to reel Oliver in. Hes always marched to his own beat. And after the army, hes probably even sharpernot like the cheeky lad he was in school,» Bethany remarked, making Emily pout slightly.
Emily had always fancied Oliver from the year abovemischievous, quick-witted, but undeniably handsome. By Year 9, hed shot up, towering over the other boys. Yet, he never showed interest in any of the girls. They were all just mates to himtheyd joke around, hed hang out with his mates in the evenings, but he never singled anyone out or walked anyone home after the cinema.
Emily often found excuses to be near him. If she heard he was going to the pictures with his friends, shed dash to the village hall too. Oliver would chat with her, crack jokes, maybe even throw an arm around her shouldersbut nothing more. The girls secretly fancied him, though they whispered among themselves:
«Olivers a bit odd, isnt he? All the other lads walk girls home, but he always goes off on his own.»
When Oliver left for the army, the girls waved him offsome quietly waiting, hoping hed finally notice one of them when he returned. After all, hed have to settle down someday, wouldnt he?
Charlotte worked at the local secondary school, having transferred from the countryside four years earlier. Fresh out of university, shed moved there to teach, living with her mother, Margaret. Her father had passed years ago. Her mother was relieved when Charlotte was reassigned from the village to townat least she wouldnt be alone in the flat anymore. Though she sometimes mused:
«Glad as I am to have Charlotte here, shell marry someday»
That morning, Charlotte saw her mother off at the bus stopMargaret was heading to her elder sisters cottage for the summer. Charlotte walked on to school. Though term had ended, teachers still had work to do.
Her love life hadnt changed much since her university days, when shed been burned by Daniel, a fellow student. Hed promised to take her to the city where he worked, even proposedonly to backtrack at the last minute:
«Changed my mind, Charlotte. My parents expect me home alone. So goodbye.»
Heartbroken, shed taken the village posting. Now twenty-eight, she hadnt fallen in love since.
Charlotte was in the headmasters office discussing summer plans when the deputy popped her head in.
«Charlotte, theres a young man asking for you.»
«Well, well, whos this mystery admirer of Miss Charlotte Edwards?» the headmaster teased. She shrugged.
«Honestly, no idea. Ill go see.»
Stepping into the corridor, she spotted a tall figure in army uniform gazing out the window. When he turned and smiled, she caught her breath.
«Blimey, a paratrooper. Solid, fit lad. Who on earth?»
They met halfway.
«Hello, Miss Edwards.»
«Helloyou were waiting for me?»
«Course. Who else?»
«Sorry, but do we know each other?»
«Oh, we do. Been a while, though.» His grin deepened, dimples appearing.
«Oliver?» she gasped, pressing her hands to her lips.
«The one and only. Changed much?»
«Goodness, thats an understatement.» They embraced briefly.
She patted his back, then stepped away for a proper look.
«Let me see you. Proper man nowbroad shoulders, all grown up. If Id bumped into you in town, Id never have recognised you.» He was every girls dream.
«Dont embarrass me, Miss Edwards. These are for you.» He handed her a bouquet. «Im just your average bloke. But Id have called out if youd walked past.»
«How did you find me here?»
«I knew where you taught before I enlisted,» he said proudly. «Came straight from the station, fresh out of service.»
«Where are you staying? Youve still got to get back to the village. Ohyou must be starving. Hang on, Ill grab my things. Youre coming to mineits just round the corner.»
While Charlotte reheated lunch, Oliver washed up. It was sweltering, so hed stripped to his undershirt. Returning to the kitchen, he asked,
«Need any help, Miss Edwards?»
«No, Oliver, sit down.»
Charlotte turned to the stove, heart racing as she stole glances at him. The wiry lad from Year 9 was gonethis was a man. She clutched the spoon, flustered.
«Whats wrong with me? Why am I?»
Meanwhile, Oliver fought the urge to hug herthe woman hed loved since school. Kind, beautiful, still single (his mate Simon had written; his aunt was the schools deputy).
«Eat up, Oliver,» Charlotte said. «Tea after.»
They reminisced about her time at the village school where hed been her pupil. Shed noticed his glances, but brushed it offsixth-formers always fancied young teachers.
«Wonder how the village is now? Whos replaced me? Id love to catch up,» Charlotte mused.
«Another new teacherSophie. My older brother married her. Theyve a son now.» Oliver hesitated, then blurted,
«Charlotte» First time without the «Miss.» «I came back for you. Marry me. Ive loved you since school.»
«Marry you?»
«Yes. Im asking properly. Ive grown up, but my feelings havent changed.»
«But Oliver, were eight years apart.»
«Forget that.» Calmly, he took her hands. «Fourteen and twenty-two mattered then. Now? Im a man. Ill provide, protecthandle everything.»
Pulling her onto his lapshe was too stunned to resisthe added,
«Well be happy. Build a house in the village. Big, so the kids have space.»
Charlotte gaped, nodding mutely.
«I havent even said yes, and youre planning children?»
«Saw it in your eyes. Burning right through me. Nearly set me alight.»
«Youre ridiculous,» she laughed.
«Yep. Thats me.»
They talked late into the night. Oliver stayed over. Next morning, they drove to her mothers cottage to introduce himand announce they were moving to the village together.
Oliver got straight to workdug vegetable patches («Plant whatever you like»), fixed the wobbly gate. The women busied themselves indoors.
«Handy, this one,» Margaret remarked.
At lunch, Charlotte and Oliver broke their news. Her mother and aunt were stunned but congratulatory. Seeing Margarets frown, Oliver said,
«Dont worry about being alone in town. Well build that houseyoure coming with us. The village is lovely. Youll like Mum tooCharlotte knows her.»
After lunch, they caught the train to the village. Oliver rang ahead:
«Be there by six. And Im not alone.»
«Whos he bringing?» Margaret wondered. «A girlfriend?»
«Dunno, Mum. No point guessing,» said his brother Thomas. He and his wife Sophie were already there with their son.
«True,» Sophie agreed. «Best set the table.»
Margaret kept peering out the windowyet still missed them arriving, only spotting her younger son (now taller and broader than Thomas) and Miss Edwards at the gate.
«MumOlivers here!» Thomas bolted outside, hugging his brother. «Blimey, youre built like a brick house! Army did you good.» Then, remembering: «Hello, Miss Edwards.»
Margaret rushed out, crushing Oliver in a hug.
«Charlotte! Lovely to see you. Everyone remembers you fondly here. But howd you two?»
«Mum, later. Lets go in.»
Once seated, Thomas poured wine. Oliver stood.
«Guessing youre all wondering why were together. Charlotte and I are getting married.» He drank alonethe others gaped.
Charlotte clenched her hands; Oliver covered them. Silence. Then Margaret burst out laughing.
«Im thrilled, Oliver! Charlotteover the moon!» She glanced at Sophie, giggling harder. «Charlotte taught here before you, Sophie. Now youll be on maternity leave, and shell cover for you» She pointed at Sophies bump (baby number two). «then shell be off, and youll swap back!»
The table erupted in laughter. Just then, Emily and Bethany walked in.
«Hello! Heard Oliver was back, so we»
«Come in,» Thomas said. Oliver kept an arm around Charlotte. «Celebrating, actually. Olivers engaged.»
The girls exchanged looks but sat briefly before slipping away.
