Life Always Has Its Own Plan
«Listen, Rebecca, Ive got newsNathans coming back from the army tomorrow, so were getting married soon. Youll come to the wedding, wont you?» chattered Emily.
«How do you know? Last I heard, you two werent even writing to each other when he left. You were just friends. And how do you even know hes arriving tomorrow?»
«My mum ran into Auntie Irene. Anyway, well see if were just friends. Thats what he thoughtwhat everyone thoughtbut Ive loved him for ages. Im not letting him slip away now,» Emily said, beaming.
«Well, well, enjoy your little fantasy. I doubt youll catch Nathan. Hes always been his own man. And now, after the army? Hes probably grown up, got wiser. Back in school, he was such a cheeky lad,» Rebecca said, making Emily pout slightly.
Emily had always fancied Nathan from the parallel classcheeky, quick-witted, but handsome. By Year 9, hed shot up taller than all the other lads, yet paid no special attention to any of the girls. They were all just mates to him, laughing and joking, spending evenings with his mates. He never singled anyone out, never walked anyone home after the cinema.
Emily made sure she was always near him. If she heard he was going to the cinema with friends, shed dash to the village hall too. Nathan joked with her, even gave her the odd hug, but that was it. The girls secretly fancied him but whispered among themselves:
«Honestly, whats wrong with Nathan? Every other lad walks girls home, but hes always alone at night.»
When Nathan left for the army, some of the girls quietly waited, hoping hed finally notice one of them when he returned. After all, hed have to settle down someday, start a family.
Sophie worked at the local school, having been transferred there four years ago from a village where shed started teaching right after university. She lived with her mother, Anne, her father having passed away young. Anne was relieved when Sophie moved to the townat least she wasnt alone in the flat anymore. Though she did wonder:
«Im glad Sophies here, but one day shell marry»
That morning, Sophie saw her mother off onto the busAnne was heading to her elder sisters allotment for the summer. Then Sophie walked on to school. Even though it was the summer holidays, teachers still had work to do.
Sophies love life hadnt changed much. Shed been burned once by Paul, a university classmate whod promised to take her with him to the city. Hed even proposed, only to back out at the last minute:
«Changed my mind, Soph. My parents expect me home alone. So goodbye.»
Heartbroken, Sophie took a teaching job in the village. Now, at twenty-eight, she hadnt fallen in love since.
Sophie was in the headteachers office discussing summer plans when the deputy popped her head in:
«Sophie, theres a young man asking for you.»
«Well, well, whos this mystery admirer of Miss Sophie Edwards?» the head teased. Sophie just shrugged.
«Lets find out.»
Stepping into the corridor, she spotted a young man at the far end, his back turned as he gazed out the window, dressed in military uniform. When he turned and smiled, she thought:
«Blimey, a paratrooper. Strong, fit. Who on earth?»
They met halfway down the hall.
«Hello, Miss Edwards.»
«Hello you were waiting for me?»
«Course I was. Who else?»
«Sorry, but do we know each other?»
«Oh, we do. A long time ago,» he grinned, dimples appearing.
«Nathan?» she gasped, pressing her hands to her lips.
«The one and only. That different, am I?»
«Goodness, youve no idea,» she said, hugging him.
She patted his back, then stepped away, eyes scanning him.
«Let me look at you. A proper man nowbroad shoulders, all grown up. If Id bumped into you in town, Id never have recognised you.» Standing before her was every girls dream.
«Dont embarrass me, Miss Edwards. These are for you,» he said, handing her flowers. «Im just an ordinary bloke. But Id have called out if youd walked past.»
«How did you even find me here?»
«Knew which school you worked at before I enlisted,» he said proudly. «Came straight from the station, duty done, free man.»
«Where are you staying? Youve still got to get back to the village. Oh, you must be starving. Right, let me grab my bagyoure coming to mine. Its close.»
While Sophie reheated lunch, Nathan washed up after the journey. It was sweltering, so hed taken off his uniform, down to his T-shirt. Walking into the kitchen, he asked:
«Need a hand, Miss Edwards?»
«No, Nathan, sit down.»
Sophie turned back to the stove, stunned, stealing glances at him out of the corner of her eye. Seeing him so muscular set her heart racing. Nothing remained of the cheeky lad from Year 9this was a different man entirely. She stood there, spoon pressed to her lips.
«Whats wrong with me? Why am I like this?»
Meanwhile, Nathan sat gripping the edge of the table, fighting the urge to hug Miss Edwardsthe woman hed loved since school. Beautiful, kind, and unmarried (his mate Simon had writtenhis aunt was the schools deputy).
«Right, Nathan, eat up,» Sophie said. «Then well have tea.»
They reminisced about her time at the village school where Nathan had been her student. Shed always sensed his gaze but brushed it offback then, all the older lads noticed the young teacher.
«Wonder whats new in the village? Whos taken my old job? Id love to see everyone,» Sophie mused.
«Another young teacher, Grace. My older brother married her quick. Theyve got a son now.» Nathan paused, gathering courage. «Sophie,» he said quietly, dropping the formality for the first time, «I came back for you. Marry me. Ive loved you since school.»
«Marry you?»
«Yes. Im asking properly. Ive grown up, but I still love you.»
«But Nathan darling Nathan, theres an eight-year gap between us.»
«Forget that,» he said calmly, taking her hands. «Forget those years. They dont matter. Back then, it was fourteen and twenty-two. Now? Were equals. Im not a boy anymoreIm a man. Ill take care of my family, handle everything.»
Pulling her onto his lapSophie too shocked to resisthe went on:
«Well be happy. Build a house in the village. Big, spacious, room for kids.»
Sophie was speechless, just nodding.
«I havent even said yes, and youre talking kids?»
«Saw it in your eyes. Burned right through me. Nearly set me alight.»
«Youre ridiculous,» Sophie finally laughed.
«That I am.»
They talked late into the night. Nathan stayed over. The next morning, they drove to Annes allotment so he could meet herand to announce Sophie was moving back to the village with Nathan.
There, Nathan grabbed a spade, dug over a few beds.
«Plant whatever you like,» he grinned, then fixed the wobbly gate with a hammer.
The women fussed over the table.
«Hes a keeper, no doubt.»
Over lunch, Sophie and Nathan broke their news. Anne and her sister were stunned but congratulatory. Nathan noticed Annes sadness.
«Dont worry about being alone in town, Anne. Well build that house and bring you to us. The village is lovelyyoull like it. Mums great too. Sophie knows.»
After lunch, they caught the train to the village. Nathan called ahead:
«Be there by six. And Im not alone.»
«Whos he bringing?» Irene wondered. «A girl?»
«No point guessing, Mum,» said Barry, Nathans older brother, already there with his wife and son.
«True,» laughed Grace, Barrys wife. «Best set the table.»
Irene kept glancing out the window but still missed them arriving, only spotting them as they reached the gateher younger son, now a man, and Miss Sophie Edwards, his old teacher.
«Mum, Nathans here!» Barry shouted, rushing out to hug his brother, now half a head taller and broader.
«Blimey, youre solid. Proper paratrooper grip,» Barry grinned, then remembered Sophie. «Miss Edwards.»
Irene ran out, squeezing Nathan.
«Hello, Sophie. So lovely you cameeveryone remembers you fondly here. But how did you two meet up?»
«Mum, questions later,» Nathan laughed. «Lets not stand in the yard.»
Inside, Barry poured wine. Nathan stood.
«Guessing youre all wondering why were together. Sophies agreed to marry me.» He drank aloneeveryone gaping. Sophie clasped her hands; he covered them with his. Silence fell, then Irene suddenly laughed.
«Im thrilled, Nathan. Sophie, love, Im so happy,» she said, then glanced at Grace and laughed harder.
«Sophie taught here before you, Grace. Now youll go on maternity leave, and shell cover. Then shell go on leave, and youll cover her!»
The table erupted in laughter. Just then, Emily and Rebecca walked in.
«Hello! Heard Nathan was back, so we came»
«Well, come in,» Barry said, as Nathan squeezed Sophies shoulders. «Weve got newsNathans engaged! Wedding soon.»
The girls exchanged disappointed looks but sat briefly before slipping away.
