**Diary Entry**
Emily had been unlucky in love. Shed stayed single well into her thirties before finally deciding to find herself a man. At first, she hadnt known James was married, but once she grew attached, he didnt bother hiding it anymore.
Yet Emily never once blamed James. Instead, she berated herself for the affair and her own weakness. She felt flawed, as if shed failed by not securing a husband in time. Still, she wasnt a bad-looking womannot a beauty, but pleasant, with a soft roundness to her that added a few apparent years.
Their relationship was going nowhere. She hated being the other woman but couldnt bring herself to leave him. The thought of being alone terrified her.
One evening, her cousin Simon dropped by on his way through town for work. They hadnt seen each other in ages, so they sat in the kitchen, chatting over dinner like old times. Emily confided in him, laying out her mess of a love life before breaking into quiet tears.
Just then, her neighbour popped in, asking Emily to come over and admire some new purchases. She stepped out for twenty minutes. In that time, the doorbell rang. Simon answered, expecting herthe door hadnt been lockedonly to find James standing there. One look at the bloke in joggers and a vest, chewing a ham sandwich, and James froze.
«Emily home?» was all he managed.
«Shes in the bath,» Simon replied smoothly.
«Right and you are?» James fumbled.
«Her husband. Common-law, for now.» Simon stepped closer, grabbing James by the collar. «You wouldnt be that married tosser shes been crying over, would you? Listenshow your face here again, and Ill toss you down the stairs. Understood?»
James wrenched free and bolted.
When Emily returned, Simon told her what happened.
«Whatve you done? Who asked you?» she cried. «He wont come back now.» She sank onto the sofa, hiding her face in her hands.
«Good. Stop snivelling. Got a proper bloke in mind for youwidower back in our village. Women have been after him since his wife passed, but hes turned them all down. Reckon he just needs time. Soon as Im back from this trip, well go see him.»
Emily balked. «Just like that? No, Simon, I cant. I dont even know him. Its embarrassing!»
«Embarrassing is shacking up with a married man, not meeting a free one. Were goingits my Sarahs birthday soon anyway.»
A few days later, they were in the village. Sarah had set up a spread in the garden, and neighbours and friends gatheredincluding Simons mate, the widower Andrew. Emily had met most before, but Andrew was new.
After a warm evening, Emily returned home, thinking how quiet and gentle Andrew was. *Poor man, still grieving. Not many like him left.*
A week later, her doorbell rang unexpectedly. She opened it to find Andrew holding a bag, shifting awkwardly.
«Emilyjust passing through. Had some shopping to do. Thought, since weve met might as well stop by.»
She invited him in, suspicions growing as she put the kettle on.
«Get everything you needed?» she asked.
«Aye, its in the car. These are for you.» He pulled out a small bouquet of daffodils.
Her eyes lit up as she took them. Over tea, they talked idly about weather and prices before Andrew stood to leave. In the hallway, he dawdled, then turned abruptly.
«If I go now without saying it, Ill regret it. Emily, Ive thought of you all week. Swear it. Couldnt wait to see you again.»
She flushed, staring at her hands. «We barely know each other»
«Doesnt matter. Justam I awful to you? Can we drop the formalities? I know Im no prize. Got a little girl, eight years old. Shes with her gran now.»
His hands trembled slightly.
«A daughters lovely. Always wanted one,» Emily murmured.
Encouraged, Andrew took her hands, drew her close, and kissed her. When he pulled back, her eyes were wet.
«Did I upset you?»
«No. The opposite. Didnt expect to feel safe. Sweet, even.»
From then on, they met every weekend. Two months later, they married and settled in the village. Emily found work at the nursery, and within a year, they had a daughter. The two girls grew up loved equally, and with time, Andrew and Emily only grew happier, their love deepening like aged whisky.
At gatherings, Simon would wink at her. «See, Em? Told you Id find you a proper man. Never doubt your brother.»
**Lesson learned: Sometimes the best things come when you stop clinging to whats wrong and let goeven if it takes a push from family. Emily would smile, squeezing Simons arm, her heart full. She no longer woke with that gnawing emptiness, no longer measured her worth in stolen moments. For the first time, she belongednot as a secret, not as an afterthought, but as someone cherished, seen. And when her daughter laughed, running barefoot through the garden, Emily knew: this was not just love. This was home.
