No good tale is ever complete without love.
Eight-year-old Emily walked home from school when an unbearable longing to see her mother, who lived in the next village, struck her. Instead of heading back to the house she shared with her father and grandmother, she turned toward the bus stop, waited, and boarded the next one.
*Why is Mum like this? Why couldnt she stay with Dad? Hes so good to me. I did live with her once, but I hated itshed leave me alone and bring that bloke Darren home, both of them drunk. Im happy with Dad and Gran, but I still miss her.*
Emily stepped off the bus and made her way to her mothers house. As she walked down the street, she spotted Sarah slumped on a bench outside, clearly worse for wear.
Oh, love, whered you come from? Sarah slurred, pulling her into a loose hug.
Mum, I missed you, Emily admitted, hugging her back.
They exchanged a few words before Sarahs tone shifted. Emily, you got any money on you?
Just enough for the bus home.
Thats it? Whatd you come for, then? I need moneydont you get it?
Mum, I dont have any, Emily answered quietly.
Well, run along back to your dad, then. Weve seen each otherthats enough. Ill find my own way. With that, Sarah spotted a woman down the road and hurried after her.
Emily stood in the middle of the lane, watching her mother go, a bitter ache tightening her chest. Only now did she truly understandshe wasnt wanted. All she had was Dad and Gran. Heart heavy, she wandered off in the wrong direction, mistaking a small copse for the woods and straying deeper through the trees, tears blurring her vision. When she finally stopped, she realised she was lost, and her sobs only grew louder.
Robert had first met Sarah at the village hall, where she and her friends had come for the dance. Hed taken one look at her and known he had to ask her for a turn. She hadnt refused.
All autumn, Robert rode his motorbike to her village, and when winter settled in, he proposed.
Sarah, lets get married. Im tired of riding back and forth. Well live with my mumshes kind, youll get on with her, hed urged.
She hadnt needed much convincing. Shed come to the dance for that very reasonnone of the lads in her own village had caught her eye.
Alright, lets, shed said, and Robert had been over the moon. A beautiful wifewhat more could a man want?
After the wedding, they moved in with Roberts mother, Margaret, who treated Sarah like her own. A year later, Emily was born, Margarets beloved granddaughter. For a while, all seemed welluntil Robert began to notice how little motherhood suited his wife.
Shell come round, son, Margaret assured him. Its just the baby blues. Shell settle.
But when Emily turned three, Sarah changed sharply. She started slipping out with her friends, coming home worse for drink. The routine of family life bored her. Robert held onto hope shed snap out of itbut things only worsened.
Im off to Natalies for her birthday, she announced one evening.
Course, love, Robert agreed, knowing she needed a break.
She didnt return that night. When she stumbled in the next morning, Robert and Margaret were at breakfast.
Oh, you two still up? she mumbled, swaying before collapsing onto the bed, still dressed. She didnt stir until afternoon.
Robert hadnt known about Sarahs taste for drink. In her village, everyone knew shed taken after her motherbut no one had told him. He never went back there after the wedding.
As Emily grew, Sarah paid her little mind. Even Robert began to doubt if he still loved his wife. She was often drunk, unkempt, vanishing for daysonce, she disappeared back to her village for a week.
Dad, wheres Mum? Emily would ask. I miss herwhens she coming back?
Shes in the village, love.
Bring her home, Dad, the five-year-old pleaded.
One weekend, Robert went to fetch her. She wasnt home, but her own mother pointed him to Darrens house. Inside, a rowdy group was drinking, Sarah perched on Darrens lap, laughing too loudly.
Spotting Robert, she scrambled to explain. Oh, Rob, its not what you thinkIm glad youre here, Ive missed you
For a week afterward, she stayed sober, as if a switch had flipped. Robert wrestled with whether to forgive herbut for Emilys sake, he did. He didnt understand the grip drink had on her. Ten days later, Sarah was at it again, worse than before. She even caused a scene in the yard, screaming loud enough for the whole village to hear.
Ive had enough of the lot of you! You and your mother, watching my every move! And EmilyI dont need her, shes old enough. Im done pretending to be a good mum!
The drunken tirade was the last straw. Robert knew thenhe had to save Emily. Sarah left for her village but returned two weeks later, snatching Emily while Robert was out. She shoved Margaret aside and disappeared with the girl.
The next day, Robert went to fetch his daughter, but Sarah flew into another rage, refusing to hand her over. So he went to the social services in town. When they arrived at Sarahs, they found her passed out, Darren beside her, while Emily sat staring sadly out the window.
They took Emily back to Robert. Soon after, he filed for divorce and stripped Sarah of her parental rights. Emily had just started school.
Margaret and Emily were home when Robert returned from town, calling out as he stepped inside.
Im back, Mumstarving. Emily, look what Ive got for you!
Margaret laid the table while Emily dashed from her room, flinging her arms around her fathers neck. He lifted her, spinning her with a laugh. Margaret watched him with quiet tension until he smiled and nodded. Then she relaxed, pulling treats from the pantry.
Mum, not all at oncewell burst, Robert teased.
But Margaret fussed, thinkingthough her son was thirty-three, the weight of raising Emily alone now rested on his shoulders. When the girl skipped off to her room, Margaret asked, Howd it go, son? What did Sarahs solicitor say?
Robert snorted. What could he say? Even he was shocked. Sarah turned up drunk, barely able to speak. The judge didnt hesitateEmily stays with me. Sarah lost her rights.
Shes brought it on herself, Margaret murmured. What kind of mother could she be, always in her cups?
Emily was happy with her father and grandmother, though she still thought of her mother sometimes. Margaret knew a girl needed her mumbut not a mother like Sarah.
At twenty-six, Agatha loved the woods, often venturing out alone to gather mushrooms and berries. Shed gotten lost a few times, even spent nights in the forest, but she wasnt afraid. Her grandfather, George, had taught her to build shelters and always carry matchesjust in case.
One afternoon in early September, Agatha wandered deep into the trees, lost in thought as she foraged. The woods were rich with mushrooms, and she strayed farther than intended before realising she was turned around again.
Right, best rest. Build a sheltersomeone might be looking. Shed told her mother she was going mushroom-picking, after all.
The sun dipped low, the air turning chilly. Good thing shed worn her jumper and old coat. She decided to light a fire.
*Just hope it doesnt rain,* she thoughtthen froze at the crunch of twigs behind her.
A small girl stood there, tear-streaked and shiveringwhether from cold or fear, Agatha couldnt tell.
Who are you? Agatha asked.
Emiilllyyy, the girl wailed, fresh tears spilling. Im looost.
Alright, Emily, no use crying. Better tell me where you live. Agatha pulled off her jumper, wrapping it around the child.
She built up the fire, and Emily spilled her story between sniffles.
Dad and Gran must be looking for methey dont know I went to see Mum
Dont fret, Emily. Im lost too. Which village does your mum live in? When Emily named it, Agatha had her bearingsthough they were far from her own home.
Well set off at first light, she promised. Exhausted, they dozed offbut at dawn, Agatha heard the faint hum of traffic.
Listen, Emilythats the road! I know the way now.
By evening, Robert had raised the alarm. Hed even gone to Sarahs with the constable, but she barely recalled Emilys visit. Robert nearly struck her before the constable caught his arm.
Dont, Rob. Its not worth it.
As Agatha and Emily walked the roadside, a car screeched to a halt.
Dad! Daddy! Emily shrieked, darting forward. Agatha stayed back. This is Agathashe saved me!
Robert, still furious, rounded on her. Who are you? Whered you take my daughter?
Dad, dont shoutshe found me in the woods!
Were going to the station.
And this is the thanks you get, Agatha muttered, climbing into the car in silence.
By the time they left the constables, the sun was high. Robert shifted awkwardly, ashamed of his outburst.
Ill take you home, he said to the pretty stranger. But first, come with us. Grans worried sickand shell feed us. You must be hungry.
I shouldnt intrude
No, *I* should apologise. I was out of line, Agatha.
She smiled, understandingEmily had already shared their story. And she sensed this meeting wasnt chance. She liked Robert. He liked her too.
And so it was. Six months later, Robert and Agatha married. No one was happier than Emily.
After all, no good tale is ever complete without love.
