Life always has its own twists.
«Emma, guess what? Olivers back from the army tomorrow! Were getting married soonyoull have to come to the wedding,» chattered Amelia, grinning like shed just won the lottery.
«Hold on, how do you even know? Last I checked, you two were just mates when he left. And how dyou know hes back tomorrow?» Emma arched an eyebrow.
«Mum ran into Auntie Margaret. And anyway, well see about just mates. Thats what he thoughtwhat everyone thought. But Ive fancied him for ages. Not letting him slip away now,» Amelia declared, practically glowing.
«Well, good luck with that,» Emma snorted. «Good luck reeling in Oliver. Hes always marched to his own beat. And now, after the army? Bet hes got his head screwed on properly. Back in school, he was a right handful.»
Amelia pouted slightly. Shed always had a soft spot for Oliver from the parallel classcheeky, quick-witted, but undeniably charming. By Year 11, hed shot up taller than all the lads, yet somehow never seemed to notice any of the girls. He joked with them all, hung out with his mates in the evenings, but never singled anyone outnever walked anyone home after the cinema.
Amelia made sure she was always nearby. If she heard he was going to the pictures with the lads, shed dash to the local cinema too. Hed chat with her, squeeze her shoulder, but that was it. The girls all fancied him in secret, whispering among themselves:
«Olivers a bit odd, isnt he? All the other lads pair off, but he just walks home alone every night.»
When Oliver left for the army, the girls secretly started counting the days. Each hoped that after his service, hed finally notice one of them. After all, hed have to settle down eventually, wouldnt he?
Meanwhile, Eleanor worked at the local secondary school, having been transferred from the countryside four years earlier. Shed moved in with her mum, Margaret, after her dad passed away young. Margaret was relievedno more rattling around the flat alonethough she couldnt help wondering:
«Glad Eleanors here, but one day shell get married»
That morning, Eleanor waved her mum off to the busMargaret was heading to her sisters cottage for the summer. Eleanor herself carried on to school. Even though term had ended, teachers always had paperwork to sort.
Her love life? Stagnant. Shed been burned once by Daniel, a fellow uni student whod promised to take her to the city, even proposedonly to back out last minute.
«Changed my mind, Ellie. Parents expect me home alone. So goodbye.»
Heartbroken, Eleanor took a job in the countryside. Now, at twenty-eight, she hadnt so much as flirted since.
Sitting in the headteachers office, planning summer schedules, the deputy popped her head in.
«Eleanor, theres a young man asking for you.»
«Oho! Whos this mystery suitor?» The headteacher grinned. Eleanor just shrugged.
«Beats me. Ill go see.»
Stepping into the corridor, she spotted a figure by the windowbroad-shouldered, in military uniform. When he turned, flashing a dimpled smile, she blinked.
«Blimey. A paratrooper. Who on earth?»
They met halfway.
«Hello, Miss Eleanor.»
«Hello you were waiting for me?»
«Course. Who else?»
«Sorry, do we know each other?»
«Oh, we do. Very well, actually.» His grin widened.
«Oliver?» Her hands flew to her lips. «Good grief, is that really you?»
«Unless Ive got a doppelgänger. Changed much?»
«Changed? Youre a completely different person!» She hugged him, then stepped back, arms crossed. «Let me look at you. Proper grown-up now, arent you? Ran into you in town, Id never have recognised you.»
He chuckled, handing her a bouquet. «Dont flatter me, Miss. Just your average bloke. Though Id have spotted you anywherewouldve shouted if youd walked past.»
«Howd you even find me here?»
«Knew which school you worked at before I enlisted,» he said smugly. «Came straight from the station, actually. Free man now.»
«Where are you staying? Youve got to get back to the village, havent you? Hang onyou must be starving. Right, grab my bag, youre coming to mine. Its just round the corner.»
While Eleanor reheated leftovers, Oliver washed up, peeling off his uniform in the summer heat. When he wandered into the kitchen in just his vest, she nearly dropped the spoon.
«Bloody hell. Wheres the scrawny Year 11 boy gone?»
Oliver, meanwhile, was fighting the urge to sweep her into a hug. Hed fancied her since schoolkind, beautiful Eleanor. His mate Jake had written that she was still single (Jakes aunt was the schools deputy).
«Right, Oliver, eat up,» Eleanor said briskly. «Then well have tea.»
They reminisced about her teaching days in the village school.
«Wonder how the village is these days? Whos taken my old job? Be lovely to catch up with everyone,» Eleanor mused.
«Another young teacher, Grace. My older brother married her. Theyve got a toddler now.» Oliver hesitated, then blurted: «Eleanor» (First-name basis! Bold.) «I came back for you. Marry me. Loved you since school.»
«Marry you?»
«Yep. Grown up now, but still mad about you.»
«But Oliver, love theres eight years between us.»
«Doesnt matter,» he said calmly, taking her hands. «Fourteen and twenty-two was a gap. Twenty-eight and thirty-six? Nothing. Im a man now. Ill take care of youof our family.»
He pulled her onto his lap (she was too stunned to protest).
«Well be grand. Build a proper house in the village. Big enough for kids to run wild.»
Eleanor gaped.
«Hold onI havent said yes yet, and youre planning nurseries?»
«Saw it in your eyes. Practically set me on fire.»
«Youre ridiculous,» she laughed.
«Yep. Thats me.»
They talked late into the night. Oliver stayed over. Next morning, they drove to Margarets cottage to break the news.
Oliver immediately grabbed a spade, digging up garden beds. «Plant whatever you like, Margaret.» Then he fixed the wobbly gate.
The women exchanged glances. «Handy, isnt he?»
At lunch, they announced their engagement. Margaret and her sister were stunned but thrilled.
«Margaret, dont fret about being alone in town,» Oliver said, spotting her frown. «Well build a house in the villageyoull move in. Lovely place. Eleanor knows.»
After lunch, they caught the train to the village. Oliver rang his mum:
«Be there by six. And Im not alone.»
«Whos he bringing?» wondered Irene. «A girl?»
«Dunno, Mum,» said his brother, Liam. «No point guessing.» His wife, Grace, nodded. «Best set the table.»
Irene kept glancing out the windowand still missed them arriving. Suddenly, there was Oliver, taller and broader, with Eleanor in tow.
«Mum! Olivers here!» Liam bolted outside, hugging his brother. «Blimey, armys done you good! Proper muscles now.» Then, spotting Eleanor: «Miss Eleanor! Hello!»
Irene rushed out, squeezing Oliver. «Eleanor! You came! Everyone remembers you fondly here. Howd you two meet up?»
«Mum, enough questions,» Oliver laughed. «Lets go inside.»
Once seated, Liam poured wine. Oliver stood.
«Right. Were getting married.» He downed his glass. Silence.
Eleanor clasped her hands. Oliver covered them with his. Then Irene burst out laughing.
«Im thrilled! Absolutely thrilled!» She glanced at Grace, pregnant again, and cackled. «Grace took over from Eleanor at the school. Now Gracell be on maternity leave, Eleanor covers her then Eleanorll be pregnant, Gracell cover her like musical chairs!»
The table erupted in laughter. Just then, Amelia and Emma barged in.
«Hello! Heard Oliver was back»
«Well, come in then,» said Liam. «Celebrating Olivers engagement.»
The girls exchanged crushed looks but sat briefly before making excuses to leave. Life, indeed, had its own plans.
