Emily discovered her husbands infidelity by accident.
Its often the waywives are the last to know. Only later did Emily grasp the meaning behind her colleagues odd glances and hushed whispers. Everyone at work knew her closest friend, Charlotte, was having an affair with her husband, James. Yet nothing in Jamess behaviour had ever raised her suspicions.
She found out unexpectedly that evening, coming home early. Emily had worked as a doctor at a London hospital for years. That day, she was meant to be on night duty, but her young colleague, Sophie, asked her a favour.
“Emily, could we swap shifts? Ill cover tonight, and you take my Saturdayunless youve other plans. My sisters getting married, and the weddings Saturday.”
Emily agreed. Sophie was kind and reliable, and a wedding was reason enough.
That night, Emily returned home, excited to surprise James. But the surprise was hers. The moment she walked in, she heard voices from the bedroomJamess, and another she recognised instantly, though she never expected it here. It was Charlottes. The words left no doubt about their relationship.
Emily slipped out as quietly as shed entered. She spent the night at the hospital, sleepless. How could she face her colleagues? Theyd known everything, while shed been blinded by love, trusting James completely. Hed become her world, even giving up her dream of children because James insisted they werent ready. Now she understoodhed seen no future with her.
That night, Emily made her choice. She handed in her notice, packed her things while James was at work, and hurried to the train station. Shed inherited a cottage in the countryside from her grandmothersomewhere no one would think to look.
At the station, she bought a new SIM card and tossed the old one. Cutting ties with her past, she embraced the unknown.
Twenty-four hours later, she stepped off the train at a familiar stop. The last time shed been here was a decade ago, for her grandmothers funeral. The place hadnt changedquiet, forgotten. “Just what I need now,” Emily thought. She hitched a ride and walked the last twenty minutes. The garden was so overgrown she barely reached the door.
It took weeks to clean the house and garden. She couldnt have done it alone, but the neighbourswho remembered her grandmother, Mary, the village schoolteacher for forty yearspitched in. Their kindness moved her.
Word spread fast about the new doctor in town. One day, a neighbour, Sarah, rushed in, frantic.
“Emily, sorry to bother you, but I cant help today. My little ones eaten something offterrible stomachache.”
“Lets have a look,” Emily said, grabbing her medical bag.
Young Amelia had food poisoning. Emily treated her and explained what Sarah should watch for.
“Thank you,” Sarah whispered, tears in her eyes. “Youre our doctor now. The nearest hospitals forty miles, and we lost our nurse last yearnever replaced.”
From then on, the villagers turned to Emily. She couldnt refusenot after their kindness.
The local council heard of her work and offered her a job at the district clinic.
“No,” Emily said firmly. “But Ill take charge of the village surgery here.”
They were surprised a London-trained doctor would choose a modest practice, but Emily stood her ground. Months later, the surgery reopened.
One evening, a late knock didnt surprise herillness kept no schedule. A stranger stood at the door.
“Dr. Emily,” he said. “Im from Rockford, ten miles out. My daughters very illat first I thought it was a cold, but her fever wont break. Please, come see her.”
Emily quickly gathered her things, listening to him describe the symptoms. At his home, a pale little girl lay struggling to breathe. After examining her, Emily frowned.
“Shes seriously illneeds hospital care.”
The man shook his head. “Its just her and me. Her mother died when she was born. Shes all Ive got I cant lose her.”
“But the hospital”
“Tell me what to get, and Ill fetch it. Just dont take her. Theres a late-night pharmacy, but Ive no one to watch her.”
She saw the desperation in his eyes. Taking him in properlytall, lean, chestnut-haired, with dark green eyesshe softened. “Ill stay with her. Whats her name?”
“Lucy,” he said softly. “Im Daniel. Thank you, Doctor.”
Daniel rushed off with her prescription while Emily held Lucy, singing lullabies until the feverish girl settled. Hours later, Daniel returned. Emily administered the medicine.
“Now we wait.”
They kept vigil all night. By dawn, Lucys fever broke.
“Shell pull through,” Emily said, exhausted but relieved.
“You saved her,” Daniel murmured, gratitude thick in his voice.
A year passed. Emily still worked at the surgery, but now she lived in Daniels spacious farmhouse. Theyd married six months after that harrowing night.
Lucy recovered fully, bonding fiercely with Emily, who loved her dearlythough sometimes she wondered about the child shed never had.
That evening, tired but content, Emily returned home to the two people who meant everything. Daniel greeted her at the door, grinning.
“So, got your leave approved? Ive planned it allholiday for three!”
Emily smiled mysteriously. “My leaves sorted, but were not going as three.”
Daniel froze before sweeping her into his arms, laughing with joy.
