A young woman cradles a little girl as she steps off the bus and scans the signpost. Littleton, it reads the name of the hamlet shes heading for.
Mary! a trembling voice calls. Her grandmother, silverhaired and wrapped in a white kerchief, rushes toward her. Give me Katie, love.
The villagers watch the strangers with mild curiosity, but Gran Greenwood and Mary stride past, a suitcase in hand, barely glancing at anyone. When they reach the cottage, Gran slams the gate shut and darts inside.
Katie! she shouts.
The grownup child is already sobbing at the kitchen table, hugging Katie tightly. Marys tears flow unabated.
I ran away from my husband, Gran! she wails.
What on earth? Gran asks.
Hes a beast. He shouts vile things, orders me around, threatens to take our daughter away. I cant breathe near him, cant even smile. Im exhausted.
Gran looks at her granddaughter, eyebrows furrowed. Three years together and the marriages already falling apart. Times have changed, havent they?
Mary wipes her face, lifts her head and meets Grans gaze.
If you still dont understand me, Ill go, Gran. I left my mothers house because she never gets me and keeps nagging. She says I should endure because my husband wont change. How am I supposed to live like this, Gran?
Gran frowns a little longer, then pulls Mary into a hug, smoothing her hair. Stay. I wont say a word if you dont. Ive got little left, but Id rather have you here. This house will be yours. My dear, my beautiful girl”
***
Mary, a city girl, has forgotten her urban life. Rumour spreads through the village that Mary once married a notorious gangster a tale she accidentally let slip. She fled to her grandmothers cottage with a suitcase and a baby to hide. She finds respectable work delivering mail and quickly wins the locals over with her good nature.
At the Greenwoods youll find smiles everywhere. Theyre helpful and kind, always ready to lend a hand. Lovely lot.
One sunny afternoon, Mary sits in Grans garden, showing Katie the berries. Dont be scared, love. You can pick them and eat them. Heres a strawberry, red and sweet, and over there are blackberries.
A little girl in a frock wanders toward the bushes, plucking the fruit. Suddenly, a scruffy black dog with white patches darts out from the brambles, perking up an ear and barking at the mother and child.
Good dog, Mary laughs.
From behind the fence a curlyhaired boy pops his head out. Katie stares at him wideeyed.
Pip! a deep voice calls, and an elderly man shuffles over. Good afternoon.
Afternoon, Mary replies with a smile.
Pip, the boy, gathers courage and steps through the fence, grabbing Marys hand and looking at Katie. Hes a few months older than her.
Mary beckons him. Come over, Pip. We have berries here. And Katie will love to play with you.
The old man, Pips grandfather, leans against the fence and chats warmly with Mary. We didnt know you had a Katie. Our Pip has no friends; he roams the yard alone. Luckily we have Spot, the dog.
Mary brightens. Our Katie gets lonely. Come over, Pip!
Pip doesnt need a second invitation; he pushes aside the picket, slips through a gap, and Spot follows. The children become fast friends, their laughter ringing until dusk.
***
Pips father, a man of few words named Ian, visits on weekends. He eyes Mary with admiration, never looks away. He begins bringing flowers, gifts, driving his old hatchback to the river with her. Gran approves.
Honestly, Mary, youve got a good lad. He left his wife, who was unfaithful, took the boy, and now raises Pip on his own. He works hard, doesnt drink, and lives in the city because his job keeps him there.
Mary feels a flutter. She likes Ian, but fears her exhusband might track her down. Legally, hes still her spouse.
She confides in Ian, who promises to wait for her as long as needed and to bring her to the city when the time comes.
Take care of Pip, love, Ian says one evening, looking into her eyes. Im getting older, and I cant watch over him forever. Bringing him to the city would be risky with his mother still around.
Ill look after him, Mary assures, smiling. Travel safely, dear.
Years slip by. Gran grows frail; Mary tends to her, feeding her from a spoon. Katie starts school. No word comes from the exhusband, and Mary settles into her new routine. Pip turns into a mischievous teenager, often skipping school. His grandfather falls ill and stops leaving the house.
Mary shuttles between two cottages, caring for the elders. Ian still shows up on weekends, bringing homegrown veg in his overloaded boot. Their relationship stays calm; Mary keeps his car full of produce.
Time passes, and Mary escorts Grans final journey, feeling a strange lightness. She becomes a freespirited woman, though everything seems to slip through her fingers. In her teenage years, Katie rebels, making Mary weep into her pillow. Pip, now a stubborn lad, argues constantly, and Marys voice grows hoarse from shouting.
Ians visits dwindle to once a month, his face creasing, his voice weary. Mary, you know Im working long hours. The mortgage eats my whole salary. I cant even afford decent trousers for the boy.
Mary comforts him. I understand, Ian. Just look after yourself, eat well, dress for the weather. Well manage here.
Ian leaves feeling a bit lighter.
***
One afternoon, Mary shouts across the yard, Katie! Come here, you little devil!
What do you want? Katie replies, lounging on the doorstep.
Mary waves toward the chicken coop. Whats happening, Katie? I just stepped out for work and look at this mess!
What mess? the teen huffs.
Cant you see? The chickens have been pecked, the coops open, everythings ruined.
Katie rolls her eyes. I didnt lock it, did I?
Did I? I dont know, Mary mutters, tears welling.
In the garden, the beds are trampled, the fence a gaping hole, the whole fence leaning.
Pip, I need to talk, Mary calls, climbing through the breach. Pip stands with a friend, looking proud.
She pauses at the dogs kennel, peeking inside. Spots nose is covered in fluff. Is he fed?
Are you serious, Aunt Mary? Pip sneers. Talking to dogs now?
The boys laugh at her.
Pip, your dog knocked over the chicken coop
It wasnt Spot, Pip retorts. Our chickens roam freely; Spot never touches them.
Mary looks baffled at how the curlyhaired boy grew into such a indifferent teen.
Occasionally, Mary phones her mother, who sounds distant. Mary, Im busy, what do you want? My new family? My stepdads health? My grandchildren?
My mother? Mary asks, confused. Youre not my mother.
Then stop calling. Im not your mother, the voice snarls, and the line clicks dead.
Mary bites her lip, anger bubbling. She decides to leave the village, hopping on a coach back to the city, surprising Ian with a visit to his house. She knocks; a young woman opens the door. Hello, were the Harrisons. Im his wife.
Who are you to him? Mary asks, startled.
The wife, of course, the woman replies with a smile that sends Mary fleeing.
Ian arrives for his weekend, pretending nothings changed, and pulls Mary aside. Whats going on, love? Im living with Jan, whats it to you?
Mary sobs, Why are you so cruel?
Ian scoffs, Enough of this drama. Ive had my fill of my first wifes nonsense. Go on, calm down, I have to get back to the city.
Their relationship frays further. Pips grandfather, now frail, argues with Mary, while his own mother, Mrs. Harper, drops her grandchildren on the village for the summer, and they trample Marys garden, eating her berries.
Katie, tighten your scarf, Mary calls. Katie, my head hurts, turn the music down.
My head always hurts, Katie replies. Take a pill.
Katie, we need to pick the raspberries. The neighbours kids will steal them otherwise.
You pick them, I wont eat jam, Katie snaps.
Something inside Mary cracks. She spends long hours at the window, silently repairing the broken fence that the children keep destroying.
Ian eventually stops coming to Littleton altogether. Pip, now finishing school, seems the only link left. Without Ians pressure, Mary feels lighter; she no longer worries about planting crops or mens demands.
One morning, Katie, quieter than before, leans into Mary, hugging her tightly. The girl seems older, more mature. With only a month left of term, Katie confides, Mum, I feel sick in the mornings, no energy, and everything I eat makes me feel worse.
Sounds like you need a doctor, Mary says, surprised. Youre not pregnant, are you?
Katies eyes widen. I think I am.
Mary gasps, Where did that come from?
Its a joke, Mum! Katie snaps, but Mary cant shake the uneasy feeling.
At the clinic, they learn the truth: Whos the father? the nurse asks.
Pip, Katie admits, blushing. I didnt expect this, Mum.
Mary bursts into tears, clutching her sisters hand. She runs to the Harrisons gate, but only Mrs. Harper peers out, fist raised. Mary slips back through the broken fence.
Pip! she calls, spotting him with a friend, joking and laughing.
Mrs. Marys gone mad, jumping over the fence, Pip mutters.
Pip, I need to speak with you. Bring your friend in, Mary says. The old man at the fence, Grandpa Harper, shouts, You cant just walk away, youll pay for it!
Mary turns to him, astonished. Can you even walk?
He snarls, I can smash you if I must. I know what youre planning, Gran.
Mary, trembling, says, If you hurt Katie, Ill stand up for her.
The old man points a finger, You think youre better than us? Were the Greenwoods, weve dealt with you long enough!
A heated argument erupts, with curses flying, until the fence finally collapses.
Soon after, Mary returns from a trip with a new man. Katie drops her book, eyes widening at the stranger. Thats your father? she whispers.
Dad? the man asks, bewildered.
Katie stares at him, tears welling, while the man looks at Mary with a mix of anger and hurt. You stole my daughter, youre a criminal, he snaps.
Mary shrugs, Lifes dealt me a hard hand, Leonard, she says.
The whole village talks about Marys gangster past. Rumours swirl that she arrived with a massive guard dog that attacked the neighbours pooch, Spot. I saw it from my window! the old Mr. Green cries.
Spot ends up badly injured, missing an ear, and his owner, the Harrisons, are left devastated. The villages peace shatters as Pip disappears from school, prompting the local constable to be called.
One day Pip emerges from a battered van, Its all right, Im fine, he says, opening the back door. Katie steps out, dressed in a white dress, hair neatly styled.
Granddad, weve gone to the town for dinner, dont lose me, Pip says. Mary watches, her heart pounding.
Granddad, bewildered, runs to the Greenwoods garden, shouting, What does this mean? You said you didnt want Katie!
Pip looks at Leonard, his father, turning pale. Granddad, I never said that!
Wait! Leonard yells, Something feels wrong. Did we even marry?
Mary steps forward, You neighbours keep shouting over our fence. Stay off my land!
The feared guard dog barks, leaping into its kennel, trembling.
Later, Pip sits at a restaurant table, answering his soontobe fatherinlaws questions. Leonard, Katies dad, leans back, I thought you didnt want to marry.
No, I love Katie, Pip insists. Id have gone to the registry the moment I turned eighteen.
Your granddad objects? Leonard asks.
Yes, hes old and talks nonsense.
Leave the boy alone, Mary intervenes.
The conversation feels absurd, but they eventually arrange a quick wedding after confirming Katies pregnancy. Mary watches, skeptical, Will they manage?
Leonard builds a sturdy new fence around his property, sparing no expense.
Now, Mary, the Harrisons cant bother you, he says.
He reaches for his exwifes hair, Will you come with me, Mary?
No, she replies, Youve got your own woman.
He sighs, Fine, stay then. If my son gets out of line, call me and Ill be there in the night.
Katie, holding her mothers hand, asks, Mum, where did you find him?
I found him when I needed him. I was young and foolish, just like him. I ran away from him, otherwise he would have broken me. Now were just old acquaintances.
Mary and Katie sit on the garden wall, embracing. Im sorry, Mum, for all the pain, Katie whispers.
Its alright, I waited for you to understand, Mary says, Youre my granddaughter, the Greenwoods are kind.
Maybe if Pip hurts you, Ill drive him out myself, Katie adds.
Let him try, Katie. Were together, we can handle him.
Later, Ian knocks on the door, Mary! Open up!
What do you want? she asks.
Did you marry my Pip? he demands. Who gave you permission?
Do I need permission? Ive raised your son; Im not a stranger.
Im taking Pip to the city.
He wont leave his wife. And your flat is a onebedroom; your girlfriend would protest.
Ians head drops, Im alone now.
Whats that about? Few people believe in waiting like I do, he mutters.
Mary stands firm, Never again. You Greenwoods always use our feelings. From now on, your son stays with us, and you leave. I dont need you.
Ian, anger flashing, storms out as the gate slams shut behind him.
