There was a stranger at the door.
Ever since we were at secondary school, Id fancied Emily. Id written her little notes and pulled all sorts of daft stunts just to get her to look my way.
But Emily always had her eye on Daniel tall, blonde, and captain of the school volleyball team she played in. Compared to awkward old me, who also happened to be terrible at maths, I never stood a chance.
In the end, Daniel started dating a girl called Sophie from the year above. Emily, of course, didnt notice me sulking in the background.
When we left school, I had another crack at winning Emily over. I even proposed at our Sixth Form Ball my hands were trembling so much I nearly dropped the ring.
She didnt even hesitate. No! she snapped. She didnt want to give me the time of day.
After university, Emily began working as an accountant. Her new boss, Mr. Jonathan Hughes, was a devastatingly handsome, dark-haired man suave, clever, and ten years her senior. She fell for him completely, not overly concerned that Jonathan was married with a young son at home.
He promised hed leave his wife for her said all the things she longed to hear. Years passed, and Emily became used to spending Christmas and weekends alone, holding out hope that hed follow through.
Then, one day, Emily spotted Jonathan out in Tesco with his wife. His arm was around her and she was clearly expecting another child. He carried their shopping out to a black Range Rover and drove off with his family, leaving Emily in tears in the bakery aisle.
The next day, she resigned from her job.
Christmas was just around the corner, but Emily couldnt bring herself to buy food, decorations, or even a little tree for the house. The place felt cold, inside and out.
When she got home one evening, the house was freezing. The boiler wasnt working. Living alone in a detached house on the edge of town wasnt much fun at the best of times, let alone during a cold snap. She tried ringing around for an engineer, but no one wanted to come out before the New Year, and those who agreed demanded something close to daylight robbery when they learned of her postcode.
Desperate, Emily phoned her old friend Claire. Claires husband was in the heating trade, and she hoped he might help out.
Claire promised to call him straight away.
Two hours later, the doorbell rang.
A stranger was on the doorstep or so Emily thought, but then she recognised the warm brown eyes. It was me Tom, her old classmate.
Hello, Emily. Whats the trouble this time?
How did you know it was me?
My boss gave me the address, said someone was freezing out here. Did you drain the water from the radiators?
Erm I dont know how.
You didnt! You couldve wrecked your whole system. Lucky the pipes haven’t frozen yet.
I sorted out the boiler, drained the system, and dashed off to pick up the parts I needed. An hour later, warmth was slowly creeping back into the house.
As I washed my hands in her kitchen, I noticed the dripping tap and a flickering light.
You know, your tap needs a new washer and that bulbs on its last legs. Cant your other half sort it?
There isnt anyone, she admitted quietly.
No one at all? Still waiting for Mr. Perfect?
Fat chance. Im on my own, she said after a moments pause.
Then whyd you turn me down back then? I smiled at her, half-joking, half-hopeful.
She just stayed quiet, biting her lip.
I fixed the tap, replaced the bulb, then excused myself and headed home. On the way, I couldnt help but think about the chubby lad who used to chase her round the playground. Id filled out a bit since then taller now and with a head of dark hair but my laugh was still the same.
Emily didnt even manage to ask if I was married.
Come New Years Eve, out of the blue, someone knocked on her door.
She wasnt expecting anyone. But there I was, suited and booted, holding a bunch of daffodils.
Emily, I began, let me ask you again. Will you marry me or do you plan to wait for Prince Charming until youre collecting your pension?
To my surprise, she burst into tears, nodding as she laughed.
Turns out, second time really is a charm.
Looking back on all this, I realise now that sometimes happiness arrives at your door looking nothing like you imagined and that true love might just be someone whos always been right there, waiting in the wings.
