After another gruelling night shift, Emily was so exhausted she could barely put one foot in front of the other. The frost had given way to a damp thaw, and it seemed to snow every day. Emily kept slipping on the sheets of ice hidden under the slushy mess.
She hadnt caught a wink of sleep all night. First, a boy was rushed in for an appendicitis, then an old lady with a broken hip. It was as if everyone waited until the dead of night to call for an ambulance and head to the hospital. All Emily could dream of was going home and collapsing into bed. She watched her step carefully so she wouldn’t fall, which is why she didnt notice a man detach himself from the wall and step into her path.
Emily stopped and looked up. In front of her stood a man, about forty, looking rather rough and unkemptlike he’d been sleeping rough or had run into trouble. His face was grazed, clothes wet and shabby, hanging off his frame as if they belonged to someone else. Emily tried to step around him. She certainly didnt have the strength left to run.
Excuse me, could you help me? the man suddenly asked.
Emily worked as a nurse, so a plea for help had the same effect on her as an emergency stop on a train. She paused.
I The man clutched his head, screwing his eyes shut for a moment. I was thrown off the train. Luckily there was enough snow to break my fallI wasnt badly hurt, just a few bruises.
You should probably drink less, Emily said, making another attempt to walk around him.
Wait. I havent been drinking! Only tea. Someone mustve slipped something into my cupI passed out right away. I was robbed, even my clothes were taken. At least they didnt throw me off naked. And it was just outside your station.
Lucky, I suppose. You ought to go to the police and hospital. Does your head hurt? Nausea? Sounds like a concussion, Emily said and tried edging past him again, because he still hadnt budged.
I already went to the police. The next train isnt for hours, and I didnt fancy waiting at the station. They wont find the people who did thisa man in my carriage, looked like a professor: spectacles and a goatee. But the police reckoned both were fake, and he had help. So, I’m counting my blessings. I just need a wash and dry clothes. Ill return anything I borrow.
Well, isnt that a bit much? Fancy me handing you the keys to my flat and all my money, while I’m at it? Emily bristled at his request.
You too, eh? Everyone runs from me. Lord, why does no one believe me? The man raised his head and looked up to the sky with such misery that Emily felt a pang of sympathy. She considered himroughly dressed, but well-spoken. Not the speech you’d expect from a vagrant.
Right. Come on in, before you catch your death. Ill figure something out for your clothes.
Thank you. Youre very kind. Everyone else fled without even listening, the man said, trailing behind her.
Inside, Emily tossed herself onto the ottoman in the hallway. Her legs ached, her eyes were nearly shut.
Bathrooms there, Emily gestured at the narrow corridor, Ill find you something to wear. Whats your name?
Michael. The man found the switch and closed the bathroom door. Shortly, she heard the water running.
Emily sighed. Her hopes of a rest evaporated. Her brother had moved to London ages ago, but had left some clothes behind. He wont miss them, she thought. She pulled a shirt and trousers from the wardrobe, then knocked on the door. When the shower stopped, Emily told him shed left clothes atop the cabinet in the hall.
She ladled soup into a bowl and stuck it in the microwave, sitting for a moment to collect herself. If her mum came home now, she’d get the wrong idea. Emily warming dinner while a man showered in the flat? Please, Mum, let something keep you at the shops or at Auntie Lindas, Emily silently prayed. But, of course, the Lord had more urgent things to deal with. The lock clicked.
Em, are you home? came her mums voice, and Emily peeked out from the kitchen. Oh, I thought it was you in the bathroom, been calling. Whos in there then? Mum squinted suspiciously.
Mum, please dont shout. A man missed his trainhell clean himself up and be gone, Emily tried to keep her tone peaceful.
So you got Marks old clothes out for him? What happened?
I told youhe was robbed and thrown off a train.
Good heavens. And you brought him home? He could be a thief or a maniac! Did you even think? Lucky I came home now. Maybe we should ring the police? Mum was getting wound up.
Mum, dont be ridiculous. Hes been to the police. No trains until later, engineering works or something. Hell wash, rest, and be off, Emily murmured, lowering her voice.
The water stopped. The bathroom door opened and closed again. Hes taken the clothes, Emily thought.
Mum sat facing the doorway, waiting. Soon, Michael shuffled into the kitchen, greeting the pair with a somewhat sheepish, apologetic smilehe’d obviously overheard.
Lets see then. How did a big, healthy bloke like you get robbed in broad daylight? Mum eyed him sharply.
Sorry to intrude. I was going to my daughters wedding, took an overnight train. Someone drugged my teaI blacked out. They robbed me, took all my clothes, put old rags on me and pitched me off by your station. No phone, money, nothing, Michael shrugged helplessly.
I see. But howd you end up at ours? The station’s miles away, Mum continued her interrogation.
Mum! Let him eat in peace, will you? Stop with the Spanish Inquisition, Emily snapped. Have some soup, Michael. Its warmed up.
Emily always brought stray cats and dogs home as a child, and now its men thrown off trains, Mum muttered, but vacated a seat at the table.
Eat, Michael. But be carefulif my mum takes a shine to you, you might never escape, Emily said, her tone dry with sarcasm.
Thats right. Youre always working day and night, tending to the old and children in hospital. No life of your own. Nearly thirty and still not marriedhow could I rest in peace knowing that? Mum wound herself up again.
Mum, stop it. Michael will think were planning to marry him off. Shes just joking, dont worry, Emily assured Michael.
Oh, honestly Mum flapped her hand and retreated into the living room.
Your mum doesnt mess about, Michael said, setting his bowl aside.
She raised my brother and me single-handed. She worries Ill end up alone, left to raise a child, as she did.
I see. Are you a doctor?
No, a nurse. Oh, but How are you going to buy a ticket without money or a passport? Emily fretted.
The police said theyd help. Can I use your phone? I need to call my daughter to say I cant make the weddingand my mate, too.
Of course. Emily walked towards the sitting room.
Mum, what are you doing? Her mum was tipping out her jewellery boxsome old gold ring and a heap of costume jewellery.
Quiet! What if hes a thief? Im taking this to Auntie Linda, just in case, Mum said, heading to the hallway with her stash.
Emily let her do as she pleasedarguing was pointless. She always went her own way.
She handed Michael her phone and stood by the window. Michael called his daughter, and from his face Emily could tell the news didnt upset her much. He rang someone else and then asked Emily for her address.
Right, my mates driver will pick me up soon. I shouldnt have come at allmy ex-wife didnt want me at the wedding, but our daughter insisted. All for nothing, really, and all this trouble, Michael looked glum.
Who are you, if someones sending a driver for you? Emily asked, a little amused.
Actually, Michael looked rather fetching in her brothers too-small clothes.
A small business, bit of IT repairs with my mate. We run it together. He told me not to drive myselfsaid Id get lost, and after a drink or two at the wedding so here I am, stuck on a train. Should have flown. But dont worryIll be gone in a couple of hours. Sorry for all this.
Emily studied him, thinking that maybe her mum was right. It would be nice to come home to someone, to have a husband and children waiting. She was nearly thirty, living with her mum, heading nowhere. There had once been Leonarda failed romance, wedding plans dashed when she found him in bed with her friend. Lost both fiancé and friend that day.
Youre a good person. I hope it all works out for you, Michael said gently, breaking her reverie.
And you? Why are you alone? Youve got a business, your health
Oh, that. Yes, I was heading to the wedding on my own. Divorce, you see. Never found someone truly kind, like you. Modern women can be so calculatingmen too, to be fair. Youre exhausted and Ive kept you from your rest. Sorry for falling into your life.
They talked for a long while. Dusk had crept in, when the phone rang.
Thatll be my rideSasha’s arrived, Michael said, giving Emily her phone back.
Hell leave soon, and thatll be that. Back to my colourless, routine days, Emily thought wistfully.
Well, my cars downstairs. Thank you so much, Michael said, rising. Ive saved my number in herejust as Michael from the train. Not that youll call, I know. Still, if you ever need anything, give me a ring. And I will return the clothes, promise. Tell your mum I didnt nick the silver! He looked so genuinely sad Emily almost wept.
A total stranger, and she didnt want him to go. But who was she, and who was he? Emily smiled, Try not to get into any more messes like this, will you?
Indeed. From now on, only cars and planes for me. No more trains. Michael grinned.
Emily watched as, in the gloomy winter twilight, Michael got into his car, looked up to find her window, and waved.
And thats that. By tomorrow, he wont even remember me, she thought.
Well, have you let him go? Mum asked as she came through the door.
You scolded me for bringing him in, and now youre cross I let him go, Emily tried to hide her disappointment.
Hes got a good heart, I could tell.
Then why did you hide the jewellery?
Because Im a daft old bat, Mum replied, sighing.
Three weeks passed. New Years Eve arrived. By now, Emily half believed shed imagined the whole episode with Michael. It seemed like a dreamso unreal after time had passed. The upcoming night shift promised to be quiet. There was a tiny Christmas tree in the staff room and barely any patients left on the wards. Even the ambulance rarely showed on New Years Evepeople waited until the festivities ended before rushing to hospital. So Emily expected to get a decent sleep.
So, Emily, partners in mischief again tonight? grinned Mr Peterson, the surgeon, peering at her with meaning.
She suspected this was no coincidence; he always tried to arrange night shifts with her. A notorious admirer of young nurses, never missing an opportunity, so Emily feigned obliviousness.
Oh, youre here? Wait till you see this! burst in Linda from Admissions.
Is someone already here? Peterson donned his mask, gloves tucked into his pocket.
Father Christmas! The real one! With presents! Says hes come to spread some cheer, wants to visit the wardsshall I let him in? Linda babbled.
Father Christmas, eh? Why ever not. Lets see how kind he really is, Peterson joked, taking Emilys arm and steering her out.
Even from the corridor, they heard a booming voice in Reception. Sure enough, there stood Father Christmas in a red embroidered coat and fluffy hat, bushy white beard, and huge sack over his shoulder, arguing to be allowed onto the wards.
Ive hurried here all the way from Lapland, and you wont let me in, he declaimed loudly. Something about his voice made Emily pause.
I thought Father Christmas lived in the North Pole, Peterson quipped. Alright, just keep it down. We have patients, you know.
Father Christmas visited each ward, pulling out oranges and chocolates from his sack, generously piling them on bedside tables. The elderly patients lit up, delighted. From the therapy department, nurse Claire called for Father Christmas to come and visit them too. Flustered, he glanced at Emily.
Im not giving you our Emily for your Snow Maiden, Santa. Youll have to bring your own next time! Peterson joked again, steering Emily away.
About fifteen minutes later, Father Christmas reappearedcoat unbuttoned, hat and beard in hand, sack slung loosely over his shoulder. Emily burst out laughing at the sight.
I knew youd be on duty, so I thought Id surprise youcheer you up a bit. Did it work? Michael asked, hopefully.
It did. The old dears will be up half the night, theyre so excited, Emily replied, still giggling.
Looks like youll have to manage without me tonight, Emily, Peterson sighed theatrically. Go on, enjoy your evening with Father Christmas. Linda can help me if I need it.
Emily didnt need telling twice. Within a month, she handed in her notice and moved in with Michael. Mum was over the moon. Finally got my daughter settlednow I can die happy. Actually, notherell be grandchildren to look after, thats who! She decided to hang around a while longer.
Funny, isnt it? People always call misfortunes fate, but anything gooda stroke of luck. And somehow, one never comes without the other.
