Leonard Refused to Believe Little Iris Was His Daughter—Her Mother Vera Was Always at Work, with Gossip Whispering About Backroom Affairs—So He Resented the Child, Leaving Only Grandpa Matthew to Love and Care for His Granddaughter, Ultimately Leaving His Countryside Cottage to Iris in His Will Only Grandpa Matthew Loved Little Iris As a child, Iris was often ill—delicate, small, unlike anyone in Leonard’s or Vera’s families. “She’s a runt, nothing like us,” Leonard grumbled, fueling his doubts and growing coldness, which soon crept into Vera too. Iris’s only champion was Grandpa Matthew, whose cottage stood on the edge of the village by the woods. A retired forest ranger, he was seen as eccentric, even clairvoyant, and villagers visited for his healing herbs and brews. Widowed long ago, he found solace in the woods and in Iris, who spent more time with him than at home, learning about the land and dreaming of healing people. Her mother dismissed her ambitions, but Grandpa always promised to help, even if it meant selling his cow. He Left His Cottage and a Blessing Vera rarely visited her father—until her son, Andrew, lost badly at cards in town and thugs demanded money. She came begging, but Grandpa Matthew, unmoved, refused: “I won’t pay Andrew’s debts. My priority is Iris’s education.” Furious, Vera stormed out, disowning both her father and her daughter. When Iris got into nursing school, only Grandpa helped her, the rest turning a blind eye. Shortly before her graduation, Grandpa fell ill and, sensing his end, told Iris he was leaving her the house—and a wish for a happy destiny. “Don’t forget this house. Its spirit will protect you. Don’t be afraid to stay, for here, your fate will find you,” he prophesied. Matthew’s Prediction Came True After Matthew’s passing in autumn, Iris worked as a nurse in the district hospital, returning to the cottage on weekends, keeping the hearth burning as he’d asked. One snowy evening, a blizzard stranded a stranger outside—Stan. Iris offered him a shovel and, eventually, hot tea inside until the storm passed. Amused by her independence, Stan offered to see her safely to town—and soon, their paths crossed again. They never had a wedding—just genuine love. Stan tried to persuade her at first but honored her wishes. Their bond ran deep, and when their son was born, the staff marveled how such a tiny woman gave birth to such a strapping lad. Asked what they would name him, Iris always said: “He’ll be Matthew, after a truly wonderful man.”

Leonard always stubbornly refused to believe that Emily was his daughter. Vera, his wife, worked at the local shop, and there were whispers in the village that she would lock herself away in the back room with other men. Because of that gossip, Leonard couldnt shake the thought that the dainty little Emily wasnt his. He never really accepted her as his child and grew cold towards her. The only person who truly cared for the little girl was her grandfather, George, who left Emily the family cottage in his will.

Emilys only real love was Granddad

Emily was often unwell as a child. She was so fragile and tiny. No one in my family or yours has ever been so small, Leonard liked to grumble. That child is barely two feet tall. And slowly, as if by osmosis, Emilys mother began to show her the same coldness Leonard did.

Granddad George was the one person who loved Emily with all his heart. His cottage stood on the very edge of the village, right by the woods. Hed spent his whole life as a gamekeeper and, even in retirement, made trips into the woods almost every day, gathering berries and herbal plants, and in winter leaving out food for the animals. To people in the village, George was a little eccentric, even mysterioushed say something odd and, sooner or later, it would come true. But everyone sought him out for his herbal teas and remedies.

Georges wife had passed away years before. The woods and his granddaughter kept him going after that. Once Emily started school, she spent more time living with her grandfather than at home. He taught her all about plants and their uses. Emily was bright, and it all just clicked for her. Whenever anyone asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, shed answer, I want to heal people. But her mum would shrug, saying she could never afford Emilys studies. Granddad always reassured her: he wasnt destitutehed help as much as he could, and if it came to it, he could even sell his cow.

He left Emily the cottage and wished her happiness

Vera, Emilys mother, rarely visited her father, but out of the blue she appeared at his door one afternoon. Shed come with her hand outher son had lost a fortune at cards in town and gotten himself beaten up. The people he owed money to were demanding every penny.

So, you only come knocking when youve got nowhere else to go? Granddad George said sternly. Youve not bothered with me in years. And he flat-out refused to help: Im not about to bail out Andrews gambling debts. I need to get Emily through her studies.

Vera lost her temperI dont want to see either of you again! Ive no father or daughter left! she yelled before storming out. When Emily eventually got into nursing college, neither of her parents gave her so much as a pound. She managed with her grant and, of course, with Georges support.

Just before Emily finished her studies, George fell ill. Sensing his time was near, he told Emily hed left her the cottage. He made her promise not to forget about it, even when she found work in the city. A house stays alive as long as it feels the warmth of people within its walls, he told her. Keep the fires burning in winter. Dont be scared to stay here by yourselfthis is where destiny will find you, George promised her. Youll be happy here, my dear. It was almost as if he knew something.

Georges prediction came true

George passed away in autumn. Emily was working as a nurse at the district hospital, but on weekends shed return to her granddads cottage, lighting the fire to keep the cold at bay. Hed chopped up so much wood, there was plenty for ages. One weekend in winter, she decided to spend her days off at the cottage instead of staying at her rented digs in town.

That evening she reached the cottage, and during the night, a snowstorm rolled in. The next morning, the wind eased but the snow kept falling, and the road was completely blocked. A knock at the door startled Emily. She opened it to find a young man, a stranger, standing outside. Good morning, he said. My cars stuck just outside. Any chance youve got a shovel I could borrow? he asked. Just by the steps, help yourself. Need a hand? she replied. But he cast a wry look at the petite Emily and answered, Wouldnt want you getting lost in the snow as well.

He got to work shoveling out his car, got it started, but didnt make it far before he was stuck again. After a second round with the shovel, Emily invited him in to warm up with a cup of tea. No sense standing outside in that weather, she saidon weekends, theres still a bit of traffic through the village, so he wouldnt be marooned for long.

The stranger, who introduced himself as James, hesitated for a moment before stepping inside. Arent you scared living out here on your own, by the woods? he asked. Emily explained she only came on weekends; she worked at the hospital in town. She was wondering herself how shed get back if the bus didnt show up. James said he lived in the next town and would be heading that way as soon as he couldhed be happy to give her a lift. Emily agreed.

After her next shift, Emily decided to walk home as usual, but to her delight, she ran into James by chance. Im starting to think theres some magic in your herbal tea, he teased. I had the strongest urge to see you againand maybe have another proper cup?

Emily and James never bothered with a big weddingshe didnt want the fuss, and after a while, he stopped insisting. But what they did have was real love. Now Emily finally understood that men really do spoil the women they love, just as the romantic novels say. When her first child was born, the hospital staff marvelled at how this delicate woman had given birth to such a strapping boy. And when people asked what his name would be, Emily always smiled: Hell be called George, after a truly wonderful man.As Emily cradled baby George by the crackling fireplace, she looked around the old cottage, its beams warm with lamplight, the scent of chamomile and pine needles drifting on the air. On the mantel, Granddads weathered photograph stood watch beside a vase of snowdropsa promise of spring amid winters chill. James came up behind her and wrapped his arms around them both, pressing a kiss into her hair. Through the frosted window, wild deer moved at the edge of the woods, just as George had once said they would appear when happiness filled the cottage again.

Contentment settled over Emily like a well-loved quilt. The laughter of her son mingled with her own, echoing softly in the cottage that had been a refuge and now, at last, a true home. She traced her fingers along the windowsill, remembering her grandfathers wordsthat a house lives as long as there is warmth within its walls.

Years passed, and in time, other childrens footsteps joined little Georges. The wildflowers bloomed brighter by the doorstep, and neighbors would knock for a tincture, a kind word, or just to share in the hearths glow. Emily healed hearts as much as she healed bodies, never turning anyone away.

On some nights, as she watched the embers burn low, she sometimes fancied she heard Granddad Georges voice, carrying on the wind: You were always meant for this life, Emily. You are the warmth that keeps us all alive. And snug in the cottage, with laughter all around her and love in every corner, Emily knew that for the first time, she truly belongedand always would.