The Rain Brings Happiness
After a scorching summer came a chilly, damp autumn, with biting winds and relentless rain.
On her way home, exhausted by the wind and the dreary drizzle, Evelyn ducked into a supermarket to escape the weather and pick up something for dinner. Inside, it was warm, bright, and dry. She wandered slowly between the aisles, inspecting the shelves.
Evelyn filled her basket with groceries. In the produce section, she grabbed a lemon and a bunch of grapes. She imagined curling up on the sofa in front of the telly, sipping hot tea with lemon, plucking ripe grapes, and popping them into her mouth. Maybe she’d even have a glass of wine to warm up faster.
She paused in front of the deli counter, debating between sausages and ham. Right now, she’d eat anything. She hadn’t had a bite since breakfast. Swallowing hard, she reached for the ham—no cooking required. Her hand brushed against another reaching for the same packet.
Evelyn jerked back, turned, and found herself staring at a tall, handsome man. Stylishly cut black hair with a touch of silver at the temples, warm brown eyes, full lips. And dressed in a sleek black coat. Just her type.
“Sorry,” he said, flashing a dazzling smile.
*Hollywood’s got nothing on him. What’s someone like him doing in a Tesco buying ham?* Evelyn’s face warmed under his gaze. She forced herself to look away and stepped back. *Stop gawking like a starstruck schoolgirl.* She scolded herself as she headed to the checkout.
Catching her reflection in the drink cooler, she grimaced. *Good grief, what a mess. What must he think of me? Not that it matters. Worlds apart.* She unloaded her groceries onto the conveyor belt. Someone placed identical items beside hers—plus the ham.
She must’ve stared too long because a voice chimed in:
“We’ve got the same taste, don’t you think?”
Evelyn turned to see the handsome stranger and his perfect smile again.
“Hardly. Half the shoppers here have the same things,” she muttered, suddenly aware of her wind-tousled hair.
“Fair point,” he conceded.
*I look like a drowned rat, and he’s just stepped out of a salon.* She imagined running her fingers through his thick hair, then snapped herself out of it. *Get a grip. He’s out of your league.*
She packed her bags, paid, and marched toward the exit without glancing back. Outside, a gust of wind slapped her face as if punishing her for fleeing indoors. She’d forgotten how foul it was. The door creaked open behind her.
“Not exactly walking weather. Do you live nearby?” the man asked, stepping out after her.
“Why?” Evelyn tensed.
“I’ve got my car. Could give you a lift.”
She hesitated. *Probably used to women falling at his feet. Doesn’t seem like a creep.* Her inner voice piped up: *And how many creeps have you met?* *This one’s the first,* she admitted. *So what—walk in the rain like an idiot? Take the ride!*
*Even if he is a creep, at least he’s a good-looking one.* The thought made her grin. They walked to his car, and he opened the passenger door.
“Here. Let me take your bag—easier that way.”
The car was warm, quiet, and smelled faintly of leather. He started the engine smoothly, the purr of it oddly comforting.
“Where to?” he asked, glancing at her.
“Maple Street, number sixteen. Near the station,” Evelyn said.
“I know it,” he replied, pulling away.
She stared ahead, watching the wind whip at pedestrians’ coats and flip umbrellas inside out. Every so often, she stole glances at his hands on the wheel—steady, confident. *Stop it. He’ll drop you off, and that’ll be that.*
“I’m James,” he said. “And you?”
Evelyn almost replied with some childish quip but caught herself. Why was she being so sharp? It wasn’t his fault he was gorgeous.
“Evelyn.”
“Lovely name. There was a girl named Evie in primary school. I promised I’d marry her.”
“Did you?”
“Well… we were six.”
Only then did Evelyn notice the soft music playing. Had it been on the whole time? She’d been too distracted by him to hear anything else.
Now she inhaled deeply—leather, something spicy. Her senses awakened. She shifted slightly, settling into the seat.
“Which building?” James asked.
Evelyn blinked. They were already there. *Daydreaming again. Snap out of it.*
The car stopped. She scrambled out, bracing against the wind.
“Your groceries?” James called, stepping out with her bag.
“Thanks,” she mumbled, avoiding his eyes as she hurried to the door.
Fumbling with her keys, she finally let herself in and exhaled. The engine’s hum lingered—he waited until she was safely inside.
*Good Lord, what a sight I must be.* She caught her reflection in the lift mirror. *Men like him don’t stay single. Probably married to some stunning woman with mini-mes running around. Just forget it.*
She stopped by the supermarket every day after work but never saw him again.
Then, two days later, his car appeared outside her building. At first, she thought she was mistaken—she hadn’t memorized the plate—but instinct told her it was him. Had she been hoping? Or was he really a prowler?
James stepped out.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Evelyn.”
“Why?”
“Couldn’t get you out of my head.”
“Nostalgia for primary school?” *Why did I say that?* Now he’d leave.
“Maybe,” he matched her tone. “You’re only the second Evelyn I’ve met. Fate? It’s freezing—get in.”
She should invite him up. But why? Instead, she slid into the car, enveloped by that familiar scent and quiet music.
“Are you a student?”
“No, I work. An optometrist at the clinic,” she said proudly.
“Interesting job. Giving people sight.”
“Just checking prescriptions. And you?”
“Engineer. Boring stuff. Just finished work? Fancy a coffee?”
*Obviously.* Only a fool would refuse. Honestly, she’d agree to more than coffee, but she’d been raised properly. Coffee was safe.
They chatted about nothing, Evelyn melting under his attentive gaze. To resist his charm, she fired blunt questions. Soon, they were on first-name terms.
“Are you married?”
He paused. “No. Well, divorced. You seeing anyone?”
“Not at the moment,” she teased.
He drove her home, took her hand, leaned in.
Evelyn froze, then yanked her hand back and bolted from the car.
In the lift, she cursed herself. *Idiot. A man like that, and you play hard to get?*
By the third date, she invited him up. She kissed him in the hallway before he could even take off his coat.
Later, resting her head on his shoulder, she envied her own happiness. He never stayed the night—fine by her. Mornings weren’t her best look. But she lay awake, replaying every touch, every word.
He visited two or three times a week, rarely overnight. She knew a man like him wouldn’t lack female attention. Maybe she wasn’t the only one. Maybe he was married—no ring, though. Didn’t matter. When he was there, nothing else existed. When he wasn’t, she ached for him.
Time passed. She fell harder. Jealousy gnawed at her. She wanted all of him.
One day, she asked outright: “Are you married?”
“Told you—divorced.”
“Then why won’t you stay? Why only see me sometimes?”
His face darkened. “It’s complicated. My ex drinks. Badly. We’ve slept apart for years. Flat’s in my name, but I can’t kick her out. She’d ruin herself.”
Evelyn didn’t believe him but couldn’t bring herself to end it.
She needed to confide in someone. The opportunity came when the head nurse lingered after hours.
“Evie, love, you’re brilliant, gorgeous—why alone? Fancy our surgeon? He’s mad about you. Or is there someone? Married bloke stringing you along?”
The floodgates opened.
“Darling, he’s married, no question. Men don’t put up with that. Want the truth? I’ve got a mate in the Met—give me his plate number.”
Days later, the nurse slid an address across the desk.
Evelyn wrestled with herself. Knowing wouldn’t change anything. But she had to see.
Two days after, she tried talking to James again.
“Why can’t women ever be satisfied? What’s the problem? Isn’t this good enough? Want a ring?” he snapped before stormingShe finally understood that true happiness wasn’t found in fleeting passion, but in the quiet, steady love waiting for her all along.
