Elizabeth realized her happiness knew no bounds.
She decided to spend the weekend visiting her aging mother and sister in her childhood village. Living and working as a cardiologist in the city meant she rarely had time to return to her roots.
At forty-five, Elizabeth was an attractive woman. She had married young and had a daughter, who had since graduated, married a university sweetheart, and moved to his hometown. Elizabeth’s own marriage lasted seven years before she and her husband parted ways—they had simply grown too different.
“Three whole days off—what luck!” Elizabeth thought cheerfully as she stopped at the supermarket to pick up supplies for her family.
She grew up in a village called “Joyford,” though there was little joy left in it these days. Most of the residents had scattered in search of work, leaving behind only the elderly. Winters were bleak, but spring brought some life back—fields flourished, and the greenery lifted spirits.
Now, in mid-June, Elizabeth gazed out the bus window at the passing countryside, heart swelling with warmth. It had been months since she’d seen her family.
“Mum hasn’t been well—thank goodness Helen lives with her,” she mused. The thought eased her guilt—the three-hour journey wasn’t easy to make often.
Her younger sister, Helen, had never left Joyford. She married a local man, settled down, and raised twin boys, now away at college. Their father had passed early, so Helen and her husband, Jack, lived with their mother. Jack, a skilled handyman, had renovated the house, adding an extension for privacy.
“Unlike me, Helen always wanted to stay. I couldn’t wait to leave,” Elizabeth once confessed to her friend Victoria, who found the countryside charming—until Elizabeth teased, “Wait till autumn rains turn everything to mud. You wouldn’t be so starry-eyed then!”
The journey passed quickly; she dozed off and woke as the bus rumbled onto a dirt road. Soon, the sign for “Joyford” came into view.
Stepping off the bus, Elizabeth inhaled the crisp air, smiling at the unchanged scenery.
“Hello there, Lizzie!” came a creaky voice—old Mrs. Lucy, her mother’s neighbour. “Come to visit, have you?”
“Yes, just for a bit. How are you?”
“Oh, same aches and pains. Off to buy some bits—pension day, you see.”
Elizabeth walked through the gate of her childhood home, where the family cat, Whiskers, curled around her ankles.
“Someone’s getting plump,” Helen laughed from the kitchen. “Hungry? We can eat outside.”
“Absolutely—where else can I have lunch under the sun like this?”
Their mother appeared, bearing a bowl of freshly picked strawberries. “Hello, love,” she beamed as Elizabeth hugged her tightly.
Over the meal, Elizabeth caught up on village news—some happy, some sad. Most of the younger generation had moved away, leaving behind empty houses and ageing faces.
“Where’s Jack?” Elizabeth asked.
“Working away. Two weeks on, two weeks off. Good money, though—we’ve even bought a car.”
“Lucky you found someone dependable,” Elizabeth sighed.
“Should’ve married a local like I did,” Helen teased.
Later, the postwoman arrived with a notice for Helen.
“I’ll fetch it for you,” Elizabeth offered. “I could use a walk.”
“Why not take the bike?” Helen suggested. “Relive your youth!”
Elizabeth pedalled down the village lanes, the breeze tugging at her hair. At the post office, she chatted with her old classmate, Tina, before heading back—until a near-collision with another cyclist made her heart leap.
“Sorry! I was distracted by the gardens,” she stammered.
“No harm done,” the man replied warmly. Tall and handsome in a light t-shirt, his smile was contagious.
They fell into conversation—his name was Stephen, a surgeon visiting his Aunt Anne. To her surprise, Elizabeth found herself agreeing to a detour by the river.
They talked for hours, swapping stories—he had divorced three years ago after his wife left him for a younger man. Elizabeth shared her own past. By sunset, he handed her a bouquet of wildflowers.
“Where have you been?” Helen demanded, eyeing the flowers. “And who’s the secret admirer?”
“Met Stephen—Slav’s cousin. We’re driving back together.”
Helen grinned. “Ah! That explains it. He’s a good one.”
The next day, Elizabeth and Stephen strolled through the village, laughter between them effortless. For the first time in years, Elizabeth felt light—as if happiness had been waiting for her here all along.
When they left, her mother and sister packed the car with jams and vegetables, watching with joy as Stephen gazed at Elizabeth like she was the sun itself.
They married not long after—two halves finally finding each other in a village called Joyford.
Sometimes, happiness isn’t where you expect it. But if you’re lucky, it finds you anyway.
