**The Return**
“Ellie! Where are you? Ellie!” Katie burst into the house, scanned the empty room, and dashed back onto the porch, her heels clicking and the door slamming behind her. “Where could she be?” In frustration, she stamped her foot.
A petite girl with a plastic laundry basket appeared from around the corner of the house.
“Finally! I’ve been calling for ages…” Katie rushed down the steps to her friend.
“I was hanging the washing in the garden. What’s happened?” Ellen set the basket on the porch.
“Something has.” Katie’s dark eyes flashed beneath her thick fringe. She wanted to tease her friend, drag out the news, but couldn’t hold back. In one breath, she blurted, “Nick’s back.”
“Really?” Suspicion flickered in Ellen’s eyes, replaced by joy, then confusion, then doubt again.
“I’m not lying. I saw him myself. Doubt his mum will let him out of her sight—she’s missed him too.”
“Come on!” Laughing, Ellen darted from the yard first.
The village basked in golden sunlight, the river winding lazily between overgrown banks. The world was breathtaking, but Ellen noticed none of it. Her heart drummed excitedly: *Nick! Nick!*—anticipating the reunion with the boy she’d waited for.
“Look, there he is!” Katie grabbed Ellen’s arm.
Nicholas walked toward them in army uniform. Spotting the girls, he broke into a run.
Joy flooded Ellen’s heart. She sprinted forward, crashing into his arms, pressing close as her body trembled.
Katie lingered aside, watching the lovers with envy. She’d fancied Nicholas too, but he only ever had eyes for Ellen. He’d finished school two years early, stayed to help his parents on their farm. They lived off the land, selling crops and livestock. Then, the army called him away.
*What does he see in her? I’m prettier. Why does she get everything?* Katie bit her lip, furious tears pricking her eyes. She fled home, flung herself onto the bed, and sobbed into the pillow.
“What’s wrong?” Her mum appeared from the kitchen.
“Nothing,” Katie snapped.
“Oh-ho. Jealous? Think there won’t be other lads? Alex fancies you—good job, handsome, his own house.”
“Mum!” Katie wailed louder. “I’m leaving. Soon as I get my A-levels, I’m gone. To London.”
“Don’t be daft. Who’ll want you there? No, love—home’s where you’re needed. You go, they’ll stay…” her mum cautioned.
*No way.* Katie lifted her head. *I’m prettier, I’ve got a better figure. Ellen will turn to dough after kids. I’ll think of something. Just can’t leave them alone.* Her tears dried.
“Exactly,” her mum approved, returning to the kitchen.
Soon, Ellen arrived. Katie saw the happiness shining in her eyes, and jealousy twisted her heart again. She forced a smile.
“Why’d you two split up so fast?” Katie couldn’t hide her spite.
“Family’s gathering for a welcome-back do. Nick’s coming to the dance tonight. Oh, Katie, I’m so happy! Why the long face?” Ellen asked, oblivious.
“Don’t want to cramp your style. Got nothing to wear anyway—you know Mum won’t spare a penny for a new dress.”
“Take mine—the one you liked. It’s too tight on me now, but it’ll fit you perfect. Come try it.”
Katie barely stifled a cry of delight. She preened before Ellen’s mirror, admiring herself. The dress clung like a dream.
“You sure you don’t mind?”
“Not a bit.” Ellen hugged her. “Keep it. I’ve got dinner to cook.”
“See you tonight!” Katie pecked her cheek and bolted home.
That evening, Ellen collected Katie, and they walked to the village hall together.
Light and music spilled from the brick building. A few girls danced in the center; lads played pool in the corner. Ellen scanned the room for Nicholas.
“He’s not here. Let’s dance.” Katie twirled into the center, arms raised, stealing glances at the door.
When the music paused, she stepped outside, fanning her flushed face. June nights were still cool. She shivered. Alex smoked nearby.
Katie squinted into the dusk until she spotted Nicholas—recognized him by his uniform. Without hesitation, she descended the steps and draped her arms around Alex’s neck. Her pale dress gleamed in the twilight.
“Wotcher, Katie?” Alex blinked.
Instead of answering, she kissed him hard. Alex, startled but game, pulled her close. When she shoved him away and glanced back, Nicholas was retreating fast. Annoyed, Alex tugged her back.
“Get off!” She shoved him and ran inside.
It had worked better than she’d planned. The dress fooled Nicholas—he’d think it was Ellen kissing someone. No wedding now!
“Seen Nicholas?” Ellen asked when Katie returned.
“Saw him hover by the door, then leave. Come dance.”
“He *left*?” Ellen dashed out.
Katie joined the dancers, cool as you please.
Ellen caught Nicholas at his gate.
“Wait! Why’d you go?” She grabbed his arm.
“Waiting for me, were you? Picking out dresses? Wear it for who you were kissing,” he snarled, wrenching free.
Baffled, Ellen stood limp. Later, she trudged home. Next morning, she visited Nicholas’s house.
“Morning, Aunt Gail,” she greeted his mother.
The woman scowled. “Dunno what you did, but Nick came home in a state. Says there’ll be no wedding.”
Ellen rushed to Katie. Who else to confide in? Sobbing, she spilled everything.
“Let’s see Madam Rosemary. She reads fortunes. Just looks at you, knows everything. Maybe Nick’s got a girl back at base?”
“No.” Ellen shook her head, tear-streaked. “Never. I’d know…” She wept anew.
The girls reached the tumbledown cottage on the outskirts. The porch steps groaned underfoot. Ellen froze.
“I’m not going in.”
“Why not?” Katie grabbed for her hand, but Ellen jerked away and ran.
Katie turned—and a low voice spoke behind her.
“Changed your mind?”
A stout woman filled the doorway, apron straining over her belly. Wild grey hair escaped a floral scarf; dark eyes bored into Katie, who shuddered.
“Come in, since you’re here.” Madam Rosemary vanished inside.
Katie followed into a dim, herb-and-incense-scented room.
“Sit,” the woman nodded.
Katie perched on a chair edge. Rosemary creaked opposite her.
“Your friend ran? Scared?”
“Yeah, I—”
“Quiet. I see it all. Jealous, are you? Steal her love? You’ll find no happiness. Die in ten years, and they’ll be together still. But you can change it.” Rosemary’s stare burned.
Katie trembled, bolted outside.
“What’d she say? You’re shaking,” Ellen asked by the neighbor’s fence.
“It’s fine!” Katie tried to smile, baring teeth instead.
Nicholas stayed away. Ellen avoided Katie, withering like an untended flame.
“Phoned your aunt. Finish exams, go stay with her. You’ll waste away like this. She’ll help find work. Out of sight…” Her mum sighed.
Ellen scraped through A-levels, took her diploma, and left for Aunt Rachel’s. She never visited, though she ached to. Mum called with news—Nicholas married Katie.
Her aunt got her a salon receptionist job. In spare moments, Ellen learned styling from the girls.
Meanwhile, Katie had a daughter, then a son. Nicholas strayed—villages gossip.
Mum begged her home. Ellen missed it too. Years had passed—she could face them. She returned.
At noon, she stepped off the bus onto dusty tarmac, breathing deep the quiet, clean air. Smiling, she wondered how she’d stayed away so long.
Light-footed, she walked home. Mum spotted her, rushed out, hugged her.
“Look at you! Magazine-cover pretty.”
Ellen *had* changed—sleek haircut, subtle makeup, slim figure. Men noticed. But none were Nicholas.
They talked for hours.
“Enough, Mum. I’ll walk by the river. Missed it.”
“Mind the midges.”
By the water, the world was still. The river lay dark and smooth. Ellen snapped off a twig to swat bugs.
Footsteps. She turned—Nicholas. Her heart leapt. His gaze prickled her skin.
He’d filled out, hair thinning, but his eyes—the same.
“I waited.” He stepped closer. “Proper city girl now. Staying long?”Ten years later, under the same willow tree where they’d first kissed as teenagers, Nicholas finally slipped a ring onto Ellen’s finger, and the years of heartache melted away like morning mist.