Gregory wasn’t in the mood for festivities. For three days, he’d barely left the hospital bedside of his beloved Emily. He hadn’t eaten, hardly slept, just listened to her ragged breathing. Just a week ago, his dear wife had been perfectly fine, bustling about preparing for Christmas—tidying their little cottage, planning the holiday menu, though honestly, two pensions didn’t stretch to luxuries. Not that they needed much. The important thing, Gregory always told Emily, was filling their home with the scent of mince pies and mulled wine. He never imagined that in an instant, she’d collapse like a felled sapling, leaving doctors stunned with a grim diagnosis. Now, their home smelled of neither Christmas nor comfort.
Those dreadful days turned his hair whiter than ever. But the worst blow came when the doctor said Emily needed surgery—urgently—and quoted a sum that might as well have been the national debt.
“I don’t have that kind of money,” Gregory whispered, voice cracking. “We’re just pensioners. We get by, but barely. Our nephew helps when he can, but he’s got his own family to worry about.”
The doctor could only shrug sympathetically, reminding him the NHS wouldn’t cover it. The news left Gregory wishing he could vanish. What was life without Emily?
They’d married young, right after school. Decades together, and hardly a cross word between them—just the odd tiff over nothing, quickly forgiven by teatime. No children of their own, so they doted on Emily’s nephew, Thomas, who visited with his wife and daughters when he could. Good lad, but not one who could magic up such a fortune.
Another sleepless night dragged on, endless and heavy. By morning, the nurses finally convinced Gregory to go home—just for a few hours, to eat, to rest. Fumbling for his keys on the doorstep, he was met by their neighbour, Margaret.
“How’s Emily, love?” she asked, wiping flour-dusted hands on her apron.
Gregory sighed, relaying the bleak update. Margaret clutched her chest. “Oh, what rotten luck! We’ll have to rally the village—pass the hat round. I’ll start knocking on doors today, see if we can scrape together enough for her medicines, at least.”
But Gregory just waved her off, too heartsick for hope. Margaret, bless her, knew when to stop. She disappeared inside and returned with a steaming bowl of her famous beef stew, pressing it into his hands.
Back at the hospital, Emily’s condition had worsened. Gregory clenched his fists, helpless. “Lord, save her—or take me too,” he repeated silently, staring at the grey winter sky through the window. Snowflakes blurred his vision, the world feeling cold and impossibly lonely.
Then a nurse interrupted his thoughts. “Visitor for Mrs. Emily Clarke.”
Gregory blinked. Thomas was away on business—who else would come? Margaret? But behind the nurse stood a young woman he didn’t recognise.
“You don’t remember me, do you?” she said softly. “I’m Daisy. Used to live down the lane from you.”
Gregory squinted, baffled.
“Mum was always struggling—six of us kids, Dad gone too soon. You and Emily were angels to us. Kept us fed, clothed… even gave me sweets for my birthday once, when I’d have been teased rotten otherwise.”
Suddenly, it clicked. Little Daisy—the youngest of that poor family, the one they’d slipped treats and secondhand books to when times were hard.
“Daisy, love, what—?”
She squeezed his hand. “Margaret told me about Emily. The surgery’s paid for. All of it.”
Gregory nearly choked. “But… how?”
“Live in Australia now,” she said with a smile. “Husband’s done well for himself. We’ve more than enough—let us help *you* this time.”
The operation went smoothly. Emily would recover. And when she came home, Gregory vowed, their little cottage would smell of love and life again.
Over tea in the hospital canteen, Daisy listened as Gregory, eyes wet, asked, “Why? We were just neighbours.”
She laughed. “Neighbours who saved me from being the ‘poor kid’ at school. That birthday you gave me a jumper and Quality Street? I’ll never forget it.”
“But that was years ago!”
Daisy shrugged. “Doesn’t matter how long it’s been. Kindness comes back around. And I’m not leaving you two now.”
