Lonely Ellie…
For weeks, Ellie had been watching the new neighbour who’d moved into the flat opposite hers on the ground floor. The newcomer was called Emma, around thirty, with a little daughter, Lily, who was just four. Emma had divorced her husband and was now living on her own, dropping Lily off at the nursery right in their courtyard.
Ellie and Emma quickly became friendly, exchanging smiles and hellos whenever they crossed paths. Before long, Ellie was babysitting Lily on Saturdays while Emma went out.
“She’s quiet—just plays with her dolls on the floor while you get on with your own things,” Emma explained. “Thanks for helping me out. I’ve got plans tonight, but I’ll be back by late. Really appreciate it!”
Ellie just shrugged. Only after Emma hurried off did it dawn on her—the young divorcee was off on a date.
“Quite the ‘plans’…” Ellie murmured, smiling fondly at the little girl settled on the floor, just as her mum had said.
Ellie’s own life hadn’t quite turned out as she’d hoped. At twenty-eight, she imagined she’d be married with kids by now, but neither had happened.
“You’re too old-fashioned,” her friends would say. “Always knitting instead of going out, dancing, meeting people. You’ll spend your whole youth waiting for Prince Charming like this.”
Ellie agreed but never made a change. A bit self-conscious about her curves and convinced she was just average-looking, she stayed shy. Now, with four-year-old Lily often staying over in the evenings, she couldn’t understand how Emma could leave such a sweet child behind to chase some man.
To Ellie, family—especially children—felt like a sacred gift. She adored Lily, reading to her, playing, even making little figures out of play dough.
“You’re a lifesaver, Ellie,” Emma whispered one late night as she collected a sleepy Lily. “I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”
“What about Lily’s dad?” Ellie asked once. “Does he visit? She mentions him a lot—seems to miss him.”
“He would, but he’s away on business. Ugh, those trips—a month here, six weeks there… That’s why we split. But he’ll be back soon, and you’ll get a break—he’ll take her out. Spoil her rotten with toys, which is pointless. Could’ve just given us more money…” Emma smirked.
Sure enough, Lily’s dad showed up—a tall, fair-haired man who scooped her up outside and held her tight. Ellie caught the reunion from her kitchen window and even teared up at how happy they looked.
Days later, Ellie met James—Lily’s father. It had become routine for Lily to run over to “Auntie Ellie’s” to play or watch cartoons while Emma was out. This time, James found his daughter there.
“Thank you,” he said warmly. “For looking after her. Lily adores you—always says, ‘my Ellie.’”
“Daddy, come have tea with us!” Lily called from the kitchen, munching on a scone.
“Well, come on then. We’ve just sat down—join us,” Ellie invited.
James followed, helping himself to a scone.
“Homemade?” he asked, surprised.
“Of course,” Ellie laughed. “Have another. I love baking—hence the extra curves. Been meaning to start a diet, though.”
“Why? You look lovely as you are,” James said. “Didn’t think young women baked these days. Thought it was just grandmas in the countryside, by the hearth before holidays.”
They chuckled, and Lily giggled too, handing her dad another scone.
“When I’m bigger, Ellie’s going to teach me to bake,” Lily declared. “Then I’ll feed you both!”
“Sounds perfect,” James smiled. “But we’d better head out—Mum will pick you up soon, and we’ll miss our walk.”
“Mum won’t come till nighttime,” Lily said quickly. Ellie stayed quiet.
James frowned, then took Lily out. Later, he brought her back and asked quietly,
“Could you ever take her overnight? She misses me.”
“I’ve thought about it. But I start work early at the factory—across town—hate to drag her up so early. Here, she’s got nursery nearby, and her mum…” He looked away. “But thank you. I’m thinking of moving closer.”
The next time James picked Lily up, he invited Ellie to join their walk.
She hesitated, but Lily clung to her: “Come on, Ellie! I’ll show you how I make sand pies!”
So Ellie went to the nearby park, where Lily played happily with friends, glancing back at her dad and Ellie often. They strolled till dusk, enjoying the warm summer evening.
James grew tense as Emma still wasn’t home.
“When will she stop gallivanting?” he muttered. “This is why we split.”
Ellie said nothing.
“Does she even pay you for watching Lily?” he asked later.
Ellie shook her head.
“So you’re stuck—no dates, no time for yourself, not even a proper rest…” James scowled. “I thought there was an arrangement!”
Ellie sighed. “We’re just neighbours—friends, really. Lily’s become my little mate.”
“What about *your* life, Ellie?” James asked bluntly. “Ever been married? Anyone special?”
“Never married, no kids… hasn’t happened yet,” she smiled.
“Right…” James sighed. Later, he tried to leave money on the sideboard, but Ellie refused firmly.
“Fine. I’ll find another way to thank you,” he said, stepping out.
That Sunday, as Ellie cleaned, there was a knock.
“Fancy joining us for café lunch? Town festival’s on,” James said, holding out a hand.
So the three went out together—while Emma, prepping for her own date, watched from the window and smirked.
“Perfect pair… She’s just your type, you daft sod.”
Little did Emma know how soon her ex-husband and neighbour would become inseparable. Lily was the bond that drew James and Ellie closer. Her cheerful voice often echoed in the hallway as she darted between flats, excited for walks with her dad and “Auntie Ellie.”
“*Do* you even know what he’s like?” Emma snapped one day, barging in as Ellie got ready for a date.
“Think so…” Ellie said. “But you’re divorced. Why care who he’s with?”
“I’m not worried for *him*—it’s *you*, you silly cow. Don’t just latch onto the first bloke who glances your way, even if no one’s looked at you in years,” Emma spat, storming off.
“Thanks for *that*,” Ellie called after her, sinking onto a kitchen chair, wiping her eyes…
Then she stood, fixed her hair, and walked out to the bench where James and Lily waited.
Neighbors watched this odd little drama unfold and predicted Ellie’s future. They adored her—quiet, kind, always keeping her flat spotless. She’d lived alone there over a decade, since she turned eighteen.
“My parents split too,” she told James once. “I was a teenager. Hurt like hell—couldn’t understand why people who loved each other just… stopped. Cried myself to sleep for months. Never let them see, though—they were hurting enough. Then they moved on, new families, new cities… I stayed here, near my nan. No room for me in their new lives.”
James listened, struggling to meet her eyes. Then he asked,
“Is that why you help Emma? No pay?”
“That’s why I help *Lily*. Because she’s *me* as a kid. Just younger. And I pray she doesn’t feel it half as badly…” Ellie said, watching Lily play.
“You’re clever. And kind,” James blurted. “Marry me. Don’t say no right off—even if you don’t love me. Take pity, like you do on Lily. Just… let me hope someone could love me. Even for a bit.”
They sat in silence. Then Ellie looked at him.
“Do you love *me*? Or just want to *be* loved?”
“Love you. How couldn’t I? You’re everything a woman should be—gentle, good-hearted…” He squeezed her hand.
She stayed quiet. Then he heard a soft sniff—Ellie was crying, trying not to draw attention.
“Never thought I’d get proposed to on a park bench,” she finally laughed. “Sat here so often, dreaming of love.”
They hugged. Lily soon bounded over and, unfazed, climbed onto James’s lap, beaming at Ellie.
When James and Ellie married, they moved nearby—James bought a flat in the same area to stay close to Lily. The girl split her time between both homes. And when Ellie and James had a son, Lily was overjoyed to be a big sister, visiting even more to help with her baby brother.
