A Secret
In a small town on the edge of the countrysidemore a village than a town, reallythere once lived a girl named Emily. One afternoon, her mum, who fancied herself sensitive to the supernatural, decided to drag Emily along to see the local fortune teller.
The old woman shuffled her well-worn cards and said,
“Your Emily will be a happy one. Everything will turn out well for her. Only… I dont see a man by her side.”
Emily was about ten at the time. The mysterious words carved a lasting mark on her memory, though she didnt truly understand what shed heard.
Years slipped by. Emily grew tall and strikingly pretty. Every lad in town was giddy for her, but she kept her options open, never settling down with anyone for long. Shed go out with one, then another, never in a hurry to make up her mind.
Though Emily was bright at school, she didnt go off to university. She chose to stay and work at the local dairy. Folk whispered about a supposed romance with someone in management, but no-one actually saw them together.
The women in the dairy would sometimes tell the new girl,
“Dont get stuck here like the rest of us, Emily. Before you know it, life will pass you by. You should go to the citywith your looks and smarts, youd be snapped up in no time.”
Emily would simply smile and say nothing at all.
Then, one day, the whole village was abuzz: Emilys pregnant!
Speculation roaredwho was the lucky chap that made the prettiest girl in town a mother? Everyone gossiped and guessed, but the fathers identity remained an utter mystery.
Emilys mother didnt mince her words:
“Youve really done it this time, havent you? Brought shame on yourself. Youre on your own. If youre old enough for this, youre old enough to face the consequences. You wont have me to rely on. Start thinking about where youll livethis house isnt open to you both. Ill give you a month.”
“Alright, Mum,” replied Emily calmly, “Ill go. But dont ask me to come back later.”
A fortnight later, Emily somehow bought herself a small cottage, neatly furnished with all the essentials. Neighbours said shed been lucky; the previous owners children had moved her to the city and sold the place for a song. No one quite knew how Emily had scraped together even that little bit of money. The source of her newfound funds remained a secret.
Then things got truly odd. Emilys new home was quickly spruced up and looked thoroughly modern. Fresh fence posts went up, a new well appeared in the back, and tradespeople came and sorted it all sharpish.
Soon enough, neighbours watched a van deliver boxes of new appliances and bits of furniture. Emily strolled around beaming, greeting everyone with a cheerful nod. She certainly didnt look like someone cast out and left to cope alone.
That autumn, Emily had a son, Charlie. A shiny blue pram soon appeared in her tidy front garden. She bounced back from the birth in no time, growing even more beautifulalways tidy, fashionably dressed, and walking through the village with her head held high, looking perfectly content.
Behind closed doors, she worked tirelessly: looking after a baby, tending to the garden, lighting the fire, dashing to the shops, tackling endless washing. She never once moanedhard work was second nature to her since childhood.
Gradually, the neighbour women, seeing how earnest and capable Emily was, became friends with her. Theyd lend a handwatch Charlie if she needed to nip out, send their husbands to dig the garden, help with the weeding now and then. Though in truth, Emily managed nearly everything herself.
Charlie was about two when one neighbour dashed over to another, eyes wide:
“Have you seen?”
“Seen what?”
“Emilys pregnant again!”
“No wayyou must be joking!”
“Im not! Go see for yourself!”
Once again, the grapevine simmered with juicy chatter. People wondered: whos the father this time? Oddly, no one managed to make a sensible guess; no-one ever saw her with any man.
Emily paid the gossip no mind, carrying on as she always had. That year, a small sauna popped up in her garden. A team rerouted the gas line just to reach her cottage, and a shiny new greenhouse appearedfar from cheap.
“Where does a single woman get money for all this?” folk asked. “Must have a big-shot admirer somewhere.” Yet the mystery of Emily remained unsolved.
Soon enough, a familiar blue pram graced her garden once again, this time with Ben, Charlies new baby brother snuggled inside.
And two years later, a third boyJacob.
Emily now had three sons, and still, no-one had the faintest clue who the fathers were.
Some openly mocked hercalling her names, declaring her a bad example to their own daughters. Others, seeing her children were healthy and well-kept, marvelled at her grit and independence. Emilys mother simply didnt get her choices and refused all contacteven with her own grandchildren.
But Emily, as always, walked tall, never heeding the naysayers.
Time rolled on. Then, one afternoon, a gleaming Bentley pulled up outside Emilys cottage. Out stepped Mr. Richard Campbell, the dairys director, with a massive bouquet in his arms. He went inside, which promptly drew a small crowd from up and down the street. Everyone whispered amongst themselves:
“Whats going on? Why has Mr. Campbell turned up at Emilys in broad daylight with flowers?”
Everyone knew Richards storyhis wife had died a year earlier, bedridden for years, and hed cared for her till the end, never once abandoning her.
When Emily stepped outside to see him off, there were so many people gathered she seemed momentarily lost for words. But Richard drew her close and kissed her in full view. Then, clearly for all to hear, he announced,
“Emilys agreed to marry me. Our sons and I would like to invite everyone to the wedding.”
A hush fell. People stared at the beaming couple, slowly realising just why Emilys boys looked so familiar
All at once, congratulations rang from every side.
After a grand, lively wedding, Richard moved Emily and the children into his large housethe entire village helped pack their things.
A year later, their family was made complete with the arrival of a much-longed-for baby girl.
And so, Ive learned not to put too much stock in fortune tellers. Lifes course dances to its own tune, and happiness will surprise you in unexpected ways when you meet every day with determination and an open heart.
