The Pretend Marriage
Stephen walked along the platform, enjoying the gentle spring sunshine. The young man had spent seven years working away, felling trees in the wilderness. Now, with a decent sum of money earned and gifts bought for his mother and sister, he was hurrying home.
“Lad, where you headed? Hop in, I’ll give you a lift!” came a familiar voice from behind.
“Grandad William! Don’t you recognise me?” the young man beamed.
The old man shielded his eyes with his palm, squinting at the stranger.
“It’s me, Stephen! Have I changed that much?”
“Stevie! Well, I never! We’d given up hope of ever seeing you again! Could’ve at least sent word.”
“I was in such a remote place, the post barely reached us. How’s everyone? Mum, Emily—are they alright? My niece must be in school by now?” The man smiled.
The old man lowered his gaze and sighed deeply.
“So you don’t know… Things are bad, Stevie. Real bad. It’ll be three years soon since your mother passed. Emily went off the rails, then abandoned little Lily and vanished.”
“And Lily? Where is she?” The man’s face fell.
“Emily left her locked in the house last winter. We didn’t find out straight away. Three days later, my missus heard a noise—went to check and there was the poor mite at the window, crying for help.”
“We took Lily in. First to the hospital, then to the children’s home.”
They rode in silence. William let the lad gather his thoughts, not wanting to pry. Half an hour later, the horse-drawn cart stopped at an overgrown yard. Stephen stared at the weeds, barely recognising his childhood home. Tears welled in his eyes.
“Don’t lose heart, Steve. You’re young, strong—you’ll have this place sorted in no time. Why not come to ours first? Rest from your journey, have a bite with us. My missus’ll be right glad to see you,” the old man offered.
“Thanks, but I’ll head home. I’ll drop by yours this evening.”
All day Stephen cleared the yard, and by evening, guests arrived—William and his wife, Granny Margaret.
“Stevie! Look how you’ve grown! Proper handsome now!” The old woman rushed to hug him. “We’ve brought supper. Let’s eat, then help you sort the house. It’s so good you’re back!”
“Have you heard anything about Emily? How could this happen? She was always such a good girl…” Stephen asked over dinner.
“Nothing. Poor lass couldn’t cope. First her husband gone, then her mum… Too much for her shoulders to bear. What’ll you do about Lily? Might you take her? You’re her uncle, after all,” Granny Margaret said.
“I don’t know. I’ll get the house straight first, then visit her. She doesn’t know me at all.”
A week later, Stephen decided to go to town to see Lily. On the way, he stopped at a toy shop. A pretty, dark-haired girl greeted him with a warm smile.
“Need help choosing?”
“Aye. I’ve no clue about toys. A doll, maybe—for a seven-year-old—and whatever else you’d recommend.”
The girl swiftly picked out a lovely boxed doll and a board game.
“Here! Just the thing. All the girls adore these, and the game’s ever so popular.”
“Cheers! Hope my niece likes them,” Stephen smiled.
***
Lily gave her uncle a cold reception. The girl eyed him distrustfully and stayed quiet. But when she saw the gifts, she thawed a little and finally smiled.
“You don’t know me at all,” Stephen began.
“I do. Gran and Mum showed me your photos and told me all about you,” the girl cut in.
“Really?” He grinned. “What’d they say?”
“That you’re kind and good. Uncle Steve, when are we going home?” she whispered, glancing around.
The question stunned him. He realised life here was hard for her.
“Lily, are they unkind to you?” he asked softly.
“Yes,” the girl dropped her head and wept.
“I can’t take you just yet, but I promise—soon, you’ll be home. Don’t fret. Alright?”
“Alright,” Lily whispered.
Stephen went straight to the children’s home director and got grim news.
“I understand you’re her uncle, but kinship alone isn’t enough for the guardianship panel. Are you in steady work?”
“No. I just got back from labouring. But I’ve savings—a fair amount.”
“That’s no good! It’s got to be official. Your marital status? Wife? Kids?”
“No,” Stephen shook his head.
“Bad, that. Very bad… If you’re serious about guardianship, you’ll need a job and a wife.”
“But that takes time! Lily wants to come home!”
“Can’t help you,” the man shrugged.
After a long day in town, Stephen barely caught the last bus. He sank into a seat, lost in thought.
“Oh, hello!” a pleasant voice chimed beside him.
“You?” He blinked. “What’re you doing here?”
It was the pretty shop girl who’d helped with the toys.
“Heading home to Little Barrington. I work in town but live with my gran,” she explained.
“Well, I never! We’re neighbours! I’m from Little Barrington too!” He laughed.
“I’m Lucy,” she smiled.
“Stephen.”
“Did your niece like the gifts?”
“Aye,” he sighed heavily.
In desperation, he spilled his troubles to the near-stranger.
“…What a mess. I’ve never agreed with these rules. It’s all paperwork—what’s in folks’ hearts doesn’t matter,” Lucy fumed.
“Lucy—wait, you’re Granny Rose’s granddaughter, right?”
“Yes,” she smiled. “I don’t remember you, though.”
“You were just a kiddie when I left. Let’s drop the formalities—we’re not strangers.”
“Steve, I might help with the job. Our shop needs a stockman. Light work—deliveries twice a week. Mostly, it’s official.”
“Brilliant! Just the wife to find now!” He chuckled.
Next day, Stephen took his papers to the shop. Lucy put in a word with the manager, and he was hired. That afternoon, he bought sweets and visited Lily. On the way back, he met Lucy again.
“Ta. You’ve been a real help.”
“We’re doing right by Lily—no need for thanks. If only you could settle the wife business quick…”
“Impossible. I don’t know any lasses—they all wed while I was away.”
“No such thing as hopeless! Think,” Lucy said firmly.
“Lucy—you’re free, aren’t you?” Stephen brightened.
“Aye. But I’m not looking to wed,” she flushed, edging away.
“You misunderstand. Let’s have a pretend marriage. Just for the papers. We’ll divorce in six months.”
Lucy gaped at him, speechless. She hadn’t expected this. Part of her wanted to help Lily—but she barely knew Stephen.
“Please! I’ll pay you well. Help us!” he pressed.
“Alright. But no payment. I’m doing this for Lily—poor lamb.”
“Hooray! Tomorrow, we’ll go to the registry—get hitched quick! Lily’ll be chuffed!” Stephen cheered.
Two months later, Lily was home. For the first week—awaiting the panel’s revisit—Lucy stayed at Stephen’s. The pair feared exposure after all they’d done to secure guardianship.
Lily was overjoyed to be home. The trouble was, she’d grown fiercely attached to Lucy.
“Lily, remember—Lucy’s my friend. Not a real wife.”
“So? Can’t she stay forever?”
“No. She’s her own home. A gran who misses her.”
“But we’ll miss her too.”
“We will,” Stephen smiled. “She’s promised to visit.”
Days later, Lucy left. Stephen and Lily were alone.
“Never mind—we’ll start building a new house soon. No time to mope,” he encouraged.
“Uncle… if Mum comes back—you won’t let her take me?” Lily asked fearfully.
“Don’t fear. I’m your guardian now. No one’s taking you.”
Time passed. Stephen began construction, hoping work would distract him from Lucy. But she stayed in his thoughts. Lily missed her too—peering through the gate every Saturday, though Lucy rarely came.
“Steve, when’s Lucy visiting?”
“Dunno. Busy, I expect.”
“Let’s visit her!”
“That’s awkward. We’ve not been invited.”
“But you’re her husband? Sort of?”
“Aye. A pretend one,” he chuckled.
“So we can visitAnd so, under the old oak tree where the village lane met the meadow, Stephen took Lucy’s hand and whispered, “Let’s make it real this time,” and as the sun set over Little Barrington, even the birds seemed to cheer for the little family that had finally found its way home.
