“Who are you here for?” asked Mary Fairweather as she and Nicholas stepped onto the porch, eyeing their unexpected guest.
“Im here for Mary Fairweather! Im her granddaughterwell, great-granddaughter, actually. Im the daughter of Alexander, her eldest son.”
Mary sat on the sunlit bench, soaking in the first warm days of spring. At last, winter had passed. Only God knew how shed endured it this time.
“I wont last another winter,” she thought, exhaling in relief. She wasnt afraid of death anymorein fact, she almost welcomed it. Shed long since saved up her money and bought her funeral clothes. Nothing kept her in this world now.
***
Once, shed had a large familyher husband, Frederick Wilson, a tall, strong man, and their four children: three boys and a girl. Theyd lived happily, helping one another, seldom quarrelling. One by one, the children grew up and scattered like leaves in the wind.
The two eldest sons went off to university and settled in distant cities for work. The middle son, never much for school, built a thriving business that eventually took him abroad, where he stayed. The daughter, too, left their villagefluttering off to London and marrying soon after.
At first, the children visited often. They wrote letters, then called once mobile phones became common. Grandchildren came next. Mary would pack her worn-out suitcase and travel to one of them, helping as a nanny.
But time passed, and the grandchildren outgrew her care. The calls grew fewer, the visits almost forgotten. Work, their own families, their growing childrenthere was no time for their ageing mother.
The last time they all returned was for Fredericks funeral. Hed seemed so robustsurely hed live to a hundred. But life had other plans. After the burial, the children drifted away. The calls dwindled to nothing.
Mary tried ringing them herself, but she quickly sensed she was a burden and stopped. So she lived the last ten years alone. Once a year, one of them might remember her, and for a week after, shed smile to herself.
One afternoon, Mary sat on her bench, lost in thought.
“Hello, Aunt Mary!” a young man called from the gate, grinning. “Remember me?”
She squinted.
“Nicholas? Is that you?”
“It is!” he beamed, stepping into the yard.
Nicholas was the son of neighbours who never went a day without a row. As long as Mary could recall, hed been a hungry, neglected child. Out of pity, shed fed him, given him her childrens old clothes, and let him sleep over when his parents shouting grew too loud.
His parents didnt last long. When they were gone, Nicholas was taken away to a childrens home, and Mary hadnt seen him sincethough shed missed him terribly.
“Where have you been all this time?” she asked, delighted.
“First the childrens home, then the army, then school. Now Im backgonna rebuild our village!”
“Rebuild what?” Mary waved a hand. “Everyones gone.”
“Doesnt matter! Ill manage!”
And so, Marys life changed. Nicholas found work with Mr. Wilson, the biggest farmer around. In his free time, he fixed up his parents old cottage and helped Mary with chores. She brightened up, calling him “my boy” without fail.
Three happy years passed.
“Im leaving, Aunt Mary,” Nicholas said one day, apologetic. “Mr. Wilson wont pay proper wages. Im off to find better work. Dont be cross!”
“Cross? Of course not! Go with God.”
Once again, Mary was alone. Sometimes the loneliness made her want to weep. She waited, counting the days until her time cameyet something still kept her here.
***
“Hello, Aunt Mary!” a familiar voice called. She turned to see a familiar face at the gate.
“Nicholas? Is it really you?”
“It is!” The tall, well-dressed young man stepped into her yard. “Im backfor good!”
“Oh, what joy!” Mary fussed. “Come in, come in! Ill put the kettle on!”
“Tea sounds perfect,” he grinned. “Let me just pop home firstdidnt know Id find you here, so Ive no gifts!”
Within half an hour, a happy Mary and an equally happy Nicholas sat at the table, sipping tea from her best china, chatting nonstop.
“Id all but given up, Nicholas,” Mary admitted, wiping a tear.
“Dont even think it!” he teased. “Were going to live splendidly now! Ive saved enough to start my own farm. Youre not going anywhere!”
“Hello? Anyone home?” A bright voice interrupted them. Mary peered out and saw a young woman in a short coat and heeled boots.
“Who are you here for?” Mary and Nicholas stepped onto the porch.
“Im here for Mary Fairweather! Im her great-granddaughterAlexanders granddaughter. I tried calling, but your phone was off, so I thought Id chance it!”
“Well, come in!” Mary said, flustered, while Nicholas rushed to take the girls suitcase.
As they sat, the girlEmilydevoured the treats Mary offered, chatting away.
“I hate the city. I want country life! Dad and Grandad dont get it. Grandad suggested I stay here a few monthssaid village life would cure me of the idea! He called you. Dad called. I called. No answer. Sorry for barging in! Ive got money, and Ive brought gifts!”
“Stay as long as you like!” Mary said warmly. “Its a joy to have you.”
A month passed. Mary watched from her bench as Emily worked the long-neglected garden like a seasoned farmer. With Nicholass help, theyd ploughed the land, built a greenhouse, and planted seedlings.
Nicholas, meanwhile, had started his farm with his savings. Hed hired workers to fix Marys roof and install proper heating.
Mary was happy. Smiles never left her face. She wasnt alone anymore.
Only one shadow lingeredEmily would leave soon. Shed grown terribly fond of the girl. But time flew, and Emily packed for the city.
“How will I manage this garden alone?” Mary sighed, packing pies for her journey.
“Just dont forget to water the barrels! Nicholas will handle the rest. Ill be back to weed!” Emily grinned.
“Youre coming back?” Marys face lit up.
“Of course! I could never leave for good. I love you, Gran. And Nicholas proposed! Were marrying in autumn. Cant leave my country man, can I?”
A year later, Mary basked in the sun, rocking her great-great-grandsons cradle. Emily and Nicholas were at the farm, thrivingand helping the whole village thrive with them.
Mary looked at the sleeping baby and smiled.
“Im not going anywhere yet. These children still need me.”
