“Why are you sitting in the cold?” asked Mrs. Evelyn, grimacing at the icy air.
The young woman looked up at her, her expression somber. Evelyn appeared to be around forty-five, still maintaining her beauty and composure, though hints of sadness lingered.
“Sorry, I’ll leave if I’m bothering you,” the girl replied.
“I’m not chasing you away. I’m just wondering why you’re sitting here? It’s winter, after all,” Evelyn asked more gently.
That day was particularly chilly, with the wind howling. It was hardly the weather for sitting on benches without purpose.
“I have nowhere to go,” the girl said, breaking down in tears.
Her name was Claire. And indeed, she had nowhere left to turn. Just days earlier, her own father had forced her out. Claire had come to this town hoping to stay with her aunt related through her mother.
Claire’s mother had passed away three years ago. Following her death, Claire’s father began drinking heavily. Their relationship worsened by the day, becoming unbearable after three years.
Her father, Stephen, regularly brought home his questionable friends. Occasionally, they would harass his daughter. Claire would complain, but he never tried to help. She had to fend for herself. After another confrontation with his so-called “mates,” he simply threw her out.
“Get lost! Nobody needs you here! You’re just a freeloader!” he shouted after her.
Claire sought refuge with her Aunt Margaret, hoping she would take her in. But there wasn’t room for another lodger. Her aunt already had three children, her mother-in-law, and her sister-in-law with a daughter all squeezed into a three-bedroom apartment.
Left with no choice, Margaret reluctantly sent Claire back to her father.
“Go back; your father will come around. Cry if you must, ask for forgiveness if needed. You have every right to live in your father’s house. He’ll understand!” Margaret said, not even offering her tea.
Claire left, feeling hurt, but returning to her father was out of the question. Nothing good waited for her there.
She wandered the snowy streets for a long time until she grew tired, deciding to rest on a bench when the stranger approached her.
“Nowhere to go? But you’re still so young! Don’t you have any parents?”
Claire had just turned eighteen. She was attending college, and it was currently vacation time. She hadn’t thought through her escape due to the rush. Only during this long walk did she realize how difficult everything would be now.
“Not anymore,” Claire whispered, resting her head on her knees.
She sat with her legs pulled to her chest for warmth. Her hands were turning blue from the cold, and her nose was running, while snowflakes clung persistently to her eyelashes.
Evelyn felt pity for the young girl. She herself had a son slightly older. It wasn’t right to leave a child, any child, in trouble.
“Come with me. At least let me give you some tea; you’re shivering madly!” she offered.
Claire agreed. Together they went up to the second floor where Evelyn lived. The apartment was spacious but more importantly, wonderfully warm. Claire finally began to thaw.
“How about some stew?” Evelyn offered.
Claire nodded gratefully. Her last meal had been the night before. When a steaming bowl of stew was laid before her, she devoured it as though she hadn’t eaten in days.
Afterwards, she shared her story with Evelyn, who shook her head disapprovingly.
“Such a sad situation. You know, stay here with me. We have enough room. My son is currently serving in the army, back only in two months. But we’ve got three rooms. Stay until you figure things out.”
“Where’s your husband?” the visitor inquired.
“Passed away five years back. I still miss him. It gets lonely, you understand? It’s better with company. So, stay with us. I’d be glad for it. And so would Timmy, right Timmy?” Evelyn addressed the ginger cat grooming near the table.
Claire felt a bit awkward, or rather very awkward, but she agreed. She had nowhere else to turn. Nobody needed her. And thus, they began to live together.
From the start, Evelyn took a liking to Claire. Polite and well-mannered. Apparently, her mother’s upbringing hadn’t been washed away by three years with an alcoholic father.
Claire was tidy and unafraid of chores. She cleaned diligently, washed dishes, and was eager to learn cooking.
Claire had to leave college, aiming to enroll elsewhere the following year.
Evelyn helped her find a job for the interim at a nearby shop owned by a good friend. She took on the young girl, inexperienced, as an assistant. Later, she ran into Evelyn and expressed gratitude.
“Such a hardworking, modest, clever worker you suggested!”
Claire was deeply thankful to Evelyn for taking her in, expressing it often. She helped in any way she could, not wanting to feel like a useless lodger. They quickly became friends.
Even the cat Timmy grew attached to Claire, enjoying sleeping next to her, following her like a shadow.
Two months later, Evelyn’s son returned from military service. Arriving home in uniform, flowers for his mother, Claire saw him for the first time outside of photos scattered around the house, mostly of his childhood. He was quite the handsome young man.
After an embrace with his mother, John finally noticed the guest.
“Hello, and who might you be?” he asked, surprised by the slim blonde in a casual dress.
“Oh, darling, this is our guest, Claire. It’s a long story. She’ll be staying with us for a while. I hope you two become friends! And remember, don’t you dare upset her. She’s a wonderful girl!”
“I wasn’t planning to! I thought you had me a sister while I was away! Had I known, I’d have brought another bouquet!” he joked, smiling at her. “Nice to meet you!”
Claire couldn’t respond at first, simply staring, utterly charmed. After a few seconds, she regained her composure, finally diverting her gaze.
Having returned from the army, John had matured and become more robust. Even his mother was astonished by how fit and imposing he looked. Claire saw her perfect match. They say the army turns boys into men, and indeed it seemed true.
After a week of rest, John began seeking work. He planned to apply to university by autumn, but that was still some time away, and he had no desire to burden his mother.
And so, they all lived together, mainly meeting in the morning and evening, spending the rest of their time at work.
John and Claire quickly found common ground, being of similar age with shared interests. In the evenings, they’d chat idly or watch films together. Without realizing, they grew attached, but not as siblings.
Claire feared making the first move, worried about offending Evelyn. John hesitated too, unsure if she felt the same. But his mother noticed. She understood something deeper than friendship was brewing between them but chose not to intervene.
One evening, Evelyn pondered this situation. Would Claire make a good daughter-in-law? Indeed, she possessed many admirable qualities. Thus, Evelyn decided to nudge them closer.
Come summer, she purchased two seaside tickets. Planning to go with her son, she suddenly claimed pressing work obligations, unable to leave. Using this pretense, she sent John and Claire off together.
“Don’t linger! Or you might lose her!” she quipped to her son with a wink as they departed.
John understood perfectly. His mother wasn’t wrong. They returned home as a loving couple, soon announcing their intent to marry.
While some might deem it hasty, Evelyn had no objections.
After all, good daughters-in-law were rare. Sometimes one might find them freezing on a bench outside the building, but such luck is uncommon. She was fortunate, as was her son.
Neighbors whispered behind their backs. Some acquaintances bluntly told Evelyn she’d had her son marry a penniless girl. But she knew she’d done right.
Even many years later, Evelyn never regretted taking in the shivering girl, warming her, and inviting her to stay. Claire became a loyal wife to her only son, loving him wholeheartedly, giving Evelyn three delightful grandchildren and many cherished memories.
