**A Kind Heart**
Waiting eagerly for his first leave, Ethan set off to visit his father in the village. His dad had raised him until he was nine, but then his mother passed away. He could still picture her lying pale and frail in bed, the illness having taken its toll. The memory of his tears and the emptiness left by her absence haunted him.
Gregory, Ethan’s father, was heartbroken too. Life with his wife had been good. Alone with his son, fear crept in.
*»Can I raise him properly?»* he worried. *»A boy needs his mother.»* He decided to ask his own mother, Mary, to look after Ethan while he worked—thankfully, she lived nearby.
**A New Wife**
Life moved on. A year passed, then another. A friend introduced Gregory to Alice, a distant relative of his. They began seeing each other, and soon Alice moved in. She’d never married, though she was past thirty, and had no children of her own. There’d been men in her life, but nothing lasting.
From the start, Alice and Ethan didn’t get along, though neither showed it at first.
*»What do I need this boy for?»* Alice thought. *»He should live with his grandmother—she’s the one who’s been looking after him anyway.»*
*»Why did Dad bring this woman home?»* Ethan wondered. *»She’s nothing like Mum—her cooking’s terrible, and she glares at me like I’ve done something wrong.»* He was nearly eleven.
Gregory noticed none of this. To him, life was fine—meals were cooked, clothes washed, the house tidy. Alice was clever, though. She acted pleasant around Gregory, but alone with Ethan, she snapped and scolded, even telling him outright:
*»Listen, you little brat, you’d be better off living with your gran.»*
Eventually, Ethan had enough.
*»Gran, can I move in with you? I don’t want to live with Alice anymore. She doesn’t like me, and I don’t like her. She calls me names when Dad’s not around.»*
*»Of course, love,»* Mary said. *»I was going to ask you myself.»* She’d seen how Alice treated Ethan.
Gregory was surprised when his son moved out, but Ethan never complained about Alice. They weren’t married—Gregory didn’t see the need yet.
Ethan stopped visiting his father, though Gregory came to see him and his gran often, bringing money as soon as he got paid. He knew Mary’s pension wasn’t enough to support Ethan.
Alice resented it.
*»Why give half your wages to your mother? They’ll manage.»*
*»We’ve got enough, haven’t we? You work too, and we’ve no kids,»* Gregory replied. She’d fall silent.
**A Dream and the Right Choice**
Ethan grew into a thoughtful young man. He dreamed of joining the army—something about the uniform and discipline fascinated him.
*»Gran, I’m going to military college after school,»* he announced before graduation. *»I’ve checked—there’s one nearby, and my grades are good. I’ll manage.»*
*»I’m so proud of you, love,»* Mary said. *»You’re making the right choice.»*
Ethan got in. On breaks, he visited his gran, never his father. Gregory came to see Mary instead.
Then came graduation. Ethan returned to the village in his crisp uniform—tall, broad-shouldered, every inch the handsome officer.
*»Goodness, Ethan,»* Mary gasped when she saw him. *»You look just like your grandfather—just as strong and proud.»*
After leave, Ethan headed to his posting. He’d never had a serious girlfriend. There’d been flings during training, but no one special. Back home, he’d always fancied Emma, his old classmate who lived two doors down, but she’d gone off to university.
Now, on leave again, he noticed Mary had aged—frailer, but still spirited.
*»Gran, why hasn’t Dad visited? He knows I’m here.»*
*»He’s poorly, love. Came by the other day, clutching his stomach.»*
*»He needs a doctor!»*
*»I told him, but Alice won’t have it. Says hospitals kill people. She’s brewing him some awful herbal concoction, and he’s wasting away.»*
*»Right. I’ll go see him.»*
**A Reunion**
Stepping outside, Ethan nearly bumped into Emma. She was even lovelier now—smiling, bright-eyed, with those dimples he remembered.
*»Emma! Is that you?»* He hugged her, and she laughed, squirming free.
*»Ethan! Look at you!»*
They talked for ages, his heart racing—old feelings stirring. Then she dropped the news.
*»I’m getting married—this Friday. To Gary from down the road. You remember him?»*
*»Yeah,»* Ethan said, forcing a smile. *»I’ll come.»*
At his father’s house, Gregory sat on the bench, gaunt and weary.
*»Hi, Dad. You don’t look well.»*
*»Hello, son. I was waiting for you—too weak to walk.»*
Alice strode past. *»Hi, Ethan. Off to the shop—Greg, we’re out of bread.»* She left without another word, as if Ethan had never been gone.
Later, his old friend Tom dropped by.
*»Ethan! Look at you!»* They clapped each other on the back, reminiscing. When Tom left, Ethan stood.
*»I’d better get back to Gran’s.»*
*»I understand,»* Gregory murmured.
**The Truth Comes Out**
Next day, Ethan and Tom planned a fishing trip. Talk turned to classmates.
*»You know Emma’s marrying Gary?»* Tom said. *»What does she see in him? Lazy bloke—drinking, partying. Only behaves when she’s home.»*
*»Love, I suppose,»* Ethan sighed.
That evening, walking home, he spotted Emma in tears.
*»Emma! What’s wrong?»*
*»I… they… she…»* She couldn’t get the words out.
He took her home. Mary brought water, and Emma calmed enough to explain—she’d caught Gary in bed with her best friend, Sarah, the maid of honour.
*»No wedding now,»* she sniffed. *»I’m leaving this village.»*
Ethan felt for her—but also a flicker of hope.
*»Emma… come with me?»* The words tumbled out.
*»What? Where?»*
*»Back to base. I’ve got a two-bed flat.»*
*»You won’t… you know?»*
*»Oh, I will. You know how persistent I am.»*
Mary smiled. *»About time,»* she thought.
**A Fresh Start**
Gary tried apologising, but Emma shut him down. *»Lock the door next time.»*
Ethan spent the rest of his leave with her. Before heading back, he convinced Gregory to come too—his friend’s mother was a doctor.
At the hospital, tests revealed stomach trouble, treatable with proper care. The chief physician, Dr. Eleanor Hart, widow of Major Hart, took a special interest in Gregory.
Ethan noticed the spark between them. By the time Gregory was discharged, he looked years younger—smiling, eyes bright.
*»Dad, you’re glowing,»* Ethan teased.
Gregory teared up. *»Son… you just called me ‘Dad’. Not ‘Father’. ‘Dad’.»*
Soon after, two weddings took place—Ethan and Emma, Gregory and Eleanor. Life, as it does, went on.