NOTHING LEFT TO RETURN

Stella Harper ran her own chain of jewellery shops right in the heart of London. Her dad had helped get the business off the ground, and now, at forty, she was a solid, independent woman, always on her own two feet. She was a regular at the citys highsociety parties, popped up on the glossy magazine covers, and rubbed shoulders with the famous crowd actors, singers, barristers, you name it.

Stella was raising her son, Mark, and everything seemed to be under control. There was just one thing missing: love. Even though she lived in a spacious fivebedroom house, she felt terribly lonely, and she often imagined how different life could be.

When Stella was a little girl, she lived with her Granny in the provincial town of York. Her parents moved to London when she was barely seven, taking up a contract job, and left her in Grannys care. Granny adored her, doting on the little Stella like she was the worlds treasure.

As a teenager, Stella fell for her classmate James. He felt the same way, and they were both sixteen. Granny, whod raised five children of her own, barely gave a toss about the romance. Everyone does foolish things at sixteen, shed wave off, young hearts run wild. But Stella and James grew deeper into each others lives, barely noticing anyone else. After school they both went off to university, and on the first term Stella blurted out to James, Get ready to be a dad.

James smiled, Always ready!

A month later, Stella pulled her papers from university and headed back to London to live with her parents. James was left stunned and ran to Grannys house in York. Whats the plan, love? How are you going to feed a baby? With textbooks? Loves not a toy, you know, a child needs a lot, Granny scolded, trying to make sense of the mess.

James typed a quick note to Stella. She replied, Come over. He didnt waste a second, hopped a train to London and rang the doorbell. The matron of the house, Anne Harper, answered. Hello, Im James. Im here to see Stella. She politely ushered him inside, led him to the kitchen, and James guessed he wasnt invited further Stella wasnt home.

Anne sighed, Listen, dear. I need a favour. Stay away from our family. Forget about Stella. She cut him off quickly. Can I wait for Stella? James asked.

Shes at a spa retreat, back in two weeks. Youve done all you could. Well sort it out ourselves, she said, ending the conversation with a firm period.

James left, sat on a bench outside the block for a moment, then headed to the station. The name Stella would stay with him like a holy relic for years it meant star in Latin, and shed become his guiding light, his north star.

Back home, James buried himself in his studies, still not sure what to do. Should he storm back into Stellas life? Give up and move on? First love, after all, is hard to shake.

Years later, when Stella gave birth to Mark, James came back to London, hoping to smooth things over with Anne. He bought a heap of presents for his newborn son, thinking the gesture might win some goodwill. As the saying goes, You cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear, but Anne brushed him off, Young man, we dont need your gifts. Well raise Mark without you. My husband and I cant afford to let our daughter subsist on cheap substitutes. Mind your own business.

James left feeling dejected, down in the dumps, as his mate joked, Watch out for a rich fatherinlaw, theyre as sharp as a thorn. Hed keep a broken heart for Stella, who never answered. As they say, you cant catch the sun in a bag, and time kept slipping away.

Eventually, a girl named Mila came into his life and truly loved him. They had a daughter, Julia. In the early years of their marriage, James soaked up Milas affection. Before they tied the knot, he confessed to Mila that hed once dreamed of someone else. Mila, hurt, replied, Your words cut deep, love, but Ill survive and fight for us. My love will be enough for both of us.

James later became mayor of his little town, while Stella lingered in his thoughts. Over the years they kept in touch. Hed pop into London now and then, meet his grownup son Mark, and Stella eventually remarried. Her new husband liked Anne a lot, especially since Anne had handpicked him for her daughter.

Five years later, Stella, after living with her husband in London, chose solitude and returned to York. When Mark turned fourteen, teenage dramas erupted. James, our sons out of control! Come help! Stella shouted over the phone. James dropped everything and raced to London to rescue his former love.

Meanwhile, Mila watched James leave, sat by the window and wept. After years of sharing a life with him, shed grown used to Stellas midnight calls. Whenever the phone rang, James would jump out of bed, dash to the bathroom and whisper something tender to Stella. Mila was left playing second fiddle, never quite sure if her husband appreciated her generosity. Her heart felt like a closed window, no one could peek in, and confusion often settled there.

But whenever James came back from his trips, Mila felt a warm, feminine happiness. Hes still mine! she thought, basking in the glow of his love. She threw herself into being the perfect wife, hoping to unlock his heart with a golden key, wiping away undeserved tears, staying silent when he brought home a huge plush bear as a gift for Mark. Still, it soothed her to know James adored their daughter Julia, which gave her some comfort in the emotional turmoil.

She always remembered her grandmothers saying, A wife is a plaster for a husband, a husband a shepherd for a wife.

Spring arrived, and once again James prepared to head to London for Marks wedding. He bought a honeymoonstyle voucher for the young couple a twoperson trip to Greece. In the middle of the wedding festivities, Stella leaned over and whispered to James, Maybe we could start over?

James took a gentle breath and replied, No, Stella. Its too late. I want to marry my Mila. I couldnt find a better wife.