“Stefan, I don’t understand what you want,” said Katie.

“Nothing too serious,” replied Stephen. “I just want some time alone to relax. You know… go to the countryside, unwind, shed a few pounds. You’ve really let yourself go.”

He cast a dismissive glance at her figure. Katie was aware that she had gained weight due to her medical treatment, but she chose not to argue.

“Where is this countryside place?” she asked.

“In a very picturesque location,” he smirked. “I think you’ll enjoy it.”

Katie decided not to push back. She too was in need of a break. “Perhaps we’ve just grown tired of each other,” she thought. “Let him miss me. I won’t return until he asks.”

She began to pack her things.

“Are you upset?” Stephen checked. “This will only be for a short while, just to recharge.”

“No, everything’s fine,” Katie forced a smile.

“Alright then, I’m off,” Stephen kissed her cheek and left.

Katie sighed deeply. Their kisses had long lost their warmth.

The drive took considerably longer than she anticipated. She lost her way twice – the GPS was glitching, and there was no mobile signal. Finally, she saw a sign for a village. The place was remote, with wooden houses that, though rustic, were neat and adorned with carved trims.

“There are clearly no modern conveniences here,” Katie thought to herself.

Her assumption was correct. The house resembled a half-collapsed cottage. Without a car and a phone, she felt as if she had been transported back in time. She pulled out her phone. “I’ll call him now,” she decided, but the signal was still nonexistent.

The sun was setting, and Katie was weary. If she didn’t enter the house, she would have to sleep in her car.

She didn’t want to return to the city, nor did she want to give Stephen the satisfaction of claiming she couldn’t handle it.

Katie stepped out of the car. Her bright red jacket looked absurd against the rural backdrop. She smiled to herself.

“Well then, Katie, we won’t perish,” she said aloud.

The next morning, she woke to the piercing crow of a rooster outside the car where she had fallen asleep.

“What noise is that?” Katie grumbled, rolling down the window.

The rooster cocked its head and crowed again.

“What on earth are you making such a fuss for?” Katie complained, only to notice a broom sweep past the window, which silenced the rooster instantly.

An elderly man appeared at her door.

“Good morning!” he greeted her.

Katie stared at him in surprise, as if he had stepped out of a storybook.

“Don’t mind our rooster,” the old man said. “He’s a good lad, just shouts like he’s being hurt.”

Katie chuckled, and her sleepiness faded away. The old man smiled as well.

“Are you staying with us for long, or just visiting?” he inquired.

“On holiday, for as long as my patience lasts,” Katie replied.

“Come in, dear. Join us for breakfast. You can meet my wife. She bakes lovely pies… but there’s no one around to eat them. The grandchildren come once a year, and the children too…”

Katie accepted the invitation. She needed to get to know the neighbors.

Stephen’s wife, Anna, turned out to be a true fairy-tale grandmother – in an apron, with a headscarf, a toothless grin, and kind wrinkles. The house was clean and cozy.

“It’s wonderful here!” Katie exclaimed. “Why don’t the children come to visit more often?”

Anna waved her hand dismissively.

“We ask them not to come. The roads are terrible. It takes a week to get out after it rains. There was a bridge before, even if it was old. But it collapsed about five years ago. We live like hermits. Once a week, Stephen goes to the shop. The boat can’t handle the weight. Stephen’s strong, but he’s getting on.”

“Divine pies!” Katie praised. “Don’t people care about the villagers? Someone should take action.”

“Who would care about us? There are only fifty of us left. We used to have a thousand here, but they’ve all moved away.”

Katie pondered this.

“Strange. What about the council?”

“Across the bridge. To take the detour, it’s sixty kilometers. Do you think we haven’t tried? Their answer is always the same: there’s no money.”

Katie realized she had found her purpose for her holiday.

“Tell me how to get to the council office. Or will you come with me? There’s no rain in the forecast.”

The old folks exchanged glances.

“Are you serious? You came here to relax,” they said.

“I’m completely serious. Relaxing can take many forms. What if I come back and it rains? I want to accomplish something for myself.”

The elderly couple smiled warmly.

At the town council, she was met with dismissal.

“How much longer will you pester us? You’re making us out to be villains. Look at the town roads! Who do you think will allocate funds for a bridge to a village of fifty? Find a sponsor. Someone like Sokolov, perhaps. Have you heard of him?”

Katie nodded. Of course, she had – Sokolov was the owner of the firm where her husband worked. He was from this area, but his parents moved to the city when he was about ten.

After pondering all night, Katie made a decision. She had Sokolov’s number; her husband had called him from her phone several times. She decided not to mention that Stephen was her husband and to approach him as a stranger.

Her first attempt ended without success. On her second try, Sokolov listened, then paused before he burst out laughing.

“Do you know? I had completely forgotten I was born there. What’s it like now?”

Katie felt hopeful.

“It’s very beautiful, quiet; the people are lovely. I’ll send you photos and videos. Igor Borisovich, I’ve been around all the offices – nobody wants to help the elderly. You’re my only hope.”

“I’ll think about it. Send me the photos; I want to remember how it used to be.”

Katie spent two days diligently capturing videos and photos for Sokolov. The messages were read, but no reply came. Just as she was about to give up, Igor Borisovich called her himself.

“Ekaterina Vasilyevna, could you come to my office on Lincolns Avenue around three tomorrow? And please prepare a preliminary work plan.”

“Of course, thank you, Igor Borisovich!”

“You know, this feels like a trip back to childhood. Life is such a race – there’s no time to stop and be wistful.”

“I understand. But you should come in person. I’ll definitely be there tomorrow.”

As soon as she hung up, Katie realized that this was the same office where her husband worked. A smile spread across her face: it would be an amusing surprise.

She arrived early, with an hour to spare. After parking the car, she headed towards her husband’s office. The secretary was absent. She stepped inside, heard voices from the break room, and went in. There stood Stephen and his secretary.

They looked startled at the sight of Katie. She froze in the doorway, while Stephen jumped up, hastily pulling on his trousers.

“Katie, what are you doing here?”

Katie dashed out of the office, colliding with Igor Borisovich in the hallway. She shoved the papers into his hands and, unable to hold back her tears, ran for the exit. She couldn’t remember how she made it back to the village. She fell onto her bed and wept.

The next morning, a knock on the door woke her. It was Igor Borisovich with a group of people.

“Good morning, Ekaterina Vasilyevna. I see you were unprepared to talk yesterday, so I came myself. Will you serve us tea?”

“Of course, come in.”

Igor didn’t mention yesterday’s incident. As they enjoyed tea, nearly all the villagers gathered at the house. Igor peered out the window.

“Wow, a delegation! Ekaterina Vasilyevna, is that by any chance old man Ilyich?”

Katie smiled: “That’s him.”

“He was already a grandfather thirty years ago, and his wife used to fill us up with pies.”

The man looked at Katie with concern, but she quickly reassured him: “Anna Matveyevna is alive and well and still bakes her famous pies.”

The day passed amidst various tasks. Igor’s team measured, recorded, and calculated.

“Ekaterina Vasilyevna, can I ask you something?” Igor addressed her. “About your husband… do you think you’ll forgive him?”

Katie thought for a moment, then smiled: “No. You know, I’m grateful to him for how things turned out… Why?”

Igor remained silent. Katie stood and surveyed the house: “If the bridge were built, this could become a wonderful place! We could renovate the houses and create leisure spots. The nature is untouched, truly beautiful. But no one is willing to do it. If only you wouldn’t want to return to the city…”

Igor admired her. She was a special, resolute, intelligent woman. He had never noticed before but now saw her in all her glory.

“Can I visit again, Katie?”

She looked at him intently: “Please do, I would be happy to see you.”

The construction of the bridge progressed rapidly. The villagers were thankful to Katie, and the young people began returning. Igor became a frequent visitor.

Stephen called her several times, but Katie ignored his calls, later adding his number to her blacklist.

Early one morning, there was a knock. Sleepy Katie opened the door, prepared for trouble, only to find Stephen on the doorstep.

“Hi, Katie. I’ve come for you. It’s time to stop sulking. I’m sorry,” he said.

Katie laughed, “Sorry? Is that all?”

“Well, come on… get ready, let’s go home. You wouldn’t turn me away, would you? And the house isn’t even yours; have you forgotten?”

“Oh, now you will see how I turn you away!” Katie exclaimed.

The door creaked, and from the back room stepped Igor in casual clothing: “This house was purchased with funds from my firm. Or do you, Stephen Alexander, think me a fool? The office is under review right now, and you’ll have to answer a lot of questions. And I would kindly ask Katya not to worry – it’s harmful for her condition…”

Stephen’s eyes widened. Igor embraced Katie: “She is my fiancée. Please leave the house. The divorce papers have been filed; expect a notification.”

They celebrated their wedding in the village. Igor confided that he had fallen in love with the place all over again. The bridge was built, the road was repaired, and a shop was opened. People began buying houses for weekend getaways. Katie and Igor decided to renovate their home – somewhere to return to when they had children.