“Look, Steph, I’m not sure what you want,” Kat said, a hint of frustration in her voice.

“Nothing much,” replied Stephen. “Just need some time alone to unwind. You know… head to the cottage, relax a bit, shed a couple of pounds. You’ve gotten a bit soft around the edges.”

He cast a disdainful glance over his wife’s figure. Kat was aware that her weight had increased due to her treatment, but she chose not to argue.

“Where’s this cottage?” she inquired.

“In a lovely location,” Stephen smirked. “You’ll love it.”

Kat opted for silence. She needed a break too. “Maybe we’ve just worn each other out,” she mused. “Let him miss me. I won’t return until he asks me to.”

She began to gather up her belongings.

“Are you upset?” Stephen asked. “It’s not for long, just so we can both recharge.”

“No, I’m fine,” Kat forced a smile.

“Alright then, I’ll head off,” he gave her a peck on the cheek and left.

Kat sighed heavily. Their kisses had long lost their warmth.

The journey took much longer than she’d anticipated. Kat veered off course twice; the GPS was acting up, and her phone had no signal. Finally, she spotted a sign indicating the village. It was quaint, with tidy wooden houses boasting intricately carved window frames.

“Clearly, modern amenities are non-existent here,” Kat thought to herself.

She wasn’t wrong. The house was a ramshackle little cottage. Without a car or a phone, it felt like she’d stepped back in time. Kat took out her mobile. “I’ll just call him,” she decided, but the signal remained non-existent.

As the sun began to set, exhaustion hit her. If she didn’t go into the house, it looked like she’d have to sleep in the car.

Returning to the city wasn’t appealing, and giving Stephen any hint that she couldn’t manage on her own was equally unappealing.

Kat climbed out of the car. Her bright red jacket seemed rather out of place in the peaceful countryside. She smiled to herself.

“Well then, Katie, let’s make the best of this,” she said aloud.

Morning came with a loud crow from a rooster outside the car where she had fallen asleep.

“What on earth?” she grumbled, rolling down the window.

The rooster regarded her with one eye and let out another loud caw.

“Why are you shouting?” Kat protested until she saw a broom whiz past the window, silencing the bird.

An elderly man appeared on the doorstep.

“Good morning!” he greeted her.

Kat stared at him in surprise; he seemed to have stepped out of a storybook.

“Don’t mind our rooster,” the old man chuckled. “He’s a good one, just makes a racket.”

Kat couldn’t help but laugh, the remnants of sleep slipping away. The old man smiled back warmly.

“Are you staying with us long, or just visiting?”

“Just for a break, as long as I can tolerate it,” Kat replied.

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

Kat agreed; it would be nice to meet the neighbours.

Peter’s wife turned out to be a true fairy-tale grandmother—apron on, scarf around her head, toothless grin, and kind wrinkles. The home was immaculate and cozy.

“It’s lovely here!” Kat exclaimed. “Why do the kids come so rarely?”

Anna waved her hand dismissively.

“We tell them not to come. The roads are terrible. After a rain, it takes a week to drive out. There used to be a bridge, albeit an old one, but it collapsed about five years ago. We live like hermits. Once a week, Peter makes a trip to the store. Our boat can’t take it anymore. Peter is tough, but age…”

“They’re divine pies!” Kat praised. “Doesn’t anyone care about the people? Surely someone must do something.”

“Why would anyone bother? Just fifty of us live here now. There used to be a thousand.”

Kat paused, contemplating.

“How strange. What about the council?”

“Across the bridge. To get around? Sixty miles. Do you think we haven’t tried? Their answer is always the same: not enough funds.”

Kat realized she had found her calling for this break.

“Could you show me where the council is? Or would you come with me? There’s no rain in sight.”

The elderly couple exchanged looks.

“Are you serious? You came for a break.”

“Absolutely serious. Breaks can be different. What if I come back when the rain does? I’ll do this for myself too.”

The couple smiled warmly.

When she approached the local council, she was met with exasperation.

“How long are you going to pester us? We’re not the villains here. Just look at the city roads!”

“Who’s going to fund a bridge for a village of fifty?”

“Go seek a sponsor. Perhaps a Mr. West? Have you heard of him?”

Kat nodded; she had indeed. Mr. West owned the company where her husband worked, and he had grown up around here until his family moved to the city when he was about ten.

After mulling it over all night, Kat decided to take action. She had Mr. West’s number; her husband had called him from her phone before. She resolved to call as a concerned resident, not mentioning that Stephen was her husband.

The first call didn’t go through, but on the second try, Mr. West listened, paused, then chuckled.

“Funny, I’ve almost forgotten where I was born. What’s it like now?”

Kat brightened.

“It’s stunning, peaceful, and the people are wonderful. I’ll send you photos and videos. Mr. West, I’ve contacted everyone. No one wants to help the old folks. You’re our only hope.”

“Let me think it over. Send me the photos. I’d like to reminisce.”

For two days, Kat worked hard capturing videos and photos for Mr. West. The messages were read, but there was no response. Just as she was about to give up, Mr. West called: “Kat, could you swing by my office on High Street tomorrow around three? And please prepare a preliminary plan.”

“Of course, thank you!”

“You know, it’s like diving back into my childhood. Life moves so fast—there’s hardly a moment to stop and dream.”

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

Once she hung up, it struck her: it was the very office where her husband worked. She smiled to herself—what a funny surprise this would be.

Arriving an hour early, she parked her car and headed to her husband’s office. The secretary was absent. As she stepped inside, she heard voices from the break room and wandered over. There stood Stephen and his secretary.

Both looked startled upon seeing Kat. She froze in the doorway while Stephen hurriedly tried to fix his trousers.

“Kat, what are you doing here?”

Kat dashed out of the office, colliding with Mr. West in the corridor. She thrust the papers into his hands, tears brimming in her eyes, and dashed for the exit. She barely remembered the drive back to the village, collapsing onto her bed in tears.

Morning brought a knock at the door, waking her up. Mr. West stood at the threshold with a group of people.

“Good morning, Kat. I sensed you weren’t ready to talk yesterday, so I came by. How about a cuppa?”

“Of course, come in!”

Mr. West said nothing about the previous day. Over tea, nearly all the village’s residents gathered outside the house. Mr. West peeked out the window.

“Oh my, a delegation! Is that old Mr. Ivers by any chance?”

Kat smiled. “It is indeed.”

“He was already a granddad thirty years ago, and his wife used to feed us pies.”

The man shot a concerned glance at Kat, who quickly reassured him, “Anna’s alive and well, still baking her famous pies.”

The day whisked by in a whirlwind of activity. Mr. West’s team measured, recorded, and calculated.

“Kat, can I ask you something?” Mr. West inquired. “About your husband… have you forgiven him?”

Kat pondered, then smiled. “No. You know, I’m even grateful to him for how things turned out… and why do you ask?”

Mr. West remained quiet. Kat stood up, surveying the home. “If a bridge goes up, this place could become extraordinary! We could renovate houses, create spots for relaxation. The nature here is untouched, just beautiful. But no one seems to want to take on the task. If only you didn’t want to move back to the city…”

Mr. West regarded her, captivated. She was exceptional—determined and sharp. He hadn’t noticed it before, but now he saw her in her full glory.

“Kat, may I visit again?”

She met his gaze. “Of course, I’d be glad to see you.”

The bridge construction progressed rapidly. The villagers expressed their gratitude to Kat, and the youth began to return. Mr. West became a frequent visitor.

Stephen called a few times, but Kat ignored his calls and eventually blocked his number.

One early morning, a knock echoed from the door. Sleepy-eyed, Kat answered, bracing herself for the worst, but there stood Stephen.

“Hey, Kat. I’m here for you. Enough sulking. I’m sorry,” he said.

Kat laughed. “You’re apologizing? Is that all?”

“Well, come on… pack up, let’s head home. You wouldn’t really send me away, would you? Besides, this isn’t even your home, remember?”

“Watch me send you packing!” Kat exclaimed.

The door creaked open, and out walked Mr. West in casual attire. “This house was bought with money from my company. Or do you, Stephen, think I’m a fool? The office is under review, and you’ll have a lot of questions to answer. And Kat, I’d prefer you not to stress—it’s not good for you right now…”

Stephen’s eyes widened. Mr. West hugged Kat. “She’s my fiancée. Kindly leave this house. The divorce papers have already been filed; expect a notification soon.”

They celebrated their wedding in the village. Mr. West admitted he had fallen in love with the place all over again. The bridge was built, the roads repaired, and a shop opened. People started buying homes for holidays. Kat and Mr. West decided to renovate their place too—somewhere to return to when they welcomed kids.