Olivia glanced out the window of her Battersea on Thames River apartment. She’d been going over her old family photo albums. Some of the black and white pictures were faded and showed her great grandparents and their surviving generations following.

In past centuries, they’d been shopkeepers and their ancestors’ weavers according to stories she remembered from sitting at her grandparent’s feet of long ago and those times didn’t seem at all appealing.

The whole environment in Battersea had changed drastically since those former times, and she’d tried to visualize what it would have been like then. The building she now occupied a family apartment though dated was certainly not the type of buildings her grandparents had described with their traditional architecture of ancient times.

Developers had worked on the original inhabitants of this block of housing describing the wonders of living in high rise apartments instead of their low-rise family-owned buildings the ancients had constructed. If they’d sell their land, they’d be given a new more modern style apartment or occupy one of the shops on ground level facing the Thames within the new high-rise complex. They’d get the same space for business and living as they had before, and the building would now tower above them with those hungry for an elevated view of the Thames paying a premium for those upper levels to make accommodating original owners possible but turn a handsome profit for developers.

While those who transferred their title would be better off in assets eventually it was the developer who’d made a killing out of the development and her parents who were children when that development was in progress described the horrors of being temporarily crowded into alternative accommodations while the sites was developed into a high-rise tower. In the process some of the businesses disrupted over the years of redevelopment had gone bankrupt and their owners forced into working for others to survive until they were permitted to move back to their new residences and build their business again.

But Olivia had not experienced that disruptive development period and had grown up with other families at the lower levels of society whose families had been there for generations. There was therefore a comradery between those whose families who’d always been there traditionally and a division between them and the newcomers who could afford the upper levels with spectacular views of the Thames and thought of themselves to be superior to the peasants below their status.

The shop at ground level where her parents had conducted their traditional trade was now rented out by Olivia as the only survivor of the Weaver family in London. Most of her parents’ siblings were scattered around the world and moved in different social circles so Olivia had no dealings with them or her cousins. She’d grown up and gone to school with the children of the original citizens of Battersea who’d occupied this block, and they collectively were the only family she knew. Her brothers had either migrated or died in periodic wars that England sent their soldiers to fight in. Olivia had two brothers with their families in Australia, and they’d urged her to follow them there, but Battersea was her home and England her country. She was not interested in sampling another culture.

Her close companion through childhood had been William Adamson who everyone called Billy, but she called Bill. Bill sounded more formal and respectful to her though it was puzzling as a child to understand why teachers in their shared school would read the attendance roll before each class and shout William Adamson and her Bill would acknowledge that name with hand up in the air and shout, he was present.

Bill was not her immediate neighbour in childhood, but they shared a common love of learning and therefor gravitated together. While the rest of the class tended to fool around impatient for the time when they could legally cease studies and go to their ancestral trade or get a job doing something else. Olivia and Bill sat together drinking in knowledge shared through blackboard and books. Her classmates rushed out to play games at recess, and Olivia and Bill would seek out their favourite tree and read until the bell tolled and they were called back to classes again. Olivia liked her space and silence but glanced frequently to where her companion sat feeling the comfort of his presence though they each enjoyed silence as they read.

The two school friends rarely saw each other outside of school hours as children of families were expected to be either engaged in helping in shop or home after school but at school they were rarely seen apart. Many who were not living in the high-rise thought the two of them were brother and sister because they were always seen together outside the building.

It was because of their obvious love of learning the headmaster of the school paid a visit to the Weaver and Adamson parents and asked them to consider letting Olivia and Bill attend higher classes after their graduation leading to a teaching degree. As the Weaver’s fully expected their eldest son would take over their business there was no problem for them accepting that suggestion particularly when it was disclosed their daughter would be given a free scholarship to complete her teaching degree provided, she served for a specified time afterward to repay the debt. The Adamson family on the other hand resisted despite the offer of a free scholarship. Bill was not the oldest, but his help would be needed by their eldest son when the parents decided to retire. But the headmaster was insistent and eventually they too agreed to Bill continuing with his schooling.

The two continued to drink in knowledge presented to them and had the highest grades in class during their progress toward a Bachelor of Arts in education. They worked together after class discussing topics presented and sharing additional sources they individually discovered. Their fellow students assumed they’d eventually get married as they were obviously well suited. But on graduation each was assigned to different schools to teach. Olivia was assigned to the school in Battersea where she grew up and Bill was moved north far from London. They continued to correspond sharing the challenges they faced in each area and seemed to be satisfied with their long-distance relationship. Neither married pouring their lives into their students treated as their own children and students responded to them with love. Occasionally each had the pleasure of seeing a few of those under their care choose to advance themselves but the majority was content to get a basic education and leave to seek work and their fortune as soon as it was legally permissible.

Olivia was still living at home and commuting to school each day. The time came when her parents found operating the shop was more than they could handle as their health deteriorated through age. They tried to insist Olivia leave her teaching and take over running the shop. It had been a practice from back in the Middle Ages for the Weaver family to continue their parent’s legacy and that always went to the eldest son, but their sons were now living in another country, and they were urging parents to make a trip over the ocean to join them where they’d be cared for in their old age. The aging Weaver parents would never dream of leaving this place of their childhood and were bitterly disappointed in their sons for not being willing to carry on the traditions of the family, so they decided to pressure their daughter to take on this traditional responsibility.

But after weeks of pressure, they realized Olivia had no interest in their business and she found fulfilment in nurturing the new generation of citizens. Her parents secretly admired her for that despite their disappointment. Then when that pressure to quit teaching ceased Olivia came up with a solution. They’d rent out that shop and she’d care for her parents needs as they aged. Reluctantly her parents agreed.

The Weaver’s spent their retirement days visiting those who remained from the original inhabitants of this block and sadly watched as each passed to their rest until they too began to lose interest in living. Olivia lovingly cared for her parents as they went through these aging challenges and mourned for them as they went to their rest, firstly her mother died and soon after that her father.

Olivia had all these memories revived as she examined the photo albums in turn. She’d been retired now for two years and was still missing the interaction with her students. Out of all those thousands of students she’d attempted to educate over her productive years a few of them paid her visits which she valued immensely. She was lonely. There’d been a huge turnover in the residents of this high-rise building over the years, and few took the trouble to stop and talk anymore as she’d been used to in her childhood. Residents rushed off to work in the morning and rushed home in the evening locking themselves into their apartments fearful someone might slip through security at the entrance and choose them for some evil purpose. London was now less safe than it had been in her childhood.

Today she’d received a shock. Security had phoned her apartment to ask if she knew a William Adamson as he wanted to pay her a visit. Bill had moved around the UK over a lifetime of teaching but had been faithful each week in sending her a letter reporting on his life. It was one of the few things she had to look forward to now. But in all those years Bill had never visited London. He was a soft-hearted man who gave away most of his salary to the underprivileged or helped struggling students without the means to continue their education so had no money to travel. She wondered if he’d been giving her an honest report in his letters as he seemed to have enough to travel that long distance south to be in London today. She told the security man to send him up then went to the door and opened it peering down the hallway to where the elevator and fire escape stairs were.

She didn’t recognize him as he exited the elevator and paused to study the numbers on the doors to see where her apartment was. He should have known as she’d never left this apartment since childhood, but he seemed uncertain. Then he strode purposefully to where she was standing as he got his bearings and saw her in the distance after such a long time away, he still recognized her. As he approached, she noted he was in good shape for his age, but his hair was greying and that surprised her. Then she reflected her own hair matched his grey now and realized it had been half a lifetime since she’d seen him.

Bill’s face lit up as he approached and confirmed in his mind it was her at the door and his pace quickened. He paused as he reached her uncertain as to what he should say. It had been such a long time, and he’d spent that time dreaming of the day when he could see his Olivia again. He’d never married. Finally, he blurted out what was going through his mind.

“You are still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met Olivia. How do you do that? I’ve missed you so much.”

Olivia blushed.

“How come you found the money to visit London after so many years Bill? You’re always telling me you give your money away in your letters?”

“Some of the former students I helped over the years have been keeping in touch with me and decided to have a reunion at which I was the honoured guest. I stay with one of them who has done very well for himself in life and has constructed a granny flat behind his mansion for my use. He treats me as the father he never had. The reunion took up a collection and made a presentation, and it was enough money to get me here and back with accommodation paid at a fancy hotel of my choice. I’ve been telling them about London and you for so long they want a picture of the two of us together on this trip. I want to take you out to eat with me while I’m here. Would you be prepared to do that Olivia?”

Olivia took his arm and led him inside seating him on her lounge. Bill looked around her apartment and nodded. He noticed the large Christmas tree in the corner with twinkling lights heavily decorated and marvelled that pocket sized Olivia was able to erect that tree all my herself and decorate it.

“You seem to have done well for yourself as a teacher Olivia. You must have struggled to get that tree up so are obviously still very active.”

He reached into the bag he was carrying and extracted a large box Christmas wrapped and went to place it under the tree then returned to the couch while Olivia looked on embarrassed at not having a gift to give him in return. It was the only gift under the tree.

“How does it feel to be retired?”

Olivia shrugged.

“Well, this is my parent’s apartment I inherited and rental from the shop below keeps me comfortable along with a teacher’s pension. What have you been telling your students about me that they want to have a picture. I heard you flatter me when we met at the door, but I know I’m not beautiful Bill.”

She laughed softly and studied the man in front of her on the couch.

“Would you like a cup of tea and some biscuits? I should have asked you as you entered but don’t get very many visitors now so forgot my manners.”

Bill nodded and she got up to go to the kitchen to make tea and put biscuits on the plate. Soon she was back, and they sat sipping tea and studying each other. Bill was quite handsome even at his age, and Olivia marvelled at the fact he’d never married. She’d been approached several times over the early years but had opted to put her all into nurturing her students instead. Being a housewife stay at home mother would prevent her from being a benefit to so many others in life was the reason she gave herself for the refusals.

“I can’t understand why you never married Bill. Don’t you miss having a family?”

“There was no one who could measure up to you Olivia and it wouldn’t have been fair for me to marry someone and always be thinking of you. And just like you my students filled my need for family.”

Olivia’s eyes opened wide as she processed what Bill had said. He’d not marry as his thoughts were only for her. She suddenly felt angry at herself and this man sitting in front of her. They could have spent their life together and been happy. She hadn’t realized that before but reflected if his letters hadn’t come each week she’d have been devastated. She couldn’t let him escape now he was here as she was lonely, and he could take that feeling away. She almost articulated her thoughts but drew back in embarrassment, so they sat sipping tea and just luxuriated in each other’s company as they’d done in childhood. But the feeling of loneliness and Bill being here was too much to hold in. She looked at Bill and he smiled. She detected love in his eyes. It was now or never.

“Bill Adamson, will you marry me? Please don’t return to your life up north as I need you here. I’ve always needed you here and I’m so lonely without you.”

Bill put his tea down on the table in front of him and tears came to his eyes which he attempted to dry on his shirt sleeve without it being noticed.

“I’ve nothing to offer you but myself Olivia otherwise I’d have asked you that question a long time ago.”

Olivia rushed over and sat next to Bill on the couch putting her arms around him.

“Don’t belittle yourself Bill. Your life has enriched so many people, and they obviously appreciate that otherwise you’d not have the money to be here in London, and it appears you’ve picked up a lot of children over the years without a marriage just as I have. I should hate you for not asking me to marry you long ago as I realize I’d have said yes without hesitation, and you didn’t ask. It’s shameful for me to ask you but please don’t disappoint me now.

Bill reached over sighing and placed a lingering kiss on Olivia’s forehead. It sent a fire through her whole being even at her age. She began to tremble wanting more. He whispered in her ear.

“Olivia my hearing must be bad as I can’t recall what our conversation has been about, but I have a question I came specifically to ask you. Will you marry me, Olivia?”

Olivia giggled as she thought how ridiculous his statement was as he certainly did remember what that conversation had been about. But she played along.

“Well, this is so sudden Bill after all it’s a lifetime since we last saw each other. I need to think about this carefully.”

She waited for a few seconds putting on a mock surprised look. Then spoke.

“After very careful consideration I say yes Bill and you are the best Christmas present I could ever have. Thank you for accepting me as a Christmas present in return.”

Copyright Notice

© Copyright 2025 Ian Grice, “ianscyberspace.” All rights reserved.

Disclosure: No form of AI is used in the writing of my copyrighted blogs