The steady and gentle movements of the train must have lulled Saskia to sleep. Startled, she wrenched her eyes open when she heard an indistinct announcement. Her gaze immediately slid outside, realizing that they were already about to arrive at the terminus at King's Lynn.

Saskia quickly got up and put her few things back into her backpack and locked it. She lifted her sports bag down from the rack and opened the sliding door of the compartment. She looked left and right along the narrow corridor and decided to go left, since it was closer to the exit there.

The train entered the station and made a sharp braking. Saskia had her hands full of her bags and almost fell lengthwise if she hadn't pushed herself against another compartment at the last second.

"Idiot!" she scolded loudly. A couple of people already waiting at the exit looked at her strangely. But she didn't really care what others thought about her.

Finally the door of the train opened and people started to get off. Saskia was the last to step down the stairs. She looked along the platform to see if she could spot her cousin. She didn't have to look for long before he came waving wildly at her, shouting in a way that was sure to be heard throughout the station, "SIA!!! Here I am!"

Saskia started laughing and went to meet him. As if anyone could miss him! Her cousin was certainly six feet tall and had a decent belly. No, he couldn't be missed!

She dropped her bags and let herself be pulled into a bear hug. For a long time she stood like that with him on the platform.

"Come on Sia, we're about to go home, I'm hungry!" he spoke, breaking the hug.

"When are you not hungry, Sam?", Saskia giggled in reply, looking at him with eyes glittering with reunion.

"Hmmmm, I don't know, honestly!" he said playfully dumbfounded, scratching his head.

With that, he elicited another small burst of laughter from Saskia. Immediately Sam picked up her bags and carried them for her. Arriving at the rickety car, he put her luggage in the dusty trunk while Saskia got in.

Sam now got in as well and started the engine. Clattering loudly, he drove out of the parking space. "I would have loved to pick you up in the tractor, but you know my wife," he said, rolling his eyes but smiling.

"Sure thing! It doesn't matter, but tomorrow you can take me to the sea with it, it's not far away," Saskia answered and looked out into the passing landscape.

Sam nodded happily, as he would never refuse his dearest cousin a request, and besides, he could check on things right away. Along the sea grazed a small flock of sheep that belonged to him. He had an old, somewhat run-down farm. Sam and his small family did not have much, only the inherited house with the stables and a few animals. It was enough to live on and they were happy, that was all that mattered.

It didn't take long and they were already entering the small town called Wolferton. Saskia became more and more nervous the closer she got to her old home. She was already looking forward to the days with Sam and his family.

Especially the beautiful rural area was her true love. She would love to buy a little house here, but she would have to keep saving for it. Who knows, maybe one day she would meet a nice man who would even want to live here with her. She would go through with her plan anyway, no matter if she found someone or not, at least that was her plan, after all it was her dream.

Lost in thought, she didn't even notice that they had already arrived in front of the house. Loudly screeching, the old car stopped and came to a full stop. Sam pushed open the driver's door and got out. Saskia did the same and went to the trunk to get her things out. The front door was pushed open and Sam's wife and ten-year-old daughter came out.

The little girl cheered loudly and ran towards Saskia, her dirty skirt flying. Saskia immediately turned in her direction and spread her arms. "Hey, how do you look, did you turn the kitchen upside down again?" exclaimed Saskia when she saw the skirt stained with flour dust and dough residue.

Immediately the two embraced, it had been far too long since they had seen each other and Sandy had already grown again.

"We baked a cake for you," she cheered in a bright voice, but then immediately slapped her hand over her mouth, "oh no! Mommy said it was a surprise for you! Now I've spoiled everything."

Saskia saw that little tears were forming on Sandy's face, so she quickly said to her, "Sandy, it doesn't matter, you just surprised me with it, it's okay, little one!" She immediately hugged Sandy tightly to help her calm down.

"You can stop crying already," Sam told his daughter, giving her a quick tousle through her blonde curls.

"You old bully!" hissed Saskia at her cousin, giving him a nasty look.

"With two women in the house, it's not so easy either," he said apologetically, grinning cheekily.

Saskia shook her head but now had to smile as well, she knew how he was and that he never meant those things badly. She took Sandy by the hand, she was now finally going to greet Melly, Sam's wife. The two hugged happily as well. The four of them went into the house, Sam having taken their bags with her.

"I'm going to freshen up, I'll be right back down!" called Saskia to the family. She took her bags and carried them upstairs to her own room. Melly had apparently already aired the room for her, since the window was open.

Immediately the old feelings came over her and Saskia stepped to the window and looked out on the fields that stretched green and lush before her. Immediately melancholy rose in her and she would have liked to cry, but she forbade herself to do so. She didn't want to wallow in old stories that couldn't be changed anyway.

Determined to enjoy the rest of the day, she closed the window and went into the adjoining bathroom to wash her hands and face.

Joyfully, she went back downstairs to the kitchen to take a seat at the dining table, where everyone was already waiting for her. On the table was a small chocolate cake that looked a bit destroyed. Saskia had to smile, she knew exactly that Sandy wanted to do everything alone.

"It looks great, I'm looking forward to having a piece of your homemade cake," she said to Sandy, who immediately looked up in delight.

"I've already tasted the chocolate cream!" the little girl exclaimed with anticipation.

They all courageously grabbed a piece of the moist cake, along with a cup of coffee, and for Sandy there was hot chocolate. After they had finished, they were eager to go to the stable.