Start your week's reading with this touching complete Story by Kate Mortimer .sx Which Way To Happiness ?sx .sx Rob and Judy had reached a crossroads in their marriage .sx .. and the decision they made would make or break their future together .sx AS Judy Adams hung up the 'closed' sign outside the glass panel of the front door , she decided that she would no longer put off asking Rob what was troubling him .sx Sometimes , she felt she knew him so well .sx And yet .sx .. She wondered whether anybody ever really knew anyone - even their nearest and dearest .sx They'd married seven years ago , when she was twenty-one and he had already become a well-established accountant at the age of thirty .sx But for the last two years , ever since events had led them to this glorious , small town in the Yorkshire Dales , he had seemed as thankful , as confident , and as blissfully content as she was .sx Until this past week .sx Until , in fact , he'd had that letter from Joe , his former colleague .sx It had been a busy evening , she reflected as she cleared the condiments and mats from the tables .sx Turning the ground floor of their home , Adams' Haven , into a restaurant had been one of the best ideas they'd ever had .sx Judy stacked the remaining coffee cups and oddments left by the last customers and carried the tray into the kitchen where Robert was finishing the washing up .sx " A good day , " he said as she put the tray down .sx " Didn't we have a fascinating mixture of customers tonight ?sx That geologist professor and his wife were terrific - and didn't Dr Muir and his wife enjoy it all ?sx " .sx " Yes , " Judy agreed .sx " It's great the way we seem to attract the locals as well as the tourists .sx " She paused and looked at her husband .sx " Rob , " she chided gently , " you're bothered about something , aren't you ?sx Are you .sx .. are you beginning to have regrets .sx .. do you think it's too soon to start taking overnight guests ?sx " .sx " No .sx " He straightened up and turned to face her .sx " It's just that .sx .. " .sx " Just what ?sx " Judy persisted .sx She had to know .sx She couldn't - wouldn't - tell him her own news until he told her .sx " Well ?sx " She studied his face earnestly .sx " It .sx .. it's something Joe told me in his letter .sx It's a bit of a problem .sx Listen , you go upstairs to the sitting-room , get the log fire going and as soon as I've stacked this lot , we'll talk about it .sx " .sx AS she waited for the fire to catch , Judy went and stood in the gay window , facing the main street of Dingley .sx It was too large a place to be called a village , but too small to be called a town .sx She had grown to love it though , just as she loved the house , with the same strength that one loves human beings .sx Not far from here , she reflected , it had all begun for me and Rob .sx It was on that crazy day when we first met on the train !sx .sx Or rather , off a train on the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway .sx Judy had been travelling alone , on holiday from her job in an Edinburgh hotel .sx The friend who was going to come with her had developed appendicitis , but Judy had decided to go ahead .sx She decided to leave the train to take a closer look at the Ribblesdale Viaduct , but had forgotten that the train steps were much higher than the platforms on this route .sx So , as Rob would often tease her , she'd literally thrown herself at him , falling out of the carriage and into his arms .sx " Remember about the step next time , " he'd told her .sx " I will , and thanks a million , " she'd said , before wandering off on her own .sx Her rescuer re-joined his group of friends .sx But they'd caught her up - a happy , easy-going , warm-hearted lot - and had adopted her .sx They'd taken her along with them on a trek through the Dales which she would never have tackled alone .sx And Rob was clearly glad of her company .sx Now , of course , she could see that it had all been inevitable .sx " You and I were born - destined - for each other .sx I knew from the moment I caught you in my arms .sx I was sure that there would only be you , for ever .sx " .sx Yes , she'd felt it too , that wondrous feeling of being able to talk to someone about absolutely anything - or be silent without any sense of strain or embarrassment .sx Her only moment of doubt had been on his first visit to her home in Edinburgh .sx It had been a shock , really , because at first she hadn't recognised the smartly-dressed young man who had jumped out of the train wearing a navy-blue pin-striped suit , perfectly-tied grey tie and shining black shoes .sx But of course , Assistant Personnel Managers of large companies could hardly go to work in hiking gear .sx " Or , " as Rob had told her , " to meet his future in-laws .sx " .sx " I'm still the same underneath , " he'd teased .sx Her parents had taken to him at once , as , later , his own folk had welcomed her .sx Sometimes , after they were married and she had joined Rob in London , Judy was afraid that it was all too good to be true .sx Their happiness was too perfect .sx Then the blow struck .sx She could still hear Rob's cracked voice .sx " I don't know what's been going on .sx But the firm .sx .. it's gone bankrupt and we're all out on our ears .sx " .sx They were numb with shock during the weeks which followed .sx Despair encompassed them , as Rob's chances of a similar job grew less and less .sx One day , when their future seemed hopeless , Judy had an idea .sx " Let's go back to the beginning , to where we started , " she suggested .sx " Just for a weekend .sx " .sx " OK , " Rob agreed wearily , " Though I can't see how it'll solve anything .sx " .sx But it worked .sx Wandering down Dingley High Street , from the Youth Hostel , they had seen this house .sx It was forlorn , almost ruinous , but had a good slate roof and strong walls .sx " It has been empty for ages , " the postmistress told them .sx " Needs a lot doing to it , " she said .sx " That's why it really is going for a song .sx " .sx " Rob , it would make a marvellous restaurant , " Judy said excitedly .sx " Maybe in time we could even develop and take guests .sx .. all my hotel experience would come in useful .sx " And tourists do come down this road in droves - walking , biking , motoring .sx Of course it's crazy and yet .sx .. " .sx Living in a one-roomed apartment near London , they had saved hard from Rob's good salary , and from Judy's - she had a job in a hotel nearby .sx I KNOW what you're doing - taking a trip down Memory Lane !sx " .sx Bob's voice broke into her reverie , for she hadn't heard him coming upstairs .sx " Yes , " she said thoughtfully .sx " Thinking of the gamble we took , of how both our families backed us up to the hilt , coming here in droves to help with the renovations !sx We saved Adam's Haven - brought it back to life - and now , even the locals seem to love us !sx " .sx Rob sat down in the big armchair beside the fire and held out his arms .sx Without a word , she snuggled down on his lap .sx He took the letter from his pocket and handed it to her .sx With her heart beating fast , Judy read it .sx It seemed that Joe , after a series of odd jobs doing all sorts as Rob had done , had at last landed another accountancy job .sx It's an office equipment business , he wrote .sx Actually they're a bunch of whizz kids but pleasant with it - not like the last lot !sx .sx Sarah's thrilled because , like me , she's a real city type .sx She's been scared we might end up in the back of beyond like you and Judy !sx Well , of course we loved coming to see you , but holidaying in a place isn't the same as living there .sx .. .sx So he went on , describing everything about the job , until the final paragraph .sx The point of all this , Rob , is that this firm is advertising for a Personnel Manager and I thought you might be interested .sx I'll enclose a copy of the advertisement so you can follow it up .sx I'm sure you and Judy would be thankful to get back to civilisation with a good job , security , good pay .sx .. .sx " Civilisation , " Judy murmured .sx " All the racket , the hassle , the traffic of London is civilisation .sx ..? " .sx She stopped .sx Looking at Rob she suddenly understood , a cold dread creeping into her heart .sx " You are interested ?sx " she whispered .sx " You want to return ?sx " .sx " I... I don't know , " he said hesitantly .sx " I've never even thought about it .sx " .sx Suddenly , Judy remembered one of her father's favourite quotations , something about 'opposition strengthens that which is opposed .sx ' .sx If Rob was even slightly interested , she shouldn't try to stop him from having a go .sx Maybe he wouldn't get the job anyway .sx Maybe he wouldn't want it .sx She remembered how he had said on their honeymoon , up here in the Dales where they'd met , " If only we could stay up here for ever .sx If only we didn't have to go back to the din and dirt of London .sx Oh , Judy , I've always longed to live in the country - always .sx " .sx But now - had he really , deep down , been missing the old life in a busy office ?sx " If you have the faintest notion you might like it , " she managed to say steadily , " you should go back and give it another go .sx " .sx He smiled faintly .sx " But you've always said it's a mistake to turn back , that we must always go forward .sx " .sx " I know .sx But if you don't go , maybe later on you'll wish you had tried it and regret would be awful for you .sx " .sx She leaned forward and held his hands tightly .sx For a few fleeting moments , she was tempted to tell him her news .sx But she chose not to .sx It might influence him , one way or the other .sx No , that must wait .sx " Apply for it , Rob , " she told him .sx " If you go for an interview and they offer you the job , you'll know whether you really want to go back to city life .sx You might as well write away for it .sx You'll only be unsettled until you do something !sx " .sx " All right , " he said at last .sx " But there's one thing , Judy .sx If they do offer me the job , I won't accept it until you and I have talked it through .sx " .sx " Bless you , " she said .sx But only she knew how much it had cost her to encourage him .sx THROUGHOUT a long and sleepless night , Judy hoped she had been right , advising him to go ahead .sx She wondered whether , lately , she'd not noticed that Rob had been growing restless .sx Or was it that Joe's letter had awakened something that had been there , dormant , all along ?sx Somehow , they both got through the next day , having agreed to say no more about it unless Rob heard from the firm .sx But when the phone rang at 10 a.m. on Tuesday morning , Judy felt instinctively it was about the job .sx It was .sx Rob was being asked about an interview .sx " Any time convenient to you , " Rob said politely .sx " Whatever's most suitable , " he said .sx " Tomorrow morning at eleven o'clock will suit me fine , " he added a moment later .sx Then Rob rang Joe and arranged to meet him for lunch afterwards , before catching the train back north .sx " Couldn't you possibly come with me ?sx " he asked Judy .sx " We have that archaeological group coming , " she reminded him .sx Besides , she thought , around the time of your appointment I have one , too - with Dr Muir .sx A storm was raging , and it was raining stair-rods when Rob went off early next morning to pick up the fast train at the junction .sx Thank heaven he had made it , Judy thought .sx I have a very busy day ahead of me !sx .sx Whatever happened , she decided , at least they'd had a go up here and succeeded beyond their wildest dreams .sx It had been a wonderful experience which they'd never forget .sx It was just at lunchtime that the coach broke down , and its occupants 'invaded' Adams' Haven - a group of schoolchildren on a geology project .sx The other people who worked in the restaurant joined in all the talk , answering a barrage of questions .sx