When she was younger, Lucy was the most beautiful woman in a town near Dublin and everyone sought after her, but only one had her heart: Sam. They were very happy together but a rumor in town separated them. One day, Sam was in a tailor shop when he noticed a device used for measuring ring size. He asked the woman at the counter to show him how it worked, and while she was demonstrating, two other women saw and began telling the town that the two were engaged. Lucy heard from her sisters that Sam was engaged, and when she confronted him and learned the story she was hurt by it, so when she returned home, Lucy confirmed that it looked like Sam was engaged, setting the marriage in stone. Years later, Mona has died from an illness and Lucy is immediately aware that her long-lost love is single again, though she feels it's inappropriate to reach out to him immediately after the death of his wife. Sam, however, does not have the same hesitations, saying that Mona had even encouraged him to find another person to marry once she died. Nonetheless, Lucy says they must wait until the year ends before even considering marrying, but Sam kisses her and gets her promise to marry. February rolls around and the two get married. They decide to go to Dublin for their honeymoon, and on the train, Lucy hears more about Mona, which makes her uncomfortable. Lucy learns that Mona had several miscarriages and regretted marrying Sam because she thought she wasn't a proper wife if she couldn't bear children. Then, Lucy learns that her name was brought up in their house often, Mona always knowing that she had accidentally taken Sam from her and that Lucy was the most gorgeous woman of their age. Mona had even slyly told Sam that he could marry Lucy, knowing that the two would've married all along had it not been for the rumor. Lucy starts panicking upon hearing all about Mona and her utter kindness. She excuses herself from their train car and goes near an exit on the train, at first debating to throw herself out, then her ring that she now realizes looks pre-owned, and then herself again. Finally, she returns to Sam, who beat all the other men who had been pining for Lucy solely on account of his heart of gold.