You’re Not Alone, My Dear…
“Johnson, are you bringing the child in for feeding?”
“No, I told you. I’m going to sign the form.” The nurse shook her head and left. Zoe turned toward the wall and began to cry. The other mothers in the room exchanged glances and continued feeding their babies.
Zoe had been admitted in the night with labor pains and delivered quickly. A boy, 7 pounds 11 ounces, healthy and handsome. Seeing him, the new mother cried, but her tears weren’t of joy.
“Everything’s alright, why the tears? You’ve got a fine boy, so strong. Did you want a girl, by any chance? Don’t worry, you’ll have a girl next time.”
“I’m going to leave him. I’m not going to take him home.”
“My goodness, why would you do that? Don’t be foolish, you’ve got time to think it over. He’s your child, after all. Surely you care?”
Daisy, Zoe’s roommate, was sitting on the visitor’s bench with her husband in the corridor. She was sharing the story of how their daughter twitched her nose, and they were laughing joyously. A woman with a bag came in and asked to call Zoe. Daisy went to the room and brought Zoe back.
“How are you, dear? And how’s your little one? Have you picked a name?”
“He doesn’t have a name. His new parents can call him whatever they want. I’m leaving him, Mum. We’re all alone in this wide world.”
Zoe buried her face in her hands, trembling with sobs. Daisy felt awkward witnessing the scene and quickly said goodbye to her husband before leaving.
“You’re not alone, sweetheart, you have me. And David’s just a fool, that’s all. His mistress sowed doubt, saying the baby isn’t his, and he just went mad. He’ll come to his senses eventually. I brought you some treats, make sure to eat so your milk is good and rich. Call him Jack.”
Zoe returned to the room and stuffed the bag in the drawer. The corridor echoed with the cries of an infant, piercing and intense. Zoe stepped out into the hallway.
“Is that my baby crying?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Let me feed him.”
The nurse quickly brought the baby over. He was wailing, his face all red with effort.
“Now, don’t cry like that. Mummy’s going to feed you.”
Zoe clumsily tried to guide the crying baby to her breast. Daisy came over and helped her. The child quieted, and nursing began. Zoe’s face lit up with a smile; he was such a funny little guy, huffing and trying so hard.
From that point on, they brought Jack to his mother for every feeding. Zoe enjoyed studying his button nose, his little furrowed brow.
“Zoe, was that your mum who came to see you? Such a lovely lady.”
“No, that was my mother-in-law. My own mum passed away when I was young, and Father drank himself into oblivion. My aunt raised me. Then I married and moved into my husband’s family home. Everything was good until he found someone new. He left, didn’t want to know me. I was just getting used to the idea when my labor started…”
“So, where will you go now?”
“My mother-in-law said I could stay with her. She’s alone; her husband is gone, and her only son ran off. She’s kind and always treated me well.”
“Then go stay there, she can help with the baby, and your husband may come back.”
Zoe did just that. Mrs. Emma Johnson helped with everything and adored her grandson dearly.
When Jack turned a month old, the father showed up. Zoe was out, running errands at the shop.
“Mum, I’m leaving for the North with Kate. Got a job offer there. Just stopped by to say goodbye. And, you know… to ask for some money, if you don’t mind…”
“I do mind. Left your wife while she was expecting, and she nearly gave up the baby out of misery. You rascal… If your father were here, he’d give you a good thrashing for this. I’m not giving you a penny. I have a grandson to care for, he’ll need it more, and you can earn your own.”
Jack started to wail, and Mrs. Johnson hurried to the crib.
“So, you won’t even look at your own son? He’s the spitting image of you.”
“He’s not my son. Zoe’s carrying on with someone else. Why should I care?”
“You’re a fool, David. Go on, live your foolish life.”
Mrs. Johnson retired, and Zoe took over her position at work. Jack started preschool, and the three of them lived happily and comfortably together.
“Emma, isn’t your daughter-in-law planning to leave? It’s odd, a mother-in-law living with a daughter-in-law, having sent her son away.”
“Zoe’s dearer to me than my foolish son, and Jack is my most precious treasure. I live for them, and you, Jane, should mind your tongue.”
Their neighbor, Jane, shook her head and went on her way, not comprehending Mrs. Johnson’s actions. Her own son had always come first, despite his troubles, because that was just his fate.
Mrs. Johnson noticed Zoe sprucing herself up and going out in the evenings.
“Zoe, who’s the lucky one?”
“Who, Mum?”
“The man you’re seeing. Tell me, I’m curious.”
“Oh, we’re just going out for walks. He’s a soldier visiting family, and we met by chance.”
“And does he know about Jack?”
“Of course, he knows…”
“Then bring him around to meet me. If he’s a good man, so be it.”
Alex, Zoe’s acquaintance, brought a basket of berries and a pie his aunt had baked. He gifted Jack a toy car and a football.
The evening was full of laughter, with Alex sharing funny stories. Zoe was laughing so hard, it brought tears to her eyes, and even Mrs. Johnson joined in.
After escorting Alex out, Zoe eagerly asked:
“What did you think? Is he a good man?”
“He is, my dear. Respectful, intriguing, and well-mannered. Most importantly, he loves you. A worthy suitor, don’t let this chance slip by!”
A month later, Alex came to ask for Zoe’s hand in marriage, seeking Mrs. Johnson’s blessing.
“Don’t worry, I will never wrong Zoe or Jack. We’ll live in Cambridge, I have a big house there. We love each other, and Jack feels like my son. Please give us your blessing.”
Mrs. Johnson saw them off to the city, waving as Zoe, Alex, and Jack departed, promising to write and visit. Alone now, she reflected on her life without them.
A year later, David showed up, disheveled and unkempt.
“My goodness, what state are you in, David? Doesn’t Kate do the laundry?”
“No… There’s no more Kate. She ran off with a wealthy guy. We drank away everything, nothing left. Just remembered I have a mother and a home.”
“You remembered just in time, after not caring for years if I was alive or not.”
“She admitted she lied to get me away from the family, and I believed her. I want to meet my son… Where is he?”
“You’ve missed your chance at happiness. Zoe married a good man and is happy. Jack’s legally his now, so you have no son. I’m packing my things, heading to help Zoe, and meet my granddaughter. You stay here and take care of the place, understood?”
Emma Johnson rode the train, contemplating how life can turn unexpectedly. What a blessing it is to be needed, to have someone to support, just as she supported Zoe. Without her help, who knows how their lives might have turned out…
