“I won’t give you up. I won’t let anyone take you away.”
“May I?” A girl peeked through the slightly ajar office door.
“Appointments are over for today. We only see patients by booking.”
The girl’s face seemed faintly familiar to Margaret Williams. She had a good memory for faces. But she was certain this girl had never been her patient before.
“I’m sorry, but there are no openings with you until the end of the month,” the girl said.
“New slots open Monday for the next fortnight. Or you could book with another doctor,” Margaret offered wearily.
Her colleagues at the clinic often resented how many women specifically requested appointments with her.
“I wanted to talk to you.”
And then Margaret recognised her…
***
“Hello!” Ingrid burst into the office without knocking, trailing the scent of expensive perfume.
“Ingrid, how many times must I tell you to knock? There could have been a patient in here!”
“The hallway’s empty. So, you’re free,” her friend replied with a careless smile. “Let’s go to the café? I need to tell you something.”
“Say it here. Why must we go to a café?”
“Just looking at that torture chair makes my stomach clench. How can you work here?” Ingrid wrinkled her perfect nose.
“Let me remind you, I help bring children into the world. Don’t you think that’s important? Fine, I’ll change.” Margaret disappeared behind the screen.
“Still couldn’t help yourself, could you?” Ingrid murmured.
“That’s low, bringing that up,” Margaret snapped from behind the screen.
“Sorry, Maggie. I was being stupid.”
“Fine. You’re buying coffee and cake.” Margaret stepped out, forcing a smile.
The café was next door, frequented by clinic staff and patients. In the evenings, it filled with younger crowds, but now it was quiet. They took a free table and ordered.
“You wanted to talk?” Margaret prompted once the waiter left.
Ingrid fumbled in her bag for her phone.
“Out with it,” Margaret pressed. “Are you pregnant?”
“God, no. Raising Oliver’s daughter is enough. I never thought someone else’s child would be so difficult. She’s impossible. Was I like that?”
“Ingrid, stop stalling. I’m tired and want to go home.”
The waiter brought their order. After a sip of coffee, Ingrid scrolled through her phone before silently passing it to Margaret.
“Look.”
“John. So what?” Margaret tried to hand it back.
“Look closer. Who’s with him?” Ingrid narrowed her eyes, as she always did when upset.
“Some girl. What’s your point?”
“Keep swiping.”
Margaret did. The next photo showed John helping the girl into her coat, his arm around her. Then… they were kissing.
“Recognise the place?” Ingrid’s tone held no triumph—only regret.
Margaret lifted sorrowful eyes to her.
“Why show me this?”
“So you’d know. Forewarned is forearmed. John’s cheating. I found out by chance. Oliver’s friend was celebrating his birthday at that restaurant. I stepped out and saw him. At first, I thought you were nearby. Then that girl appeared. He didn’t even notice me. You should’ve seen the way he looked at her.”
Margaret stood abruptly.
“Maggie, I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have shown you. But I thought you should know,” Ingrid said, jumping up.
Margaret waved her off and walked out. The cold air hit her lungs as she gulped it down, heart pounding. She barely registered her surroundings, the last image burning in her mind.
Fifteen years married. And still no child. John had been patient at first, but they’d stopped discussing it. She’d seen the joy in his eyes when playing with friends’ children.
She’d known this might happen. What did she expect? He wanted children. She couldn’t give him any. But she wasn’t ready for his betrayal.
By the time she reached home, she’d steadied herself. John wasn’t back yet. She sat before the TV, staring blankly. She didn’t hear him come in.
“You’re home already?” he asked, stepping into the room.
“Obviously. It’s nearly nine. Why are you so late?” Her voice was tight.
“Work ran late…” He loosened his tie, undoing his top button.
“With her?” Margaret held out her phone.
John glanced at the screen. His hand froze.
“Were you following me?” He jerked at his collar, popping a button.
“Hardly. Ingrid saw you at the restaurant by chance.”
“Photoshop. Look, she’s young enough to be my daughter. Ingrid’s really outdone herself.”
His unease didn’t escape her.
“Don’t tell me she seduced you. Be a man and admit it. You want children, and she can give them to you. Or has she already?” Margaret’s voice cracked. “Don’t torture us both. She must be jealous. Go to her.”
John approached her.
“I’m sorry. I thought you’d scream, throw things. But you…”
“Go. Before I prove you right.”
He left. Margaret grabbed a half-finished bottle of brandy, poured a generous measure into a mug, and drank. The burn made her cough. She gulped water, then drank more.
The next morning, she woke with a throbbing head. She considered calling in sick but decided work would distract her.
Two days later, John returned.
“I thought it’d be better to collect my things with you here. I won’t sneak around like a thief.”
“Fine. Take them. Where are you living?” She surprised herself with her calm.
“We’ve rented a flat.”
“If it’s serious, we could sell this place. I don’t need all this space.”
“I’ll think about it.”
They spoke as if nothing had happened.
“You look pale. Tired,” Margaret noted.
“Yesterday, I drove home on autopilot. Only realised when I turned onto our street…” John clutched his chest, sinking onto the sofa. His face twisted in pain.
“What’s wrong? Your heart?” Margaret grabbed the phone, dialling 999. Busy.
She rushed to the kitchen, dumped the medicine cabinet contents onto the table, found the Valium, and forced a tablet into his mouth. Redialled.
“Male, 43, heart attack… Please hurry! Just hold on, the ambulance is coming. John, breathe…”
He died en route. Massive cardiac arrest.
At the cemetery, Margaret spotted the girl. She stood apart, wearing sunglasses.
“This is your fault!” Margaret shouted. “Leave him alone!”
Ingrid squeezed her hand.
“Hush, people are watching. Not here.”
Margaret looked again—the girl was gone.
The wake was brief. After ten minutes, Margaret thanked the guests and left.
“I’ll walk with you,” Ingrid offered.
“No, stay. I need to be alone. To say goodbye. They say the departed stay near us at first. I’ll manage.”
Two days later, Margaret returned to work. Life settled into a rhythm. She told herself John had left for his lover—not died. It helped. The anger faded.
***
“Why are you here? What do you want?” Margaret demanded.
“I know I’m the last person you’d want to see.”
“You’re right. I wish you’d never entered our lives.” Margaret moved to the window.
“I’m sorry. John said you were a wonderful doctor,” the girl said, voice trembling.
“John?” Margaret whipped around. “So that’s it. You want an abortion? Thought a baby would tie him to you, but he died. Now you don’t want it.”
“It’s not like that!” The girl’s eyes welled. “I’m too far along. I can’t raise her alone. My father drinks, my mother… She’d never accept me unmarried with a child. I’m still studying. John rented my flat. The lease is up, and I’ve no money—”
“You want money?” Margaret scoffed.
Silence. Then Margaret sat.
“How old are you?”
“Twenty-one.”
“At your age, you should know about contraception.”
“I do. But John wanted a child. He promised to help. He said you… that you couldn’t…”
“How much?”
“Four thousand for three months. The landlady won’t allow a baby. I just need somewhere until…”
“Six months? You don’t show. Boy or girl?”
“Girl.” The girl softened. “John wanted to name her Mary, after his mum.”
“Fine. I’ll give you the money. But book with another doctor. Dr. Olivia Sullivan is excellent. You need proper care. Understood?”
The girl nodded and left.
Ingrid stormed in later.
“You’re seriously giving her money? She’s a con artist! Once won’t be enough—she’ll bleed you dry!”
But Margaret had decided. TheMary grew up loved and cherished, and though life had tested her mothers in different ways, the bond they shared was unbreakable.
