I had no idea she existed until today. It’s not like I could just send her off to an orphanage. She’s my daughter,” the man said.
Emily was preparing dinner, humming to herself. Finally, she’d have good news for Simon. They’d been together for ten years. At first, they hadn’t rushed into having children—they were happy just the two of them. Emily had wanted to focus on her career, to gain experience.
She’d dreamed of working for a prestigious firm and had even promised her employers she wouldn’t plan for children anytime soon. The job was excellent, with real prospects for advancement. Emily had proven herself and was up for a promotion. The salary was good, and maternity pay would be decent—now was the time to think about a baby. But it wasn’t so simple. She’d had tests; there was nothing wrong with her or Simon.
“Be patient,” the doctor had said with a reassuring smile. “It happens. You’ve achieved so much professionally—it takes a toll. Try to relax, don’t fixate on it. Just live your life, get plenty of rest. It’ll happen when it’s meant to.” She’d prescribed Emily some vitamins and sent her on her way.
And then, finally, it did. At first, Emily didn’t believe it—surely it was a mistake. She bought two more tests, but the result was the same. She waited another week, unable to contain herself any longer, and went to the clinic for confirmation. She and Simon were going to have a baby! Tonight, she’d surprise him, and they’d celebrate.
As she fried the meat, she listened to her body. It was too early to feel anything, but she imagined she could sense the new life growing inside her. More than once, she lifted her top in front of the mirror, scrutinising her still-flat stomach in disappointment.
The hob had been off for ages, the kettle had gone cold, but Simon still wasn’t home. He wasn’t answering his phone. Finally, the front door clicked open. From the sound of footsteps, Emily could tell he wasn’t alone. She sighed—her surprise would have to wait. This was private, something just for the two of them.
She stepped into the hallway and froze. Standing there was a girl, about ten years old, with a stubborn, guarded expression. Behind her, Simon avoided Emily’s eyes.
“Sorry I’m late. I had to pick up Lily,” he said, his gaze fixed on the back of the girl’s head.
“Who is this? Why did you bring her here? Why didn’t you call?” The questions tumbled out before Emily could stop them.
“Let’s talk in the living room. I’ll explain everything,” Simon said, gently nudging the girl forward.
Emily stayed rooted to the spot, staring at their retreating backs. When she finally entered, they were already sitting side by side on the sofa. She took a chair, needing to see their faces. The girl glanced at her indifferently before turning to the window.
“This is Lily. My daughter,” Simon said. He looked embarrassed, guilty, and yet resolute.
“Your daughter? I don’t understand.”
“I only found out about her today. Her grandmother called—she’s going into hospital. She asked me to take Lily.”
“And you just assumed she’s yours?” Emily asked skeptically.
Simon hesitated. “Everything adds up. We can do a DNA test, but… I’m sure she’s mine. Either way, she’ll stay with us while her grandmother’s in hospital. She’s got no other family—her mother died in a car crash six months ago. Em, let’s eat first, then I’ll tell you everything.” He glanced at the girl, who sat quietly beside him.
Emily stood abruptly and marched to the kitchen. Everything in her rebelled against what Simon had said. But she couldn’t just turn a child out onto the street. *This is temporary, just a few days. It’s a nightmare—it can’t be real.* Simon and the girl came in and sat at the table. Emily served the roast beef and potatoes but didn’t touch her own plate. The girl pushed the meat aside, only eating the potatoes.
“You don’t like meat?” Simon asked. She shook her head. “What do you like, then?”
“Spaghetti and sausages,” she mumbled without looking up.
“Well, *sorry*. Your dad didn’t warn me he’d be bringing you home,” Emily snapped, her anger spilling over.
“Emily, that’s enough,” Simon said sharply.
She slammed the kettle onto the hob and stormed out of the kitchen. She could hear them talking, Simon washing up for the first time in years. When he came into the bedroom, Emily was sitting on the bed, arms crossed, staring out the window. He tried to embrace her, but she shoved his hand away.
“It’s time for Lily to sleep,” he said.
“Make the bed.” Emily yanked spare sheets from the cupboard. The girl hovered by the wall, watching them from under her lashes. Once Lily was settled, Emily and Simon shut themselves in the kitchen. He explained his past with the girl’s mother.
“It ended before I met you. I hadn’t seen her since. Then today, out of nowhere, her mother calls and tells me about Lily.”
“But why didn’t you warn me? Why just bring her here? Do my feelings not matter?” She almost blurted out her own news—*We’re going to have a baby!*—but bit her tongue.
“Em, I was in shock. I couldn’t leave her. Her grandmother’s dying. What was I supposed to do? Dump her in an orphanage? She’s my daughter.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” Emily hissed, barely keeping her voice down.
“I’ll get a paternity test. But for now, she stays,” Simon said firmly.
*You’ve decided. If I don’t like it, tough.* The message in his eyes was clear. Maybe he didn’t even want the baby she was carrying now.
That night, she turned her back on him. How could anything be normal with a stranger—possibly his daughter—sleeping in the next room? She wanted to scream. Emily knew their lives had changed forever, and there was nothing she could do.
The mutual dislike between her and Lily only grew. They avoided each other, barely speaking when alone. Lily did her homework or played on her tablet; Emily retreated to the kitchen. Resentment festered. Why now? Just when she’d finally gotten pregnant? Fine, let the girl stay—but her own child would be the one to get her love.
On Saturday, Simon left early for the garage. Emily made lunch, then suggested Lily go outside to play. The girl obeyed, pulling on her shoes. But in the courtyard, she hung back, watching the other children without joining in.
A wave of nausea hit Emily. She stepped behind the bare shrubs, and when she returned, Lily was gone. None of the other mums had seen her. Emily ran through the estate, calling her name, but Lily had vanished.
“How could you lose her? Where do we even look?” Simon shouted when he arrived after her frantic call.
“Don’t yell at me! She’s not my responsibility! She’s old enough to know better! I only looked away for a second—take her with you next time!”
“Is this your girl?” A woman approached, leading Lily by the hand.
“Where were you?” Emily snapped.
“Emily, let me,” Simon cut in. “Lily, why did you leave?” His voice was calm, but his eyes were stern.
“I… I thought I saw Mum. I followed her. But it wasn’t her.”
“You can’t just wander off,” Emily couldn’t stop herself. “What if something happened? What if you’d been hit by a car?”
“She looked like Mum,” Lily whispered, tears welling up.
Simon sighed. “We were worried. Let’s go home.”
Emily had been ignoring a dull ache in her belly—now it sharpened, coming in waves. She bit her lip, gripping the bannister as they climbed the stairs.
“What’s wrong?” Simon frowned.
“My stomach…” she gasped.
Another pain doubled her over.
“Call an ambulance…”
Simon carried her inside, laid her on the sofa, and dialled 999. Lily clung to him, wide-eyed. Everything blurred—doctors palpating her abdomen, urgent questions.
“We need to get her to hospital. She’s miscarrying. Simon, help with the stretcher. Lily, pack what she’ll need.”
“Miscarrying?” Simon went pale. “Emily, you’re pregnant? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was going to… Then you…” She couldn’t finish.
They followed the ambulance in Simon’s car, sirens wailing. Hours later, a doctor emerged with the words no one wanted to hear: *I’m sorry. We couldn’t save the baby.*
Simon forgot about Lily, rushing to Emily’s bedside.
“I didn’t know—”
“If you had, what then? It’s *her* fault I lost my babyBut as the years passed, the pain softened, and Emily found herself tucking Lily in at night, listening to her stories, and realizing—with quiet surprise—that love had grown where she’d once planted only resentment.
