“Please, give me back my son. I’ll give you anything you want,” whispered Nadine, barely mustering the strength.
“Your father won’t just waste away. He’s only forty-three, for heaven’s sake. You think he’ll mourn your mum forever? Hardly. Statistically, there are more single women than men. Some lonely woman will snap him up soon enough. So let’s go to London—don’t get in the way of him rebuilding his life. Or do you want him to live alone for the rest of his days?”
They lived in a quiet town just outside London. In their last year of school, Nadine’s mother was hit by a car. She and her father were shattered. Household chores fell to her, but she managed everything, kept up with her studies, and scored well on her A-levels.
Alice, meanwhile, had always dreamed of leaving their sleepy town for London and begged Nadine to come with her.
“Dad’s still grieving—he hasn’t accepted Mum’s death yet. What if I leave too? No, I can’t abandon him,” Nadine refused.
“Oh, spare me. He’ll be fine. Forty-three isn’t old. You think he’ll weep over your mum forever? Don’t kid yourself. Give it time—some lonely woman will take him under her wing. Come to London. Don’t stand in his way. Or do you really want him to rot alone?”
Alice’s callous words about her father cut deep, but there was truth in them. So Nadine finally spoke to him.
“Go, love. Don’t worry, I’ll manage. London isn’t the other side of the world. If you don’t like it, you can always come back. What’s there for you here anyway?”
So Nadine went off to London with Alice. She could’ve gotten into university, but Alice’s grades were average—no university for her. Nadine didn’t want to leave her friend behind. So, just to keep her company, she enrolled in a teaching college alongside Alice. She could always do a distance-learning degree later. They shared a tiny dorm room.
At first, Nadine visited her father every weekend. But after New Year’s, she noticed a change—he was happier, well-groomed, with a pot of soup and homemade meatballs in the fridge. Had he really cooked all that?
Blushing, he admitted their neighbour, Sarah, had brought food over… and well, one thing led to another. Nadine reassured him she was happy for him, even glad he had companionship. She guessed Sarah stayed away when she visited.
“You’re not kids. Live together—I don’t mind.”
But she visited less, not wanting to intrude.
Alice, meanwhile, barely studied, skipped classes, partied with boys, and sometimes didn’t come back at night. Nadine covered for her, helped with assignments.
“Are you even trying? You’ll get kicked out—or worse, pregnant. Is that what you want?” Nadine pleaded.
“God, you sound like my mum. Relax. I’ve got it under control. Kids aren’t on my radar. Still holding hands with your Michael?” Alice laughed.
She barely scraped through summer exams—only with Nadine’s help. Lately, she’d been distracted, troubled by something.
“What’s wrong? Are you ill?” Nadine asked on the train home.
“What’s wrong? I’m pregnant,” Alice admitted.
“I warned you! What are you going to do?”
“I’m not keeping it. Listen, ask your dad for money. My mum would kill me if I even hinted at it.”
“Are you insane? You said you were careful!”
“Keep your voice down! It was just a couple of times… So, will you ask him?”
“Absolutely not. You could end up sterile. Tell the father—let him step up.”
Alice bit her lip.
“I did. He bolted. My mum raised me alone, always warned me not to make her mistakes. And now…”
“She’ll be furious, but once she sees the baby, she’ll melt,” Nadine reasoned.
“Easy for you to say. You don’t know her. She’ll disown me. Nadine, please—help me.”
Reluctantly, Nadine agreed. Her father would’ve given the money, but she couldn’t bring herself to ask. She couldn’t be part of ending a life. Maybe motherhood would awaken in Alice. The baby was due in spring—just a few months of college left. She’d help Alice. One day, Alice would thank her.
She told Alice the truth—she hadn’t asked.
“Some friend you are!” Alice shrieked.
But Alice never went through with the abortion. Their town was small—everyone talked. By September, it was too late.
At winter break, Alice didn’t go home—her bump was too obvious. But her mother showed up unexpectedly, as if sensing trouble. Alice hid, leaving Nadine to lie.
“She’s working at a children’s home—gaining experience,” Nadine fibbed, face burning.
Her mother left treats, disappointed.
“Why didn’t you tell her? She’d have screamed, then gotten over it,” Nadine scolded later.
“And let her see *this*? No. I’ll leave the baby at the hospital. What would I do alone with a child?”
“You should’ve thought of that earlier. He can *hear* you.”
“Oh, *you* take him, since you’re so perfect,” Alice snapped. “Saint Nadine.”
One February night, Nadine woke to Alice’s moans. She called an ambulance.
“Jones, remember—no babies in the dorm,” the caretaker barked as Alice stumbled out.
Three days later, Alice returned alone.
“Where’s the baby? You left him?” Nadine cried.
“Drop it.” Alice turned to the wall.
A week later, she vanished while Nadine was in class. Calls went unanswered—Alice breezily claimed she was fine. They never saw each other again.
After college, Nadine returned home with her son. Her father and Sarah lived together but gave up their rented flat for her. Close, but separate.
Four years passed.
Nadine worked at a nursery to stay near Tommy. One snowy evening, as he played in drifts, a voice called out.
“Nadine! It *is* you!”
She barely recognised Alice—elegant, in a fur coat, a man beside her.
“Here to see your mum?” Nadine asked, gripping Tommy’s hand.
“This is my husband, Simon. Your boy?” Alice smirked. “Michael finally talked you into it?”
“It’s freezing—we have to go.” Nadine hurried off, pulse racing.
That night, Alice called.
“Tell me the truth—is he mine?”
“He’s *my* son.”
“You never could lie. He looks just like his father.”
“We’ll talk tomorrow. Five o’clock. The café.”
Nadine went, terrified. Alice was alone.
“Where’s Tommy?”
“*Your* son?” Alice arched a brow.
“Yes. *Mine*.”
“How’d you get him? Single women don’t just get handed babies.”
“I persuaded Michael to marry me. Got a note saying I was pregnant—quick registry office job.”
“Clever.” Alice laughed coldly. “We split soon after. He couldn’t handle fatherhood.” Nadine’s voice shook. “*You* said, ‘Take him.’ He wasn’t wanted. He’s *mine* now.”
“I’m not taking him. Yet. But God’s punishing me—three miscarriages. Simon wants a child. His daughter’s sickly. Tommy’s healthy, bright-eyed…”
“You think your husband would accept someone else’s child?”
Alice jerked as if slapped. “He’ll love him. He *wants* a son.”
“I won’t give him up!” Nadine bolted.
“Watch me!” Alice yelled after her.
For days, Nadine jumped at every phone call. Then Alice rang.
“You ruined my life,” she spat. “Simon made me call. If I don’t return Tommy, he’ll leave me.”
“*Where is he?*”
“Meet me. Alone.”
Nadine sprinted to the café. Tommy wasn’t there—until he barrelled into her arms, crying, “Mummy!”
A scuffle broke out—her father restrained Alice.
“Let her go,” Nadine said softly. “She’s suffered enough.”
Alice was freed, swearing she’d never approach Tommy again.
Female friendship dies when women fight over a man—or a son. Alice birthed him and left him. Nadine took him, loved him, and refused to let go.
And Tommy? He didn’t understand. The strange woman took him to a big city, ignored him, and fought with her husband. He played with a quiet, kind girl and missed his real mum—Nadine—terribly.
