When Edward discovered he was the father of twins, a strange numbness settled over him. Before Emilys pregnancy, he had truly longed for childrenthey had planned their future together, dreamed of this new chapter. But the moment she left for the hospital, gifting him unexpected freedom, a chilling thought crept in: perhaps this had all been a mistake.
The first day alone was spent in dull idleness. The next, he wandered to his favorite caféhed always hated cooking. There, amid the scent of fresh pastries and coffee, fate intervened.
He saw *her*Clarissa, the woman of his dreams. The realization struck like lightning the moment she stepped inside. She glanced around, radiant, before gliding to an empty table. His pulse quickened. They talked, and by evening, she was in his home. By morning, doubt gnawed at him: Had he ever truly loved Emily? Had fatherhood been the right choice?
The phone shattered their tranquil dawn. Clarissa wrinkled her nose.
“Who calls this early? Im exhausted.”
Edward checked the screenthe hospital. Reluctantly, he answered.
“Ah. Yes. Twin boys.”
“Ugh, nappies, sleepless nights, no life! Why would you want that?” Clarissa scoffed.
Edward shrugged. “Honestly? Im not sure anymore.”
That evening, Emily called. Edward forced cheer into his voice, but it rang hollow.
“Darling, is something wrong? You dont sound happy”
“Of course I am! Justworks offered me a big promotion, and the boys I worry theyll hold me back. But dont fret, Ill sort it!” he lied.
“Sort it? What do you mean?” Her voice wavered.
He rushed off the call, realizing his slip. Time was shortEmily and the babies would return in a week. He needed a plan.
“Listen,” he muttered to Clarissa, “theres my grandfathers cottage in the Cotswolds. Decent, though remote. Ill send Emily there, say the country airs best for the babies. Promise to visit. Shell buy it.”
“Brilliant!” Clarissa brightened. “Your naive little wifell believe anything! And well be free?”
“Well, not entirely, but no more hiding!”
Edward rehearsed his speech. Emily, predictably, was heartbroken.
“Edward, somethings wrong How will I manage alone in the middle of nowhere with two infants?”
“Youll manage! Ill visit often. You wouldnt want me to lose this job, would you?”
She didnt understand but feared arguing. What if he left her for good? Straight from the hospital, they drove into the unknown. Emily wept quietly, suspecting another woman. But how to ask?
The car halted before a crumbling cottage, swallowed by ivy. Emily gasped.
“Edward, you cant leave us here!”
“I can,” he said coldly. “Stop dramatizing. Its spacious. Ill leave money, sort benefits.”
“So youre leaving us?” Her voice broke.
“Emily, we rushed into this. The children”
He hurled their bags inside, avoiding her eyes, then sped off without a goodbye. Emily stood alone, clutching her wailing babies. What now?
Edward smothered his guilt. Plenty of men did worse. He hadnt thrown them onto the streetshed given them a house! His house! Emily would cope.
As she numbly swaddled the infants on a moth-eaten sofa, a gravelly voice startled her.
“Eh, whatre you loafing about for? Poor mites are sweating!”
She spun. An elderly man stood there, unwrapping the babies with practiced ease.
“Whowho are you?”
“Neighbor. Overheard your chat with that husband of yours. Thought Id check on you.”
“How dare you!”
He cut her off with a look. “Enough. Feed the little ones, clean up. They cant live like this. Ill help. Were not staying long. Edwardll be back”
“Hah! Knew a few Edwards in my time,” the man snorted. “Mind the babies, not him.”
Emily opened her mouth but froze at the squalor around her. She scrambled to tidy, then slumped.
“God, how will we survive?”
The manMichaelgrinned. “No time for moping! Feed em, air em out, then well scrub this place. Youll manage.”
Somehow, she obeyed. By dusk, the cottage gleamed. Michael returned with groceries.
“There! Tea to celebrate. Tomorrow, Ill fetch goats milk from Mrs. Whitby. Theres a crib in the attic too. Eh, chin up! No such thing as hopeless.”
He eyed her. “What dyou do for work?”
“Primary school teacher.”
“Perfect! Half the battles won.”
Weeks blurred. The twins thrived. One day, Michael leaned in.
“Ever thought of tutoring?”
She laughed. “In this backwater?”
“Posh! Countrys no different. Kids here need help. Ive families lined up already.”
She agreed. Michael minded the boys while she taught, even scrounged a twin pram from Mrs. Whitby, whod become a second mother.
Emily knew her feelings for Michael had deepened. But whod want a woman with two babies?
On her birthday, Mrs. Whitby winked.
“Look at you two, mooning like teenagers! Why not wed?”
“No!” they yelped in unison, blushing.
After she left, Michael coughed.
“Emily, dont think I fancy you, truly. But my ex always said I was a failure. Maybe she was rightwhy else would I live here? You deserve better.”
“Rubbish!” Emily snapped. “She was a fool. Youve done more for me than anyone. Never call yourself a failure again.”
She hesitated, then whispered, “And Id never burden you”
“Burden? What nonsense!” Michael sprang up, pacing. “Those boystheyre family! The thought of you leaving Id miss you all the same!”
As he spoke, Emily realized: there were no barriers left. Why resist?
Meanwhile, Clarissa arrived in the village. Edward had chickened out, but shed relish evicting his ex. Sell the dump, renovate their flateasy!
Yet the derelict cottage matched none of Edwards boasts. Whod buy this ruin? She dialed, furious.
“Eddie, you liar! This place is a wreck!”
“What? Emilys tidyshed have fixed it!”
“Its abandoned! Wheres your precious Emily?”
“How should I know? You went there!”
“Waitthere she is! With the boys. And some man. New husband, Ill bet!”
Emily, Michael, and the children walked past, entering a well-kept house nearby.
“Eddie, you gave me the wrong address! Theyre next door!”
“Come home,” he said tonelessly, and hung up.
So Emily was fine. The boys were fine. And he? Stuck with Clarissa forever. No escape now.
Edward lit a cigarette, staring blankly. Storys end. Or ratherfor some, a happy beginning.
He laughed bitterly and stubbed out the cigarette. Time to face reality.
