They say she wasnt truly theirs, those five But who could ever tell?
Ethan lost his wife. She never recovered from the last childbirth.
Grieve or not, five children were left behind. The oldest, Tommy, was nine. Billy was seven. The twins, Alfie and Jamie, were four. And the youngest, little Sophie, barely three months oldthe long-awaited daughter.
No time for sorrow when children are hungry. At night, once they were all asleep, Ethan sat in the kitchen, chain-smoking
At first, he managed as best he could. His sister-in-law came by occasionally to help. They had no other family. She once offered to take Alfie and Jamie, saying itd lighten his load. Then a pair from social services turned up.
They suggested sending all the children to a care home. Ethan wouldnt hear of it. Give away his own flesh and blood? How could anyone live with that? Hard as it was, what choice did he have? Theyd grow up in time.
Sometimes he even found a moment to check Tommy and Billys homework. Sophie, of course, was the most trouble. But Tommy and Billy pitched in where they could.
The health visitor, Mrs. Wilkins, dropped by often, fussing over them. One day, she promised to send a nannyafter all, a man with a newborn couldnt manage alone. A good girl, she said, hardworking. Worked at the hospital nursery.
No children of her own, unmarried. But shed helped raise her siblingscame from a big family in the next village over. And so Lucy arrived in their home.
Petite, sturdy, round-faced, with an old-fashioned braid down her back. And quietnever a word out of place. But everything in Ethans house changed. The place gleamedscrubbed, polished, every corner tended.
She mended the childrens clothes, washed them fresh. Managed Sophie, cooked meals. School and nursery teachers noticed the difference straightaway. The kids were clean, tidy, buttons sewn on properly, elbows no longer threadbare.
Once, Sophie fell ill with a fever. The doctor said shed recover with care. Lucy sat up night after night, never once lying down herself. Nursed the girl back to health. And somehow, without anyone noticing, she just stayed.
The little ones started calling her *Mum*, starved for a mothers touch. And Lucy didnt hold backpraised them, ruffled their hair, hugged them. What else were children for?
The older boys, Tommy and Billy, were wary at first, never settled on a name for her. Eventually, they just called her Lucy. Not *nanny*, not *Mum*just Lucy. As if to remind themselves theyd had another mother once. And honestly, she was barely old enough to be theirs anyway.
Lucys family objected.
*”Why saddle yourself with that lot? Plenty of lads in the village!”*
*”Plenty of lads,”* shed reply, *”but I cant leave Ethan. And the children are used to me now.”*
So, they carried on. Fifteen years slipped by unseen. The children grew, studied. Not all smooth sailingthere were scrapes. Ethan would lose his temper, reach for his belt. Lucy would yank him back, saying, *”Hold on, Dad, lets hear the whole story first”*
Theyd argue, make up, like any family. Soon, no one in the village called her *Lucy* anymore. She was *Mrs. Dawson*, respected. Tommy married last year, expecting his first.
The young couple lived apartTommy worked at the farm, no ordinary tractor driver either. Awards every year, bonuses. Billy was finishing university in the city, and Lucy swelled with pride. *”My boys going to be an engineer.”*
They stuck togetherplayed as kids, stood up for each other when it mattered. Sophie was in Year 9 now, Lucys pride. Sang, danced, no village event without her.
And Ethan often thought how lucky he was Mrs. Wilkins had picked his wife for him
That summer, Lucy felt something off. Never been ill, but nowdizzy spells, nausea. She shooed Ethan and his cigarettes onto the porch, the smell made her queasy. Thought itd pass. It didnt. Finally, she went to the doctor.
Came home quiet, thoughtful. Brushed off Ethans questions*”Nothing, just nonsense.”*
But that night, once everyone slept, she called him outside.
*”Sit down, Dad. Need to talk Know what the doctor said? Im expecting. Too late to do anything nowhave to keep it.”* She covered her face. *”The shame of it”*
Ethan just stared. All these years, no childrenand now?
*”What shame, love? The older ones are nearly gone. Just the two of us left? Natures sorted it right! Well manage.”*
*”How do we tell the kids? Theyll say Im too old”*
*”Too old? Youre thirty-nine!”*
*”I dont know what to do”*
*”Fine. Ill tell them. Tomorrow, when theyre all here.”*
And he did. Gathered them at the table and said it plain. *”Listen, my lovesyoure getting a brother soon. Or sister. Thats that.”*
Lucy stared at her plate, flushed to her ears.
Tommy, visiting with his wife, burst out laughing. *”Brilliant, Mum! Crack on! They can grow up with ours!”*
Alfie cheered. *”A brother! Go on, Mum!”*
Jamie shook his head. *”Naha girl. Too many lads here. Sophies spoiled rotten.”*
Sophie shot him a look. *”Spoiled? You wish.”* Then, beaming: *”A girl, Mum! Ill do her hair, buy pretty dresses!”*
*”Dresses? Shes not a doll,”* Billy cut in. *”Child needs raising too.”*
*”Well raise them,”* Ethan said.
But Lucy still hid her growing bumpunder a shawl, a coat in summer heat, like she was cold.
The months passed. Tommys son arriveda boy! Billy went back to uni, holidays over. Alfie and Jamie left tooenrolled in agricultural college.
Sophie started school. The house fell quiet, empty. She was always outlessons, friends. Some lad had started walking her home from Sunday dances.
Lucy waited up one night, anxious. Thenpain. Sharp, blinding.
*”Ethan,”* she whispered, *”Ethan, I think its starting.”*
He paled, fumbled with his shoes. *”Hold on, loveambulance!”* He yelled for Sophie. She understood, bolted out.
Two minutes later, she was back. *”Mum, Tobys fetching his dads carwait!”*
*”Toby, eh?”* Another stab of pain.
*”Mum! Whats happening?”*
Five minutes later, the lad who walked Sophie home stepped in. *”Dads driving you,”* he told Sophie. *”Coming?”*
*”Im coming.”* Ethan grabbed his jacket. *”Dont fret, Lucy. Im here.”*
All night, Ethan smoked on the hospital steps. At dawn, a nurse emerged.
*”Waiting, Dad? Smoking? Better cut backseventh one, is it?”*
*”Fifth,”* he mumbled.
*”Blimey! Well, now its seven. Twins!”*
*”T-twins?”*
*”Boy and girl! Lads a right screamer.”* She laughed. *”Girls a beauty. Go home, love. Come back tomorrow. Shell stay a bit. Bring whats needed. Got it?”*
*”Aye.”*
On discharge day, the whole family gathered. Even the students skipped classes. The nurse brought out two bundlesone in blue ribbon, one in pink. Lucy followed, flustered.
Ethan took one, hesitated over the other.
*”Forgot how to hold two”*
Tommy stepped in. *”Give it here, Dad. Not my first time.”*
Sophie peeked into the pink bundle. *”Oh, shes gorgeous! My little sister!”*
Flowers and cake handed to the nurse (as was proper), they piled into the farm vanmanager had lent it. Special occasion, after all.
*”Mum, youve outdone yourself!”* Tommy grinned.
Lucy cradled one bundle, smiling softly. Theyd raise them right, God willing. She glanced at Ethan holding the other.
*”Well raise them,”* she corrected herself. *”Course we will.”*
*”Kids,”* she said, *”what should we name them?”*
Chaos eruptedeveryone shouting suggestions
