Charlotte grew up an orphan despite both her parents being alive. While shed caught a glimpse of her mother only in photographs and the odd video call, her father lived just next doorbut he never so much as acknowledged her, playing the part of a ghost in her upbringing.
Charlotte was certain her father avoided looking her way, as though eye contact alone would mean he owed her some kindness.
There was a time Charlotte resented her mother for chasing her own happiness and leaving her daughter behind. Lately, though, understanding had crept in. It couldnt have been easy, raising a child at just sixteenespecially when the childs father was a mere classmate and, awkwardly, the boy next door.
At the very least, her mother hadnt balked at the idea of motherhood completely, for Charlotte could have easily never existed at all. Her mother had left her as an infant in the care of her grandparents. In spite of all, Charlotte felt gratefulshe often wondered how different her life might have been had she grown up with a mother utterly bereft of maternal warmth.
Instead, she was cocooned in the affection of her grandparents. They cherished her beyond words, and every wish was fulfilled, every scrape attended to. Her mother, Abigail, sent packages from London now and againstylish dresses, the latest toys.
And when Abigail married a foreigner, the parcels and bank transfers only increased. Sometimes, Charlotte had the impression her mother was trying to buy forgiveness, paying off old guilt like an outstanding tab.
On her eighteenth birthday, Abigail even wired money for her grandfather to purchase a small flat in the city. After all, university beckoned and it was far better to have a little flat to call her own than share a boxy room in a student hall.
Step by step, Abigail went about quietly making it clear: everything she did was for Charlottes sake.
To her grandparents surprise, Charlotte harboured no grudge against her mother, yet she felt no special affection either.
On the rare occasions Abigail returned home, strangers often mistook them for sistersthe likeness between them uncanny, with Abigails careful poise and youthful glow easily passing for no more than twenty-five, though she was already thirty-four.
So, Charlotte, what do you say? Will you come back to London with me? Abigail would ask.
No, I still have my studies, Charlotte replied quietly.
Abigail smiled. Keep at it, clever girl Heres my new number. If you need anythingmoney, whatevercall me, any time of day or night.
Thank you, Mum. Youve given me so muchclothes, more than enough money. Ill be alright for a good while, honestly.
Charlotte failed to notice the flinch in Abigails posture at the word Mum. To this day, Abigail had never settled into the role of a parent. In fact, she’d lied to her husband abroadtelling him she sent money home to help her own parents and little sister, never confessing she had an adult daughter in England.
Abigails care for Charlotte was a distant, almost perfunctory kinda fondness youd reserve for a close relative, not a child who once grew in your arms.
But when Abigails husband left hera man shed thought would never do so, whod chosen a woman from his own country over herAbigail returned to Charlotte, first and foremost.
Charlotte, darling, would you mind dreadfully if I stayed with you for a bit?
Of course not, Mum. Im getting married soon, anyway. After the wedding, Alex and I will be living together.
Married? Dont you think youre jumping the gun? Youve only just turned twenty!
Jumping the gun? Charlotte almost retorted, You had me when you were sixteen, but she bit it back. As an adult, she could make her own choicesshe didnt need her mothers blessing to marry when she wished, to whom she wished.
She often compared her future in-laws to her own mother; the former welcomed her as family, while her mother didnt seem the least bit interested in who her daughter was to marry.
Ill come for the wedding, Abigail declared. But first I need to resta bit of sun in Greece will do me good.
Greece? I bet its lovely there Charlotte mused wistfully. Alex was often in Greece himself, conducting businessand only yesterday, hed gone for more negotiations.
As the wedding drew nearer, Charlotte felt drained. She poured herself into the arrangements, hoping for a joyful daythe day shed always dreamed of. Alexs business kept him away longer than planned, and her mother, once vanished, hadnt rung once. Charlotte was left alone with her thoughts, uncertain what all the silence meant.
Yet she clung to her happy secrethow thrilled Alex would be to learn hed soon be a father!
Charlotte hadnt precisely planned to get pregnant before the wedding, but with the ceremony just days away, no one would think their marriage was a fix.
At last, Alex returned.
Finally, Charlotte teased, covering nerves with laughter. I thought youd fallen in love with a Greek girl and changed your mind about the whole thing!
Dont be ridiculous. You know Im not one for affairs on the side.
Which was, of course, a liehis guilty secret.
What followed was a collision of confessions and betrayals, the sort Charlotte had only seen in films. Everything unravelled at once.
The truthanother woman, a night in Greece, a child on the waysplintered Charlottes world.
She stood in the midst of the living room, hands trembling, heart in her throat.
What are you both hiding from me? Im carrying Alexs child! He was supposed to tell you!
Say that again? Youre pregnant with my husbands child? Is this some sick joke? demanded a womans voice.
Do I look like Im joking? We met in Greece, spent fiery nights together, and hereruining your bloody weddingAlex, tell her the truth! Tell her how amazing it was with me!
Out! Both of youget out! I dont want to see either of you again! Charlottes voice cracked.
Charlotte, forgive me, it was a mistake
The mistake was marrying someone capable of such betrayal!
Charlotte filed for divorce. She never forgave her husband, nor did she speak to her mother again.
She returned to the quiet village of her childhood, to her grandparents who had always loved her best. There, she carried her pregnancy to term and welcomed a son into the world.
She heard nothing more of her mother or ex-husband, nor did she wish to.
Then, a month after her sons birth, the phone rang. It was the hospital, a crisp voice barely concealing its sympathy.
Are you Charlotte Foster? Daughter of Abigail Foster?
Yes Is something wrong?
Im sorry. Your mother passed away during childbirth. Shes left behind a little girl. We wondered if youd consider taking the baby. Shall we begin adoption procedures or will you come for her?
IIll come.
Charlotte took in her half-sister. She simply couldnt do otherwise, not with her heart.
Alex never came for the girl, blaming Abigail for everything, pretending it had nothing to do with himself.
Charlotte, for her part, believed the blame lay on both their heads. Above all, though, she knew one thing as certain as rain in spring: no child should pay the price for the sins of their elders.
Children are a blessingher own happiness. And in her world, happiness was something one could never have too much of.
