Dad, do you remember Mary Alexandra Martin? Its too late this evening, but come round to mine tomorrow. I want you to meet my younger brotheryour son. Thats all. Goodbye.
The boy was asleep right outside her door. Elizabeth was taken aback, wondering why a child would be sleeping in a strangers building so early in the morning. With a decade of teaching behind her, she couldnt ignore him. She bent down and gently shook his bony shoulder.
Hey, young man, wake up!
What? he mumbled, awkwardly getting to his feet.
Who are you? Why are you sleeping here?
Im not sleeping. Its just… your doormat is soft. I sat down and mustve nodded off, he replied, apologetically.
Elizabeth had only lived in this building for half a year. Shed bought her flat after divorcing her husband. She barely knew any neighbours, but she could tell the boy wasnt from her building.
He was perhaps ten or eleven, dressed in old but clean clothes, shuffling from one foot to the other, dancing a little on the spot.
Elizabeth realised what he needed: Go on, hurryuse the loo. Im late for work, she said, unlocking her door for him.
He eyed her warily with his striking pale blue eyes.
What an unusual colour, she thought. While the guest washed his hands, Elizabeth quickly made him a ham sandwich.
Here, have something to eat.
Thanks! He was already at the door. Youve saved me. Now I can wait peacefully.
And who are you waiting for? Elizabeth asked.
Grandma Antonia Petrovna. She lives nearby. Maybe you know her?
I know Antonia a little, but she was taken to hospital two days ago. An ambulance came as I arrived homeI saw them carrying her out on a stretcher.
Which hospital? the boy asked, his voice trembling.
Yesterday the city staff were at the Royal London, I think thats where shes gone.
I see. And whats your name? He finally asked his rescuer.
Elizabeth Ford, she answered as she rushed out, already late.
At work, Elizabeth was swallowed by the usual chaos of school life, but thoughts of the boy lingered all day.
Perhaps my maternal instinct is kicking in at last, she sadly mused. Childless, her marriage had ended quietly, her husband moving on to someone who gave him a daughter.
During the lunch break, Elizabeth phoned the hospital. The news was not good: her elderly neighbour had suffered a stroke. At seventy-eight, her chances werent strong.
That evening, climbing her stairs, she again saw the boy perched on the window ledge, waiting.
I was waiting for you, he greeted her with a smile. Gran wont be back for ages. They wouldnt let me in.
Elizabeth asked his name.
Edward, he said firmly. Edward, not Eddie.
Elizabeth offered him tea, then set about her gentle questioning.
Did you run away from home? Your parents must be frantic?
I havent got any parents. I live with my aunt.
So, your aunt thenis she beside herself with worry?
No. I told her I was going to Grans. She doesnt know Grandmas in hospital. I dont want to stay at hers, even though shes nice enough and barely drinks. My uncle, though, hes drunk every day and nasty. Theyve already four childrenanother on the wayand Im just another burden.
They said Id be packed off to a childrens home, but I dont want that. Im not bothering you, am I? Mum used to say Im a handful, just like my dad, with the same pale eyes. Mums been gone two years now.
And what was your mums name?
Mary Alexandra Martin. She was kind and beautiful. Worked as a secretary for some factory directorcant recall which exactly.
And your father? Elizabeth pressed gently.
There wasnt one. Never was, Edward replied, eyes cast down.
Suddenly, Elizabeth understood why this blue-eyed boy unsettled her so. The eyes! Such unusual eyes shed only seen once before. On her own father.
And her father had once been a factory director!
She caught her breath. An affair between a director and his secretarywhat could be more common? Did he know she bore him a son? Did he wonder at her vanishing?
And sheshe named her son after him. She must have loved him very much…
Elizabeth had always been an only child, though shed long dreamt of having a brother or sister.
Pop to the bakery and fetch some bread, for me please. The shops just over the way, Elizabeth said, sending Edward off on an errand.
The moment he left, she rang her father.
Dad, do you remember Mary Alexandra Martin? Its too late today, but come to mine tomorrow. Ill introduce you to both your son and my brother. Thats all. Goodbye!
By the time Edward returned, Elizabeth had already made up the sofa for him in the sitting room.
He showered and went to bed, and as she watched him drowsily drift off, she knew one thing for certain: she would never let her brother be sent to troubled relatives, or worse, dispatched to a childrens home.
Her father arrived bright and early the next morning. Normally, Elizabeth would catch up on rest at weekends, but shed not slept much that night.
She genuinely loved her father. Hed always been there for her, unlike her mother. Hed supported her every decisioneven when her mother screamed that only fools went into teaching.
Her mother, though rural-born, considered herself above common folk. Her father had blessed Elizabeths marriage for love, later wiping her tears after the breakdown.
He appeared just as always: upright, unruffled, sharply dressed, shoes polished to a shine, wearing a discrete cologne.
So, whats all this? Found yourself a brother, have you? I hardly sleptkept thinking about it, he grumbled good-naturedly as he walked in.
Hush, Dad, my guest is still asleep, Elizabeth led him to the kitchen. Breakfast first, you must be starving.
As they ate, she explained everything.
Its all rather strange, her father admitted. Yes, I had a secretary, Mary Martin. Bright, young, attractive. She looked at me with pure adoration. Im only human, you knowno man easily resists such devotion.
I confessI gave in. You must see, perfectly faithful men are rare. Her affection flattered me. Im not proud, but I never considered leaving your mother.
Mary once asked if Id ever want a son. I answered that I already had a daughter, didnt need a son at my age.
Not long after, her mother fell ill. Mary requested extended leave to care for her and left town.
A temporary, older secretary took her post. Nearly a year later, Mary returnedlooking better than ever. I joked, had she found a husband? She replied yes, and shed had a son. Her husband was kind, though shed kept her maiden name, Martin. They were renting a flat.
Of course, people live together however they please nowadays. We kept things strictly work-related after that.
Three years ago, Mary fell ill, was off sick for ages and then… she died suddenly. I found out authorising a grant for her family.
Such a pity, she was so young. But dont pin someones son on me, darling. She said she had a husband, he finished.
Just then, Edward wandered into the kitchen and greeted them. Standing side by side, their resemblance was undeniable.
Well, lets introduce ourselves, her father said, extending a slightly trembling hand. Edward Nicholas.
Edward Edwardson Martin, the boy replied, his small hand in her fathers. At that moment, they both raised their eyebrows in exactly the same way.
All these Edwards in my house today! Elizabeth said, moved.
Edward, the younger, went to wash, while her father stared at Elizabeth in confusion.
I dont understand. Hes exactly how I looked as a child. Didnt Mary say she married and had a son by her husband?
She didnt, Dad. She went away so she could have the baby without you knowing, said Elizabeth quietly. Check with HR at your old worksee when she was on maternity leave. Mary made up the story of marriage so you wouldnt feel guilty. Clearly, she loved you very much. Edward swears he never had a father. Never.
One thing puzzles me: Mary had neither sister nor brothershe was an only child. Her mother died long ago too. Where did this aunt and grandmother come from? her father wondered.
Edward had just come back in and had overheard.
If you mean my mum, Aunt Val isnt really my auntjust a distant relative. She turned up after my mum couldnt get out of bed anymore. Gran Antonia is Aunt Vals mum. When my mum died, they took me in.
I had nowhere elsethey needed the money from my foster care. Uncles always moaning its not enough.
But I remembered you, Mr Nicholas. Mum had your picture on her dressing table in a silver frame. Now its in my album. I thought you might be one of her favourite actors! She promised to explain everything when I was older.
Elizabeth made Edward breakfast and sent him to the morning picture house, just round the corner.
Well, Dad, she asked, do you still have doubts?
Perhaps not. But well need a DNA test. Wed have to sort all the legal paperwork for paternity, her father replied grimly.
A tempest followed at the Nicholas household: simulated high blood pressure, a near heart attack for Lydia Ivanovaher fathers wife. She soon calmed down and escaped to the seaside, delaying her first meeting with the boy.
Edward finally visited her. She decided he was sweet enough, but she had no wish to take him in. A visit now and then, fine; but full adoptionher nerves wouldnt withstand it. Ive help at home, but shes not a nanny! she declared.
Nobody argued. Her father spent plenty of time with Edward and found joy in it. Each day, the similarities grew clearer: both refused semolina for breakfast but adored cats.
But Lydia was allergic to cats; and Edward had never had a home where he could keep one.
Their speech had the same slight lisp. Their resemblancephysical and otherwisewas uncanny.
The legal process establishing paternity took nearly two months. At last, Elizabeths father came over, summoned Edward, and said:
From now on youre legally my son. This is your new registration. You were always my boy, I just didnt know it before. Forgive me, if you can! I wont force you to call me Dadcall me what you wish. Just know youre not alone in this world. You have me; you have Elizabeth, your sister.
I guessed you were my dad the very first time I met you, Edward smiled.
Goodness, children are clever these days! her father replied, a smile lighting his face as he pulled his son in for a hug.
Elizabeth spotted tears in her fathers eyes, though he quickly composed himself. Edward stayed on with Elizabeth, but still visited Lydia from time to time, and their father saw them both every day. Soon, Elizabeth and Edward rescued a kitten from an old man outside SainsburysEdward picked the weakest one, and they named him Muffin. In that moment, Edward felt like the luckiest boy in the world.
PS:
Her father set up a white marble headstone for Mary Martin.
He and Edward visit her grave often, always bringing fresh flowers.
Once, after laying some daisies, Edward turned to him and said,
Dad, you know, the day before Mum died, she told me not to cry too much. That she wouldnt really be gone, just moving to another place where she could look after me.
She promised shed help me from there, too. Now I see it was her who helped you and me find each other. Im sure of it! Do you believe me, Dad?
I do, son. I do, her father answered softly.
