A Child for My Best Friend When Lily was in the final months of her pregnancy, her younger brother left home and her father began drinking, turning Lily’s life into a living hell. Every morning, Lily would air out the house, pick empty bottles from under the table, and wait for her father to wake. “Dad, you can’t drink! You only just recovered from a stroke.” “I’ll drink if I want to. Who will stop me? It numbs the pain.” “What pain?” “The pain of knowing nobody needs me. Not even you — I’m a burden, Lily. I never should have been born. I never should have married or had children who only inherited my weakness and poverty. Everything is pointless, daughter. Drinking’s simpler.” Already in a foul mood, Lily grew angry. “Nothing is pointless, Dad. Life can get worse.” “How much worse, daughter? You grew up without a mother, and now you plan to raise a child without a father, doomed to the same poverty.” “It’s not all so bleak, Dad. Nothing stays the same forever. Everything can change in an instant.” Lily sadly remembered how not long ago she was happy, preparing to marry Ilya. Yes, life had fallen apart, but she had to live on. That day, her father got drunk again. Lily shouted, “Did you drink the money I put aside for emergencies? How did you find it? You went through my things?” “This is my house and everything in it — including the pension you hide from me! My pension.” “And you’ve drunk it all? Didn’t you think how we’d survive?” “Why should I? I’m a sick man. You’re grown — now you look after me!” Lily searched every cupboard. “I was sure there were two packs of pasta and some butter left yesterday. Now they’re gone! What’s for dinner?” Lily was in shock. She sat down, covering her face with her hands. How could she have known Aunt Natasha had started coming over– getting her father drunk and robbing the house? Natalya had slithered quietly into their home and was doing everything she could to destroy the family. That night Lily sobbed in bed, broken, hungry. In the morning there was a knock at the door and Natalya Anatolyevna entered. In a trendy coat and boots, she didn’t even take her shoes off. “Hello. My friend in the council told me you have utility debts and your electricity will soon be cut off. What’s going on, Lily? Will you at least offer me a cup of tea?” Without waiting for a reply, Natalya went to the kitchen and started searching the fridge and cupboards. “I’ll make tea myself, you’re pregnant like my own Sveta… But you have no sugar, no tea bags — nothing! Come, let’s go to the shop.” Lily avoided her guest’s eyes. “Aunt Natasha, I can’t offer tea. It’s best you leave.” Natalya didn’t give up. “Things are bad, aren’t they? Yes. Remember, I offered for you to move in with me? This time I insist — pack your bags and come now. There’s no future for a baby here, your father drinks, and you don’t have food, let alone fruit or vitamins… Pack up and come.” Lily sat as the world spun; tears slid down her cheeks and Natalya hugged her. “Listen, girl, I know how you feel about me. I can’t be forgiven — my daughter stole your fiancé. But I’m not a monster, and I refuse to watch you suffer. Whether you like it or not, I will take care of you.” The rest was a blur: Natalya helped Lily pack and called a taxi. *** When Lily went into labour, Natalya Anatolyevna was by her side at every moment. “Listen carefully, Lily. I’ve told the staff you want to give the baby up. When she’s born, don’t hold her, don’t feed her. Don’t even look.” Lily writhed in pain. “Aunt Natasha, I don’t care. It hurts… I just want it to end.” “Don’t forget — you can’t raise her alone. I’ve found a lovely couple to adopt your daughter immediately.” A few hours later, a healthy baby girl was born. “Three kilos three hundred, perfectly healthy.” The nurse wrapped the tiny girl up and carried her away, not even showing her to Lily. But the paediatrician frowned at her. “What’s this? You have a beautiful, healthy daughter and won’t even look at her? Elena, bring the baby back, she needs her mum.” Lily shook her head. “I can’t. I have nothing, I never wanted this baby… There are people who need her. I’ll sign — let her be adopted.” “Don’t be ridiculous, at least look at her.” Lily closed her eyes, but felt something soft and warm touch her hand. The nurse laid the baby beside her, the little one nuzzling and rooting blindly; Lily finally looked at her child. Small and helpless, the baby gazed up, squinting. She reached out, arms flailing on Lily’s chest. “That’s it, Mum. Time for a feed,” the paediatrician smiled. She brightened, seeing Lily tremble at the first rush of love for her daughter. “What a pretty girl! She needs you, not adoptive parents — understand?” Lily sobbed, cradled her daughter and nodded. For the next two hours, Lily rested, unable to take her eyes off her baby. Her maternal instinct had awakened. “She is my purpose — my daughter. It doesn’t matter if Ilya’s gone or my dad’s a mess… My child needs me, so I’ll stay.” *** Lily was woken by Natalya’s voice. Natalya, in her dressing gown, entered the ward. “Have you forgotten what we agreed?” she whispered. “You promised to give up the baby. I’ve arranged for her to be taken today.” “Mrs Anatolyevna, I’ve changed my mind. I’m not giving her up.” “But you’ve no money — you’re basically homeless! Where will you take her?” “Home. I won’t trouble you any longer. I’ll manage.” Natalya’s face twisted with rage. “You’ve lost your mind! You have no money! How will you live — by begging?” Natalya’s outburst woke the baby. Lily scooped her up. “Don’t! I’ll feed her. Tell the doctors you’ve no milk,” Natalya insisted. Lily shook her head. “That’s not for you to decide. She’s my daughter and I’m keeping her. I told you: I changed my mind.” “You can’t! You promised!” Natalya was speechless with fury. “Please leave.” Natalya stormed out. Lily’s neighbor lifted her head. “Who was that?” “My aunt.” “What a nightmare. You did the right thing making her leave. I’m Lera. If you need help, I will. There’s good people in the world.” “I’m Lily.” “Nice to meet you, Lily. I thought that lady was going to snatch your baby and run. She was very odd.” *** Before she was discharged, Lily had another visitor waiting in the corridor. Her former friend, Sveta, with a large pregnant belly, shuffled nervously. “Hi.” Lily lowered herself onto a bench. Sveta sat beside her. “I heard you had the baby.” “Yes. A girl.” Sveta looked shifty. “Listen, Mum’s found people desperate to adopt your baby.” “So?” “They’re lovely. They’re rich — they’ll do anything for your daughter.” She squeezed Lily’s arm. “They’re offering a million — a whole million pounds! You could buy a place to live…” “A million?” Lily nodded. “If you’re so worried, why not sell them your own child?” Sveta pouted but wouldn’t let go. “Lily, please — give your baby to me! I’ll raise her, she’s Ilya’s daughter.” “You think you’ll cope with two?” “You don’t understand! My marriage is falling apart!” Lily stood to go, but Sveta grabbed her sleeve, eyes wild. “I need this baby, Lily!” “Let go.” …A few hours later, Ilya himself burst in. Lily recoiled. “You had the baby? Can I see her?” “No! Your Sveta will give birth soon — go to her!” “We need to talk, Lily. Since you gave birth, I can’t rest. I want to take my daughter. Give her up and I’ll adopt her.” Lily shook her head. “I’m not like you — I’ll never abandon someone who needs me. You can’t have her!” Ilya wouldn’t leave. “That baby’s mine — you had no right to have her! I’ll take what’s mine!” “You? Mummy’s boy? Why not ask mummy’s permission first!” Lily pushed past him with her baby and went to the nurse’s station. “Please, can you keep visitors away from me? I don’t want to see anyone else. This place is like a train station!” Epilogue On the day she left hospital, Lily held her daughter tightly. She wasn’t alone: her roommate Lera was discharged too, greeted by her husband and mother. Lily paused outside, spotting the Reznikovs’ car. Ilya’s mother, Valerie, stepped out, peering coldly at Lily. Lily felt a chill down her back. Her would-have-been mother-in-law looked ready to pounce. Lera noticed. “Who’s that?” “Ilya’s parents.” “She looks like she’s lying in wait. No, Lily, they’re acting strange — something’s off. I told you Mum’s saving you a room with us. Come on.” Lily nodded, uneasy. *** Living with her new friends, Lily found love: Lera’s cousin Ivan, a lifelong bachelor, began courting her. Ivan turned out kind and generous. He married Lily, adopted her daughter, and even supported her struggling father. As for Sveta and Ilya, their marriage crumbled. Sveta had faked her pregnancy with a cushion, deceiving the entire Reznikov clan. Natalya Anatolyevna, desperate to protect her daughter, confessed the early miscarriage to her son-in-law, and then made an offer she thought was ingenious: “Ilya, dear, don’t blame my daughter. She lost the baby, but you’ve also got a child on the way elsewhere. Why not take Lily’s baby? Adopt her — she’s your flesh and blood. And to avoid upsetting your parents, we’ll say nothing about Sveta’s loss, pretend she’s still pregnant, and when Lily gives birth, we’ll pass the baby off as Sveta’s.” Ilya liked his mother-in-law’s plan. Everything seemed set — until Lily refused to abandon her newborn, catching her former friend and her conniving mother completely off guard. Ilya’s mother, Valerie, furious at her daughter-in-law’s lies, threw Sveta out and made Ilya divorce her.

A Child for a Friend

I remember those days clearly, though they seem so long ago now. When Lily was nearing the end of her pregnancy, everything at home fell apart. Her younger brother had left, and her father drank himself senseless. After that, life for Lily became a sort of living torment.

Each morning, she would open the windows to air out the stale smell of ale, sweep up empty bottles from beneath the old kitchen table, and quietly wait for her father to rouse himself from his drink-induced sleep.

Dad, you know youre not supposed to drink. You barely recovered from your stroke, shed say.

Ill do as I please. Whos to stop me? hed reply, his gaze hollow. Its easier to bear the pain with a drink.

What pain, Dad?

The pain of realising Im of use to no one. Not even you, lass. Im just a weight around your neck. Should never have been born, shouldnt have married, shouldnt have had children only to pass down my weakness and poverty. Its all for nothing, Lily. Theres nothing for it but the bottle.

Already battered by her own worries, Lily grew testy in those moments.

Nothings for nothing, Dad. Life could always be worse for people, you know.

Hows that then, Lily? You grew up without a mother. Now youre about to bring a fatherless child into the world, doomed to struggle in penury.

Nothings settled, Dad. Things can change in a moment, for the better too.

Lily remembered, not without sadness, how happy she once was, planning a wedding with Elijah. The world had crumbled since then, but life carried on.

That day her father drank himself senseless again. In her anguish, Lily cried out,

Have you spent the money I put aside for emergencies? How did you even find it? Did you tear through all my things?!

Everything in this house is mine, her father barked. Even your little stash, and my pension you try to hide awaymy pension, mind you.

Youve spent it all and didnt spare a thought as to how wed eat?

Why should I? Im a sick old man. Youre grown, its your turn to look after me!

Lily searched through every cupboard.

Im sure there were two packets of pasta and a little butter left yesterday. Theres nothing now! So what shall we have for supper?

She was stunned. She sat down, pressed her face into her hands, and quietly wept.

She hadnt realised it was Aunt Natalie who, in her absence, kept bringing drink for her father and clearing the pantry of what small reserves they had.

Like a sly fox, Natalie had slithered into their house, doing all the damage she could along the way.

That night Lily lay broken and hungry, quietly crying herself to exhaustion in her narrow bed.

The next morning, there was a sharp knock at the door. Aunt Natalie swept in, fashionable coat, boots clicking on the boards, not bothering even to remove them.

Morning, she announced briskly. My friend in the county council calledit seems youve not paid your electric and they’ll be cutting you off soon. What on earths happened here, Lily, dear? At least offer a cup of tea?

Not waiting for an answer, she strode into the kitchen, rummaging through cupboards and the empty fridge.

Ill make the tea myself, she trilled, Youre as expectant as my own Sophie Goodness, not a grain of sugar, no tea bagsnothing in the larder at all! Lets run down to the shop.

Lily kept her eyes averted. Theres no need, Aunt Natalie. I think it best if you go.

But Natalie dug in. Youre in trouble, that much I can see. Remember I suggested you move in with me? This time, I wont take no for an answer. Pack your things. There is no place for a baby in this house now, not with your fathers drinking and the cupboards bare. You need fruit, vitamins Gather your belongings and come with me.

Lily, feeling faint, sat heavily, tears streaming as Natalie hugged her.

Listen, love. I know you blame memy Sophie did take your fiancé. I cant forgive myself for that. But Im not a monster, I cant bear to see you suffer. Whether you like it or not, I will take care of you.

Everything after happened as if in a trance: Natalie helped Lily pack and called a taxi.

***

When the time finally came and Lily went into labour, Aunt Natalie would not leave her side.

Listen to me carefully, Lily. The nurses have all been toldyoure intending to give the baby up. So, once shes born, dont hold her, dont try to feed her. Just look away.

The pain swept over Lily in waves. Oh, Aunt, I cant even think of anything but the pain. Just let it end.

I remind you, you cant manage this child alone. Ive already found a good couple, ready to adopt your baby straight away.

After several hours, a little girl entered the world.

Seven pounds four ounces, healthy as can be, sang the nurse, wrapping the squirming bundle. Lily didnt even glimpse her daughter before she was whisked away.

But the paediatrician fixed Lily with a stern look. Whats this, then? Perfectly healthy little lass, arent you even going to look at her? Nurse Thomas, bring the baby back and set her on her mothers chest.

Lily shook her head, upset. I cant. Ive nothing. I never meant to have her There are people who truly need her, Ill sign her over to be adopted

Stop this nonsense. At least look at your child.

Lily squeezed her eyes shut, but then felt a soft, warm touch on her hand.

The nurse tucked the infant beside her. The girl grunted, fumbling with her lips and nose to find Lily, who finally looked at her.

Such a tiny, vulnerable thing, peered up at Lily, blinking. Her small hand reached, patting her mothers chest.

Well now, Mum? Time to feed baby, the doctor smiled, brightening at the sight of Lily trembling, moved by her newborn.

Shes a lovely little girl. She needs you, not a set of strangers, do you see?

Tears slid down Lilys cheeks as she gathered her daughter close and nodded.

For the next two hours, Lily rested contentedly beside her newborn, unable to take her eyes off the child.

It was then her mothers love awoke, a fierce and certain force.

At last I know the meaning of my lifeits my daughter, after all.
It doesnt matter if Elijahs gone, nor if my father is drinking himself to ruin My daughter needs me, and so Ill stay with her.

***

Lily awoke to Natalies voice.

Natalie, still in her dressing gown, glowered at her from the foot of the hospital bed.

Have you forgotten our agreement? she whispered harshly. You promised youd give up the baby. Ive already told the coupletheyre ready to take her this very minute.

Ive changed my mind, Aunt Natalie. Im not letting her go.

But youre skint, with no roof properly your own. Where do you think youll take the child?

Home. I wont be a burden to you anymore. Ill manage.

Lily saw her aunts expression twist angrily, almost inhuman.

You mad girl! Youve not tuppence to your name! What will you live on? Are you planning to beg?

The baby girl, startled by Natalies outburst, woke in her cot. Lily stood to pick her up, but Natalie barred the way.

Dont touch her! Ill rock her and feed her myself. Well just tell the doctors youve no milk, Natalie declared.

Lily shook her head. This isnt your decision. Shes my daughter and I wont give her up!

You cant! You promised! Natalies mouth flapped in disbelief.

Please, just leave.

Natalie finally stormed out. Lilys roommate, who had quietly observed from her own corner, raised her head.

Who was that?

My aunt.

What a horror. Dont heed her. You did right, telling her to go. Im Laura. If you ever need help, just ask. The world isn’t without kindness, Lily.

Im Lily, nice to meet you, Laura.

You know, I was worried shed try to take your baby girl right from the cot. Shes an odd one, your aunt.

***

Just before discharge, Lily had another visitor. Not allowed in the ward, her old friend Sophie waited in the corridor.

Sophies belly was round, though, as Lily now realised, shed only claimed to be with child.

Hello, Sophie said, and Lily cautiously joined her on the bench.

I heard you had your baby.

Yes. A daughter.

Sophie shifted, nervously twisting her hands. Lily, you know Mums found a family ready to adopt your baby girl.

And?

Theyre good people. Very well offtheyd do anything to have your little one.

Sophie turned, gripping Lilys hand. Theyre offering you ten thousand pounds. Imagine that. You could get a room in a bedsit, maybe put it towards a flat.

Ten thousand, really? Lily nodded. If you care so much for them, sell your own child to them.

Sophies face fell, but she clung to Lilys arm.

Please, Lily. Let me take your girl! Id look after hershes Elijahs daughter too.

Do you really think you could handle two babies?

You dont understand! My lifes falling to pieces here.

Lily shook free, meaning to leave, but Sophies grip grew desperate.

I need your baby, Lily!

Let go.

A couple of hours passed, and then Elijah himself pushed into the ward. Lily bristled in alarm.

So, youve given birth? Can I see her?

No, you cannot. Your Sophies about to have a baby herselflook to her!

I want to talk, Lily. Ever since you had the child, I cant rest. ListenI want to take her. Give her up to me, I promise Ill adopt her immediately.

Lily shook her head. Not me. Id never turn my back on someone who needs me. Youre wasting your timemy daughter stays with me.

But Elijah wouldnt leave, growing agitated.

Hand her over! You never had the right to have her at all! Ill get what’s mine!

You? Mummys boy? Ask your mother before making decisions!

Lily pushed past him, took her daughter in her arms, and walked to the nurses station.

Could you see to it no one else comes to visit me? she asked the nurses. I dont want anyone hereits like a bus station!

Epilogue

The day of her discharge, Lily left the maternity hospital hugging her daughter close. She wasnt on her ownLaura was discharged that day too, greeted at the gate by her husband and mother.

Lily hesitated at the steps, spotting a familiar carthe Reeds family car.

Out stepped Elijahs mother, Valerie Reed, craning her neck for a good look at Lily, her eyes narrowed.

A shiver coursed down Lilys backthe would-have-been mother-in-law looked ready to pounce.

Laura noticed Lilys unease, came to stand beside her.

Who are they, Lily?

Elijahs parents.

The way she eyes you Its like shes making sure you dont slip away. Somethings not right about their interest in your baby. Lily, dont forget, my mother set a room asidewhy dont you come with us?

Lily nodded, sharing in Lauras quiet dread.

***

Living with her new friends, Lily found her fortunes unexpectedly changed. Lauras cousin, Johnan old bachelorbegan to court her.

John was a good man, gentle and honest. He not only married Lily and adopted her daughter, but even helped her father to his feet.

As for Sophie and Elijah, their marriage soon ended.

It turned out that Sophie had pretended to be pregnant, strapping on a fake bellyall to deceive the entire Reed family.

Aunt Natalie, protective of her daughter, confessed to her son-in-law that Sophie had miscarried early on. But then she offered her plan, thinking it the perfect solution.

Elijah, my son, dont be angry at Sophie. Yes, she lost the baby, but arent you to blame as well? Youve a child born out of wedlock. I thought, why couldnt you just take Lilys baby girl as your own? After all, youre her father. Well say nothing to your parents about Sophies miscarriage. Well carry on the charade, and when Lily delivers, well take the baby and pass her off as Sophies.

Elijah was convinced.

All seemed set until Lily threw a spanner in the works, refusing to leave her newborn in the hospital, which left her former friend and aunt with no way out.

Valerie Reed, Elijahs mother, furious at her daughter-in-laws deceit, sent Sophie packing and forced Elijah to divorce her.

And so that murky past faded, leaving Lily and her daughter to begin a new and brighter life.