Another Child
Katherine trudged back to her flat after work, dreading the empty rooms. Shed flick on the telly straight away, cranking up the volume to pretend someone was home. Her daughter, Emily, had moved out after getting married. And her husband well, James had left her for a younger woman.
Even now, Katherine couldnt believe James had betrayed her. Twenty-four years together, no proper rows, just steady love. Theyd even talked about celebrating their silver wedding anniversary at a nice restaurant. But fate had other plansall those dreams shattered.
“Mum, I never thought Dad would do something like this,” Emily had sobbed. “Im furious with him. I wont speak to him again.”
“Love, you cant do that,” Katherine had urged. “He left me, not you. Youre his daughter, and he still loves you. Dont cut him off.”
She didnt want to turn Emily against her dad. If anything, Katherine blamed herself. Maybe she hadnt loved him enough, hadnt paid enough attention. Shouldve focused more on family, less on her career.
James had met that younger woman in a café, sipping pints with his mates after work. Their eyes lockedhers were warm brown, sparkling with mischief. For some reason, that look stuck with him. Hed gone over, introduced himself. Claire hadnt minded. One thing led to another, and before he knew it, he was at her rented flat. Then it all spiralledhe fell hard.
He couldnt lie to Claire for long. Katherine had already guessed. The conversation was ugly, but hed come clean. “Katie, Ive fallen for someone else. I know Ive hurt you, but I wont lie about it.” It had been brutal, but shed held herself together.
One evening, Katherine had just changed out of her work clothes when her phone buzzed. Her sister, Sophie, was calling.
“Hey, Katie, you home? Need to talkbe there in a bit.”
“Course, come over,” Katherine had said, relieved not to spend another evening alone.
Sophie burst in, loud as ever, arms full of shopping bags. They hugged, and she started unpackingposh snacks, a bottle of wine. Katherine frowned. “Sophie, whats all this? What are we celebrating?”
“Celebrating? Hardly. My Lucys pregnant. Bloody idiotshes not even eighteen yet.”
“Seriously?” Katherine had blinked. “But she turns eighteen in three months, right?”
“Exactly! Three months! And shes too far along to you know. Raised her right, or so I thought, and now she cant even marry properly. The bloke shes been seeing? Walked out on her. Doesnt want the baby. Neither does she, frankly. And I dont need thisIve got my own life to sort.”
Katherine listened, uneasy.
“Anyway, Katie, lets have a drink. Need to take the edge off. My heads spinning. Lucy swears she doesnt even know who the father isbeen clubbing all hours, stumbling home at dawn. No wonder that lad bolted.”
Sophie downed half her glass in one go. Katherine took a sip.
“Listen, weve decidedme and Lucy,” Sophie continued. “When she has the baby, well leave it at the hospital. But Im scaredwhat if it grows up and comes looking? Starts demanding things?”
Katherine stared, barely breathing. “Sophie, are you mad? How could you even think that? Lucys young, finebut you? Thats your own flesh and blood!”
“Dont lecture me, Katie. Im not like youall proper and moral. We dont want this baby. Lucy needs to finish college, not play mum. And shes not the typeshed dump it on me in a heartbeat. And Ive got my own life to live.”
Katherine stayed quiet, thinking. “How far along is she? Had a scan?”
“Yeah, its a girl. Probably end up just as wild as her mum,” Sophie muttered, lighting a cigarette.
“Sophie give her to me. When shes born. Please dont leave her there. Ive got the flat, a good job, decent salary.”
“Dont be daft,” Sophie scoffed. “And when shes older, youll tell her the truth.”
“No, I wont. I swear. Shell be my daughter. Shell never know, unless you blab.”
It took ages, but Katherine finally convinced her. Then another problem cropped upto adopt, she needed to be in a stable marriage. James had left, but they hadnt divorced yet. Neither had bothered with the paperwork. Katherine racked her brainsshe didnt want to ask James. Doubted hed agree, anyway, with his new life.
Lucy had the babya healthy little girl. She signed the papers without even looking at her. Katherine sorted the guardianship, with help from an old friend who worked in social services. They named the baby Ruby.
Finally bringing Ruby home, Katherine took leave but refused to quit her jobthe pay was too good. She called her mum, Margaret, who lived nearby. Widowed two years earlier, shed been a nurse.
“Mum, need to talkurgently.”
“Alright, love. Be there soon.”
When Margaret arrived, she froze at the sight of the newborn in the crib.
“Love, whos this? When did? Whats going on?”
Sophie hadnt told her about Lucys mess. Katherine had kept quiet too, assuming Sophie would explain. But she hadntbarely spoke to their mum these days.
“Mum, sit down.” Katherine poured her a cup of tea. “Drink this. Ill explain.”
Margaret was horrified. Her youngest daughterand Lucyhad done this?
“How, Katie? Your dad and I raised you both the same. Loved you equallymaybe even spoiled Sophie more, being the baby. And now this?”
Once Margaret had calmed down, Katherine pleaded. “Mum, please help. Rubys your great-granddaughter. Youre fit as a fiddle. I dont want to quit work or lose my managers position. Could you look after her? I could hire a nanny, but why pay a stranger?”
“Love, stopyou dont need to convince me. Of course Ill help. Shes family. Youll be a brilliant mum, and Ill be right here with you.”
Katherine hugged her. “Mum, youre a lifesaver. Knew I could count on you.”
They avoided mentioning Sophie. She never called, never asked about the baby. But when Emily rushed over, she was overjoyed. “Rubys my little sister now! Shes gorgeous!” She loved her instantly.
Ruby grew up bright and kind. Katherine and Margaret poured all their love into her. She was sharpby four, she could play chess (well, she knew the pieces, at least).
Then, on Rubys fifth birthday, Katherine threw a party at a local café, complete with a magician and her nursery friends. Ruby was thrilled. Back home, the doorbell rang.
James stood there, looking wretched. She knew instantlyhis new life had failed.
“Hi. Can I come in?”
“Sure.” Ruby dashed into the hallway. “Its my birthday today! Who are you?”
“Ruby just turned five,” Katherine said. “This is my daughter, in case you didnt know.”
“Emily told me.” He ducked out, returning with a huge boxa fancy doll inside.
“Wow! Thanks!” Ruby grabbed it and bolted to her room.
Katherine made tea, sliced the leftover cake.
“Katie, youre even more beautiful now. Your eyes they shine. Can I visit? Just sometimes?” he asked hesitantly. “I left Clairenot my kind of person. Been on my own nearly two years.”
“Ive got a daughter now. And shes not yours.”
“That just makes me love you more. If youd let Sophie abandon Ruby Id feel differently. But you didnt. And I I want her to call me Dad.”
After a pause, Katherine agreed. From then on, James visited oftenhelping financially, taking Ruby to swimming and dance. Katherine was amazed he juggled it with work.
One day, watching Rubys recital, they cheered her on. After, at home with tea and cake James had brought, Ruby suddenly said, “Daddy, I really wanted you and Mummy to watch me today.”
James nearly chokedshed called him Daddy for the first time. He swept her up, spinning her.
“Youre my girl. Were a family now, right, Katie?” He looked at her, hopeful.
“Yay! And you wont leave again, Daddy?” Ruby giggled.
“Never. You two are my world.”
James and Katherine
