Dad, do you remember Helen Alexandra Martinson? Its already late today, but come over to mine tomorrow. Ill introduce you to my younger brother and your son. Thats all. Goodbye.
A boy was sleeping right outside her door. Emily was puzzledwhy would a child be snoozing in a strangers flat corridor so early in the morning? Taught by ten years of teaching, she couldnt just drift by. Leaning down, she gently shook his slender shoulder:
Hey, lad, wake up!
Huh? the boy got up awkwardly, rubbing his eyes.
Who are you? Why are you sleeping here?
I wasnt sleeping! I just Your mats soft. I sat down and mustve nodded off, thats all he mumbled.
Emily had lived in this block only six months. Bought a flat after splitting with her husband. She barely knew her neighbours. But this boy, that much was clear, certainly wasnt local.
He looked about ten, maybe eleven, old but clean clothes, shifting from foot to foot with a strange little jig.
Emily realised he needed the toilet.
Go on, quick now. Im already late for work, she let him in.
He gave her a cautious glance, his eyes an unusual, almost translucent blue.
Very rare colour, thought Emily, suddenly. While her guest washed his hands after the bathroom, she made him a ham sandwich.
Here, have a bite to eat.
Thank you! he was already at the door. Youve saved me. Now I can wait in peace.
Wait for who? Emily asked.
Granny Antonia Patricia, she lives near you. Maybe you know her?
I know Antonia Patricia a little, but she was taken to hospitalSt. Martins, I thinktwo days ago. I came home from school and saw the ambulance.
Which hospital? the boy stiffened with worry.
Yesterday it was St. Martins on call. Thats likely where they took her.
I see. And whats your name? the boy finally decided to introduce himself.
Emily Frances she replied, already headed out.
At school Emily was pulled under by endless problems, but the boy stayed on her mind all day.
Probably my unused maternal instinct, thought Emily wistfully. She had no children, one reason she and her husband parted. Shed let him go quietly to another woman whod already given him a daughter.
During lunch, Emily rang the hospital: Granny had suffered a stroke and things werent looking goodseventy-eight years old.
That evening, returning home, she saw the same boy sitting on the windowsill in the stairwell.
Im waiting for you, he brightened. Granny wont be out for ages, and they wont let me in to see her.
Emily asked his name.
He turned out to be Edward. With dignity he said Edward, not Eddie.
Freshly scrubbed and fed, Emily sat him down for a gentle interrogation:
Run away from home? Your parents must be frantic.
I havent got any parents. I live with my aunt.
Then your aunt must be worried sick, Emily said, concerned.
Shes not. I told her I was going to see GrannyI didnt mention about hospital. Dont want to stay with her, though she’s kind and hardly drinks at all. But her husband, my uncle, is always at the bottle and gets nasty. Theyve four kidssoon to be five. Then theres me.
They say theyll put me in care. I dont want to go. Am I being too much trouble? Mum always said Im hyperactivejust like my dad, and just as blue-eyed. Mums been gone two years now.
And your mums name?
Helen Alexandra Martinson. She was kind and beautiful. Worked as a secretary to some chemical plant managerI cant remember the name.
What about your dad? Emily pressed gently.
Never had a dad. Not ever, answered Edward quietly.
Suddenly the strangeness of this blue-eyed boy struck Emily. The eyes! Shed seen them in only one other personher own father.
That person, her father, once ran a plant.
Emily struggled to breathe with realisation: A directors romance with a secretarywhat could be more ordinary? Did he know she had his son? Noticed when she vanished?
And she? She named her son after himso she loved him, must have loved him deeply
Emily was an only child, though as a girl shed longed for siblings.
Pop to the shop for bread, please. Its only over the road and she handed Edward some coins.
She phoned her father at once.
Dad, do you remember Helen Alexandra Martinson? Its late today, but come see me tomorrow. Ill introduce you to your sonmy brother. Thats all. The rest’s for tomorrow! said Emily, and hung up.
Ive put fresh sheets on the sofa for you, Emily told Edward on his return. Shower if you like, then get to bed.
She had no idea what would come next. But she knew this muchshe wouldnt let her brother go back to those rough relatives, let alone to the care home.
Her father came by early in the morning. Emily usually slept in on weekends, but today shed barely slept a wink.
She loved her father. Hed always been there, always knew what was happening in her life, unlike her mother.
From her earliest childhood, hed been her rescuer and support. Encouraged her to study teaching when her mother raged that only commoners did so. Her mother had never counted herself among them, though shed grown up in the country. Her father alone had given his blessing when Emily married for love, then helped her through the heartbreak of divorce.
Her father was, as usual, sharply dressed, calm, crisp trousers and polished shoes, a subtle hint of expensive aftershave completing the picture.
So whats all this about a brother? I didnt sleep a wink, worrying about your call, he started as soon as he stepped inside.
Shh, dadmy guests still asleep, Emily led him to the kitchen. Lets have breakfast, you must be hungry.
Over tea and toast, she explained the details.
This is all rather odd! said her father. Helen Martinson was my secretarya clever, lovely girl. She used to watch me with such devoted eyes. And well, being a man… Hard to resist those sorts of feelings!
I admit it, I gave in. You must know, perfect fidelitys rare. Honestly, her affection rather flattered me. Im to blamenot perfect, but I never thought of leaving your mother.
Once, Helen askedjust in passingif Id ever want a son. I said I had a daughter, and didnt need a son now.
Not long after, her own mother took ill. She requested a long leave to care for her and went off to her village.
They found a temporary replacementa matronly woman. Helen returned about a year latercant remember exactly. She looked well, fresh as an apple.
I joked whether shed got married. She said she had, with a son now; good husband, rented flat. Still kept her own surnameMartinson.
But everyone lives together nowadays, dont they? Thereafter, it was only worknothing more. She had her life; I had mine.
About three years ago Helen grew ill, was on sick leave a while, then suddenly Well, she died. I only found out when signing off a bereavement payment.
Sad, really. She was so young. But you shouldnt pin this son on me, darlingshe had a husband, he finished.
At that moment, their guest awoke and, polite as always, peeped into the kitchen. Now, standing together, the resemblance was impossible to ignore.
Lets introduce ourselves said her father, hand trembling slightly with nerves. Edmund Nicholas.
Edward Edmund Martinson, said the boy, offering his hand with trust.
As they shook, both of their eyebrows arched in identical surprise.
Seems I have a houseful of Edwards today, Emily smiled, a bit shakily.
Young Edward went to wash up while older Edward looked at his daughter, bewildered.
I dont understand. Hes the very image of me as a boy. But she claimed she married and had a child by her husband?
No, she didnt marry. She went home to have her baby away from you said Emily. Ask payroll when her maternity leave was, dad! She made up the marriageto spare your conscience. She loved you, its obvious. And Edward swears he never had a dad. Never!
Hang onHelen had no brother, no sister. She was her mothers only child. And her mothers long gone. Who are these aunt and granny? her father frowned.
Edward, already in the doorway, chimed in:
Youre talking about my mum? Aunt Vals no real auntjust a distant relative. While Mum was ill, she and Granny Antonia came to town. When Mum died, Aunt Val took me in.
Where else could I go? Had to leave the flat. The relatives took meas they get some money for me. Uncle always moans it isnt enough.
But I remembered you, Mr. Edmund Nicholas! Your photo was on Mums mirror, in a silver frame. Now its in her album. I thought you were her favourite actor. I asked her once, Whos that man?
She promised to tell me when I was older.
Emily fed Edward breakfast and sent him off to the morning film at the cinema nearby.
So, Dad, have you any doubts left? she asked.
I suppose not, but well have to do a DNA testprove kinship in court, her father responded.
Then followed drama: stepmother Lucindas pretend fainting fits and a supposed angina scare.
It passed quickly enoughshe went for a seaside break, delaying any meeting with the boy. Later, seeing him, she found Edward agreeable, but had no wish to raise him herselfa visitor, yes; a permanent child, no! Her nerves couldnt stand it, nor her health. My housekeepers no nanny! she declared.
No one insisted. Edmund Nicholas spent more and more time with Edward. Each time, he found some new similarity: both loathed porridge, both adored cats.
Stepmother was allergic to cats. Edward never had a real homeor a kitten.
They both lisped, very slightly. And the likenessimpossible to miss!
Eventually, after all the forms and months had passed, everything was official. Edmund came to Emilys, called Edward to him.
Youre my son in the eyes of the law now. Heres your new document. Really, youve always been my sonI just never knew you were mine. Forgive me, if you can.
Call me what you wishId never force you. But remember, youre not alone in this world now. You have my protection and support. You have Emilyyour sister.
I knew you were my dad from the very first moment, Edward grinned.
Goodness, children today are so quick, his father smiled, pulling him into an embrace.
Emily noticed tears bright in her fathers eyes, but he soon mastered himself. Edward stayed to live with her, visiting Lucinda from time to time, and his father dropped by every day. And together, Emily and Edward got a kitten
Some old man outside the supermarket was giving them away for nothingEdward picked the tiniest one. They named him Murray. It was that moment Edward felt himself the happiest boy alive!
P.S.
Edmund Nicholas paid for a white marble stone for Helens grave.
He and Edward often brought flowers to her resting place.
Once, as they left fresh daffodils, Edward said:
You know, Dad, the night before Mum left she told me not to cry too much. She said she wouldnt disappearjust move to another world and watch over me from there.
She promised shed still help me from over there, whenever I needed it. And now I knowit was Mum who brought Emily to me, and then you! Im sure of it! Do you believe me, Dad?
Of course I do, his father answered softly.
