Love, how are you feeling? Hows your little lad? By the way, have you thought of a name yet?
He doesn’t have a name. Let whoever adopts him pick one later on. Im leaving him, Mum I am No one wants us, were all alone in this world.
Sarah, shall I bring your baby for feeding?
No, like I said, Im going to sign the forms.
The nurse shook her head and left. Sarah turned towards the wall and started to cry. The other mums in the ward glanced at each other quietly and went back to feeding their babies.
Sarah had arrived in the middle of the night; everything happened so quickly. Her son was seven pounds, eleven ounceshealthy, lovely. When she looked at him, all she could do was cry, but not out of happiness.
Come on, everythings fine, so why the tears? Youve got yourself a wonderful baby boy, strong too. You were hoping for a daughter, werent you? Dont worry, you can come back for a little girl next time.
No, Ill leave him I cant take him home.
Come off it, whats your reason? Give yourself some time, love. Hes your child, dont you care?
Ellie, Sarahs roommate, was sitting on a bench with her husband in the visitors corridor, laughing as she told him how their baby girl scrunched up her nose in the funniest way. Then a woman came in with a carrier bag, asking for Sarah.
Ellie popped back to the room and brought Sarah out.
How are you, my darling? And hows your son? Oh, and have you picked a name for him yet?
No, I havent. Ill let his new parents decide thats not my place. Im leaving him, Mum Theres no one who wants us; were just completely alone.
Sarah covered her face, tears streaming down. Ellie felt awkward at the scene and said a quick goodbye to her husband before slipping out.
Youre not alone, love. You have me. And as for Tom well, hes useless, isnt he? That girlfriend of his put ideas in his head, saying the baby isnt his, that youd been with someone else and he lost his temper. Hell come to his senses, youll see. Here, Ive brought you a treat eat up, you need proper milk. Name your son Isaac.
Sarah went back to the ward and shoved the bag into the bedside cabinet. Childrens laughter echoed from the corridor. Sarah went to take a look.
Is that my baby?
Yes, hes yours.
Let me try to feed him.
The nurse got up to bring the little one, who was red-faced and howling.
Hush now, mummys going to feed you.
Sarah clumsily tried to position her son. Ellie came over to help, and soon the baby quieted, latched on, and started feeding. Sarah smiled for the first time he looked so funny, puffing and frowning, working hard at breakfast.
From then on, Isaac was brought to his mum for every feed. Sarah loved to study his little button nose and furrowed eyebrows.
Was that your mum who came to see you, Sarah? She seemed like a lovely woman.
No, thats my mother-in-law. Lost Mum when I was small, Dad never stuck around and my auntie raised me. Then I got married and moved in with my husbands family. We were happy for a while, until he started an affair.
Left to be with her, doesnt want anything to do with me. I was barely hanging on when the labour started.
Where will you go now, with a baby?
My mother-in-law says I can go live with her. Shes on her own, husband died, her only sons buggered off. Shes a good woman always treated me kindly.
Then move in! Shell be glad to have her grandson around, and therell be help. And your husband will come around, youll see.
So thats exactly what Sarah did. Margaret absolutely doted on her grandson and helped with everything.
When Isaac turned a month old, Tom showed up. Sarah was out at the shops.
Mum, Im heading off to get work with Lucy overseas just wanted to say goodbye. Also can you lend me some money, if you can spare it?
Youre a piece of work, you are You left your wife when she was pregnant, scumbag. She nearly abandoned your baby in hospital! If your father were around, hed have sorted you. Im not giving you anything Ive got a grandson now and he needs looking after, youll have to fend for yourself.
Just then Isaac started crying and Margaret rushed over.
Not even going to look at your own son? Hes the spitting image of you.
Hes not my boy, is he? Sarah made him with someone else why should I care?
Youre a fool, Tom. Off you go and carry on being daft.
Margaret retired, and Sarah took her job in her place. Isaac started nursery and the three of them made a great little family, happy and lively.
Margaret, isnt your daughter-in-law thinking of moving out? Never heard of a mother-in-law living with her sons wife with the son out the door.
Sarah means more to me than Tom ever did, and my grandson is my everything. Thats my life now, Vera, youd do well to mind your own tongue.
Vera just shook her head and wandered off, never quite understanding why Margaret put her daughter-in-law and grandson before her own son. But then, maybe thats just the way things worked out.
Margaret noticed Sarah had started dressing up a bit more, out in the evenings.
Sarah, whats his name then?
Whos name, Mum?
The chap youre seeing. You should tell me, Im curious.
Oh, its nothing, just walks. He came to visit some family we met by chance.
Does he know about Isaac then?
Of course, he knows everything.
Well, bring him round to meet me. No sense hiding him if hes decent.
His name was Oliver he turned up with a basket of blackberries and an apple tart his auntie had baked, a little toy bus and football for Isaac.
They all laughed and chatted Oliver kept everyone in stitches with his silly stories, and even Margaret was in tears from laughter. After he left, Sarah asked:
Well, what do you reckon, Mum is he alright?
Hes a good man, love well-mannered, smart, and most importantly, you can see he cares about you. Dont let this happiness slip by!
A month later, Oliver came to Margaret and asked for Sarahs hand.
No need to worry, I promise. Well live near Bath my house has plenty of space. I love Sarah, and Isaac is like a son to me. Please wish us well.
Margaret saw them all off Sarah, Oliver and Isaac as they headed off to start a new life. They promised to write, to come and visit. Now, the house felt so empty.
Nearly a year later, Tom turned up again, with a little boy called himself Jack. He looked rough, clothes a mess.
Oh heavens, Jack, what are you wearing? Wheres your mum?
No more Lucy. She ran off with a bloke with some cash. We lost all our money, nothing left to our name. I remembered, at least, that Ive got a mum and a house.
Took you long enough to remember years have gone by without a word.
Lucy admitted she made it all up, about Isaac not being my boy, just to break us up. I believed her. Now, I want to meet my son Where is he, anyway?
You blew your chance. Sarahs married a good man, shes happy. Isaac is his boy now. As for me, Im packing up heading off to help Sarah with her new daughter, and meet my granddaughter. You can stay and look after the house, alright?
Riding the train, Margaret sat thinking how funny life can be. What a gift it is to be wanted, to have someone who needs you, someone to love and lend a hand to like she did for Sarah years ago. If she hadnt, who knows how all their lives wouldve turned out?
