**A Daughter-in-Law with “Baggage”**
“Olivia, has your son gotten married? I saw him with a woman and a little boy. Did he take on someone elses baggage?” the neighbour asked.
Olivia looked surprised. “No, he hasnt married yet, but Id be happy if he did.”
The news caught her off guard. Her son, Andrew, still lived with her and hadnt mentioned any plans to settle down.
That evening, Olivia asked him, “Andrew, someone mentioned seeing you with a woman and a child. Are you seeing someone?”
He sighed. “Oh, those gossipscant keep anything to themselves. I didnt want to say anything yet. She has a son, so its nothing serious. Emilys a widowher husband died two years ago, and shes raising the boy alone. We met through work, and things just happened. Dont worry, I wont bring her home.”
Olivias face fell. “And here I was, getting excited. Whats wrong with her having a child?”
“Im not raising someone elses kid. I want my own.”
“Youre 34, Andrew. How long are you going to stay single?”
“Im still young, Mum. Are you wishing misery on me?”
“How is starting a family misery? Its happiness, son.”
Andrew owned a flat but preferred living with his mother, renting his place out to save for a new car. It was convenienthis mum cooked, did his laundry, and the women he dated, discovering he lived with her, never pressed for marriage. Perfect.
One day, Olivia spotted Andrew walking slowly along the pavement with Emilya petite woman with long blonde hair and a gentle face. Olivia couldnt help but wonder about her.
Soon after, she bumped into Emily outside a shop.
“Excuse me, are you Emily? Ive seen you with my son, Andrew. Im Olivia.”
Emily smiled. “Yes, I know Andrew well. Nice to meet you.”
“Would you like to grab a coffee?” Olivia offered.
They settled into a cosy café, and Olivia learned about Emilys lifeher five-year-old son, Liam, the loss of her husband, and her struggles as a single mother. Olivia listened intently, liking her more with each word.
That evening, Olivia announced, “Andrew, Ive invited Emily and Liam over on Saturday. No arguments.”
He groaned. “Mum, why must you meddle?”
“Im not forcing you to marry her, but I like her. Shes lovely.”
Saturday came, and the visit went smoothly. Even Andrew seemed happier. Olivia secretly hoped theyd marryEmily would make a wonderful wife.
But weeks later, Emily stopped answering calls.
“Andrew, whats wrong with Emily? I cant reach her.”
“We broke up. Dont ask.”
Olivia stared. “Why? Everything was fine!”
He shrugged. “Liams sick. Needs expensive medicine. She probably expects help. Easier to walk away.”
Olivia was stunned. “You abandoned her in her hardest moment? Youd let a child suffer?”
“Its not my problem. Im not wasting my savings on someone elses kid.”
Disgusted, Olivia withdrew her own savingsmoney shed set aside for emergenciesand gave it to Emily.
Andrew moved out soon after, slamming the door behind him.
Months passed. Liam recovered, and Olivia stayed close to Emily and Liam. Then, she noticed Emily wearing looser clothes.
“Emily are you pregnant?”
Emily hesitated. “Yes, five months. I didnt tell AndrewI feared hed think I trapped him. But I couldnt end it. Its a girl.”
Olivia beamed. “A granddaughter! Ill help however I can!”
The baby, Alice, was born healthy. Andrew knew nothing until he spotted Olivia pushing a pram one day.
“Mum, since when do you babysit?”
Just then, Emily appeared.
Andrew froze. “Is this your child?”
Emily lifted her chin. “She has a mother. Thats enough.”
Olivia added, “And a grandmother. Andrew, meet your daughter.”
He gaped, then walked away without another word.
Five years later, Olivia suffered a stroke. Emily and the children moved in to care for her. Andrew visited occasionally but remained distant.
Olivia signed her flat over to Emily, ensuring Alices future.
“Youve given me two wonderful grandchildren,” she told Emily. “I never imagined youd become like a daughter to me.”
Life had a way of surprising herthe son she raised had grown cold, while the woman she barely knew had become her family.
