“Dont look at me like that! I dont need this baby. Take it!”a stranger just shoved a baby carrier into my hands. I had no idea what was happening.
My husband and I had always got on well. We hardly ever argued. I tried to be the perfect wife and homemaker. We married while we were still at uni. Then I got pregnant and had twins. When the kids grew a bit older, we started a small business. I only helped my husband occasionallymost of the time, I was looking after the kids and keeping the house running. Above all, I loved cooking. My husband always looked forward to weekends when Id spoil him with something delicious. Every time, Id try a new recipe, and hed be my official taste-tester. The kids were always eager to see what Mum had whipped up, too. With all the chaos of kids, housework, and work, I never paid much attention to what my husband was up to. It never crossed my mind that he could cheat on me.
Truth is, the last year had been really tough. The business wasnt doing great, and wed been cutting corners wherever we could. My husband even had to travel across the country to sign new sales contracts. The kids had just started Year One, so I was home with them.
One day, as we were driving home from work, a stunning woman surprised us. We got out of the car, and before I knew it, this stranger shoved a baby carrier into my hands.
“Dont look at me like that! I dont want this baby if he wont be with me. Take it!” she screamed, pointing at my husband like a madwoman.
I just stood there, completely lost.
“You promised youd leave her and be with me! If not, I dont want this child!” She spat at my feet, turned on her heel, and stormed off.
It took me a few minutes to snap out of my shockthen I realised I was holding a baby carrier. I didnt even have to ask my husband anything. The look on his face told me exactly who that woman was, and he looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole. We walked into the house in silence. Inside the carrier was a tiny boy, no more than two weeks old.
“Youll pick the girls up from school and get everything I write down for the baby,” I said. He just nodded.
Eighteen years passed. A lot of my friends judged methey couldnt understand why Id raise someone elses child when I already had two daughters.
I never asked my husband about that woman. I raised the boy as my own. The girls were thrilled to have a little brother. We never hid the truth from our son, and when he was old enough, we explained everything. Surprisingly, he took it calmlyhe didnt even ask about his birth mother. And I was happy. I had three amazing kids who loved us. Things between my husband and me had been rocky since then, but hed tried his best to make it right.
On our sons 18th birthday, we decided to celebrate with family. Our daughters were coming overthey were married now, with their own lives. Just as we were about to sit down for dinner, the doorbell rang. We werent expecting anyone else, so I felt uneasy. All day, something had been nagging at meand I was right. When I went to the hallway, there stood a thin woman who reminded me of the one whod handed me her son all those years ago.
“I want to speak to my son,” she said.
“You dont have a son here,” my son and I said together.
He shut the door in her face and called everyone to the table. Tears welled up in my eyes. I was so proud of the incredible young man hed becomeeven if he wasnt mine by blood.
