“I want to do a testif Daisy really is mine, Ill take her.”
“Take her now if you wantshes always underfoot. Its exhausting, feeding her, dressing her, I cant even treat myself because I have to buy her something to eat. What a life Give me the money, Mike, yeah?”
Rita was getting ready for work. She quickly made her husband some sandwiches, wrapped them in foil, and left them on the table.
Mike worked at a garage, and they didnt get proper breaks, so he always had to bring his own lunch.
Rita herself worked as a cook in a canteen. Her job was a bit farther from home, so she had to wake up an hour earlier than Mike.
Outside, rain drizzled down, and Rita grabbed the umbrella lying in the hallway. It slipped from her fingers and clattered loudly on the floor. She froze, then peeked into the bedroomMike hadnt woken up.
Rita smiled to herself.
“Clumsy me!” she whispered, then carefully slipped out the door.
The bus arrived surprisingly fast. Rita sat by the window and watched the city pass by, lost in thought about her life.
She wasnt a young girl anymorenearing thirty, happily married. Though they werent well-off, she thought they had a good life together.
Only one thing troubled hershe and Mike had no children, and she longed for a baby, whether a girl or a boy.
For the three years theyd been married, Rita had gone for tests, but doctors just shrugged and said everything was fine.
The bus stopped. Rita paid her fare and stepped outjust a walk through the park, and then her canteen.
A few steps down the pavement, she suddenly stopped. A little girl sat on a wet bench, crying. She wore a thin jacket, shivering from the cold, tears mixing with raindrops on her cheeks.
Rita approached gently.
“Hello! Why are you out here alone?”
“Mum put me out” The girl sniffled.
“Put you out?” Rita couldnt believe itwho would leave their child in the rain?
“She was sleeping, and I was hungry. I woke her up, and she shouted at me. Now Im here.”
“Whats your name?”
“Daisy.”
“What am I supposed to do with you, Daisy?” Rita hesitated, then checked her watch. “Come on. Where do you live? Far from here?”
“No, just over there.” Daisy gestured vaguely.
They walked in the direction she pointed, and within minutes, they stood outside a flat. Rita rang the bell, but no one answered for a long time.
Finally, the door opened to reveal a dishevelled woman in a stained dressing gown. Unwashed, tangled hair framed her tired face.
She blinked at Rita, then at Daisy, and stepped aside without a word.
“Come in.”
Rita stepped over the threshold. The flat reekedthe smell was so strong it made her queasy. Dirty rags littered the floor, and dust coated the sideboard, untouched in ages.
Her eyes fell on a photo on the shelf. Ritas breath caught.
Shed seen it beforein Mikes album. But there, the picture had been cut, leaving only him. Here, Mike stood beside a pretty young womanthe same woman now slumped in front of her.
Rita turned back, staring.
“Well?” the woman snapped.
“‘Well’? Your daughter was sitting in the park crying! Dont you care? What kind of mother are you?”
“Dont you lecture me! Go raise your own kidsleave mine alone!” She spun toward Daisy. “Whereve you been?”
The girl darted into another room and shut the door. Rita realised there was nothing more to say and left.
All day, thoughts swirledDaisy, the photo, that woman who must have been part of Mikes past.
That evening, Rita handed Mike the photo.
“Love, whos this with you in the picture?”
“I told you about Helen once. We were together a long time, even talked about marrying. But she met someone else and left me.”
“Why did you cut the photo?”
“I couldnt forgive her for keeping my child. When we split, she was pregnant. She said she didnt keep it. So I left town, met you. We moved back here togethernothing to hide. But why ask now?”
“Something strange happened today.” Rita told him about the girl and her mother.
Mike listened carefully, then asked how old Daisy was. Rita told him.
He fell silent. It added upshe could be his.
“Where did you say they live?”
Rita told him and went to bed, exhausted. She barely slept. At half one, she woke to see light under the kitchen door.
Quietly, she peeked in. Mike sat at the table, deep in thought.
The next day, he knocked on his exs door. Daisy answered, staring up at the stranger smiling at her.
“Hello! Are you Daisy? Wheres your mum?”
The girl turned and ran inside.
“Mum! Someones here!”
“Who?” Helen appeared, dishevelled.
Mike barely recognised herthe woman hed once loved.
“You? What are you doing here? What do you want?”
He stepped inside without waiting, breathing in the stale air.
“Helen, I need the truth. Daisygiven her age, she could be mine. Is she?”
Helen slumped into a chair, looking up.
“Lend me some money, yeah? I need it. You never paid child support. Ive been feeding hernever took a penny from you. Just fifty quid.”
“Why did you lie? You said you didnt keep the baby.”
“I wanted to, but Valentine said hed be her dad. Then he left when Daisy was three months oldsaid he wouldnt raise another mans kid. I tried to come back to you, but youd gone.”
“Ill get a test. If shes mine, Im taking her.”
“Take her nowshes always in the way. Feeding her, clothing her, I cant even relax. Just give me the money, Mike.”
Daisy edged closer.
“Are you my dad?” Her big, cherry-like eyes stared up.
“Yes, Daisy. I want you to come live with me. Would you like that?”
She glanced fearfully at her mother.
“You wont be mean to me?”
Mike swallowed hard.
“No, Daisy. Never.”
She nodded.
“Then okay.”
He stroked her hair and turned to leave. Helen chased him down the stairs.
“Waitthe money? Lend me some.” Mike handed her a few notes. Her face lit up.
He couldnt do it. He turned back. Daisy still stood in the hallway, sadness in her eyes.
“Get your coat. Lets go.”
One thought burned in his mind: *Shes mine. I cant leave her here.*
Half an hour later, Daisy crossed the threshold of Mikes flat. She recognised Rita at oncethe woman whod brought her home.
Rita stood frozen, staring, unable to believe it was real.
Later, bathed and fed, Daisy played with the cat while Rita turned to Mike.
“Do you really think this was the right thing? You dont even know her.”
“Ill get to know her. Of course its righthow else would you treat your own child?”
Rita walked to the kitchen and cried, not bothering to hide her tears.
*Why is this happening to me?*
Shed wanted children so badly but couldnt have themshed have cherished every moment.
Now this girl. How was she supposed to feel? She couldnt be cruelbut what if she failed?
Resentment coiled insidetoward Mike, Helen, life itself. Then she felt a small hand pat her head.
Rita thought it was Mike. But when she looked up, it was Daisy.
“Are you sad? I cry a lot too. Want me to tell you a nice story? I know one.”
Rita pulled her close.
A year passed. Mike did the testjust for paperwork. In their hearts, it didnt matter. Daisy was staying.
Rita grew to love her deeply. They poured all their unused love into each other.
Mike adored her toothey were a happy family.
Then one day, Rita fell ill. It came out of nowhere. She felt off in the morning but went to work anyway. Hours later, she collapsed and woke in hospital.
“Whats wrong with me?” Rita had never been weak.
“We ran testswell know soon. Your familys on the way.”
Mike and Daisy arrived.
“Mum-Rita, whats wrong?”
“Nothing, sweetheart. I just need rest.”
The doctor returned.
“Well, dear, why didnt you say you were pregnant? You cant joke like that. Youre expectingwe found nothing else wrong. Well make sure everything goes smoothly. You
