The dream unfolded like a foggy afternoon in London, damp and heavy with unspoken truths.
“I want a testif Daisy really is mine, I’ll take her.”
“Take her now, for all I care. Shes always underfootneeds feeding, needs clothes, and I cant even buy myself a moments peace. Thats life for you Hand over the cash, Mike, eh?”
Rita was getting ready for work. She quickly made her husbands sandwiches, wrapping them in foil before setting them on the table.
Mike worked at a garage, never had proper lunch breaks, so he always had to take something with him. Rita herself worked as a cook at a canteen, a bit farther from home, so she rose an hour earlier than her husband.
Outside, rain drizzled. Rita grabbed the umbrella from the hallway, but it slipped from her grip and clattered loudly to the floor. She froze, then peeked into the bedroomMike hadnt stirred.
“Clumsy me,” she murmured before slipping quietly out the door.
The bus arrived unusually fast. Rita sat by the window, watching the city blur past. Her thoughts drifted.
She wasnt a young girl anymorenearing thirty, happily married. Not rich, but content, she thought.
Only one thing gnawed at herno children. Three years of marriage, tests, doctors shruggingnothing wrong, they said.
The bus stopped. Rita paid and stepped out, crossing the park toward the canteen.
A few steps in, she halted. On a rain-slick bench sat a little girl, crying. Her thin jacket did nothing against the cold, and tears mixed with raindrops on her cheeks.
Rita approached. “Hello! Why are you out here alone?”
“Mum put me out” the girl sniffled.
“Put you out?” Rita couldnt fathom it.
“She was asleep. I was hungry. Woke her up, and she shouted. So here I am.”
“Whats your name?”
“Daisy.”
“What am I to do with you, Daisy?” Rita checked her watch. “Come on. Where do you live?”
“Not far,” Daisy gestured vaguely.
They walked, and five minutes later stood outside a flat. Rita rang the bell. No answer.
Finally, the door creaked open. A disheveled woman in a stained dressing gown blinked at them. Greasy hair framed her tired face.
She stared at Rita, then at Daisy, and stepped aside without a word.
Rita entered. The flat reekedrotten food, stale air. Dust coated the shelves, and among the clutter, a photo caught Ritas eye.
Her breath hitched.
Shed seen it beforein Mikes album. But there, it had been cropped, showing only him. Here, the full image: Mike beside a pretty womanthis very woman, years younger.
Rita turned. “Your daughter was crying in the park. Do you even care?”
“Who are you to lecture me? Raise your own!” The woman snapped at Daisy, who scurried into another room.
Rita left, thoughts spiralingabout the girl, the photo, the woman who mustve meant something to Mike.
That evening, she handed Mike the photo. “Whos this with you?”
“Elena. We were together long ago. Nearly married. But she met someone else, left me.”
“Why crop her out?”
“I couldnt forgive her. When we split, she was pregnantsaid she wouldnt keep it. So I moved away, met you. Never hid anything. Why ask now?”
Rita told him about Daisy and her mother.
Mike listened, then asked, “How old is she?”
Rita answered.
He fell silent. She could be his.
“Where do they live?”
Rita told him and went to bed, exhausted. She barely slept. At half-one, she woke to find the kitchen light on.
Mike sat at the table, lost in thought.
The next day, he knocked on Elenas door. Daisy answered, staring at the stranger smiling down at her.
“Hello! Youre Daisy? Wheres your mum?”
The girl turned and ran inside. “Mum! Someones here!”
Elena appeared, unkempt, wary.
Mike barely recognized herthe woman hed once loved.
“You? What dyou want?”
He stepped inside, ignoring the stench. “Elena, I need the truth. Daisyshe could be mine. Is she?”
Elena slumped into a chair. “Loan me some cash, eh? You never paid child support. I fed her myself. A hundred quid, at least.”
“You lied. Said you didnt keep the baby.”
“I wanted to. But Valentin said hed be her dad. Then he left when she was three months old. Wouldnt raise another mans kid. I thought of coming back to youbut youd gone.”
“Ill get a test. If shes mine, Im taking her.”
“Take her now. Shes a nuisancealways needing food, clothes. This life Just give me the money, Mike, eh?”
Daisy crept forward. “Are you my dad?” Her cherry-like eyes blinked up at him.
“Yes, Daisy. I want to take you home. Will you come?”
She glanced at her mother. “You wont be mean?”
Mikes voice cracked. “Never.”
Daisy nodded. “Then yes.”
He stroked her hair and left. On the stairs, Elena caught up. “So the money?” Mike handed her a few notes. Her face lit up.
He couldnt leave. Daisy still stood in the hallway, eyes sad.
“Get dressed. Were going.” One thought burned*Shes mine. I cant leave her.*
Half an hour later, Daisy crossed Mikes threshold. She recognized Ritathe woman whod brought her home.
Rita stared, disbelieving.
Later, bathed and fed, Daisy played with the cat. Rita turned to Mike. “Was this right? You dont even know her.”
“Ill learn. Of course its righthow else should I treat my own child?”
Rita went to the kitchen, crying freely. Why was this happening? Shed wanted children so badly, wouldve cherished them.
Now this girl. How should she feel?
Resentment bubbledtoward Mike, Elena, life itself. Thena small hand touched her head.
Rita looked up. Daisy.
“You sad? I cry too. Want me to tell you a happy story? I know one.”
Rita hugged her tight.
A year passed. Mike got the testfor paperworks sake. Theyd already decided: Daisy was staying, no matter what.
Rita grew to love her, pouring all her unused tenderness into the girl. Mike doted on her toothey were a family.
Then, suddenly, Rita fell ill. One morning, she felt dizzy but went to work anyway. Hours later, she collapsed.
At the hospital, the doctor smiled. “You shouldve told us you were pregnant! Alls wellwell discharge you today.”
Rita sat bolt upright. “What? Pregnant? Mike, whats he saying?”
It was true. Her dream came truea healthy boy, named George.
Daisy helped with everything. Rita couldnt have managed without her clever, kind “big sister.”
Later, little Annie was born. Mike and Ritas joy overflowedtheir family, now complete, happy.
And Rita knewthis happiness had walked into their lives with a small girl whod brought a world of love.
