Emily discovered she was pregnant. Her husband, George, doted on her throughout the entire pregnancy, fulfilling every whim and craving. Finally, the big day arrived, and George rushed Emily to the maternity ward. When a healthy baby girl was born, he sighed in relief. Exhausted but overjoyed, the new dad headed home for a well-deserved rest. The next day, he returned to visit his wife and daughteronly to be met with shocking news.
“She’s not here,” the nurse told him flatly.
“Impossible!” George refused to believe it. “She must have stepped outhave you checked the cafeteria?”
“No, shes gone. Left this for you,” the nurse said, handing him a folded note. George opened it and turned pale.
George, the sales manager, had been single when he first laid eyes on Emilyyoung, beautiful, and fresh-faced on her first day in his department. He wasted no time.
“Morning, colleague,” he said with a smile warm enough to melt butter.
“Good morning,” she replied sweetly, returning the smile.
“Lets get you settledJessica here will show you the ropes. Shes our veteran,” he nodded toward her. “Read through the manual, and best of luck. Hope well work well together.”
The mostly female team exchanged glances as George left. Jessica leaned over and whispered to Rachel:
“Since when does George bother with new hires?” They stifled giggles.
Emily kept to herself at first. New workplace, new dynamicsshe observed quietly, playing it cool. At just twenty-two, shed already left a trail of broken marriages behind hereven managing an affair with a college lecturer twice her age before his wife caught wind of it.
Weeks passed. One evening, George suggested drinks after work.
“Why not?” Emily grinned. “You’re the bossgood rapport is essential, right?”
Her smile was so disarmingly innocent he almost thought she was joking. But she agreed, and Georgethirty, never married, with a string of fleeting relationshipsfell hard and fast. Soon, the entire office gasped when he announced their wedding.
George indulged Emilys every demand without questioneven accepting her ultimatum.
“No kids for now. I want to live for myself. If I ever feel ready, Ill tell you. Until thenno nappies, no babygros.”
George assumed shed change her mind. But time passed, and Emily remained firm, shutting him down whenever he broached the subject.
Then, one day, he found her in tears, clutching a positive pregnancy test.
“Emily you’re pregnant?!”
She nodded. He swept her into his arms, elatedwhile she sobbed.
“I dont want this. I dont want to get fat. Fix it.”
But he kissed her tear-streaked cheeks. “Dont cry, darling. This is wonderful! Were having a baby!”
Emily was resolute. She booked an appointmentbut George intercepted her at the clinic just in time.
“Please,” he begged, pulling her outside. “Dont do this. Let our baby be born. Ill do everythingI promise!”
Reluctantly, she agreedon one condition: no nappy duty, no midnight feeds. True to his word, George waited on her hand and foot until the big day arrived. When their daughter was born, he finally exhaled.
Exhausted but glowing, the new dad went home to rest. The next day, he returned to the hospitalonly to be told:
“Your wifes gone. Left the baby behind.”
“Thats not possible,” George insisted. “Check the gardensmaybe she went for air?”
The nurse shook her head. “She left this.”
The note bore three words: “Dont look for me.”
Emily vanishedno calls, no trace. Six weeks later, she finally rang.
“Pack my things. My friend Mark will collect them. File for divorce yourselfI wont show up.”
Not a word about their daughter. George became both mother and father to little Alicethankfully, his mum lived nearby and helped.
Years later, the phone rang. Alices teacher, Mrs. Thompson, was on the line.
“Come to school immediately. Your daughters been fighting.”
George sped over, where Alice sat outside the headmasters office with a boyDannyand his father.
Alice, the star pupil, glared while Danny rubbed his cheek.
“She started it!” he protested. “Called me a fatherless brat and pinched me!”
“Dad, I didnt” Alice began.
“Danny, apologise,” his mother, Sophie, said firmly.
“Alice, you too,” George added.
The children mumbled apologies, still scowlinguntil the adults burst out laughing.
“Im George, Alices father.”
“Sophie, Dannys mum.”
The ice broken, George suggested pizza. The kids devoured slices, now fast friends, while George and Sophie exchanged glances.
More outings followedcinema trips, park picnics, dinners. The children noticed their parents growing bond long before they admitted it.
Months later, Sophie was pregnant again. Danny and Alice brainstormed names for their baby brother.
They settled on Oliver.
As George and Sophie often jokedsometimes, happiness comes from the most unlikely quarrels.
