“Mum, stop lecturing me. Mark and I were planning to have a baby in, like, three years… At least three! We’ve got so much going on—projects, plans, a trip to Spain coming up. A baby right now? Seriously, Mum?” The irritation in her daughter’s voice was so sharp that Katherine quickly ended the call.
Young, beautiful, ambitious, ready to take on the world—and then, out of nowhere, an unplanned pregnancy.
“Sweetheart, just… don’t do anything drastic, alright? Not until we’ve been to Rivermead,” her mum murmured softly.
***
As long as Diane could remember, they’d always celebrated her mum’s birthday in Rivermead—though she’d never been thrilled about it. A quiet family dinner by candlelight, then a visit to the chapel at dawn.
“Dad, why do we always go to that village for Mum’s birthday? It’s so dull!”
“Without Rivermead, there’d be no you, no your mum… maybe even no me. Understand?”
“Yeah,” Diane grumbled, though she didn’t understand at all.
This year, though, her dad was gone—a heart attack. Watching her mum cry endlessly, shut away in her room, Diane suggested the trip to Rivermead herself.
“Dearest, I thought you hated Rivermead.”
“I love you, Mum… Just us, though. Mark can’t get time off work.”
***
The stifling heat had eased, and something magical hung in the air. Katherine stepped onto the porch, breathing in the sweet scent of cut grass and wild strawberries.
“Wish William could see this…”
“Mum, remember when Dad and I baked your birthday cake? Flour everywhere—the kitchen, the porch, even the shed! And you just laughed and said it looked like a snowstorm,” Diane grinned, draping a blanket over her mum’s shoulders.
“Sweetheart, I need to talk about… the baby.”
“Ugh, not this again.” Diane sighed, rolling her eyes. “Mum, we’ve decided. Our choice is freedom!”
“Just… let me speak.” Katherine’s throat tightened, her vision blurring. “You know you were a miracle baby, don’t you? The doctors said I’d die in childbirth. No question.”
“Oh, Mum…” Diane pulled her close, feeling her tremble.
“Let me finish. When William found out I was pregnant, he was devastated—started smoking again. He wanted children so badly, but he loved me more than life itself. Said he couldn’t live without me. Then my friend Emily invited us to Rivermead. I went to say goodbye. And to prepare him. My mind was made up—you’d live, and I’d go.”
“You… for me?” Diane’s breath hitched, fighting tears.
“I’d decided, but I didn’t know how to tell William. Started visiting the chapel, praying to St. Agnes for guidance.
One evening, I was walking back when I saw the neighbour’s barn on fire. A dog ran inside, came out with a puppy in her mouth, then dashed back in. The roof collapsed. She reappeared with another pup, her fur singed, eyes blistered. She nuzzled them, checking, then charged back into the flames. Five minutes later, she dragged out a third, dropped it at my feet, licked a tear off my cheek… and went still.
William found me sobbing, clutching those puppies. He never asked again. He just knew. But his eyes were red every day until you were born.
You came right on time, perfectly healthy. The doctors called it a miracle.” Katherine’s face softened, her worry fading.
“Mum, why’d you never tell me?”
“I suppose… it wasn’t time.”
***
A year later, Diane and Mark bought Katherine a cottage in Rivermead. Diane sat on the porch, cradling her tiny son.
“Mum, this is our best project yet. Our happiness. I can’t believe I almost threw away something so precious for some idea of ‘freedom’.”
Katherine smiled faintly, whispering to no one:
“We didn’t live this life for nothing.”
