Mother occasionally brought home new “men” Jessica remembered three. But none stuck around; they all left. Mum would cry, hug her, and say, “Dont worry, our turn will come,” before heading off to work.
The last one lasted two weeks, but when Mum stopped buying him whiskey, he moped and eventually walked outtaking her pearl earrings from the vanity drawer. Mum didnt report him. Said it was her own fault.
Five years passed without incident. Jessica almost relaxed, thinking theyd live in peace, but no such luck. When she turned fifteen, Mum fell in love. Shed gush about how wonderful he was, how much he adored her.
Jessica was happy for herfinally, Mum had found happiness. The first time Mum brought Simon home, Jessica liked him too. He seemed around forty, dressed smartly, had just one whiskey at dinner, and joked cleverly. She went to bed early, leaving them chatting in the kitchen. Expected to see him there in the morning. Instead, she heard the front door slam an hour later.
Next morning, Mum couldnt stop praising himworks in local government, proper, cares about appearances. Said they could move into his place after the wedding, but theyd wait a year so Jessica could finish school. Needed time to redecorate anyway.
Jessica listened, even admiring Mum. Shed looked younger lately, glowing. At thirty-six, shed given up on love, resigned to being alone.
***
Simon and Mum married just before term started. Jessica studied for exams; hed ask if she needed help. She thanked him but said she was fine, and hed retreatalways polite, knocking before entering her room.
They grew close. Jessica stopped feeling shy around him, sharing school worries over dinner. He listened, genuinely interested.
Mum blossomed. Simon spoiled hernew earrings, then a necklace. A year flew by. The house was ready; they planned to move. Simon asked if Jessica would join them. Plenty of space. But shed finished school, felt grown-up, and craved independence. She couldnt afford her own place yet, but Simon insisted money wasnt an issue. They agreed shed enroll in college locally. Hed help her land a decent job after.
Before they left, Simon told her, “Visit often. Well pop in tooMum or me. Need anything, just ask. Were family now.”
For graduation, they gave her a silver locket on a chain. She loved it, admiring it in the mirror for days.
When theyd picked it, Mum had hesitated. “Isnt this too much?”
Simon shook his head. “Who else will give her something like this?”
Mum beamed. Shed married the best man.
***
They moved out; Jessica started life on her own. At first, she visited often, bored in the empty flat. Mum always welcomed her. Eventually, she grew used to solitude and visited less. Sometimes Mum dropped by with groceries or cash. Occasionally, theyd bump into each other in town. Everyone was busy.
Jessica started college, loving student life. Shed visit weekends, updating them on her studies.
One trip, they broke news: Simon had a year-long assignment abroad. Mum was going too. “Dont worry,” they said. “Well send money.”
She saw them off at the station. Mum teared up, but Jessica laughed. “Mum, Im nearly seventeen! Ill be fine.”
They hugged, laughing, then boarded the train.
***
They lived far away. Came back for two days at Christmas, then left again, laden with gifts. Jessica spent the evening unwrapping them.
Later, Mum calledthe assignment extended. Two more years. Simon would return to pack spare things and rent out the flat. Shed have joined him, but work wouldnt allow it.
Jessica came home from lectures to rustling in her room. Peeked in.
“Hello, youre back early?”
“Jess! Just clearing space for boxes.”
Simon staredshed changed. At seventeen, shed grown curvy, wore makeup, looked older.
She dropped her bag. “Let me change, then Ill cook.”
From the hallway mirror, he watched her undresssoft curves, smooth skin. He shook his head. Nonsense thoughts.
They ate, swapping updates. She made up their old bedroom for him, then went to hers. She heard him shower, heard him pace. He couldnt shake the image in the mirror…
Jessica turned a page, looked up. Simon stood in her doorway. Strange look in his eyes. Just a towel around his waist.
“You needed something?”
***
Three days later, Simon left. Jessica exhaled, tried to forget. Three months passed. Then he was back. It happened againwhat she dreaded most.
He left. She stayed, coated in shame. Then came the realisation: she was pregnant.
She called repeatedly. He always promised to call back. Finally did.
“Miss me that much?”
“Im pregnant.”
“Christ! How?”
Just what he neededright before a promotion. This could mean jail time.
“Jess, Ill send money. Sort it out. No baby, no scandal. And keep your mouth shut.”
She clutched her head. What now? Shame, expulsion, pointing fingers. If they found out who the father washer family would collapse. Mum wouldnt survive it.
A week later, Simon arrived with cash and an address. A cottage, miles away. “Go there. You cant get rid of it without parental consentthat means police. Stay put. Or find some village woman to… handle it.”
She sobbed, terrified. He hugged her.
“You understandno one can know. Itll ruin us all.”
Next day, he leftMum none the wiser. A week later, Jessica did too.
***
She reached a remote village, found the house, unlocked it. Settled in, then hunted for the women hed mentioned. A toothless crone pointed her toward a cottage by the woods.
The old woman scowled. “What dyou want, sinner?”
Jessica trembled, burst into tears. The woman softened slightly, gave her water.
“Please, I need”
“Speak plain, girl. SayI want you to murder my baby with your hands.”
Jessica recoiled. “No!”
“Then why come?”
She fled, the hags cackle chasing her.
What now? Alone in this godforsaken place…
***
Daniel had returned after serving time for manslaughter. Coming home from the gym, hed heard stifled pleas in an alley. Two thugs tearing at a girls blouse. Sixteen, maybe. Rage took overhe punched one, then the other. The second fell, cracked his skull on the kerb. Turned out to be some bigwigs son. He got the book thrown at him.
This village was his nans. Hed visited as a boy. After prison, he craved quiet. The house stood isolated. He gardened, raised livestock. Within a year, city folks paid top dollar for his organic produce. Now repairs were done, even a boat bought for fishing. Saved up for a proper 4×4.
That morning, he checked netskept fish alive in a tub. Odd, these posh types insisting on killing their own dinner.
He cast his line, watching the sunrisenever the same twice. Golden today. Then a shadow crossed the light. A girl on the cliff edge, a bundle in her arms. Heading for the drop.
He dived in, grabbed the baby as the water swallowed it.
Jessica unclenched her hands, stepped back. Free now. Back to normal life.
Thena whimper. Her daughters cry.
God, what had she done? She tore off her jacket, kicked off boots, and leapt. Shed find her, save her!
Daniel had wrapped the baby in his coat when he heard the splash. The girldiving, surfacing, frantic. Shed drown at this rate. He waited, knowing panic made her stronger. Let her tire.
When she didnt resurface, he swam down, dragged her to the boat. She fought, scratched. No choicehe knocked her out.
On shore, he staggered under both their weight. Finally made it home.
Laid Jessica on the bed, tended the babyumbilical stump still raw. Did what first-aid training taught. Boiled milk, diluted it. Found an old lambs nipple in the shed, sterilised it.
The baby sucked, slept. He sacrificed a sheet for swaddling.
Jessica still hadnt woken. He worriedhit her too hard? Stripped her wet clothes, tucked her in. His pulse hammeredtwo years since hed seen a woman bare.
Ammonia under her nose. She groaned, opened her eyes.
“Whore you?”
“Daniel.”
Silence. Then remembrance.
“I need”
She sat up, collapsed. Overdid it. He laid her back, brought the baby, waved ammonia again. Jessica stared at the child, wept.
“Give her hereShe held her daughter close, whispered, “Were staying,” and Daniel, wiping his own tears, simply nodded, knowing their lives had just beguntogether.
