When the phone rang at seven in the morning, I already knewit had to be Oliver. Only hed call at such an ungodly hour with the cheerful energy of someone who genuinely believes dawn starts at five.
Yeah? I mumbled, still half-asleep.
Emma, sorry to wake you, but I need a massive favour.
I sat up in bed. With Oliver, a massive favour usually meant either a disaster or utter madness.
Spit it out then.
Ive got to go to Edinburgh for work. Two weeks. And Sophies six months alongthe doctors told her to take it easy
So you want me to look after your pregnant wife? I interrupted.
Silence on the other end.
Just make sure she eats properly, gets to her appointments, doesnt stress
You *do* hear how mental that sounds, right, Oliver?
I know, he sighed. But youre the only one I trust. And Sophie adores you. Says youre the sister she never had.
Brilliant, I thought. The sister who also happened to be his ex-wife and still wasnt entirely sure shed moved on.
I hung up, but twenty minutes later, I was at their front door. Sophie answeredwearing a pyjama set covered in ducks, her hair a mess, her bump perfectly round and lovely.
Emma! I told Oliver not to bother you, honestly she said, flustered.
Relax, I dont bite. Wheres your globetrotter?
In the bedroom, hunting for his navy socks. Unsuccessfully, as usual.
Ah, yes. I knew *that* routine well.
You actually came? Oliver poked his head out.
Yes, but Ive got conditions.
He braced himself. Go on.
No calling every five minutes. When youre back, dinner at the poshest place in town. And buy Sophie those Belgian chocolates shes been craving since yesterday.
Howd you know? Sophie blinked.
Pregnancy radar, I said, grinning. Some things never change.
When he finally left, it was just the two of usthe ex-wife and the current wife, both a little baffled by the situation.
Weird, isnt it? Sophie said, pouring me tea.
Very. But Ive learned to roll with lifes oddities.
We started spending days together. Id show up in the mornings, cook breakfast, help around the house. We binged telly, laughed, talked about everything.
Be honest, she asked quietly one day. Do you still love him?
I couldve lied. But not to her.
Yes. Just not the same way. Its like loving a memoryaches, but doesnt sting.
She nodded. I was afraid youd hate me.
Tried that, I chuckled. Youre too nice to hate.
At her next ultrasound, when the tiny heartbeat flickered on the screen, Sophie squeezed my hand.
See? Thats him.
And I dida little life born from a past Id once shared with Oliver. It hurt and yet, somehow, it was peaceful.
Proper handsome, I said.
Dyou think Oliverll cry when he sees the scan?
Guaranteed. He wept at the end of *Paddington 2*.
We laughed. We cried. We became friends.
One evening while cooking, Sophie asked, Why did you two *really* split?
I set the knife down.
We were opposites. Mecontrol. Himchaos. Mequiet. Hima hurricane. We loved each other but didnt know how to live together.
And with me?
You balance him. I just fuelled the fire.
She smiled through tears. Youre incredible, Emma.
Nah. Just learned to let go.
When Oliver returned, Sophie nearly bowled him over with a hug. He showered me in thanks.
Emma, youre an absolute saint.
Saint who expects dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant, I reminded him.
They laughed, and as I watched them, I realisedyes, I still loved him. But now it was love without demands. Love that could celebrate *their* happiness.
This kids going to have the best auntie in the world, Oliver said, staring at the scan.
Auntie? Sophie raised an eyebrow.
Obviously, I grinned. After two weeks, Im officially part of this mad little family.
Sure you want in on this chaos? he joked.
Too late to back out now, I said. Someones got to stop you naming the baby *Tarquin*.
Whats wrong with Tarquin?! Sophie gasped.
All three of us burst out laughing.
And thats how I became Auntie Emma to my ex-husbands child and his wonderful wife. And you know what? It didnt feel lonely anymore.
My story mightve sounded like a bizarre soap opera, but it had everythinglaughter, pain, tenderness, forgiveness. So when, months later, Sophie called and said,
Emma, we want you to be his godmother,
I just laughed and replied,
Well, guess Im stuck with you lot forever now.
