Nicholas arrives in the village to visit his aunt. The moment he walks up to the familiar cottage, he opens the garden gate, and standing in the yard to greet him is Aunt Helen.
“Why didnt you ring ahead or let me know you were coming?” she says, wrapping her arms around her nephew. “And Sophie and the children didnt come with you?”
“No, they couldnt make it. They had things to manage in the city,” Nicholas replies.
Aunt Helen quickly lays the table, they enjoy a nice meal, and then she moves on to a more serious topic.
“Look what I stumbled upon in the chest in the pantry,” Helen suddenly says, handing Nicholas a folded piece of paper.
Nicholas takes the old sheet with curiosity and begins to read, his face changing as he takes in the words.
“Dont get yourself into a state,” Aunt Helen tries to reassure him. “That papers ancient! Things change; youve raised two children of your own, havent you?”
That night, Nicholas stays at his aunts. He hardly sleeps, thinking about the document he found. It was a medical report issued long agoafter hed fallen ill as a boywhich claimed hed never be able to have children. It was given to his mother, and Nicholas had never heard a word about it until now.
“Could this be a mistake?” he wonders. “If the report is true, then the children I raised arent mine. But I know my wifeshe wouldnt betray my trust.”
Nicholas lost his mother before he even turned ten. His father remarried soon after, and Nicholas would often stay with Aunt Helen, who lived next door. She was his mothers younger sister and, over time, became like a second mother to him.
After his National Service, Nicholas had no wish to stay in his home villagethere were no jobs, and he didnt get along with his father. He moved to the city, found work as a driver, and lived in the local hostel. As he gained experience, he became a lorry driver, working long distances. Before long, hed managed to buy his own little home.
Later, he met Sophie. She told him she was expecting before they even married. They lived happily, and three years after their daughter was born, they welcomed a son.
By forty, with some savings aside, Nicholas left lorry driving and started a removals business. Bit by bit, he grew the company, which now brings in steady earnings.
Straight from Aunt Helens, Nicholas heads to London. Unable to think straight, he cant return home yet. In London, he undergoes medical examination, and his fears are confirmed. When he returns, hes a changed man.
“Nicholas, youre home!” his wife exclaims. “Will you be eating?”
“No,” he says shortly, putting the report on the table between them.
“Whats this?” Sophie asks, puzzled.
“This,” Nicholas says, “is a report stating I could never father children.”
Sophie sinks into a chair in shock.
“Dont be ridiculous, Nicholas, there must be some mistake.”
“If you keep lying,” he says, “you wont see me again.”
“Alright, let me explain,” Sophie agrees quietly.
Sophies story unfolds. In school, a classmate took an interest in her, and they dated for a while. Later, he left her for a friend. Not long after, she met Nicholas. When she found herself pregnant, she realised she couldnt be absolutely sure who the father was, but marriage was the only way out of a difficult situation.
“Alright, I can follow your reasoning with the first child,” Nicholas interrupts. “I might even forgive you for that. But what about our second child?”
Tears well up in Sophies eyes as she dabs them away.
“You were often away with work,” she manages to say. “One evening years ago, I ran into my old flame. He invited me out. I dont know what came over me, but I went. It never happened again, and Ive regretted it ever since. Its you I truly love, Nicholas.”
When Sophie finishes her confession, Nicholas simply sits at the table, burying his head in his hands.
“Nicholas, please dont leave me. I cant live without you.”
“I cant look at you,” Nicholas says, and heads for the door.
His wife runs after him, sobbing, but he walks out, shutting the door behind him.
Trying to keep busy, Nicholas spends all his time at work. At weekends, he goes back to Aunt Helens in the countryside. Nights are the hardest.
“My whole life, wasted,” he thinks, staring at the ceiling. “What have I done to deserve this, and how do I carry on?”
By morning, his feelings clash with his thoughts.
“But if Id found out about my condition earlier, Id never have married, never known what it meant to be a father. I wouldnt have seen my childrens first steps, or shared all those small, happy family moments. Not knowing let me live a full, happy life,” he realizes.
That Sunday, his children visit him in the village.
“Dad, I dont know whats happened between you and Mum, but youre avoiding us. Dont you want to see us either?” his daughter says as soon as shes through the door.
“Dont be silly, love, of course I love you both. Its with your mother I have my differences,” Nicholas reassures them.
“Dad, Mum cries all day and night. Im worried something will happen to her,” his son adds.
“Come on, Dad, stop being cross with Mum. And I have newswere going to make you and Mum grandparents soon!” his daughter announces with a smile.
Nicholas hugs her, overcome with emotion. “Thats the best news Ive heard all week.”
“And were not going back without you,” his son insists, “Theres no point in tearing each other apart after all these years.”
“Alright,” Nicholas smiles. “Youve convinced melets go home.”
