“Rory, Rory, loveweve got twins!” sobbed Tanya into the phone, her voice trembling. “Theyre so tiny, just 5 pounds each, but theyre healthy, everythings fine!”
“Well, the scan did say twins,” muttered her husband. “Boys?”
“Yes, boys! Theyre absolutely beautiful!” Tears of joy streamed down the young mothers face. At last, she held her babies in her arms.
Pregnancy had been far from easy for Tanya. First, the father of her children, Romanno, Roryhad been against the idea from the start. They worked together at a small firmTanya as an accountant, Rory as a delivery driver. It wasnt as if some grand passion had ignited between them; they were young, saw each other often, and things just happened. Especially since Rory had just broken up with his fiancée, Lydiatheir wedding date had even been setafter catching her kissing their mutual friend, Alex, in his car. The wedding was off, obviously, and Rory was desperate to distract himself. Tanya, a naïve twenty-year-old fresh out of college, had been in the right place at the right time.
Tanya had never been the type to turn heads. Bright red hair that stuck out in all directions and a smattering of freckles made her look more like Pippi Longstocking than a romantic lead, and shed struggled with her weight since schoolsometimes winning the battle, sometimes surrendering to biscuits and chocolates. Rory was her first proper boyfriend, and of course, shed thrown herself headfirst into love, heart and soul.
At first, Rory kept their relationship quiet. Hed wait for her after work behind the office, and theyd avoid public placesstrolling by the river or sitting on a park bench. But in their small town, secrets never lasted. Soon, every other mate of Rorys was asking about the new accountant he was seeing. And, out of spite toward Lydia, Rory spun tales of his undying love for Tanya. The rumours reached her ears, flattering hershe truly believed he adored her, mistaking his bravado for devotion.
Tanya was from the next village over, living with her elderly, unmarried aunt in a cramped flat while she worked. The aunt tolerated herbarelybut when she found out about the pregnancy (thanks to a positive test left in the bin and Tanyas morning sickness), she saw her chance to finally have the flat to herself again. She even dug into Rorys family history and discovered his mum, Martha, had been her classmate years ago. A visit was paid, and Martha was stunnedshed had no idea her son was even seeing anyone, let alone about to become a father.
“Son, apparently youve got a fiancée!” Martha confronted him later. “And here I thought you were still pining over Lydia!”
“What fiancée? Were just seeing each otherits nothing serious! And Lydias got nothing to do with this!”
“Nothing serious? Then whys the whole town talking? And why did her aunt come round asking about wedding plans?”
“Wedding plans? We never talked about that!” Rory was baffled.
“Well, you didnt. But Tanyas pregnant, and you can bet shes thinking about it. Time I met your future wife!”
And just like that, Rory found out he was going to be a dad.
“Tanya, why didnt you tell me?” he demanded when they next met.
“I was scared,” she whispered, eyes downcast. “What if you didnt want the baby? What would I have done?”
By then, it was too late to back outthe news was already out.
They married quietly, just a registry office signing and a modest dinner in his parents garden. Moving in with Rorys family was the only optiontheir two-storey house had space, unlike Tanyas tiny flat. His older sister, Kate, who lived in the city, came for the occasion.
“Rory,” Kate pulled him aside, “I dont get how you traded Lydia for that.” She shot a disdainful look at Tanya, who, in her beige dress, looked hugepregnancy had bloated her, her freckles stood out starkly, and her grey eyes were almost translucent in the sunlight.
“Lydia cheated on me!” Rory muttered.
“I saw her yesterday,” Kate said quietly. “She regrets everything. Swears nothing happened with Alex, that she still loves you. Have you even talked to her?”
“Talked? I saw them kissing!”
“And now youre making a fool of yourself!” Kate snapped. Shed never liked Tanyathis timid, plain girl. Not like Lydia, her old friend.
But Tanya? She was floating. She didnt care that Kate glared or that Rory looked miserable. She loved him, and she was carrying his babiesthat was enough.
Martha, Rorys mum, was kind to Tanyaespecially after the scan revealed twins. Over time, she pieced together the truth: Rory had married out of spite, not love. He ignored Tanya, never kissed her, never asked about the babies. And then he started working late.
Tanya mightve stayed in her happy delusion if Lydia hadnt cornered her in the supermarket one day.
“Now I get why Rorys in no rush home,” Lydia sneered, looking Tanya up and down.
Tanya flushed. She knew how she lookedher figure ruined, her dress shapeless, her freckles and blotches glaring.
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. You know who I am?”
“His ex.”
“Not exactly *ex*,” Lydia smirked. “He married you in a fit. Youve got nothing in common.”
“We have children!”
“Ah, the children. Did he even want them? Or was that your decision?”
Tanya didnt stay to hear more. She barely made it home before collapsingpain ripped through her, and soon, an ambulance took her away.
The twinsOliver and Henrywere born healthy but fussy. They never slept at the same time, leaving Tanya exhausted. Without Marthas help, shed have crumbled. Rory? He barely glanced at them, coming home later each night.
“S
