She wasnt theirs by blood, those five But who could tell
Ethan lost his wife. She never recovered from the last childbirth.
Grieve or not, five children remained. The eldest, little Michael, was nine. Elijahseven. The twins, Alex and Leo, were four. And the youngest, just three months old, little Evelyn, the long-awaited daughter
No time to mourn when children ask for food. But when theyre all asleep, past midnight, he sits in the kitchen, smoking
At first, Ethan managed alone. His sister-in-law visited, helped a bit. They had no other family. She offered to take Alex and Leo, said itd ease his burden. Then two strangers from social services came.
They suggested sending all the children to an orphanage. Ethan wouldnt hear of it. How could he hand his own flesh and blood to strangers? What kind of life would that be? Hard, yesbut what choice was there? Theyd grow, slowly, but theyd grow.
Sometimes he even managed to check the older ones homework. Evelyn, of course, was the most trouble. But Michael and Elijah helped where they could.
The health visitor, Mrs. Nina Thompson, came often, fussing. Once, she promised Ethan a nanny. A man shouldnt raise an infant alone. A good girl, she said, hardworking. Worked at the hospital.
No children of her own, unmarried. But shed helped raise siblingscame from a big family in the next village. And so Lucy appeared in Ethans house.
Petite, sturdy, round-faced, with an old-fashioned braid down her back. Andquiet. Never a word out of place. But everything in Ethans home changed. The house gleamedscrubbed, polished.
Mended and washed the childrens clothes. Tended to Evelyn, cooked meals. School and nursery noticed at once. Clean, neat children, buttons no longer sewn haphazardly, elbows no longer frayed.
Once, Evelyn fell ill, feverish. The doctor said shed recover with care. Lucy sat by her all night, never once lying down. Nursed the girl back. And somehow, without notice, she stayed in Ethans home
The younger ones began calling her “Mum,” starved for a mothers touch. And Lucy didnt withhold affection. A pat on the head, a hug. Well, they were just children
The older boys, Michael and Elijah, kept their distance at first, unsure what to call her. Then settled on “Lucy.” Not nanny, not mumjust Lucy. To remember their real mother had existed. And she was barely old enough to be one anyway.
Lucys own family objected.
“Why shackle yourself to that mess? Plenty of lads in the village!”
“There are lads,” she replied. “But I pity Ethan And the little ones are used to me now.”
So they lived. Fifteen years slipped by unnoticed The children studied, grew. Not always smoothmischief happened. Ethan would rage, reach for the belt. Lucy would tug his sleeve”Wait, father, hear them out first”
They quarrelled, made up. Soon, no one in the village called her Lucy anymore. She was Mrs. Ludmila Wilson now, respected. Michael married this year, expecting his first.
The young couple lived apart, Michael worked at the farm. Not just any tractor drivermedals, bonuses, the lot. Elijah was finishing university in the city, Lucys prideher boy, an engineer.
They did everything togetherplayed as children, stood as one if trouble came. Evelyn moved to ninth grade, Lucys joy. Sang, danced, no village event without her.
And Ethan often thought how well Nurse Nina had chosen his wife This summer, Lucy felt something amiss in her body. Age, never ill, yet now dizziness, nausea
She banished Ethans cigarettes to the porch, the smoke made her queasy. At first, she thought itd pass. It didnt. Had to see the doctor.
Returned quiet, pensive. Brushed off Ethans questions”Nothing, Im fine.”
But that evening, when the house slept, she called him to the porch.
“Sit, father The doctor says Im with child Too late to change it now.” She hid her face. “The shame”
Ethan only blinked. All these years, no childrenand now?
“What shame? The older ones are nearly grown! Just us two left? Nature knows best! Well manage.”
“What will the children say? An old woman like me”
“Old? Thirty-nine? Rubbish!”
“I dont know what to do The shame”
“Fine. Ill tell them. Tomorrow, when theyre all here.”
And he did. Gathered at the table, he said it plain. “My dears Youll have a new brother soon. Or sister.”
Lucy stared at her plate, flushed to her ears.
Michael, visiting with his young wife, just laughed.
“Brilliant, Mum! Well done! Yours and mine can grow up together!”
Alex cheered
“Go on, Mum! We need another brother!”
Leo disagreed
“No A girl. Too many lads here, just one girl. Weve spoiled our princess”
Evelyn shot him a look.
“Spoiled? You spoiled anyone? A girl, Mum! Ill tie her ribbons, buy pretty dresses!”
“Dresses? Shes not a doll,” Elijah cut in. “A child needs raising.”
“Well raise it,” said Ethan.
Still Lucy hid her growing bellywith a shawl, a coat in summer heat.
The months passed. They celebrated Michaels firstborna boy! Elijah returned to university, holidays over. Alex and Leo left tooenrolled in agricultural college.
Evelyns school year began. The house grew quiet. She was always outschool, friends. Even a lad started walking her home from Sunday dances.
Lucy couldnt sleep, waiting. Thenpain. Sharp, blinding.
“Ethan,” she whispered, “Ethan, I think its time”
He paled, fumbled with his boots.
“Wait, love, Illquick, the ambulance!” he yelled to Evelyn. She understood, dashed out.
Two minutes later, she burst back in.
“Mum, Toby will drive you, hes fetching his dads car, wait!”
“Toby, eh?” she thoughtthen another pain tore through her.
“Oh, Mum! Whats happening?”
Five minutes later, the boy who walked Evelyn home entered.
“Dads driving,” he told Evelyn. “Coming?”
“Im coming,” Ethan snatched his jacket. “Dont fret, love, Im here”
All night, Ethan smoked on the hospital steps. At dawn, a nurse came out.
“Waiting, dad? Smoking? Less of that now First one, is it?”
“Five,” he said hoarsely.
“Blimey! Rich man! Not fiveseven! Your beauty had twins!”
“Twtwins?” he stammered.
“Boy and girl! Lads a screamer,” she laughed. “Girls a beauty! Go home, dad. Come tomorrow. Shell stay a bit. Bring whats needed. Understood?”
“Right,” Ethan nodded, dazed.
On discharge day, the whole family gathered. Even the students skipped classes. The nurse carried out two bundlesone blue ribbon, one pink. Lucy followed, flustered.
Ethan took one, hesitated with the other.
“Cant hold two Forgotten how”
Michael took the second
“Here, dad Not my first rodeo.”
“Oh, shes lovely!” Evelyn peeked in. “My little sister!”
Flowers and cake given (as proper), they piled into the farm busthe manager lent it. Special occasion!
“Well, Mum, youve pleased everyone!” Michael grinned.
Lucy cradled one bundle, smiling quietly. God willing, shed raise them right She glanced at Ethan, holding the other.
“Well raise them,” she corrected herself, “of course, we”
“Children,” she turned to them, “what shall we name them?”
At once, suggestions flewnames they liked, names that meant something.
And the bus driver, Ethans mate, listening to the chatter, thoughtshe wasnt theirs by blood, those five But who could tell?
