Two Orphans and One Happy Home—How Fate Put Everything Right
Emily and Charlotte rode the bus, heading for a quiet village in the countryside. A short walk from the stop brought them to the right address. The yard was lively, festive—tables were being set as if for a birthday celebration. The girls paused at the gate, and almost at once, a man came out to greet them.
“Hello there, are you here for us?” he asked with a warm smile. “Who might you be looking for, lasses?”
“We need to speak with William Thompson,” Charlotte replied.
“That’s me,” he said, raising his brows in surprise. “Are you from the council? Or…?”
“No,” Charlotte said, glancing at Emily. “This is my friend Emily. Em, show him the photo.”
Emily carefully unfolded an old photograph and handed it to the man. William studied it for a long moment before looking back at Emily. His expression shifted right before their eyes.
“She’s your daughter,” Charlotte said quietly.
William went still.
“My… daughter?”
This story had begun long before this meeting. Two very different girls—Emily and Charlotte—met in a children’s home. They arrived on the same day and were placed side by side. Both were orphans, by the choices of adults and the twists of fate.
Charlotte had lost her mother, a woman who, though not poor, preferred a carefree life—lively parties and fleeting romances. Her father was unknown to her, though he dutifully sent money. When her mother passed, no relatives would take her in. All that remained was a run-down flat and a one-way trip to the orphanage.
Emily had lived with her grandmother. Her mother died in childbirth, and her father… her grandmother knew of him but never sought him out. He had started another family, oblivious to the daughter he’d left behind. When her grandmother passed, Emily too ended up in the home.
The girls were placed in neighboring rooms. They bonded instantly but never quite fit in with the others. Often defending each other, just as often clashing with the rest—it only drew them closer.
After leaving the home, they rented a flat together and enrolled in college. That’s when the idea took root—they would try to find their fathers.
Charlotte’s father was listed in the records—social services had his details. Emily’s search proved harder. But with old photos and scribbled notes on the back, she uncovered a name. Then came the internet, phone calls, addresses… and now, here they were, stepping toward destiny.
First was Charlotte’s father. A grand house behind tall gates. They knocked. The answer was cold.
“He’s not here. Go away.”
No luck at his workplace either. Only hours later did he appear. The exchange was brief and brutal.
“I don’t want you. I paid my dues. I have a family—you were a mistake. Stay out of my life.”
Charlotte told him where to go, then broke down in tears.
“Right, now it’s your turn,” she said, wiping her face. “Let’s go find yours.”
The address was easy to locate. The yard was buzzing with preparations for a birthday party. William Thompson was in high spirits—until he saw the photo and heard the words, “This is your daughter.” His face darkened, then turned blank with shock.
“You… you don’t look much like your mother. But… there’s something. James! Fetch your gran!”
“Who’s this?” a teenager called from the doorway.
“Just go get her!”
An elderly woman appeared—spry and bright-eyed.
“What’s all this, William?”
“Mum, don’t be startled… This is—my daughter. Your granddaughter.”
“Good heavens! Is it really? What a blessing! Girls, come inside—why stand out here? It’s my birthday today—70 years!”
Emily and Charlotte were welcomed with open arms. William’s mother dug out old photos, and any doubt vanished—the resemblance was uncanny, down to the birthmark.
“We should do a test,” Emily murmured.
“If you like. But I already know—you’re ours. And Charlotte too. One granddaughter’s grand, but two’s even better!”
Charlotte cried all over again.
“No tears now,” the woman chided. “Today’s a celebration. William’s wife passed five years back—just me and the lads in this house. Now we’ve got you both. Let’s eat, then you’ll tell us everything. You’ll meet the brothers—there’s four of them. Youngest is George.”
The party was unforgettable. Laughter, stories, embraces. William kept repeating,
“How could I not have known?”
“Meant to be, that’s all,” his mother said. Then, with a chuckle, “Though mark my words—look how Thomas is eyeing Charlotte. Reckon we’ll have another celebration soon.”
And so it was. A year later, Thomas and Charlotte married. Emily stayed close as a sister. William became a true father to both. As for the grandmother? She’d say, “Found two granddaughters in one go. That’s fate for you!”
Sometimes, fate does set things right. Even if the road there is hard.
