William settled himself comfortably at his desk, laptop open and a mug of tea steaming beside him. There was work to finish up before the day was through. Suddenly, his phone rang, displaying an unknown number.
Hello, William speaking.
Is this William Douglas? Im calling from St. Marys Maternity Hospital, came the voice of an elderly man. Do you know an Emily Thompson?
No I dont know any Emily Thompson. What is this about? William replied, puzzled.
The thing is, Emily passed away yesterday during childbirth. Weve already spoken to her mother, who says youre the father of the child, the man said, pausing expectantly.
What child? What do you mean, father? I dont understand, William began to feel agitated.
Emily gave birth to a daughter yesterday. If you are William Douglas, we need you to come to the hospital tomorrow. There are things to be decided The man spoke slowly and deliberately.
What things? William was still in the dark.
Just come to St. Marys on Euston Road tomorrow. Ask for Nicholas Parker. Thats me. Well talk everything through.
William stood for a moment with the phone still in his hand, listening to the dial tone before placing it aside and trying to take in what hed just heard.
Emily Who on earth is Emily? he muttered as he paced about his living room. I have no idea Hang on How long are women pregnant? Nine months, isnt it? Right, nine months ago? Its May now So, that would be September. What happened in September?
He glanced at the mug in his hand, grimaced, and set it back down. He could have used something stronger just now, but
In September, I was down in Brighton for two weeks Wait! Thats itEmily!
The memory flickeredhe could barely recall her face, some vague impression of blonde hair and blue eyes. Thered been more than one girl like Emily in his life. Was he supposed to remember them all? Hed never married, even now at forty, and had never wanted to. Children? Absolutely notWilliam valued his freedom and had no intention of upending his life for someone elses child.
But shes dead now The thought hammered at his mind.
How could she die? he said, looking up at the ceiling as if the answer might be written there. How old would she have been? Twenty, maybe
A sudden urge for a cigarette came over him, but hed quit. Standing there, a jumble of unfamiliar feelings swirled insidepity, confusion, regret?
A baby he said aloud, as though speaking to an invisible companion. Well, let Emilys mother take the child in. Shes the grandmother, after all. And who knows if the baby is even really mine?
William had made up his mind. Tomorrow, hed go to the hospital, speak to the doctor, sign the forms, decline any claim to the child, and get on with his life. Just as before.
And yet, despite this decision, sleep did not come easily to him that night. His mind wouldnt rest and something heavy stirred in his chest.
That cold, lifeless body couldnt possibly be Emily. William found himself swallowing hard, but the lump in his throat wouldnt budgeit seemed to expand, reaching into his chest and stinging his eyes. Suddenly, the memory of her laughter was clear in his mind. The way shed run along the Brighton pier, the way shed looked at him, utterly in love. A funny girl, forgotten the moment he returned home. And now she was lying in a hospital morgue That was her body hed be seeing now
William hurried down the corridor, gesturing to Nicholas Parkerwho must be the consultant hed arranged to meetthat he needed a minute.
He bummed a cigarette from a porter and took a long drag on the hospital steps, then stubbed it out and strode back inside towards the head doctors office.
Would you like to meet your daughter? Nicholas asked.
No. Id like to speak to Emilys mother first. Where is she? William gave the doctor an expectant look.
Shes waiting in the corridor. You walked right past her.
All right, Ill go to her, William said, and left the office.
He spotted the frail woman in a black scarf sitting just down the corridor. In a few strides, he was standing before her.
Hello, he managed to say, struggling to find the words.
Emilys mother raised her eyes to meet his, and William felt like he might drown in the pain he saw there.
She looks just like Emily, he thought suddenly. The resemblance was uncanny.
My names Mary. Mary Elizabeth, she said quietly, Im Emilys mother.
Im William. Douglas, he added, awkwardly.
I know. Emily spoke of you. Not that it matters nowtheres nothing left to tell, and Mary began to cry.
William was at a loss, standing awkwardly beside her, without any idea of what to do next.
Mary Elizabeth wiped her eyes and said softly, Please dont turn your back on your daughter. I couldnt bear to see my grandchild sent off to a childrens home. Do you understand?
What do you mean? Youre the grandmothertheyll let you take her, William tried to reassure her, though thinking to himself, She looks about my age, not like somebodys gran
They wont. My hearts bad You just need to acknowledge her, thats all. Ill raise her myself, I promise. Well never trouble you, I swear it! Mary pleaded, reaching out as if in prayer.
Lets go, William said, leading her back into the consultants office.
Nicholas Parker looked up from his paperwork.
What do I need to do to accept paternity? William asked, his nerves plain to see.
A DNA test, Nicholas replied, looking William in the eye. Have you thought of a name?
Name? For whom? William was caught wrong-footed.
For your daughter, the consultant smiled.
Do you want to see the little girl? Nicholas asked.
William sighed, glanced quickly at Mary, and said quietly, No. I dont.
The formalities were dealt with surprisingly quickly. The DNA test confirmed itshe was his child. William didnt know what to do with this knowledge, nor how to live from here on out. Hed never prepared himself for fatherhood, but abandoning the child to Mary, shutting himself off from it all, somehow felt impossible too. He couldnt even bring himself to use the word daughtershe was just the child in his mind.
Ill help where I can. Ill send money, buy a pram, get what they need, he promised himself before the baby was discharged.
When William saw the nurse carrying a bundle swaddled in bright pink, with ribbons and lace, his mouth went dry.
Mary took the bundle, peeled back a corner of the lacy blanket, and asked, Would you like to meet her?
William didnt get the chance to reply. The office door flew open, and Nicholas Parker beckoned Mary in for a word.
Mary passed the bundle into Williams arms and went inside.
William was paralysedhe lost the ability to speak, move, even breathe. The bundle was warm, and it had the sweetest scent. Suddenly, the tiny creature gurgled, made a sound like a kitten, then broke into an urgent wail. Startled, William looked down, and for the first time saw himself reflected in a babys face. His daughtershe was the very image of him! He stared, and saw himself in her tiny features…
The floor seemed to disappear beneath his feet. William sat heavily in the nearest chair and gave the baby a gentle rock. She instantly hushed, then glanced up at him, as if smiling.
Mary came back a minute later.
Here, let me take her, she said, reaching for the child.
Ill hold her, William burst out, almost childishly. She just smiled at me! And then, for the first time in ages, he beamed the purest, most joyful smile. Lets go home, Mary, he said softly, then added firmly, WeWere going home together.Mary blinked once in disbelief, registering the change in his face, and her lined mouth trembled at the corners. She nodded slowly, as if afraid to break the spell.
Outside the window, the city sounds carried faintly on the breezeambulances, buses, distant laughterbut in that hospital corridor, their world shrank to the weightless hush between father, daughter, and grandmother.
William gazed down again at his daughter, her eyes two blue crystals brimming with the promise of all things new. He felt odd tears on his cheeks, but there was no shame in them; they tasted of salt and something sweeter, a happiness like sunrise over the pier where hed once run carefree with Emily.
For the briefest instant, he imagined Emily herself in the babys flickering smile, as if the echoes of her laughter might never leave.
He rose, holding his child close, and Mary took his arm. They walked together toward the hospital doorsnot as strangers tangled by circumstance, but as a makeshift family, bound by the fragile beginnings of hope.
The late sun spilled gold across the floor as William stepped outside, the baby curled into his shoulder, trusting and warm. For the first time in a long while, the road ahead didnt seem empty. As the three of them made their way into the bright world beyondinto all its uncertainty and lightWilliam felt the future open before him, not as an obligation, but as a gift.
He smiled, and whispered into the tiny ear at his heart, Welcome home.
