“Youre no daughter of mine anymore.”
The words still echoed in Emilys ears. “Youre no daughter of mine. Who he is and where hes fromno one knows. Im ashamed of you. Move into your grans cottage and live like an adult. Face the consequences of your choices.”
“Em, did you hear?” Sophie sprawled in the armchair, grinning. “Theyve brought some lads from the city to help out. Fancy going to the pub tonight?”
“Soph, what are you on about? Wholl look after Oliver? I cant just drag him along,” Emily laughed.
“What if we ask Auntie Maggie?” Sophie suggested carefully.
Emily waved a hand dismissively. “Dont be daft. She still hasnt forgiven me for having Ollie. She wanted me to marry Andrew, remember? And I went off to uni instead. Didnt get in, came back with a bump. A whole year of silenceshe only started speaking to me again two months ago. You go. Maybe youll get lucky and find someone.”
Sophie sighed. “Fine, Ill go with Janet. Ill tell you everything tomorrow.”
Emily tucked Oliver into bed and stepped onto the porch. The thump of music from the pub drifted through the night. Wrapped in a shawl, she pictured them all dancing, laughing. Sophie had probably worn that ridiculous leopard-print dress againthe one that made her look like a caterpillar playing dress-up. Emily smiled, then sighed, and went to bed.
At dawn, Sophie burst injust as Emilys mother arrived. Emily pressed a finger to her lips, but Sophie was unstoppable.
“Bloody shame you werent there. These ladsgorgeous! One even walked me home. William, his name was. Chatty, funny. And Ive got a date with him tonight!”
Emilys mother frowned. “Married, I suppose?”
Sophie shrugged. “Dunno, didnt check his ring finger. Even if he is, at least Ill have something to remember.”
“Girls these days,” Mum tutted. “Theres Andrewperfectly good lad. My daughter threw her chance away, but you, Sophie, could still turn his head.”
“Auntie Maggie, dont start! Whod want him? And his mums worse. God spare me from that kind of happiness!” Sophie turned to Emily. “There was this one blokecouldnt take your eyes off him. All the girls were smitten. But he just stood with his mates, then left alone. Didnt ask a single girl to dance.”
Then, the impossible happened. Auntie Maggie said thoughtfully, “You should go to the pub tonight, Em. Ill mind Oliver. Might meet someone decentsomeone reliable. Oliver needs a father. Just dont pick a married one. They can smell a single woman a mile off. Understood?”
Emily, hardly believing her luck, nodded and kissed her mothers cheek.
“Go on with you, buttering me up,” Mum grumbled.
That evening, Emily stood in her best dress, laughing with her friends. How shed missed thiscarefree, alive.
“Look. Hes here again,” the girls whispered.
Emily glanced overand her legs trembled. She turned sharply. “I should go. Ollies probably crying.”
Sophie gaped. “Em, youre joking! First night out in ages and youre leaving? You havent even danced!”
But Emily was firm. “Im going. Isnt that William coming over? You wont be bored.” She headed for the door.
At the exit, a hand caught hers. “Dance with me?”
Emily didnt look up. “I dont dance.”
But he was insistent. “Just one dance. Please.”
She turnedand her heart lurched. It was him. The one from the train. And judging by his blank look, he didnt recognize her. Relief loosened her chest. She smiled. “One dance. Then Im off.”
He spun her into the music. “Husband waiting at home?”
“Not married,” she said stiffly.
He winkeda gesture so familiar it stole her breath. “So Ive got a chance?”
Emily stepped back. “Dont count on it,” she said, and fled.
She cried all the way home. Shed remembered him foreverfallen for him instantly. And he hadnt known her at all.
Theyd met on a train. Shed been heartbroken, failing her exams. Hed been visiting family. Seeing her gloom, hed tried to cheer her up.
“Names Thomas. Mum calls me Tommy, my nephew calls me Toms. Take your pick.”
Shed laughed. “Toms is funnier.”
Hed extended a hand. “Nearly official. And you are, lovely creature?”
“Emily.”
“Knew it. A proper queens name.”
Bit by bit, shed confessedfailed uni, her mothers disappointment.
“Study over winter and try again,” hed advised.
Her eyes had lit up. “I never thought of that. Thank you.”
Hed studied her. “No ones told you youre beautiful, have they?”
Shed blushed. “Im ordinary. But thanks.”
Hed leaned closer. “Truth,” hed saidand kissed her.
What came next was sweet and shameful. Hed left early. “Ill find you,” hed promised.
Later, she realized he hadnt even asked where she lived.
Then the baby. And her mothers cold words: “Youre no daughter of mine.”
Shed worked at the library until her due date. Sophie had met her at the hospital. Mum hadnt come. Not until Oliver was five months old.
“Not our blood,” Mum had sniffed. But shed visited more often, bringing toys.
“Home so early?” Mum asked now. “Pub that dull? Hows Ollie?”
Mum smiled. “Fast asleep. Since youre back, Ill head off.”
Emily shut the door and tried to sleep. Dawn came first. Groggy, she fed Oliver, who fussed over his porridge.
“Eat up, or you wont grow big and strong like your dad.”
“Talking about me? Flattering. And this must be my son,” a voice said from the doorway.
Emily dropped the spoon. “You? How?”
Thomas grinned. “Told you Id find you. Didnt know Id be a dad, though. Got carried awayforgot to ask where you lived. Suppose fate stepped in.” He pulled a face at Oliver, who giggled.
In the morning, Mum found a radiant Emily and a strange man bouncing Oliver on his shoulders.
“This him?” Mum asked.
Emily beamed. “Yes.”
Mum approached Thomas, hand outstretched. “Margaret Williams. And Ill be watching what kind of manand fatheryou are.”
Thomas shook her hand solemnly. “Understood.”
