**Diary Entry**
It had been a rare day off for Emily, and she decided to spoil her family with something sweet. After some thought, she settled on baking an apple crumble—everyone’s favourite. But when she checked the cupboard, she realised she was out of flour. She pulled on her coat, locked the house, and headed to the nearest shop. No one else was home—her husband, James, had taken their sons to visit his parents in the countryside, and their daughter, as Emily knew for certain, was still in town.
Yet when she returned with the shopping, she felt it immediately—someone was inside. And not just anyone: her daughter’s shoes were by the door. Her heart clenched. Quietly setting the bags down in the kitchen, she made her way to her daughter’s room and froze. There, curled up on the bed, her Lily was sobbing.
For a moment, Emily was at a loss, but she quickly pulled herself together. She sat beside her, smoothing Lily’s hair as the story spilled out between hiccups. There had been a man named Daniel. He’d sworn his love, and they’d been together for nearly a year. Then, in an instant, it all fell apart.
When Lily found out she was pregnant, she’d been frightened—but happy, too. She wanted to tell Daniel first, then her parents. But Daniel panicked. Badly. He vanished—ignored her calls, erased her from social media, as if she’d never existed.
“Mum,” Lily whispered, tears streaming. “Please don’t be angry… I didn’t mean to hide it. I just thought it would be different.”
Emily stayed silent—not from anger, but from the ache of seeing her daughter hurt. She pulled Lily close. “You don’t owe anyone anything, understand? Just this little one. And we’ll sort the rest. Together.”
That evening, when James returned with the boys, Emily told him what had happened. He was quiet for a long moment before looking at Lily, then at his wife. “Well, Em,” he said finally, a slow smile spreading. “You know I’ve always wanted another daughter. Didn’t happen—guess a granddaughter will do. Or a grandson. Either way, it’s a blessing. Unexpected, maybe. A bit messy. But ours.”
Emily exhaled in relief. James was a simple man, but steady. Lily managed a shaky smile. That night, they all ate dinner together, knowing their family would soon grow by one.
The decision was made: Lily would take a gap year, then return to university after the baby was born. As for Daniel, James was firm. “We don’t want a man like that in this family. Runners aren’t welcome here.” Everyone agreed.
But as often happens, the village buzzed. Whispers followed—*“She’s in the family way,” “Who’s the father?”* No one dared say it outright, but Emily felt their stares.
One day at the shop, the local gossip—Helen—cornered her. “Emily, love. Heard about Lily. Bit of a mess, eh? Who’s the father, then? Or does she not know?”
Emily wordlessly placed a box of candles on the counter. “For you—might help you see better where to stick your nose. Because *I* don’t see anything wrong with my daughter. Maybe you’ll spot something if you look close enough.”
The other women in line laughed. Helen paled and never brought it up again.
In time, Lily gave birth to a girl. They named her Isabelle. James adored her. Two years later, Lily married a kind man who loved Isabelle as his own. They lived happily—the way a family should.
