“You’re no longer my daughter.”
The words still stung. “Who he is or where he comes from, I dont know. Im ashamed of you. Move into your grandmothers cottage and live like an adult. Face the consequences of your actions.”
“Emily, did you hear? Theyve brought in some workers to help out at the factory. Fancy going to the pub tonight?” Martha flopped into the armchair, grinning.
“Martha, seriously? What about little William? Should I bring him along?” Emily laughed.
“What if we ask Aunt Lucy to watch him?” Martha suggested hesitantly.
Emily waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, come on. She still hasnt forgiven me for having him. Remember how she wanted me to marry Andrew? But I went off to university instead. Failed my exams, came home pregnant. She didnt speak to me for a yearonly started two months ago. So, go without me. Maybe youll get lucky and find someone.”
Martha sighed. “Fine, Ill go with Sarah. Ill tell you everything tomorrow.”
Emily tucked William into bed and stepped onto the porch. The distant thump of music carried on the wind. Wrapped in her shawl, she imagined everyone laughing and dancing inside. Martha was probably wearing that awful leopard-print dress againshe looked like a caterpillar in it. Emily smiled faintly, then sighed and went to bed.
At dawn, Martha burst in, andof all timesEmilys mother had stopped by. Emily pressed a finger to her lips, but Martha was unstoppable.
“You missed out last night! There were such lovely lads there. One even walked me homehis names James. So charming, quick with a joke. And tonight, weve got a date!” she blurted.
Emilys mother frowned. “Married, I suppose?”
Martha shrugged. “Didnt check his ring finger. Even if he is, at least Ill have a story to tell.”
“Oh, you girls. What are you playing at? Andrew wouldve been a fine match. My girl here threw away her chance, but you, Martha, could still turn his head,” Aunt Lucy mused.
Martha groaned. “Aunt Lucy, really? Whod want him? And his mothers worse! No, thank you!” She 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. Aunt Lucy said thoughtfully, “You ought to go to the pub too, Emily. Ill mind William. Maybe youll meet someonesteady, reliable. A lad needs a father. Just steer clear of the married ones. They can sniff out a single mother. Understood?”
Emily, hardly believing her luck, nodded. She couldnt help herselfshe kissed her mothers cheek. Her mother huffed, “Oh, go on with you, you little flatterer.”
That evening, Emily stood in her best dress, laughing with her friends. How shed missed carefree evenings like this.
“Look. Hes back,” the girls whispered.
Emilys breath caught. Her legs trembled, and she turned sharply to Martha. “I think Ill go home. Williams probably crying without me.”
“Em, dont be daft! First night out in ages, and youre bolting? You havent even danced!”
But Emily was firm. “Im going. Looks like your James is headed this wayyoull be fine.” She turned for the door.
A hand caught hers. “Care for a dance, love?”
Emily kept her eyes down, pulling away. “I dont dance.”
The man was persistent. “Just one. Please.”
She finally looked upand her heart stopped. It was *him*. The one whod changed her life forever. And by the looks of it, he didnt recognize her. Relief washed over her, and she smiled. “One dance. Then Im off.”
He spun her gently. “I suppose your husbands waiting?”
Emily scoffed. “Im not married.”
He winkedfamiliar, achingly soand her breath hitched. “So Ive got a chance, then?”
She pushed away. “Not a hope,” she said, then fled.
Tears streamed down her face as she walked home. Shed remembered him every day, fallen for him instantlyand he hadnt even known her.
Theyd met on a train. She was returning home, heartbroken after failing her exams. He was visiting family. Seeing her sadness, hed tried to cheer her up.
“My names Oliver. Mum calls me Olly, my nephew calls me Uncle O. Take your pick.”
Emily had smiled. “Uncle Os funnier.”
Hed extended his hand. “Almost properly introduced. And you are, lovely creature?”
“Emily.”
“Knew it. A queens name.”
Bit by bit, shed confessed her failure, her dread of her mothers disappointment.
“Study over winter and try again,” hed said.
Her face lit up. “Youre right. Thank you.”
Hed gazed at her. “Has anyone told you youre beautiful?”
Shed blushed. “Im ordinary. But thanks.”
Hed leaned closer. “Its true,” and thenhed kissed her. What followed was equal parts sweet and shameful. Hed left early, whispering, “Ill find you.”
Only later did she realize hed never asked for her address.
Then shed discovered she was pregnant. Her mothers disgust had been swift: “Youre no daughter of mine. Who he is, where hes fromI dont know. Youll live in Grans cottage and face what youve done.”
Emily had worked at the library until her due date. Martha met her at the hospitalher mother didnt come. Only when William turned five months old did her mother relent, appearing with a toy. “Not our blood,” shed muttered. But she visited more often after that.
“Home so early?” her mother asked now. “Was it dull? Hows William?”
“Asleep. Since youre here, Ill head home,” her mother said.
Emily shut the door and tried to sleep. Dawn found her bleary-eyed, coaxing William to eat. “No porridge, no growing big and strong like your dad,” she teased.
“Talking about me? Flattering. And this must be my son,” a voice said from the doorway.
Emily dropped the spoon. “*You*? How?”
Oliver grinned. “Told you Id find you. Didnt know Id be a dad, though. I was so smitten, I forgot to ask where you lived. Guess fate decided we belong together.” He made a face at William, who giggled.
By morning, her mother found a radiant Emily and a stranger bouncing a delighted William on his shoulders.
“This him?” her mother asked.
“Yes,” Emily beamed.
Her mother extended a hand. “Louise Whitmore. And Ill be watching what kind of manand fatheryou are.”
Oliver shook her hand firmly. “Understood.”
**Lifes lesson?**
Sometimes, the mistakes we fear will ruin us lead us exactly where were meant to beif were brave enough to trust the journey.
