“Someone take him away,” Laura says, her voice tight.
“Laura, have you lost your mind? What do you mean, ‘take him’? Noah is your son! You cant just give him away like that” Emma stands in the middle of the kitchen, gripping the dishcloth so hard her knuckles turn white.
Laura sits at the table, nervously twisting the edge of the tablecloth.
“Mum, why do you always have to overreact?” She leans back in her chair, feigning indifference. “I dont owe my entire life to a child. Im only thirty-two, in case youve forgotten.”
Emma sinks into the chair across from her daughter. A heavy dread settles in her chest. Laura goes on.
“Ive finally met a good man, Mum. James has proposed. We want to move in together, start fresh.” Laura lifts her eyes to Emmas. “Noah Noah would just complicate things. You understand, dont you? New relationships take work.”
“Noah is twelve, Laura!” Emmas voice cracks. “He needs his mother. Hell know youre tossing him aside for James.”
Emma watches her daughter flinch, but Laura quickly steels herself, waving a dismissive hand.
“Itll be fine, Mum. Stop making a fuss.” Laura pushes back from the table and paces the kitchen. “I deserve a life too, dont I? I cant spend every minute worrying about him. Hes old enough to manage without me. Plenty of boys his age are independent.”
Emma stares, barely recognising the woman before her. When did her sweet girl become so selfish? She rises, stepping toward the window.
“No, Laura. I wont allow it. You cant abandon your own child.”
“Here we go again!” Laura snatches her bag from the chair. “I thought youd understand, support me. But nofine. Ill handle it myself.”
The door slams behind her. Emma stays frozen in the kitchen, staring at the closed door, her heart aching with foreboding.
Three months later, Emma stands in a banquet hall, watching her daughters wedding. Guests laugh, music blares, but theres no joy in her heart. She greets acquaintances with a smile, though inside, unease coils tighter.
Finally, she approaches the newlyweds. James is animatedly chatting with friends, while Laura beams beside him in white.
“Laura,” Emma touches her daughters shoulder. “Wheres Noah? I dont see him here.”
Laura whirls around, irritation flashing in her eyes. She grabs Emmas arm and pulls her aside, as if afraid James might overhear.
“Mum, have you lost it? Why bring this up now?”
“Where is your son? Why isnt he at your wedding?”
Laura presses her lips together, looking away.
“James he and Noah dont get along.” She speaks quickly, as if rushing past an unpleasant topic. “So Noah stayed home. No point ruining the day, right? Hed be bored anyway.”
Emma steps back, eyes wide. Her chest tightens.
“You left a twelve-year-old alone on your wedding day? Because your new husband doesnt like him?” Her voice trembles with fury and hurt. “Laura, whats happened to you? Hes your son!”
“Mum, dont make a scene!” Laura glances nervously at the guests. “This is my day. Dont ruin it with your lectures.”
Emma turns without another word and walks away. Laura calls after her, but she doesnt look back.
A taxi pulls up outside.
“Rosewood Lane, number eighteen,” she tells the driver.
The whole ride, Emma thinks of Noah. How is he coping alone? Hes already grown up without a fathernow his mother has betrayed him too.
She climbs to the third floor and rings the bell.
“Noah, its Grandma! Open up, love.” She leans against the door.
Footsteps shuffle inside.
“Grandma? Really?”
“Of course its me. Let me in, sweetheart.”
The lock clicks. Noah stands in the doorwayhair tousled, eyes red. Emma pulls him into a fierce hug.
His small voice trembles.
“Grandma, does Mum not love me anymore? She left me here alone. Said I shouldnt answer the door for anyone.”
Emma holds him tighter, her throat thick.
“Pack your things, Noah. Youre coming home with me.” She pulls back to look into his eyes. “Everything will be all right, I promise.”
While Noah gathers his belongings, Emma sends Laura a text: *Noah is staying with me.*
The reply is instant: *See? I told you this from the start. You shouldve listened.*
Emma turns off her phone. She cant bear another word.
Her two-bedroom flat has just enough space. Noah settles into Lauras old room. The first few days, hes quiet, withdrawn. But Emma does her best to comfort him.
“Noah, want to learn how to make the worlds best pancakes?” she offers one morning.
He nods, and they stand side by side at the stove. Emma shows him how to whisk the batter just right.
“Grandma why doesnt Mum ever call?” Noah asks, flipping a pancake.
Emma stills for a moment, then gently ruffles his hair.
“Adults make mistakes, Noah. Big ones. But its not your fault. Youre a wonderful boy, and I love you very much.”
Slowly, life finds its rhythm. Emma enrols Noah in swimming and a coding coursehes always wanted to design games. With each passing day, he grows more confident, more at ease.
Years fly by. Noah blossoms into a tall, steady young man. Laura calls only a handful of timesalways for paperwork or some favour. She and James have a daughter now, and from the rare social media posts, she seems happy in her new life.
Noahs eighteenth birthday is a quiet affair.
“Cant believe youre all grown up,” Emma says fondly.
After the guests leave, they clear the table together. Emma washes dishes while Noah dries.
“Noah, theres something you should know,” she says, turning off the tap. “The flat your mum lives in its yours.”
Noah freezes, towel in hand.
“What do you mean, mine?”
“Your father he passed when you were five,” Emma says carefully. “But he left a will. The flat belongs to you, now that youre eighteen. Your mother was just the guardian until then.”
“So its legally mine?”
Emma nods. “Entirely. Its your inheritance.”
For the next two weeks, Noah is unusually quiet. Emma doesnt press him. Hes a man nowhell figure it out.
Then, one early morning, the phone rings. Laura. She hasnt called in years.
“Mum, what have you done?!” she shrieks. “Why did you tell Noah about the will? Now hes threatening to evict us! Hes talking about court!”
Emma exhales and sits at the kitchen table.
“I did the right thing, Laura. The flat is his. His father provided for him. But you wouldnt understandyou only ever think of yourself.” Her voice is steady. “You havent seen your son in years, never cared how he was doing. And now you want to keep whats his? It wont happen.”
“Mum, we have nowhere to go! I have a family!”
“Ask James. Let him support you instead of squatting in a boys homea boy you threw out five years ago.” Emma pauses. “I stayed quiet until Noah turned eighteen because I couldnt do anything sooner. But now, Ill help him get whats rightfully his. Dont bother arguing.”
She hangs up. When she turns, Noah stands in the doorway, a small smile on his face.
“Thanks, Grandma,” he says softly.
Emma smiles back. “Well get your home back, Noah.”
He walks over and hugs her tightlyjust as she held him on Lauras wedding day.
“Youve been my mum and dad, Grandma. I love you. Id never leave you alone. Were family. Always will be.”
