Their mother left them at the orphanage right after New Years
The girls wept. They had been sheltered children. While their mother pursued her love lifesomething she did constantlythe sisters, Emma and Lily, lived with their grandmother. But when Gran passed away on Boxing Day, their mother sent them away. No, she wasnt recklessshe didnt drink or even smoke. But was it fair, she thought bitterly, that her ex-husband lived as he pleased while she was left to raise two burdens alone?
She unbuttoned Lilys coat and muttered, “Stop crying. Its just how things are. Do you think I wanted this? Youll be fine hereyoull thank me later.” Lily, just three, choked on her sobs, too young to understand. But the coldness in her mothers eyes and the terror on seven-year-old Emmas tear-streaked face told her everything was wrong. Their mother hissed, “Dont shame me. Im not abandoning you. Once Im settled, Ill come back. At EasterI promise!” The girls sobs quieted. If Mum said shed return, she would.
Adjusting to the childrens home was hard, though the carers adored them for their quiet manners, quick wits, and fierce devotion to each other. Emma won hearts with her solemn dark eyes, while Lily, rosy-cheeked and soft-spoken, charmed everyone. Lily tugged Emmas sleeve. “Whens Easter? Will Mum come then?” Emma answered patiently, “Its a spring holiday. Remember how Gran painted eggs?” Lily nodded, but tears welled at the memory. Emma wished she knew when Easter would come. She asked Miss Reynolds, who blinked in surprisemost children counted down to Christmas or birthdays. Still, she gave Emma a tiny calendar. “See? This numbers EasterI circled it. And todays here. Every numbers a day. When I was in school, Id cross them off till summer break.” Emma did the same, watching the line of numbers shrink.
On Easter morning, Lily ran to Emma, clutching a red egg. “Emma! Emma! Mums coming today! Arent you happy?” Emma wasat first. But by naptime, dread settled in. Lily clung to her, whining, until evening, when Emma whispered, “Mums bus mustve got stuck. The roads are awfuleveryone says so. Shell come tomorrow.” Lily swallowed her tears. But their mother never came, though the girls invented excuses daily.
One morning, Emma couldnt find Lily. The staff explained: her mother had taken her. Years later, Emma learned shed been formally renounced. But luck found hertwo years on, her fathers sister, Aunt Margaret, tracked her down. A kind woman, Margaret became the mother Emma needed, her love mending old wounds. Emma never spoke of Lilythough she knew her sister had been too young to remember.
Years passed. Emma trained as a nurse, married, had a son. Life was modest but warm. Thena letter arrived.
From Lily.
*”Dearest Emma, do you remember me? I only recall your plaits and your checkered slippers. I long to see you! Weve moved back to the areaI live in Willowbrook now. May I visit?”* Emma frowned. Odd, inviting herself over. Still, she agreed.
Lily, in a sky-blue jacket, limped toward Emma, waving eagerly. Spotting her in the station crowd, she threw her arms around Emma and wept. “Its you, Emma! I knew right away!” Emma grumbled, “Still a crybaby,” though her own eyes stung.
After supper, Lily explained. “Dont blame Mum. Her new husband, Uncle Simon, said hed take us both, but she was afraid. Then they had a son, then a daughterVicky, such a doll. Uncle Simons a brilliant carpenter, always busy. We even go to the seaside sometimes. But in Year Seven, a bull gored methank God no one else was hurt. Now I limp.” She grinned. “Your pies lovelyrecipe please?”
Emma asked, “Do you work? Study? Any sweethearts? Youre pretty!”
Lily flushed. “I was in hospital agescost a fortune. I help at home, or Uncle Simon with his ledgers. Mums an accountant at the council. As for friends” She gestured at her leg. “Im used to it.”
Emma insisted Lily stay the night, promising to see her off. Lily fell asleep instantly. Emma glanced at her folded clothesclean, but threadbare, patched endlessly. No nurse would wear such things, let alone to a reunion.
At 3 AM, Emma woke her husband, demanding a drive to Willowbrook. He cursed but obliged. She told him everything; his frown softened into a nod.
Emma found her mothers house easily. Her heart pounded as she knocked. The door swung openher mother, still elegant, didnt recognize her. “Good morning, Mum,” Emma said. “Here we are.” Her mother greeted her like a nuisance, then snapped, “Wheres Lily? In the yard? Tell her to come inthe kids need breakfast, and yesterdays mess is still here.” Emma kept her voice steady. “Lilys staying with me. Pack her things. And money, if youve got any. Ill get her a job as a carer, train her properly. Her leg needs treatmentshes too lovely to limp!” Her mother jutted her tongue. “Get out. Well fetch Lily ourselves.” Emma shook her head. “Her names Lily. Call your cow Lily if you likeyoull be milking it alone now. Want me to gather the whole village? Let them hear how the councils upstanding lady dumped her kids?” Her mother scowled, slammed the door. Half an hour later, a stooped man emerged with a backpack. “Simon. Lilys things. Tell her well send money. Shes been Cinderella long enough.” He sighed. “Dont hate your mum. Lifes hard.”
Emma walked back, thinking: *Hard? Is “easy” the hard part?*
Easy would be men who didnt drink or wander, women who didnt abandon children for a mans sake, siblings who didnt forget each other.
Easy would just be being human.
