A Difficult Choice
Strolling through the park, Lily paused on the bridge, leaning slightly over the railing to peer down. The river below looked cold and murkyperhaps not deep, but if one were to fall She shuddered at the thought and hurried on.
She had spent the night at her friend Emilys after fleeing home during a terrible row. Emilys mum, kind-hearted Margaret, had welcomed her without question.
“Come in, love, Emilys in her room,” shed said, not pressing for details about why Lily had turned up in such a state. Margaret understoodthese things never happened without reason. She fed the girls supper, served tea with biscuits, and sent them off to bed. The next morning, Lily decided to go homeshe didnt want to overstay her welcome.
“Thanks, Auntie Margaret, Id better head back. Mum and Dad are probably worried,” she said before leaving.
As she crossed the bridge, Lily noticed a small churchstrange, shed never paid it attention before. Shed walked this way countless times to Emilys, chatting all the while. Compelled by some inner urge, she stepped inside.
A service was underway, the pews sparsely filled. She moved forward, glancing aroundit was her first time in a church. A large painting caught her eye: a young woman cradling an infant. Lily couldnt look away. After a moment, an elderly woman in a headscarf whispered beside her,
“Dont overthink it, love. Have the baby. Everything will be alright.”
Lily startled.
“How did you know?” she whispered back.
“Oh, duck, Ive lived a long lifeI can tell whats weighing on a persons heart,” the woman smiled warmly. “Trust me, itll be fine. Youre not the first, and you wont be the last. No woman ever regrets keeping her child. Ive seen plenty like you in my time. Have the baby, and dont listen to the naysayers.”
The vicar recited prayers, the old woman crossing herself. Lily lingered a while longer before heading home.
“Que sera, sera,” she decided. The old woman was right.
The day before, after classes, Lily and Emily had sat on a park bench, dreading the return home. Lily was distraught.
“So, what are you thinking? Keeping it? Have you told Jack?” Emily fired off questions. “What about your parents?”
“Emily, slow down! Youre not giving me a chance to breathe,” Lily sighed. Her mind was a fogshe was only in her second year at university, and now this. How would she tell her parents, especially her mum? Deborah was harsh and unpredictableshed never approve.
“Mumll kill me,” Lily muttered. “Jack said hes not ready to be a dadtold me not to call him again. After all this time, since secondary school He was my first, and now hes just walked away.”
Emily let out a sharp remark about Jacks cowardice, furious at his betrayal.
“And Auntie Deb will shout and carry on, obviously,” Emily said, less confidently, recalling Deborahs strict demeanour. “But what do *you* want?”
“What can I do?” Lily wiped a tear. “Second year at uni, Jacks bolted, Mumll never support meits not even up to me anymore.”
“Alright, Em, lets go home. Ill tell them tonight.”
That evening, the house erupted. Deborahs voice rang out, shrill with outrage.
“How could you be so reckless? Youre at university! What were you thinking? No childI wont allow it. Youll finish your degree, not throw your life away!”
“Deborah, have you lost your mind?” her father, Edward, cut in sharply. “Is this how you treat your own daughter?”
“Edward, stay out of this!” Deborah snapped. “She needs an education, not nappies to changeespecially with Jack gone! Wholl want her with a child and no degree? Straight to the clinic”
“Deborah, were here for her. Well help raise our grandchild. Honestly, you shock me.”
“Oh, of courseits not *you* wholl be up all night or doing the washing. *I* work too, you know. Im not spending my forties playing grandmaI wont go back to nappies!”
Lily sat rigid, then slipped out unnoticed while her parents raged. She went to Emilys, knowing Margaret would take her in.
Later, she returned home to silence. Her dad scrolled through his phone; her mum bustled in the kitchen.
“Oh, youre back,” Deborah said icily.
“Glad youre home, love,” Edward said warmly. “Were you at Emilys?”
“Yeah, Dad.”
She stood in the middle of the room, loud enough for her mum to hear.
“Im keeping the baby. Thats my decisionfinal.” Her tone was so firm even Deborah stayed quiet.
Time passed, the tension easing. One afternoon, Lily and Emily sat on their usual bench when Jacks mother, Helen, approached. Lily tensedHelen was always kind, but still
“Girls, hello. Lily, may I speak with you?”
“Of course,” Lily said softly as Emily excused herself.
Helen sat beside her. “I know youre expecting. Emily called meshe did the right thing.” Lily braced for scorn, but Helen continued, “Im asking you, please, keep the baby. Ill helpfinancially, emotionallywhatever you need.”
Lily blinked. This wasnt what shed expected.
“Why?”
“My daughter cant have children. And Jack well, hes not ready for responsibility. But this babyits his. My grandchild. I want to be part of their life.”
Looking at Helens earnest face, Lily believed her.
Little Charlie arrived at the start of Lilys third yeara chubby, cheerful boy who charmed everyone. Grandpa Ed adored him, and Helen visited often, babysitting whenever she could.
The only shadow was Deborah. Near Lilys due date, she packed her bags.
“Enjoy your sleepless nights and dirty nappies. Im not becoming a grandmaIm leaving.”
She moved in with a colleaguea long-term affair Edward had somehow missed. He was shattered, having been a devoted husband.
Lily didnt take a gap year. Between her dad and Helen, she managed her studies. Helen even took leave to help with Charlie, and Lily finished her third year without trouble.
By the time Charlie turned one, things were easier.
“Jacks been drafted,” Helen mentioned once. “Maybe the army will knock some sense into him.”
Later, she added, “Hes staying ondoesnt want to come home. Maybe service matured him.”
Years passed. Charlie grew. Deborah cut all ties, never calling or asking after them.
One evening, Lily told her dad, “Im seeing Oliverfrom work. Hes lovely.”
“Bring him round, then,” Edward said.
Olivertall, handsome, thirtyarrived that night.
“Good evening, Edward,” he said warmly.
“Come in, lad,” Edward shook his hand, leading him to the sitting room.
Lily smiled as the two hit it off instantly, bonding over shared interestseven the same university, years apart.
“Olivers a good man,” Edward said later. “And Charlie adores him.”
Soon, Charlie had a wonderful stepdad, and Edward, a son-in-law he loved. Helen was happy for Lily too, though she worried shed see less of Charliebut nothing changed.
One day, walking in the park with Oliver and Charlie, Lilynow expecting a little girlsmiled to herself.
“That old woman in the church was right. No one ever regrets keeping their baby.”
Lily was happy. Oliver adored her. And soon, their family would grow.
