The door creaked open, and a young woman stood on the threshold, her fingers clutching the strap of her handbag.
“Hello, does Alex live here?”
“Yeah Whats this about?”
“Are you his mother?”
“Me?! His wife! Who are you, love?”
“Hes in hospital. They wont tell me anythingonly familys allowed.” The strangers lip trembled. “Can I come in?”
Lucy huffed but stepped aside. “Kitchens that way. Spit it out, then. Whys my husbands health your business?”
The girl perched on the edge of a chair, pulling a handkerchief from her pocket to dab her forehead. Lucy busied herself at the stove, waiting.
“Fancy some water?”
“Nowell, yes, please.”
“Going to sit there mute, are you? Or is there a point to this?”
“Alex promised to marry me,” the girl blurted. “This autumn!”
Lucy scrubbed a pot harder. “Thats grand, but bigamys illegal, sweetheart.”
“Im not joking.”
“Neither am I. Lost my sense of humour years ago.”
“You dont understand. Hes divorcing you first”
“Right. So whyre you here now? Come back in autumn. Whats your name?”
“Annie Anna.”
“Im Lucy. So, Annie-Anna, why not summer? Reckon I can guessthat bumps hard to miss. His doing?”
“Yes. Were having a baby. He said hed file after your birthday.”
Lucys grip tightened on the pot. “Ah. Classic Alex. Leopard doesnt change its spots.”
“What?”
“Oh, Ive got your number. Wherere you from?”
“A village. Worked at the factory.”
“Come to conquer the city, eh? Well, Alex cant stand babies crying. Whens it due?”
“Two months.”
“Right on schedule. Dodging responsibility, as usual. Last time, he bunked with his parents’too tired for work.'”
“How is he? Tell me!”
“Stable but serious. Dont fainthell live. Whatll you do?”
“How should I know? You didnt ask my advice before jumping into bed with him!”
“Im at unithird year. Mums got no room. Alex said youve been strangers for yearsonly stayed for the kids.”
Lucys patience snapped. “Give me your number. Ill call when hes discharged.”
“What?!”
“To fetch him. Wherell he go?”
“Mums place is full.”
“Wherere you living now?”
“A hostel.”
“Perfect. My flats not up for grabsinherited it. Blink all you like, hes got no claim.”
“We love each other.”
“Then live in a tent. Out. Now. Before I stop being nice.” Lucy threw the pot into the sink.
Three sleepless nights since the accident. At first, the doctors were grim, but Alex pulled through. Exhausted, Lucy trudged to the hospitalwhether to care for him or scream, she wasnt sure.
Annie waited on a bench outside.
“Miss Lucy! Are you visiting him?”
“Persistent, arent you? Didnt I say everything?”
“Pleasetake me with you.”
Lucy said nothing. On the bus, Annie sat beside her. Lucy stared out the window.
Inside, Lucy introduced Annie as a niece. “Wait here.”
Alex lay alone, leg in traction. He grinned weakly when Lucy entered.
“Hello, Alex.”
“Lucy! Knew youd come.”
“Did you?” She unpacked food, hands shaking. “Roast potatoes, your favourite. Eat.”
“Youre flushedsick?”
“Worse. Waited for you after the army. Remember eating nothing but pasta? The kids, the sleepless nights How could you forget?”
“Never could, Luce. Whats got into you?”
“Not whatwho. Annie. Carrying your child.”
Alex paled. “What child? Have you cracked?”
“Oh, Im cracked? You found some girl, knocked her up, and Im mad?!” She sobbed.
“Luce, call a doctoryoure hysterical!”
“My nerves? I brought her.” She yanked the door open. “Anniein!”
Annie waddled in, swaying. Her eyes darted to Alexthen widened.
“Wheres my Alex?”
“Whos this?”
“Miss Lucy, this isnt him!” She fumbled for her phone. “Lookmy Alex is young, handsome!”
Lucys laughter erupted, wild and unhinged. “Wrong Alex?!”
Between gasps, the truth spilled. Alex had given a fake address. Lucys contacts tracked down the real oneunharmed, just dodging responsibility.
Fate had intervened. Lucy, no victim, became Annies lifelinesecured her housing, dragged the father to court, even found her a decent man later.
Now, Annie calls her “Mum Lucy, my guardian angel.” And at her wedding, Lucy danced the night away.
Some misfortunes twist into blessings. Mum Lucy kept her happinessand gave some away.
