**Just My Luck**
“Mum, what are you doing here?” Emily gasped, spotting her mother in the maternity clinic waiting room.
“Oh, love, have you got an appointment today too? You didnt mention it yesterday” Sarah lowered her eyes, fiddling with her handbag.
“Mum, this is for pregnant women. Why are *you* here?” Emily ran a hand over her own rounded belly.
“Em, I was going to tell you” Sarah glanced around, searching for the right words. “Well, Im expecting too.”
Sarah had Emily at eighteen. The girls father had barely glanced her way, paying paltry child support only after being dragged to court.
But Sarah adored her daughter. She worked two jobs, sewed into the wee hoursher friends would tut, “Why work yourself to the bone? Youre wasting your youth!” But Sarah didnt care. So long as her girl wanted for nothing. The fanciest chocolates, trendy coats, posh dollsEmily got it all. Sarah went without, but her daughter never felt it.
Emily grew up accustomed to the best. Money was no objectif she wanted it, she bought it, even jetting off to Spain with her class. When university applications rolled around, she picked the most prestigiousand expensivecourse. Sarah didnt argue.
In her third year, Emily met James. Older, nearly graduated. Sarah liked him instantlysteady chap, sensible. She was relieved: finally, her daughter would have a proper husband, someone to lean on. Even if she had a baby, she wouldnt be alone.
And so it happened. Emily fell pregnant. James proposed straight away, and they had a lavish weddinghalf paid by his parents, half by Sarah, who even threw in a honeymoon to Cornwall.
“James, lets go for a walk,” Emily suggested one afternoon.
“Brilliant idea. Gorgeous day, and that new cafés opened just round the corner. Well grab a bite,” he grinned, giving her bump an affectionate pat.
They strolled through the park, fed the pigeons, then popped into the café. No sooner had they sat down than Emily went pale.
“Whats wrong?” James frowned.
“Mum,” she muttered tersely.
Two tables over sat Sarah with a man they didnt know.
“Oh, blimeyit *is* her!” James turned.
Sarah spotted them and offered a sheepish smile.
“Lets say hello. Whos that with her?” James started to rise.
“No. I dont even want to *look* at her.” Emily bolted outside.
James paid and caught up. On the pavement, Emily was already laying into her mother:
“Who *is* that?! Have you forgotten youre about to be a grandmother?”
“Emily, love, youre grown. I raised youdont I deserve a life too?”
James tactfully stepped in. “Everything alright, Sarah?”
“Oh, James, its fine”
“*Come on*.” Emily dragged him away.
Emily had always assumed her mother belonged solely to her. The idea of Sarah having a *man*? Unthinkable. And truthfully, Sarah hadnt dated in yearstoo afraid of her daughters reaction.
Until two years ago, when her boss, Edward, started showing interest. Sarah had fancied him for ages but never acted on it. When he made the first move, she caved.
They began seeing each other. Edward even asked her to move in. Sarah hesitatedbut eventually said yes. The trouble was breaking it to Emily. And now this disastrous run-in
Then Sarah found out she was pregnant. At forty-threelate, sure. But abortion never crossed her mind. Edward was over the moonno kids of his own, and now, a son or daughter.
After the café incident, Emily stopped answering calls. Updates trickled in via James. Thenanother awkward collision at the clinic. After that, radio silence. Blocked numbers, ignored messages.
Sarah learned of her granddaughters birth from James.
“A girl, 21 inches, 7 pounds!” he announced cheerfully.
“Congratulations! Can we visit? Id love to see her,” Sarah whispered, voice cracking.
“Ill talk to Emily”
But she flat-out refused. Sarah fretted, though at six months along herself, the doctor had warned against stress.
Four months later, she had a daughter. She texted Emily: *Youve got a sister now.* Silence. Just a bouquet from James and a brief call.
Years passed. The girls grew. Emily and James named theirs Charlotte. Sarah and Edward chose Lily, after her grandmother. James sent the occasional photo”First tooth!” or “Shes walking!” Sarah hoped Emily might soften by Charlottes first day of school. But noshe clung to her grudge, though heaven knew what for.
On Charlottes seventh birthday, Sarah rang James.
“Bring her round, wont you? Wed love to see you.”
“Ill see what I can do”
That evening, James relayed the invite.
“Were not going,” Emily snapped.
“But shes your mother. And Lilys your sister,” he reasoned.
“She *betrayed* me. And I dont want to see that girl.”
So they carried onliving separate lives. Sarah and Edward in a countryside cottage, Emily and James in a suburban semi. Sometimes, through mutual friends, Emily caught snippets”Sarahs in hospital,” “Lilys poorly.” Deep down, she ached to rush over, hug her mum like old times. But pride always won.
“James, we still need hair clips and school shoes for Charlotte,” Emily said over dinner.
“Plenty of time. Hard to believe shes seven already”
“Mum, do I *have* to go to French club?” Charlotte burst into the kitchen.
“No excuses! We moved *house* for this school!” Emily said sternly.
Just like Sarah, shed give her child every advantage.
September arrived. James took the day offCharlottes first day at her posh bilingual academy. The bell rang, speeches were made
“Class 1A!” the teacher called.
“Thats us!” Emily whispered, steering Charlotte forward.
Then, in the crowd of parents, she spotted her mother. Their eyes locked. For a heartbeat, neither movedthen Emily barrelled into Sarahs arms, tears shed bottled for years finally spilling. Sarah held her tight, just like when she was small, and in that moment, every grudge dissolved, as if it had never existed.
