Nancy Wilkinson still remembers the day she had to decide the fate of another womans child. It was a Wednesday, and her husband, Edward, came home from work earlier than usual, his face darker than a storm cloud. Without a word, he handed her an envelope.
“Whats happened?”
“Emilys gone. Without my consent, they cant send Tommy to an orphanage.”
Nancy had known about Edwards son long before they married. It was a common enough story. During his army days, Edward had fallen in love. After his service, he brought the girl back with him, renting a small flat. But she soon packed her things and returned home, only to send a telegram months later: congratulations, you have a son. Whatever went wrong between them, Edward never shared, and Nancy never pressed. What was the point in digging up the past?
When Nancy was four months pregnant, the ex-girlfriend suddenly turned up with one-year-old Tommy. She made a scene, demanding to rekindle things, but Edward sent her away and stayed with his wife. Nancy didnt blame himhow could she hold a grudge over something that happened before they met? Emily filed for child support, which Edward paid dutifully, and after that, she never wrote or called again. Later, they heard shed married twice, and after the second divorce, she couldnt bear itshe took her own life.
By then, Nancy and Edward had two children of their own: Jack, just a bit younger than Tommy, and little Rosie, barely a year old. Theyd decided to have their second child after buying their own homea modest wooden house with four rooms, no modern comforts, but with a garden, a shed, and a small orchard. After years in cramped rented flats, it felt like heaven. Jack spent the first week running wild through every room and around the yard.
Raising another womans child That, of course, was something Nancy had never expected. Shed last seen the boy seven years ago and knew nothing about him. What was he like? What had he been through? It was terrifying. Even with her own wild one, she sometimes strugglednow thered be two, nearly the same age. Would they get along? Edward worked long hours; the children would be her responsibility. These thoughts raced through her mind in seconds. Edward sat in silence by the door, his face blank.
Her heart achedshe imagined herself in his place. What would she do if her Jack faced the same fate? The answer came at once.
“Eddie, of course well take him. Hes your son, and that makes him our childrens brother. If we turn him away, how could we live with ourselves? Twos no harder than threewell manage, well raise him right!”
A month later, Tommy arrived. Quiet, shy, obedientnothing like bold, argumentative Jack. Maybe that difference saved them. The sudden arrival of an older brother who didnt try to dominate but simply followed made things easier, and the boys quickly became friends. Rosie, sweet and full of laughter, lightened every mood. She seemed to love everyone.
In autumn, Tommy started primary school. He did wellhis mother must have prepared him. Money was tight, but Edward worked relentlessly, and eventually Nancy took a job too. The children grew, becoming real helpers around the house. They lived well, never treating Tommy as anything but their own.
When Tommy got into university, Nancy fell seriously ill. She spent weeks in hospital, underwent surgery. It was frightening, but she refused to despairher children werent grown yet, and she was determined to recover for them. She wanted to see them happy, successful, to one day hold her grandchildren. But the ordeal broke Edward. He started drinking heavily.
At eighteen, Tommy became the familys rock. He switched to part-time studies, found work, and visited Nancy almost dailyreading to her, asking how to cook Jack and Rosies favourite meals, then bringing her samples. He kept Jacks troubles from her as long as he couldhis reckless brother had fallen in with a bad crowd, ending up under investigation. Thankfully, he avoided prison, getting probation instead.
Nancy recovered. Her relationship with Edward never did. She couldnt forgive his weakness, his abandonment when she needed him most. Still, the house was bigthey lived like strangers under one roof. Edward tried to quit, but he kept slipping back into the bottle.
A year ago, Tommy brought home his fiancéea girl hed loved since nursery school. She studied psychology and immediately set about saving her father-in-law from his demons. Life went on. Soon, grandchildren would fill the housethe newlyweds had just learned they were expecting twins.
Every day, Nancy thanks God for her eldest son, believing shes alive only because she once found room in her heart for a child who wasnt hers.
