“You’re no daughter of mine anymore. Who he is and where he’s fromno one knows. I’m ashamed of you. Move into Grans cottage and live like an adult. Face the consequences of your actions.”
“Olly, did you hear? Theyve sent some blokes from head office to help out at work. Fancy a night out at the pub?” Maddy flopped onto the sofa, grinning.
“Mads, are you mad? What about little Alfie? Take him with me, shall I?” Olly laughed.
“What if we ask Auntie Lou?” Maddy suggested carefully.
Olly waved a hand dismissively.
“Dont be daft. She still hasnt forgiven me for having Alfie out of wedlock. Remember how she wanted me to marry Andrew? And I ran off to uni insteadflunked out, came home pregnant. She didnt speak to me for a year, only started again two months ago. Go without me. Maybe youll get lucky and find someone decent.”
Maddy sighed.
“Fine, Ill drag Tanya along. Ill tell you *everything* tomorrow.”
Olly tucked Alfie into bed and stepped onto the porch. The distant thump of music from the pub carried on the breeze. Wrapped in her shawl, she pictured everyone inside laughing and dancing. Maddy had probably squeezed into that leopard-print dress againthe one that made her look like a tipsy caterpillar. Olly smiled faintly, sighed, and went to bed.
At dawn, Maddy burst inand, of course, Ollys mum had just popped round for tea. Olly pressed a finger to her lips, but nothing could stop Maddy.
“Ugh, you *missed out* last night! There were these *gorgeous* lads. One even walked me homeVince, his name was. Chatty, dead funny. And tonight, weve got a date!” she blurted.
Ollys mum raised an eyebrow.
“Married, is he?”
Maddy shrugged.
“Dunno, didnt check his ring finger. But even if he is, at least Ill have a story.”
“Honestly, girls. What are you playing at? Andrews *right there*decent job, steady. My daft daughter threw her chance away, but *you*, Maddy, could still charm him,” Auntie Lou mused.
Maddy scoffed.
“Oh, come *off* it, Auntie Lou! Whod want him? And his mums a nightmareno thanks!”
She turned back to Olly.
“There was this *gorge* bloke last nightcouldnt take your eyes off him. All the girls were swooning. But he just stood with his mates, then left alone. Didnt even ask anyone to dance.”
ThenshockinglyAuntie Lou said,
“You should go tonight, Olly. Ill mind Alfie. Maybe youll meet someone propersomeone reliable. Alfie needs a dad. Just steer clear of married ones. They can *smell* a single mum. Understood?”
Olly blinked, then nodded furiously. She kissed her mums cheek.
“Get off, you soft thing,” her mum muttered.
That evening, Olly stood in her best dress with her friends, laughingGod, shed missed nights like this.
“Look. *Hes* here again,” the girls whispered.
Olly glanced overthen her legs wobbled. She turned sharply.
“II should go. Alfies probably crying”
Maddy gaped.
“Olly! First night out in *ages*, and youre bailing? You havent even danced!”
But Olly was already leaving.
“Vince is coming over. Youll manage.”
At the door, a hand caught hers.
“Care for a dance?”
Olly didnt look up.
“I dont dance.”
The man chuckled.
“One dance. Please?”
She turnedand her heart stopped.
*It was him.*
The one whod changed her life in a train carriage two years ago. And judging by his smile, he didnt recognise her. Relieved, she smirked.
“Fine. *One.* Then Im off.”
He spun her into a waltz.
“Your husband waiting up?”
Olly stiffened.
“Im not married.”
He winked*that* winkand her breath hitched.
“So theres a chance for me?”
Olly pushed away.
“Not a hope,” she said, bolting.
She cried the whole walk home. Shed loved him instantlyand he hadnt even *remembered* her.
Theyd met on a train. Shed just failed her A-levels; he was visiting family. Seeing her upset, hed joked,
“Names Max. Mum calls me Maxie, my nieces call me Moo. Take your pick.”
Olly had giggled.
“Moos funnier.”
Hed offered his hand.
“And you are, oh radiant one?”
“Olly.”
“Fit for a queen,” hed said.
Shed confessed her exam failure, her mums fury.
“Just resit them,” hed said.
Lightbulb moment.
Then hed leaned in.
“Has anyone told you youre stunning?”
Shed blushed. “Pull the other one.”
“But its *true*,” hed murmuredthen kissed her.
What followed was equal parts bliss and regret. Hed left early, promising,
“Ill find you.”
Then shed realisedhe didnt even know her address.
Later, the pregnancy test. Her mums rage:
“Youre *no daughter of mine*.”
Olly worked at the library until maternity leave. Maddy met her at the hospital. Her mum didntnot until Alfie was five months old.
“Not our blood,” shed sniffedbut kept visiting, bringing toys.
Now, her mum frowned at Ollys early return.
“Pub that bad?”
Olly yawned.
“Alfie okay?”
“Fast asleep. Ill head off, then.”
Olly barely slept. At dawn, Alfie fussed over his porridge.
“Eat up, or youll never grow big like your dad,” she teased.
A voice by the door:
“Talking about me? Flattered. And this must be my son?”
Olly dropped the spoon.
“*You*? How?”
Max grinned.
“Told you Id find you. Didnt know Id be a dad, though.” He made a face at Alfie, who giggled.
Her mum arrived to find Olly beamingand a stranger bouncing Alfie on his shoulders.
“This him?”
Olly nodded.
Her mum eyed Max and offered her hand.
“Louise. And Ill be *watching* you.”
Max shook it solemnly.
“Understood.”
