**Diary Entry 17th June**
“Youre no daughter of mine anymore. Who he is or where he comes fromI dont want to know. Im ashamed of you. Go live in your grans cottage and face the consequences like an adult.”
“Emily, did you hear? Theyve sent workers from the city to help out. Fancy going to the pub tonight?” Martha flopped into the armchair with a grin.
“Martha, are you mad? What about little Alfie? Should I bring him along?” Emily laughed.
“What if we ask Aunt Louise?” Martha suggested carefully.
Emily waved a hand dismissively. “Dont be daft. Shes never forgiven me for having Alfie. She wanted me to marry Andrew, but I went off to study in London instead. Failed my exams, came home pregnant. She barely spoke to me for a yearonly thawed these last two months. Go with someone else. Maybe youll get lucky and find yourself a bloke.”
Martha sighed. “Fine, Ill go with Sarah. Ill tell you everything tomorrow.”
Once Alfie was asleep, Emily stepped onto the porch. The distant thump of music from the village hall made her wrap her shawl tighter. She imagined the dancing, the laughter. Martha had probably worn that awful leopard-print dress againshe looked like a stuffed caterpillar in it. Emily smiled faintly, sighed, and went to bed.
At dawn, Martha burst inand, of course, Emilys mother had chosen that moment to visit. Emily pressed a finger to her lips, but Martha was unstoppable.
“Shame you werent there last night! Lads from the citygorgeous, they were. One even walked me home! Daniel, his name was. Charming, funny. Im seeing him tonight.”
Emilys mother frowned. “Married, I suppose?”
Martha shrugged. “Didnt check his ring finger. Even if he is, itll be a story to tell.”
“Honestly, girls. Andrews a decent match. My Emilys missed her chance, but you, Marthayou could still turn his head,” Aunt Louise mused.
“Aunt Louise, dont start! Whod want him? And his mothers worse. No thank you!” Martha turned back to Emily. “There was this one ladcouldnt take your eyes off him. All the girls were smitten. He just stood with his mates, then left alone. Didnt dance with a soul.”
Then, the unthinkable. Aunt Louise said thoughtfully, “You should go to the pub tonight, Emily. Ill mind Alfie. Might meet someone propera steady man. Alfie needs a father. Just steer clear of married ones. They sniff out single mums like bloodhounds. Understood?”
Emily, hardly daring to believe it, nodded and kissed her mothers cheek.
“Dont butter me up,” her mother grumbled.
That evening, Emily stood in her best dress, chatting with friends. Shed missed carefree nights like this.
“Look. Hes here again,” the girls whispered.
Emily glanced overand froze. Her legs trembled. She turned sharply. “I should go. Alfies probably crying.”
Martha gaped. “Emily! First night out in ages, and youre running home? You havent even danced!”
“Im going. Thats Daniel coming overyou wont be lonely.” She headed for the door.
Someone caught her wrist. “Care to dance?”
Emily kept her eyes down. “I dont dance.”
“Just one. Please.”
She turnedand her heart lurched. *Him.* The man whod changed everything. And he didnt recognise her. Relief loosened her chest. “One dance. Then Im off.”
He spun her lightly. “Husband waiting at home?”
“Im not married.”
He winked. “So Ive got a chance?”
She stepped back. “Not a hope.” Then she fled.
She cried all the way home. Shed loved him instantlyremembered him always. And he hadnt known her.
Theyd met on a train. Shed been heartsick after failing her exams; he was visiting family. Noticing her gloom, hed joked, “Names Jack. Mum calls me Jackie, my niece says Uncle Jacko. Take your pick.”
Shed smiled. “Jackos funnier.”
Hed held out a hand. “Nearly official now. And you are, lovely creature?”
“Emily.”
“Royal name,” hed said solemnly.
Shed confessed her failure, her dread of her mothers disappointment.
“Study over winter and try again,” hed advised.
Shed brightened. “I never thought of that. Thanks.”
His gaze had lingered. “Has anyone told you youre beautiful?”
Shed flushed. “Im ordinary. But thanks.”
Hed moved closer. “Its true.” Then hed kissed her. What followed was sweet, recklessshameful. Hed left early, promising, “Ill find you.”
Later, she realised hed never asked where she lived.
Then the pregnancy. Her mothers disgust. “Youre no daughter of mine.”
Emily worked at the library until her due date. Martha met her at the hospital. Her mother never cameuntil Alfie was five months old.
“Not our blood,” shed sniffed. But she visited more, bringing toys.
“Home so early?” her mother asked now. “Was it dull? Hows Alfie?”
“Asleep. Since youre here, Ill head home.”
Emily barely slept. At dawn, she was feeding Alfie porridge. “Eat up, or you wont grow big and strong like your dad.”
“Flattering. Is this my son?”
The spoon clattered. “How?”
“I said Id find you. Didnt know Id be a father, though.” Jack grinned. “Forgot to ask where you lived. Suppose fate stepped in.” He pulled a face at Alfie, who giggled.
Her mother arrived to find Emily beaming, a stranger bouncing Alfie on his shoulders.
“This him?”
“Yes,” Emily said.
Her mother offered a hand. “Louise Harper. Ill be watching what sort of manand fatheryoull be.”
Jack shook it firmly. “Understood.”
**Lesson learned:** Life doesnt always go to planbut sometimes, the detours lead you right where youre meant to be.
