Catching my husband with my best friend, I silently left for another city without mentioning the pregnancy. But five years later, we met again.
“Are you absolutely sure theres no mistake?” Emily tightened her grip on the phone, forcing her voice to stay steady.
“Emily, the results are positive. Congratulationsyoure pregnant, about six weeks along.”
She thanked the doctor and hung up. The world around her froze. Six weeks. Exactly the time that had passed since the evening shed come home early and seen a familiar handbag in the hallwaythe one shed given Kate for her birthday.
Emily sank onto the chair by the window. Outside, snow fell, blanketing London in white, erasing all traces. How she wished memories could be wiped away just as easily.
Her phone rang again. Robert. The third time in an hour.
“Emily, where are you? We were supposed to meet after work.”
“Sorry, got held up,” she said, keeping her tone casual. “Dont wait for meIve got loads to do.”
“Is everything alright? You sound off.”
“Im fine, just tired.”
Hanging up, Emily glanced at the suitcase shed packed that morning. Five years of marriage. Five years ending right now. And a new life growing inside her.
**Five Years Later**
“Mummy, look how pretty!” Four-year-old Sophie pressed her nose against the toy shop window, mesmerised by a doll in a frilly dress.
“Very pretty,” Emily smiled, adjusting her daughters hat. “But were running late.”
“Where are we going?” Sophie reluctantly pulled away and slipped her hand into her mothers.
“To see Aunt Margaret. Shes expecting us.”
Manchester greeted them with a frosty January morning. Five years since Emily had last been in her hometown, five years building a new life far from the past. Now she was backher aunt, the only family whod stood by her, was in hospital.
“Sophie, dont runhold my hand,” Emily said firmly as they entered the sleek lobby of a newly opened business centre. They needed to cut through to reach the bus stop on the other side.
The marble floor gleamed under the chandeliers. Soft music played, and a crowd had gatheredlikely for the buildings grand opening.
“Emily?”
She froze at the familiar voice behind her. One she hadnt heard in five years but would recognise anywhere. Slowly, she turned.
“Robert.”
He looked almost the same. The same watchful grey eyes, the same hint of silver at his temples. Only the lines around his eyes were deeper.
“Didnt expect to see you here,” he said, staring at her as if she were a ghost. “Youre back?”
“Just passing through,” Emily felt Sophie press closer to her leg. “Not for long.”
Roberts gaze dropped to the little girl, and his expression shifted. His pupils dilated. Sophie was his mirror imagethe same grey eyes, the same curve of her lips, even the dimple when she smiled.
“And this is?”
“My daughter,” Emily said quickly. “Sophie.”
A heavy silence settled between them.
“There you are!” A tall, elegant woman with auburn hair approached. “Everyones looking for youoh, hello.” She glanced curiously at Emily.
“Victoria, this is Emily an old friend,” Robert said slowly, not taking his eyes off Sophie. “Emily, this is Victoria, my wife.”
“Nice to meet you,” Emily forced a smile. “We should go.”
“Wait,” Robert stepped forward. “How can I reach you?”
“You cant,” she said, turning and guiding Sophie toward the exit.
In the taxi, Sophie nestled against her.
“Mummy, who was that man?”
“Just someone I used to know, sweetheart. A long time ago.”
Aunt Margarets flat was just as cosy as Emily remembered from five years ago, when shed arrived from London with a small suitcase and a broken heart.
“You havent changed a bit,” Margaret smiled, smoothing Sophies hair. “But this little ladys grown so muchonly in photos, though. How are you, love?”
“Im fine,” Emily helped her aunt into a chair. “The doctor said its nothing seriousjust rest and medication.”
“I wasnt asking about me,” Margaret gave her a knowing look. “How are *you* really? Is your heart at peace?”
Emily looked away.
“Aunt Margaret, thats all in the past.”
“You saw him, didnt you?”
“Already did. At that new business centre. What are the odds?”
“Fate,” Margaret sighed. “He looked for you, you know.”
“What?” Emily turned sharply.
“Came by a month after you left. Then a few more times. I told him I didnt know where you were.”
“Thank you,” Emily squeezed her hand. “That was the right thing.”
“His mother rang me last year, too. Mary always treated you like a daughter.”
Emily exhaled. Her mother-in-law had been kind. Had she ever known about Robert and Kate?
“Sophie looks just like him,” Margaret said, watching the little girl play in the corner. “Does he suspect?”
“I think so. But it changes nothing.”
The next morning, Emilys phone rang. An unknown number.
“Emily? Its Mary.”
Her ex-mother-in-laws voice made her chest tighten.
“Good morning,” Emily stepped onto the balcony so as not to wake Sophie.
“Robert said he saw you yesterday. I could I come over? We need to talk.”
An hour later, they sat at the kitchen table. Sophie was still asleep.
“Is she really Roberts?” Mary asked outright.
Emily nodded.
“Why didnt you tell him?” There was no accusation in Marys voice, only pain. “You kept him from his daughter. Kept her from us.”
“He kept himself from her,” Emily said quietly. “When he brought my best friend into our home.”
Mary lowered her eyes.
“I know. He told me everything when you disappeared. He was beside himself. But, Emily it was one mistake.”
“One that changed everything.”
“He only remarried two years ago. Spent years searching for you, hoping youd come back. Then he met Victoria. Shes a good woman, but they cant have children.”
A lump rose in Emilys throat.
“Im sorry, but thats not my problem.”
“And what about Sophie? Doesnt she deserve a father?”
Just then, a sleepy little girl appeared in the doorway.
“Mummy, Im awake.”
Mary went still, her eyes widening as she took in her granddaughter.
“How long are you staying in town?” Paul asked, helping Emily sort through catalogues at the publishing house where they worked together in Manchester. Theyd agreed to travel back to her hometown on the same train for convenience.
“A week, maybe two,” she said, flipping through pages. “Once Aunt Margarets better, well head straight back.”
“Shame,” he smiled. “Seems like youre happy here.”
“I *was* happy. Thats the past.”
Her phone rang. Another unknown number.
“Emily, its Robert. Dont hang up, please.”
She closed her eyes.
“How did you get this number?”
“Your aunt gave it to me. Im sorry to bother you, but we need to talk. Its important.”
“We have nothing to say.”
“Is Sophie my daughter?”
Emilys grip on the phone turned her knuckles white.
“I have a right to know the truth,” he pressed when she didnt answer. “I *deserve* to know.”
“And I deserved loyalty. Trust. Respect,” her voice trembled. “But that didnt matter, did it?”
Silence stretched on the other end.
“I was wrong,” he finally said. “And Id give anything to change the past. But I cant. What I *can* do is try to change the future. Our daughter needs a father.”
“Weve been fine without you for five years.”
“Please. One meeting. Just you and me. Like adults.”
The café was quiet, nearly empty. Emily chose a corner table, nervously spinning her cold teacup.
“Thank you for coming,” Robert sat across from her.
“I dont have long,” she checked her watch. “Sophies with my aunt.”
“Ill get to the point.” He leaned forward. “I want to be part of Sophies life.”
“Why? You have a wife, a life.”
“Victoria cant have children,” he met her gaze. “But thats not the point. Sophie is my daughter. I have a right to be in her life.”
“And I had a right to know what was happening in my own home,” Emily took a steadying breath. “When was the last time you saw Kate?”
“Five years ago. That night.”
“Really? Seemed pretty serious to me.”
Robert shook his head.
“It was a mistake. The biggest of my life
