Their mother sent them to the childrens home right after New Years…
The girls cried. Theyd been raised at home. While their mother focused on her love lifeand she was always focused on itthe sisters, Emily and Lily, had lived with their grandmother. But their gran passed away just before Christmas, and their mother gave them up. No, she wasnt recklessshe didnt drink or even smoke. But was it fair that her ex-husband lived as he pleased while she was left to raise two children alone?
As she unbuttoned Lilys coat, their mother muttered, “Stop crying, its just how things worked outits not my fault. Youll be fine here, youll thank me later!” Lily, barely three, was choking on her sobs, too young to understand. But the anger in her mothers eyes and the fear on seven-year-old Emilys tear-streaked face told her everything was wrong. “Dont shame me,” their mother hissed. “Im not abandoning you. Ill come back for you at EasterI promise!” The girls sniffled but quieted. Their mum had said shed return.
Adjusting to the childrens home was hard, though the staff loved them for their quiet manners, quick minds, and the way they clung to each other. Emily won everyone over with her serious dark eyes, while Lily was a sweet little thing, round-faced and soft. Lily tugged at Emilys sleeve. “Whens Easter? Will it come and take us back to Mum?” Patiently, Emily explained again, “Easters a holiday in springremember how Gran used to dye eggs?” Lily nodded solemnly, but at the mention of Gran, her lashes glistened. Emily wished she knew when Easter would come too. She asked one of the carers, Miss Thompson, who was surprisedmost children waited for Father Christmas or birthdays. Still, she gave Emily a small calendar. “See this circled date? Thats Easter. Every number is a day. When I was in school, Id cross them off till summer break.” So Emily did the same, watching the line of numbers shrink.
On Easter morning, Lily ran to Emily, clutching a red egg. “Em! Em! Mums coming today, Im so happy! Are you happy?” Emily wasat first. But by nap time, her chest ached. Lilys constant whining didnt help. By evening, when it was clear their mother had lied, Emily soothed her sister. “Mums bus mustve got stuck. The roads are terribleI heard the staff saying so! Dont cry, theyll dig it out, and shell come tomorrow. Shell stay in the village tonight.” Lily nodded, swallowing tears. But their mother never came, though the girls waited, inventing excuses. One morning, Emily couldnt find Lily. The staff explained her sister had been taken away. Years later, Emily learned her mother had signed away her rights to her.
But Emily was lucky. Two years on, her fathers sister, Aunt Margaret, found her. A kind woman, Emily soon called her Mum. Slowly, love mended the cracks in her heart. She tried not to think of her mother or sisterthough she knew Lily had been too young to understand. Still… without her, Emily would never have left…
Years passed. Emily trained as a nurse, married, had a son. Life wasnt lavish, but it was warm. Thena letter arrived. From Lily.
“Dear sister, you probably dont remember me? I only recall your plaits and your checked slippers. Id love to see you! Weve moved back to the areaIm in Millfield. If you dont mind, may I visit?” Emily shrugged. Oddinviting herself over. Still, she agreed.
Lily, in a blue coat, limped toward her, waving eagerly. In the station crowd, she hugged Emily tight, crying, “Sister, I knew it was you straight away!” Emily grumbledstill a crybabybut her own eyes stung.
Over supper, Lily explained, “Dont blame Mum. Uncle Steven said hed take her with kids when they met. But she was scared to bring two. Then they had a son, then a daughter! Little Violetsuch a doll, where did we fit? Uncle Stevens a brilliant carpenter, always busy. We even go to the coast sometimes. But in Year 7, a bull gored methank God no one else was hurt. Now I limp… Em, this pies lovelycan I have the recipe?”
Emily asked, “Do you work? Study? Got a boyfriend? Youre so pretty!”
Lily flushed. “I was in hospital long after the accidentcost a fortune. I help at home or with Uncle Stevens accounts… Mums a council accountant. Friends? Never really. The limp… But Im used to it.”
Emily convinced Lily to stay, promising to see her off in the morning. Her sister fell asleep the moment her head touched the pillow. Emily noticed her clothesclean but threadbare, mended countless times. Girls at the hospital earned pennies, but even they wouldnt wear this, not to visit family.
At 3 a.m., Emily woke her husband. “Take me to Millfieldnow.” He cursed but drove. On the way, she explained. He scowled, then nodded.
Emily found her mothers house easily. Her heart raced as she knocked. The woman who answered didnt recognise herthough Emily knew her at once. Still elegant, just older. “Morning, Mum. Fancy meeting here.” Her mother greeted her like a nuisance, not a daughter unseen for years. “Wheres Lily? In the barn? Tell her to come inthe kids need breakfast, and its a mess.” Emily kept calm. “Lilys staying with me. Pack her things. Money, too, if you can. Ill get her a job, sort her leg. Shes too pretty to limp. Hear me, Mum?”
Her mother jutted her chin. “Get lost. Well fetch Lily ourselves.”
Emily shook her head. “Not LilyLily-belle. Call your cow Lily. Fancy milking her yourself now, eh? Want me to gather the whole village? Let them hear how the councils upstanding lady dumped her kids? Your friends might forgetbut someone wont. Try taking Lily back, and Ill shout it nationwide.”
Her mother sneered, slammed the door. Half an hour later, a thin, stooped man emerged with a backpack. “Im Steven. Heres her things. Give Lucyalways called her thatmy best. Well send money. Shes played Cinderella long enough. Dont blame your mum too muchlifes not simple.”
Emily walked to the car, thinking: No, life isnt simple. But is simple so hard? Men not drinking or straying, women not ditching kids for men, siblings not forgetting each other?
Just being decent people.
