Darling, Im pregnant! Emma blurted the moment she stepped through the front door, leaving Tom no time to guess what was coming. He froze, glanced to the side and sighed, Well, whats done is done, before planting a quick kiss on her cheek, as if trying to outrun his own feelings.
Emma had first fallen for James back when she was still a university student. He worked at the firm where she was doing her placement young, handsome, already deputy manager practically a prince from a different kingdom. The modest girl from a small town never imagined hed ever glance her way. Yet on the last day of her placement, he walked over, handed her a box of chocolates and asked her out for an evening drink. And so their story began.
On their first date he confessed hed grown up without parents. His mother remarried and left, leaving him in his grandmothers care. Emma didnt mention that her own parents had never bothered with her either a childhood of cold indifference, not a single warm hug. Both knew what loneliness felt like, and perhaps thats why they clicked so fast.
A month later Emma moved into Jamess rented flat. Soon after they tied the knot modest, unpretentious, but full of hope. They dreamed of a future, a house of their own, a quiet life. The only thing that split them was the baby question. Emma had long wanted a child, while James kept dragging his feet: Were fine as two, why rush?
When the pregnancy test showed two lines, Emma hesitated to tell him, fearing judgment and scoldings. At last she gathered the courage.
Are you happy well be parents? she asked.
I thought that would be later James muttered, his disappointment plain as day.
He didnt bother with the first scan, staying in the car while Emma returned with tears and a grin twins. Two tiny heartbeats thumped inside her.
Twins?! James went pale. That wasnt the plan. Get an abortion!
What are you saying?! Ive seen our babies I cant Emma sobbed.
She hoped hed come round, that hed understand. But day by day he drifted further away, sniping at her for gaining weight, saying shed lost her shape. She tried to ignore it. After the babies arrived, things only got worse.
Lucy and Molly the twins became the centre of her world. James, meanwhile, lingered at work, kept his distance, and refused to help. Emma endured it all for the children, for love, for family.
When the little ones turned one and a half, Emma mentioned returning to work. James sat opposite her, eyes glued to the floor:
Ive had enough. Im leaving. I wont abandon the kids, but I want a life with someone else.
Emma was stunned. You swore youd never end up like your parents! she choked out through tears.
He walked out. At first hed still turn up, then he vanished for good. Emma was left on her own no money, no support. Return to the village? No jobs there. Stay in the city? Plenty of work, but nowhere to live.
Her boss stepped in, arranging a spot in a university hall. A tiny room, a bit of refurbishment, two kids she barely managed. One afternoon, as she tried to push the stroller onto the pavement, a voice called out:
May I give you a hand? Im John, I live next door.
He helped without a question, then offered to assist with the renovations. He started picking the twins up from nursery. At first Emma recoiled fear, pride but day by day John became part of their routine.
He was ordinary, dependable. Hed also been cheated on his wife left him for a friend after discovering they couldnt have children. And now he had two little ones who loved him with all their hearts.
When he proposed to Emma, she balked. Ive got kids. Youll find a single woman.
I want to be with you. The children arent a problem; theyre like my own.
They wed. A week later James turned up again.
Emma, Im sorry. I understand everything now. Lets start over
Its too late. Im married. My kids now have a real dad.
From the hallway stepped John. Meet my husband, he said with a grin.
James turned, waved, and walked off for good.
A year passed. Emma and John bought their own flat. Where James was now, Emma didnt know and didnt want to know. Because happiness isnt the one who promised it, but the one who actually stays.
