Tomorrow’s our first date. Not exactly a date, with the kids. I hope they don’t push me away.»
«You’re a teacher. You’ll connect with them. You’re already on good terms with Timmy.»
«Yes, but I’m just his teacher for now.» «It’ll be fine, Emily. You’ll see.»
«Want to see something?» Emily asked, bringing out Tanya’s portrait she’d finished today. «What a cute girl!» Sarah said. «Who’s this?» «Ethan’s daughter, Tanya.
I saw her once, but her face stuck with me. I had to paint it. Sarah, it’s weird, but I look at her, and she feels like my daughter. I saw her once, yet I feel such tenderness.»
«It’s fate guiding you to this family. That girl will call you Mom.» «You can’t imagine how I dream of that.
I thought no one would ever call me Mom.» Sunday morning, Emily was restless. She was nervous about meeting Ethan and his kids.
She rummaged through her wardrobe, deciding what to wear. Tried different hairstyles. She chose a dress she’d bought for her thirtieth birthday and never worn since.
She let her hair down, something she hadn’t done in ages. At four sharp, she stepped out and saw Ethan’s familiar car. «Life’s strange,» she thought.
In October, she nearly died under its wheels; now it was taking her toward happiness. Or so she hoped. Seeing her, Ethan got out, holding a bright bouquet. Tanya ran out, loudly saying, «Hello,» rolling her R’s.
«Hi, Tanya,» Emily replied warmly. «You’re so pretty.» «You’re very pretty too,» Tanya said, emphasizing her R’s.
«She just learned to say her R’s,» Ethan explained, smiling, handing Emily the bouquet. «You look wonderful, Emily.»
«Thanks, Ethan,» she said, smelling the flowers. «Guess I’ll run up and put these in water. Don’t want them to wilt. We have time?» «Sure,» Ethan nodded.
«The show starts in an hour, and it’s a twenty-minute drive.» Emily went up, took out a pretty vase, filled it with water, and set the bouquet in it, admiring it. James never gave her flowers due to his allergies, avoiding florists.
So, Emily never brought home bouquets from students on the first day of school or holidays. She left some at work and gave the rest to colleagues. It always saddened her not to bring them home.
«How did I live with James so long?» she wondered. She could hardly believe she loved him so much. Did she love him? It felt like a delusion now; he wasn’t her destiny.
His image faded from her memory. She’d even deleted all their photos together. It was a perfect Sunday, one of the best in Emily’s life.
After a fun circus show, she, Ethan, and the kids went to a café, ordering pizza and cupcakes. Tanya was enchanted with Emily, chattering about her daycare, favorite cartoons, and books, and her dream of a dog. Emily loved talking with her, her heart filling with love for this wonderful child.
After dinner, Timmy and Tanya wanted to play on the big playground near the café. «You in a rush?» Ethan asked Emily. «Not at all.
Let the kids have fun,» she smiled. They left the café. The kids ran to the playground, while Ethan and Emily sat on a bench, watching.
«How was the pizza and cupcakes?» Ethan asked. «They cook pretty well here.» «I liked it.
It was tasty,» Emily said. «Though I rarely buy baked goods. I love baking myself.»
«I remember you said that the day we met in the café, where you were eating, and I was buying pastries for the kids.» «You remembered?» «I kept thinking about you after that.
I’ll admit, I thought of you too. When you came to school, I wanted to sink through the floor from shame.» «Why?» Ethan was surprised.
«We met under such circumstances. I crossed on red, and you nearly hit me. I thought you’d think a teacher like that can’t be trusted with kids.» «Nonsense.
I didn’t think anything like that. I knew you had a bad day, some big trouble. You found out about your husband’s affair then.»
«Yes, I went to the store and forgot my credit card. Came back and heard James talking to his mistress. If not for that, I’d still be in the dark.
I’d love to see this James.» «Why?» «Just curious what kind of fool betrays a woman like you.» «Guess I’m not that great,» Emily smiled sadly.
She felt so calm and comfortable with Ethan, she didn’t want to part with him and his kids. But the wonderful evening ended, and it was time to say goodbye. «Thanks for inviting me to the circus,» Emily said to Ethan and the kids when he drove her home.
«I haven’t had such a great time in ages.» «Aunt Emily, will you come to our house?» Tanya asked. «If you invite me, I will,» Emily smiled.
«Yay!» Tanya squealed. «I’ll show you my toys and books.» «Deal.»
Emily and Ethan got out of the car. He walked her to her building. «Thank you for everything,» he said.
«And you too,» she replied. «Guess we’re on a first-name basis now. Better, right?» «Right.»
«I haven’t seen my daughter this happy in a long time. And I haven’t felt like this in ages. Even Timmy seemed to come alive.
All thanks to you. Thank you. It was a wonderful evening.
I don’t want it to end.» «Me neither. I feel alive again because of you and your kids.
I’ll call you tomorrow. Okay?» «Of course. I’ll be waiting.»
«Sweetie, I’m so happy for you,» Nancy said, wiping a tear. «I told you James didn’t feel right to me. I knew he wouldn’t make you happy.
My mother’s instinct was right. But with this man, I’m sure you’ll find true happiness. And his kids are so sweet.»
Today, Emily introduced her parents to her partner and his children. She and Ethan had been dating for two months and both knew they wanted to be together forever, to become a family. Ethan proposed, and Emily accepted without hesitation.
«Mom, you can’t imagine how happy I am,» Emily said. «And something happened the other day I never dared dream of. Ethan, Tanya, and I were walking in the park.
Timmy wasn’t with us; summer break started, and he’s at a camp for creative kids for three weeks.» Her drawing lessons with Timmy had paid off. He opened up, became less withdrawn, more confident. After one of his pieces took second place in a city contest, he believed in himself and his potential.
When Emily learned about the camp for talented kids at school and talked to Ethan, they easily convinced Timmy to go. «Let’s hold hands,» Tanya suggested, and the adults happily agreed. They walked through the park as a family, hand in hand.
Tanya asked them simple riddles, and Ethan and Emily pretended they couldn’t guess. Tanya laughed and gave hints. Then she said, «Mom, do you know any riddles?» Hearing this, Emily stopped and looked at Ethan, then at Tanya.
«Mom, what’s wrong?» Tanya asked. «You called me Mom.» Emily crouched, hugged her, and cried.
Words couldn’t capture the feelings she had—boundless happiness mixed with the pain she’d carried for fifteen years. «Why are you crying?» Tanya asked.
«You don’t want to be my mom?» «I do, I do, my sweet girl, so much. Thank you, my darling!» Ethan crouched too, hugging his beloved woman and daughter. «Emily!» Nancy exclaimed, hearing her daughter’s story.
«You’ve earned this happiness, suffered for it. Now you’ll have a wonderful new life.» «Thank you, Mom.
Only one thing worries me.» «What’s that?» «Tell me, honey.» «What if Ethan wants a child together? I haven’t told him about what I did at nineteen and how it cost me my ability to have kids.
Ethan loves kids; he always wanted a big family. What if he hates me for ending that pregnancy? But I don’t want to lie. What do I do?» «There’s only one way, honey.
Tell the truth for a happy marriage. No room for lies. If Ethan loves you, and I don’t doubt he does, he won’t judge you for something from years ago.»
Emily decided to follow her mom’s advice and confess everything to Ethan. Better now, before they married. They were at Ethan’s, drinking tea with a pie she’d baked.
Tanya was asleep, so it was time to talk. Emily wanted no secrets. «I need to confess something,» she began. «It’s hard to talk about, but I believe we shouldn’t have secrets.»
«What’s wrong? You’re scaring me,» Ethan said, concerned. Emily told him everything—how she decided she wasn’t ready for motherhood, how her ex-husband didn’t want kids then, the botched operation that nearly killed her, the doctors’ verdict, and how deeply she regretted it.
«If you don’t want to be with me now, I’ll understand,» she said, fighting tears. Ethan hugged her and said, «Don’t cry.
Don’t blame yourself. You were so young. You thought you were doing the right thing.
What happened after was awful. But you couldn’t know. Don’t doubt me.
I love you. I’ll always be here. Tanya already sees you as her mom.
Timmy likes you too. Soon we’ll be a family. I already see you as my wife.»
That night, Emily stayed at Ethan’s. And that night, she had that troubling dream again. She hadn’t had it since dating Ethan.
She thought the nightmare was gone. Emily cried out and sat up, waking Ethan. «What’s wrong?» he asked.
«A nightmare,» she said. «It’s haunted me for years.» She told him about the dream, hearing her child’s cries but unable to find them.
«Maybe it’s my unborn child crying. This dream is my punishment.» «That’s incredible!» Ethan said. «I sometimes hear a child’s cry in my dreams too. I think it’s my child.
I didn’t tell you, but Danielle was pregnant when she died.» «Really? That’s so unfair! You lost not just your wife but your baby, making it twice as painful.» In August, Ethan and Emily married. They didn’t have a big celebration, marking it quietly in a café with close family.
Timmy and Tanya, dressed up, were there, thrilled about the event. After the wedding, Emily moved into Ethan’s apartment, along with Charlie. Max, their cat, wasn’t thrilled at first, asserting dominance.
But he soon warmed up, and the cats coexisted peacefully. Months passed. Tanya’s sixth birthday was nearing, and Ethan and Emily pondered a gift.
They knew she dreamed of a dog and decided to surprise her with a puppy. Tanya was overjoyed, hugging her dad and mom, thanking them for fulfilling her dream.
Timmy was happy too, excited about the new pet. Only Max and Charlie watched warily from the couch. Emily felt completely happy, with one thing troubling her.
The nightmares didn’t stop; they came more often. One night, waking from the dream and accidentally waking Ethan, he hugged her and said, «Emily, I’ve been thinking about this but hesitated to say. You regret your unborn child.
I couldn’t accept that my third child never got to be born.» «And?» Emily didn’t follow. «What if we adopt a baby from an orphanage?» «Are you serious?» «Completely.
It won’t replace our unborn children. It doesn’t need to. We’ll just love them and raise them as our own.
Think about it.» «I don’t need to think,» Emily said eagerly. «I agree.
I’ve dreamed of this for years.» Spring came early, warm and blooming vibrantly. Emily and Ethan walked through the park.
Ethan pushed a stroller with little Georgie, their adopted baby. Everyone, including the kids, already loved him and cared for him together. Timmy and Tanya walked ahead, chatting lively.
«Mom, do we have water? I’m thirsty,» Tanya asked, turning to Emily. «Oh, I left the water bottle on the table,» Emily said, checking her bag. «Keep going, I’ll grab water from that kiosk and catch up; Georgie wakes when the stroller stops.»
Emily hurried to the kiosk and heard someone call her name. The voice was familiar. Turning, she saw James.
Her ex-husband looked different—gaunt, thinner, older. «Hello, Emily,» he said. «Long time no see.
You look good.» «Yeah, it’s been a while. Hello, James,» she replied, feeling nothing for him.
No anger, no resentment, nothing. As if those fifteen years with him never happened. To Emily, it felt like she’d always been with Ethan, and James was a fleeting fling from a distant past she didn’t want to recall.
«I saw you earlier but hesitated to approach. You weren’t alone. Remarried?» «Yes.»
«Congratulations. The older kids aren’t yours, but the baby in the stroller?» «Mine,» Emily said. «But how? You had a baby?» «What does it matter, James? They’re all my kids.
Your life stopped being my business long ago. Sorry, I just wanted to say I’m happy for you. I see things worked out well for you.
Without me.» «Thank you, James. Yes, I’m even grateful to you and Lila for leaving me alone then.
I found true happiness. Met my destiny. Became a mom.
How about you? You became a dad, right?» Susan said Lila was expecting. «Yeah,» James waved dismissively, grimacing. «I divorced Lila long ago.
The kid wasn’t mine. She was seeing her college buddy too. And you know what’s funny?
I found out like you did, overhearing her phone call. She called me an old man and, well, whatever. So, Emily, I couldn’t build a happy life without you. If I could turn back time and fix it, I’m sorry I didn’t appreciate you.
You were the best thing in my life.» «Maybe you’ll meet a good woman?» Emily felt a slight pity for him. But she didn’t want to keep talking.
«Okay, sorry, Emily. I’ll go. You’re in a rush.
I couldn’t not say hi and tell you I regret betraying you and our love.» «Was there love, James?» Emily asked. «You don’t betray someone you love.
It’s impossible. And you don’t call them a suitcase without a handle. I’ve got to go.
Be happy.» «I’ll try,» James sighed.
Emily quickly bought water and ran to catch up with her family. James watched her go with sadness, remembering when he was happy with this woman he so foolishly lost.