Im not staying. Im the lover of your husband! Weve been seeing each other all these years. Yesdont roll your eyes and dont act surprised
Emma was putting the finishing touches on dinner; her husband James was due back in an hour. Their tenyearold daughter, Poppy, was in the studio practising her dance routine.
She would arrive in half an hour, fling her bag on the hallway table and settle down while they waited for the meal. In the meantime she would chatter about her friends, her latest triumphs, her tutor Emma smiled. She always loved listening to Poppys endless stories.
The front door rang. It was early for James, and he still had his keys. So, of course, Poppy had forgotten hers again. Emma opened the door, but instead of her daughter a young woman stood in the hallway.
Im not staying. Im the lover of your husband. Weve been together all this time. Yesdont roll your eyes, and dont act surprised.
All these years how long exactly? Emma asked, heart tightening.
Three years. It suited me fine. Its far quieter living alone while the man drifts in whenever he feels like it.
No expenses, no chores, no laundry, no cooking, no cleaning after him. Im not about to change any of that now.
I wouldnt have turned up if I werent already in this mess. Its a coincidence, but theres no turning back. Its too late.
Emma remembered the long, painful road to motherhood. Shed struggled for years, and James had been the one with the problem. Theyd turned to IVF.
The first cycle failed; the second brought a miracle. Emma had expected twins it isnt unheard of with artificial conception but shed been blessed with a single child, Poppy. And now this revelation crashed through her world.
How can you be so sure you wont change anything? Your husband drifts in, and you think the father will just appear?
No, its not quite like that. Ill have a husband and a child who both show up.
Interesting. And how do you picture that? The father raising the child while you what, wait for him to visit so the child can see his mother?
Exactly. I never wanted a child; it was an accident.
But James said he couldnt have children.
Then he can! I need to see the conditions in which my child will grow. Everything is clear.
Your daughter will be raised by you, while James, though not the biological father, will help. The new child will fall on your shoulders.
Miss, Im not even inviting you in; I dont know your name, and your man no longer lives here. Take whatever belongs to him. The rest is none of my concern!
Emma tried to shut the door, but she saw Poppy stepping back from her dance class, bag in hand.
Mum, what was that? What child? Why isnt Dad my real father?
You heard everything, then its time I explained everything.
Mum, Im almost eleven. Ill understand.
Emma poured out the whole truth.
You are my daughter, and James loves you. Legally hes your father, and weve both been waiting for you.
Now hes waiting for another child, but you wont be its mother. I wont be a sister. Right?
Yes youre right. And Im grown now; I dont want to live with Dad any longer.
Ill help you, dont worry, Mum. Im old enough. Let him go. I love you both, but that woman who showed up let him be with her.
James slipped in exactly on schedule.
Whats happened to us? Why does nobody greet me, no embraces?
Usually Poppy would meet him at the door, hug him, but the house was silent. She lingered in her room.
Emma, wheres our girl? Stuck at dance? Ill?
Your lover was here. Shes waiting for the baby. Yours! Can you explain why shes here?
Emma, understandI cant walk away from my child.
And you know what shes offering?
I know. She never wanted the child, but Poppy is ours, and now there will be another. Itll be my child! Hell live with me.
Are you sure its yours? Do you remember your diagnosis?
There are exceptions.
Fine. Youre going to the mother with your exception. Right now, you leave, collect your things later!
No, Emma! Thats not right! No ones waiting for me there. Im not needed Im needed, but not like that.
Nobodys waiting for you here either. Youre not needed. Get out!
What about Poppy? Im her father, even if not by blood. Ill raise her. Whats wrong with my real child living with me? It all makes sense.
My future childs mother already told me about fairness. Find out if shes really yours before you speak further. Goodbye.
Emma and James split. He had to move out because the flat belonged to Emmas parents; they had built a house but never transferred the lease to their daughter, a detail that mattered little in the divorce.
James had nowhere to go. The man who only occasionally drifted in was now better off with his lover, and she had no intention of changing her ways or caring for a child. She might play and have fun, but she shunned sleepless nights, diapers, and illnessnothing shed planned for.
After the baby arrived she sued for child support and lost. How the child is now being raised by an indifferent mother remains a mystery. Jamess diagnosis never changed, and the supposed paternity never materialised.
The child is legally his, yet he refuses contact. James pays the modest maintenance, tries to rebuild his family, but Emma wont see him either.
Thus the drama of a single flat, two broken chairs, and lives tangled beyond repair
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