“Is your wife really the woman you think she is?”
“Oliver, I didnt want to tell you this on our wedding day but do you know your new bride has a daughter?” My colleague at work pinned me to my seat with those words.
“What do you mean?” I refused to believe it.
“My wife saw your Charlotte at the wedding and whispered to me, Wonder if the groom knows his bride left a baby at an orphanage? Imagine that, Oliver! Nearly choked on my sandwich. My wifes a midwife at St. Marysrecognised Charlotte by the birthmark on her neck. Said the girls named Emily and took her mothers surname, Wilson. Happened about five years ago.” He watched my reaction with keen interest.
I sat stunned behind the wheel. Theres a bombshell for you.
I had to see for myself. Didnt want to believe the gossip, but Charlotte wasnt some naïve eighteen-year-oldshed been thirty-two when we met. Of course shed had a life before me. But abandoning a child? How could anyone live with that?
A few calls later, I found the orphanage where Emily Wilson was kept. The director introduced me to a bright-eyed little girl.
“Meet our Emily Wilson,” she said warmly. “How old are you, love? Tell the gentleman.”
I couldnt miss the girls crossed eyes. My heart ached for her. She was already mine in spiritmy wifes daughter, after all.
“Four years old,” Emily chirped. “Are you my daddy?”
I faltered. What do you say to a child who sees a father in every man?
“Emily, lets talk. Would you like to have a mum and dad?” A daft question, but I already wanted to sweep her up and take her home.
“Yes! Will you take me?” She looked up, hopeful and sharp.
“I willjust not yet. Can you wait, sweetheart?” My throat tightened.
“Ill wait. Promise you wont lie?”
“I promise.” I kissed her cheek.
At home, I told Charlotte everything.
“Charlotte, I dont care about your past, but we need to bring Emily home. Ill adopt her properly.”
“Did you even ask me? I dont want that girl! And shes cross-eyed!” Charlotte raised her voice.
“Shes your flesh and blood! Well get her eyes fixed. Shes a wonderyoull love her.” Her coldness shocked me.
In the end, I practically forced Charlotte into it.
We had to wait a year before Emily came home. I visited her oftenwe became friends. Charlotte still resisted, even tried halting the adoption midway. I pushed her to see it through.
Finally, the day came. Emily stepped into our flat, marveling at everything. Soon, specialists corrected her visionno surgery needed. She grew to look just like Charlotte. I was happymy family, two beauties: wife and daughter.
Yet Emily clung to a packet of biscuits for nearly a year, as if fearing hunger. Charlotte found it irritating; I found it heartbreaking.
I tried holding us together, but Charlotte never loved her. “Whyd you bring this stray into our home? Shell never be normal!”
I loved Charlotte deeplycouldnt imagine life without her. But cracks appeared when Emily arrived. My mother once warned, “Son, your choice, but I saw her with another man. Shes sly, deceitful. Youll regret her.”
Love blinds. But Emily opened my eyes.
Once, a friend joked: “If you want to fall out of love, measure her like a tailor. Bust, waist, hipsthen watch the magic fade.”
I tried it. Measured Charlotte playfully. Still loved her just the same.
Then Emily fell illfever, sniffling, trailing Charlotte with her doll, Daisy. No longer clutching biscuits, now clinging to her toy.
Charlotte snapped. “Stop whining! Go to bed!”
Emily wept, clutching Daisy. ThenCharlotte yanked the doll away, flung it out the window.
“Mummy, thats my Daisy! Shell freeze!” Emily sobbed.
I raced down eight flights, no lift. Found Daisy hanging upside-down from a tree, snow melting on her face like tears.
Carrying her back, I felt something break inside.
Charlotte sat reading, indifferent. Thats when my love diedshriveled, vanished. She was just pretty wrapping over nothing.
We divorced. Emily stayed with me; Charlotte didnt fight it.
Later, I saw hernewly married to some businessman. “Pity her husband,” Mum said. “A woman like that shouldnt be a mother.”
Emily grieved at first, but my new wife, Lucy, melted her heart. Charlotte had rejected her twice. Unthinkable.
Now, Lucy loves Emily and our son Sam endlessly. And I? I finally see clearly.
