“You’re no longer my daughter. Who he is and where he comes fromno one knows. Im ashamed of you. Move into your grandmothers cottage and live like an adult. Face the consequences of your actions.”
“Lily, did you hear? Theyve brought in extra hands from the city to help with the harvest. Fancy going down to the pub tonight?” Mabel sprawled into the armchair, grinning.
“Mabel, are you serious? What about little Alfie? Should I drag him along?” Lily laughed.
“What if we ask Auntie Margaret?” Mabel suggested carefully.
Lily waved her off. “Dont be daft. She still hasnt forgiven me for having Alfie. She wanted me to marry Andrew, but I left for university instead. Failed my exams, came back with a baby. A whole year she wouldnt speak to meonly started again two months ago. You go with someone else. Maybe youll get lucky.”
Mabel sighed. “Fine, Ill take Tanya. Ill tell you everything tomorrow.”
Later, Lily tucked Alfie into bed and stepped onto the porch. The distant thump of music reached her. Wrapped in a shawl, she imagined the laughter, the dancing. Mabel was probably wearing that awful leopard-print dress againshe looked like a stuffed caterpillar in it. Lily sighed and turned back inside.
At dawn, Mabel came rushing injust as Lilys mother arrived for a visit. Lily pressed a finger to her lips, but Mabel couldnt be stopped.
“Shame you werent there last night! Such lovely lads. One walked me homehis names William. Ever so chatty, full of jokes. Hes taking me out tonight!” she blurted.
Lilys mother scowled. “Married, I expect?”
Mabel shrugged. “Didnt check his ring finger. Even if he is, at least Ill have stories to tell.”
“Girls these days,” her mother tutted. “Andrews a decent lad. My daughter here threw away her chance, but you, Mabelyou could still charm him.”
“Mum, please!” Mabel groaned. “Whod want him? And his mothers worse! God save me from that kind of happiness.”
She turned to Lily. “There was this one blokecouldnt take your eyes off him. All the girls were smitten. But he just stood with his mates, then left alone. Didnt even ask anyone to dance.”
Then, the impossible happened. Auntie Margaret mused, “Lily, you should go too. Ill watch Alfie. Might meet someone propersomeone steady. Alfie needs a father. Just steer clear of married men. They can smell a single mother a mile off. Understood?”
Lily, disbelieving, nodded. She kissed her mothers cheek.
“Go on then, you little flatterer,” her mother muttered.
That evening, Lily stood in her best dress, laughing with her friendsGod, shed missed this.
“Look. There he is again,” the girls whispered.
Lily glanced overthen froze. Her legs trembled. She turned sharply. “I should go. Alfies probably crying.”
“Lily, dont be ridiculous! First night out in ages and youre running home? You havent even danced!”
But Lily was already leaving. “Looks like your Williams here. You wont be lonely.”
At the door, a hand caught hers. “Care to dance?”
She tried to pull away. “I dont dance.”
“Just one. Please.”
She turnedand her heart stopped.
*Him.*
The man whod changed her life forever. And judging by his smile, he didnt recognize her.
“Fine. One dance,” she said.
He spun her into the music. “Husband waiting at home?”
“Im not married.”
He winkedthat same wink that had once stolen her breath. “So Ive got a chance?”
She pushed away. “Not a hope,” then fled into the night, tears burning.
Shed remembered him foreverfallen for him in an instant. And he hadnt even known her.
Theyd met on a train. Shed been heartbroken, returning home after failing her exams. Hed been visiting family. Seeing her sorrow, hed joked, “Names James. Mum calls me Jamie. Take your pick.”
Shed smiled. “Jamies nice.”
Hed held out his hand. “Almost friends now. And you are, lovely stranger?”
“Lily.”
“Fit for a queen,” hed said.
Shed confessed her failure, her mothers disappointment. “Why not study over winter and try again?” hed suggested.
Shed brightened. “I never thought of that. Thank you.”
Then hed studied her. “Has anyone told you youre beautiful?”
Shed blushed. “Dont be silly.”
Hed leaned closer. “Its true.” Then hed kissed her. What followed was shame and sweetness. Hed left early, promising, “Ill find you.”
Only later did she realizehed never asked where she lived.
Then the baby came. Her mothers disgust: “Youre no daughter of mine. Live with your choices.”
Lily worked at the library until her due date. Mabel met her at the hospital. Her mother never camenot until Alfie was five months old.
“Not our blood,” shed sniffed, yet returned with toys.
That morning, her mother frowned. “Home so early? Was it dull? Hows Alfie?”
“Asleep. Since youre here, Ill go.”
Lily barely slept. At dawn, she fed Alfie, who fussed over his porridge. “Eat up, or youll never grow tall like your dad.”
“Talking about me? Im flattered. So this is my son?”
The spoon clattered.
*Him.*
James smiled. “Told you Id find you. Didnt know Id left you with a son. Forgot to ask where you lived. Suppose fate stepped in.” He made a face at Alfie, who giggled.
When her mother arrived, she found Lily beamingand a stranger bouncing Alfie on his shoulders.
“This him?”
“Yes,” Lily breathed.
Her mother offered her hand. “Margaret Hayes. And Ill be watching what kind of manand fatheryou are.”
James shook it firmly. “Understood.”
