“Chooseeither me or your son.” He chose her, and by the time he realized his mistake, it was far too late.
“Little rascal! Ive had enough of you!” Emily shouted at two-year-old Oliver.
“William! I cant do this any longer. Why should I raise another womans child? Well have our own soon enough!” she snapped at her husband.
“Em, but hes my son,” William replied, his voice trembling.
“Exactly! Yours and Rebeccas. That flighty woman ran off to live her own life, and now Im left cleaning up after him! Do you even realize how hard it is for me at this stage? Ive had enough. He doesnt belong here! Either we part ways, or you send him away.”
William feared losing Emily. He couldnt imagine life without herespecially now, with another child on the way. They had met a year ago, just after his divorce from Rebecca, who had lived recklessly, driving him to leave. Oliver, their son, had been just nine months old then. Fate had brought William and Emily together, and he had fallen hopelessly in love. She was strong-willed, always insisting on having her waybut at least she was loyal and kept a proper home, unlike his ex, he often told himself.
Then, a year later, Rebecca reappeared, thrusting Oliver into his arms with a signed relinquishment. William had no choice but to take the boy. Emily had been visiting a friend that evening, and when she returned to find Oliver there, she flew into a rage. Still, for a time, she tolerated the child. But Oliver, heartbroken over his mothers absence, cried endlessly for her, grating on Emilys nerves. She endured his presence while William was at workuntil she could bear it no longer. When she gave the ultimatumher or his sonWilliam bundled Oliver into his arms and took him to his sister, Margaret.
“Meg, Im sorry to ask this of you, but could you take Oliver for a while? Emily needs timeshes exhausted, hormones and all,” he pleaded.
“William, how could you? The poor boys mother abandoned him, and now his own father casts him aside?” Margaret retorted.
“I havent! I just need time to settle things with Emily. Once shes herself again, Ill take him back.”
“Fine, leave him. Its not as though your Emily cares for him,” Margaret relented.
“Thank you, Meg. Ill never forget this kindness.” Overjoyed, William embraced her.
Margaret, married and raising her own year-old son, took Oliver in. Her husband, Thomas, appalled by the cruelty of the boys parents, treated him as his own.
Soon, Emily gave birth to a daughter. William visited Margaret and Oliver less and less, consumed by his new family. In time, Oliver stopped calling him “Father”Thomas had taken that place. When the boy turned three, Margaret confronted her brother.
“William, its been a year. Has Emily come around yet?”
“Meg, things are fine as they are. I send money for Oliver, and hes grown used to you.”
“Oh, sending money behind Emilys back, are you?” Margaret scoffed.
“Dont tell her,” William muttered, eyes downcast.
“He needs to be enrolled in nursery soon. Ill be returning to workwhat do you expect me to do? Either take him back, or sign the papers so Thomas and I can adopt him properly.”
“Alright, Meg.”
“Alright? Whats your decision?” she pressed.
“Ill sign the papers.”
And so he did. William relinquished his parental rights, and Margaret and Thomas raised Oliver as their own. Years passed, and Oliver grew into a young man finishing school, unaware that his aunt and uncle were not his true parentsor that “Uncle William” had once been his father.
“Hello, Uncle William,” Oliver greeted as he opened the door.
“Hello, lad. Is your mother home?”
“Yes, shes inside. Right, thenoff to practice!”
“Hello, Meg,” William said, his voice heavy.
“William,” Margaret replied coolly. “Dont tell me youve come to moan about your regrets again. That was your choice to make. You cant turn back time.”
“If Id known how it would all turn out Im alone now. Emily left me. My daughter wants nothing to do with me. Pleaselet me spend more time with Oliver. I know I failed him. Just give me a chance to make things right.”
“You want to tell him the truth?” Margaret challenged.
“No! Hed never forgive me.”
She didnt stop their meetings. William began inviting Oliver over more often, showering him with gifts, desperate to bridge the gap between them.
When Oliver returned from his military service, he was stunned to find a brand-new car waiting for him.
“Uncle William, youre the best uncle anyone could ask for, but this is too much. I cant accept it.”
Tears welled in Williams eyes as he embraced the young man. “Oliver, pleasetake it. I always wanted a son, and youve been that for me. Id be heartbroken if you refused.”
In the end, Oliver accepted the gift, boasting to friends about his generous uncle. How William ached to hear “Father” insteadbut he knew he had no right to shatter the boys world. What if Oliver despised him for the truth? Terrified of losing even the bond they had, William settled for what little he still held.
