Only My Fate
“Mum, what are you doing here?” gasped Alice, spotting her mother in the maternity clinic.
“Oh, Allie, do you have an appointment today too? You didnt mention it yesterday” Margaret lowered her eyes, flustered.
“Mum, this place is for expectant mothers. Why are you here?” Alice ran a hand over her rounded belly.
“Allie, I meant to tell you” The woman glanced around, searching for words. “Well, Im expecting a child too.”
Margaret had been just eighteen when Alice was born. The girls father took no interest in her, paying only meagre child support, and even that was enforced by court. But Margaret adored her daughter. She worked two jobs, sewing late into the night for extra money. Her friends shook their heads. “Why work yourself to the bone? Youll ruin your best years!” But Margaret never listened. So long as her girl wanted for nothingthe finest chocolates, stylish coats, expensive dollsshe would give it all. She denied herself everything, yet Alice never felt deprived.
Alice grew accustomed to the best. Money never crossed her mindif she wanted something, she bought it, even managing a seaside holiday with her classmates. When university beckoned, she chose the most prestigious institution, the fees be damned. Margaret didnt argue.
In her third year, Alice met Tom. Older, nearly finished with his studies, he struck Margaret as steadya man with his head on straight. She rejoiced: at last, her daughter would have a dependable husband, a true support. Even if a child came, Alice wouldnt be alone.
And so it happened. Alice fell pregnant. Tom proposed at once, and they held a lavish wedding. His parents covered half the cost; Margaret paid the rest, even gifting the newlyweds a trip to Brighton.
“Tom, lets take a walk,” Alice suggested one afternoon.
“Right you are. Lovely weather, and that new café just opened. Well pop in,” he smiled, brushing a hand over her belly.
They strolled through the park, fed the pigeons, then settled in the café. No sooner had they sat than Alice went pale.
“Whats wrong?” Tom frowned.
“Mum” she muttered.
Two tables over sat Margaret with an unfamiliar man.
“Oh, there she is!” Tom turned.
Margaret noticed them and offered a sheepish smile.
“Lets say hello. Whos that with her?” Tom began to rise.
“No. I dont even want to look!” Alice shot up and fled outside.
Tom settled the bill and caught up. On the pavement, Alice was already confronting her mother:
“Who is that? Have you forgotten youre about to be a grandmother?”
“Alice, youre grown. Havent I earned a life of my own?”
Tom stepped in tactfully. “Everything alright, Mrs. Whitmore?”
“Quite, Tom, its nothing”
“Lets go!” Alice seized her husbands arm and near dragged him away.
Alice had always believed her mother belonged solely to her. The thought of Margaret with a man had never crossed her mind. And truth be told, Margaret hadnt dated anyone in all those yearsfearing her daughters reaction.
Then, two years prior, her boss, Edward, began courting her. Shed fancied him for ages but never acted. When he showed interest, she surrendered.
They began seeing each other. Edward even asked her to move in. Margaret hesitated but finally agreed. Yet how to tell Alice? Then came that wretched encounter
Later, Margaret discovered she was pregnant. Forty-threelate, certainly. But abortion never entered her mind. Edward was overjoyed; hed no children of his own.
After the café, Alice stopped answering calls. Tom alone relayed news. Then came the clinic meetingafter which Alice cut contact entirely. Blocked calls, ignored messages.
She learned of her granddaughters birth from Tom.
“A girl, 21 inches, 7 pounds!” he announced cheerfully.
“Congratulations! Might we visit? Id so love to see her,” Margaret whispered, near tears.
“Ill try to persuade Alice”
But she refused outright. Margaret fretted, though well into her sixth month, doctors warned against stress.
Four months later, she bore a daughter. She wrote Alice: *You have a sister now.* Silence answered. Only Tom sent flowers and called.
Years passed. The girls grew. Alice and Tom named theirs Sophie. Margaret and Edward chose Grace, after her grandmother. Sometimes, Tom sent photos: *First tooth!* or *Shes walking!* Margaret hoped Alice might soften by Sophies first school day. But she held firmwhen, truly, what grudge remained?
On Sophies seventh birthday, Margaret phoned Tom.
“Do bring Sophie to visit. Wed love to see her.”
“Ill try”
That evening, Tom relayed the invitation.
“No,” Alice snapped.
“But shes your motheryour sister,” he reasoned.
“She betrayed me. And I wont see that girl.”
So they livedseparate lives. Margaret and Edward in a country cottage; Alice and Tom in the suburbs. Sometimes, mutual acquaintances brought news: *Margarets ill,* or *Grace has a fever.* Deep down, Alice longed to go, to embrace her as before. But jealousy and anger ruled.
“Tom, we still need hair ribbons and indoor shoes for Sophie,” Alice said over supper.
“Plenty of time. Hard to believe seven years have gone”
“Mum, must I go to French club?” Sophie burst into the kitchen.
“Yes! We moved house for that school!” Alice said sternly.
Like Margaret once had, she strove to give her child every advantage.
September arrived. Tom took leave to see Sophie off to her first daya distant but prestigious bilingual school.
The bell rang, speeches were made
“Year 1A!” called the teacher.
“Thats us!” Alice whispered, guiding Sophie forward.
Then, in the crowd, she spotted her mother. Their eyes met. A heartbeatand Alice broke, rushing into Margarets arms. Tears long withheld streamed down her cheeks as Margaret held her tight, just as in childhood, and in that moment, every grudge melted away, as though it had never been.
