Serves You Right, Mum
Mum, your phones ringing again, called Matthew from behind Emily.
Who is it? Emily turned her head toward her son.
Dunno, he shrugged.
Bring it to me, will you?
Hang on, Matthew shouted, darting off before reappearing moments later and shoving the phone into her hand.
Ta. Go on, play. Dinners nearly ready, Emily said. As he scampered away, she glanced at the screen.
The same hospital numberagain. How had they even got her number? She clamped the lid on the frying pan and turned off the gas. Then she silenced the phone and tucked it behind the curtain on the windowsill.
While setting the table, her mind lingered on the calls. She went to find her husband. Oliver was at his computer. Emily crept up behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and resting her chin on his head.
Whatre you up to?
Just scrolling. Dinner soon? Oliver asked.
Nearly done. Matthew, dinner! Emily called, straightening up. Make sure he washes his hands, she told Oliver, turning to leave, but he caught her wrist.
Hold on. Who called?
No idea. Unknown numberdidnt answer. Thought you were hungry? She pulled free and retreated to the kitchen.
After dinner, she switched her phone back on. Too late for calls now.
Sleep didnt come easily that night. Why had she even answered the first time?
This is St. Marys Hospital. Your mother is in our care Could you come in? We need to discuss
Sorry, I dont have a mother, Emily had cut in, hanging up. Theyd rung again and again, but shed ignored them. Might as well go, or theyll never stop. Last thing I need is them turning up here. Better if shed just died Emily had buried her mother long ago.
The next day, after her shift, she drove to the hospital. When she entered the ward managers office and announced herself, the man in the white coat looked up sharply.
Finally. Your name?
Emily.
And your surname?
Just Emily, she said tersely.
Youve not visited once, Emily. Were discharging your mother, yet you ignore our calls. Not very responsible.
I told youI dont have a mother, she snapped.
Then who is Margaret Anne Whitmore to you?
The doctor studied her. It took everything in Emily not to say shed never heard the name. But he wouldnt let it go.
How did you even get my number? she countered.
From her phone. You were saved as Emily, my girl.
And how did she get it?
Ask herif she ever speaks again. The doctor spread his hands.
She cant talk?
Paralysed after a stroke. Cant move, cant walk. You didnt know? Hows that possible, Emily?
Serves her right. The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Excuse me? The doctor narrowed his eyes.
Emily met his gaze.
You heard me. She dumped me, left me at a childrens home No, worse. Dropped me with some relative and vanished. The relative handed me over. Twenty yearsnothing. She was dead to me. What dyou think of that, Doctor?
His expression softened.
Your personal grievances arent my concern. Your mother cant stay here. If you refuse to take her
Exactly.
Then well transfer her to a care home. Youre her only relative, so we needed your
Ill sign whatever, Emily cut in. She hadnt expected it to be this straightforward.
Wait. Theres a catch. She needs constant careprivate homes arent cheap. Were a hospital, not a charity. Family handles this. Are you prepared to cover the costs?
I said no, Emily repeated. What if I didnt exist? Whod pay then?
Social services. Well process the paperwork, but we need your consentfinancial guarantees.
Can I go? She hovered by the door.
The doctor handed her a card.
Address and number. Your mothers in Ward Four.
Walking down the corridor, Emily wrestled with herself. Part of her wanted to leave, but another part craved seeing her mothers sufferingjustice for abandonment.
She cracked open the door to Ward Four. Three elderly women lay inside. Two stared blankly; the thirds eyes were closed. Emily took a step toward the bed, then turned on her heel and left.
Shed glimpsed her mother months ago, but the woman was unrecognisablefrail, aged. A flicker of pity stirred, but Emily smothered it.
On the drive home, she debated her options. *Shes still my mother. But she left me. What if something had happened to me? She wouldnt have known. Or cared. So why should I?*
*But if Oliver finds out Hed never understand. His parents were decent. Hed hate me for this.*
The doctors card led her to social services. Daily, before or after work, she filed paperwork. They warned her a court case might follow.
Whats wrong? Youve been distant for days, Oliver asked one evening.
Just tired. Works busy. She leaned into him. *Thank God for him. I cant lose him. Ill do whats necessarynot for her, for us.*
***
Once, Emily had parents. Their faces had blurred in her memory, but she remembered the shouting. Her mother worked late; fights erupted. Little Emily would pretend to sleep, often waking to their raised voices.
Then one day, her mother didnt take her to nursery. Instead, she left Emily with a stern womana stranger. Ill be back, shed lied.
The woman called the police when Emilys mother vanished. No trace. Emily was sent to a childrens home.
Years later, she tracked down the woman, who revealed the truth: her mother had fallen pregnant by one man, married another. When he suspected the child wasnt his, the rows began. Eventually, he threw them both out. Her mother had abandoned her.
Emily had no interest in finding the man listed as her father. He meant nothing.
After the home, she trained as a hairdresser, moved into a tiny flat, and met Oliver at the salon. Hed been smitten, but when he proposed, she refused. Your parents wont let you marry an orphan.
Oliver lied to them: *Her dad was an engineer, her mum a doctorboth died in a crash.*
Lyings wrong. What if they find out? Emily had protested.
They wont. Besides, its *technically* true.
They married. His mother welcomed her warmly. For the first time, life was kind. Then, months ago, her mother had appeared outside Matthews school.
Youve got the wrong person. Dont come back, or Ill call the police.
She hadnt seen her sinceuntil the hospital calls started.
***
Emily couldnt forgive her. *Twenty years of silence. How could I?*
But Oliver Oliver would plead, *Shes your mother.* Hed never understand. She couldnt risk him knowing.
She visited a church, confessed to the vicar. He didnt judge, only urged her to pray for peace. Hatred will consume you, he warned.
Her mother was placed in a modest care home. Emily topped up her pension, working extra shifts to hide the cost from Oliver.
One evening, leaving the church, a hand fell on her shoulder. Oliver.
Why are you here? he asked, baffled.
Why are *you*?
I followed you. I knew you were hiding something.
Outside, she told him everything.
I couldnt forgive her. But I paid for her care. I was scared youd force me to take her inor leave me.
Oliver pulled her close. You daft thing. I thought you were having an affair. All the secrecy I was going spare.
You idiot. I love *you*.
Will your mother recover?
Doubt it. Dont call her that.
Listenshe left you, yet you still helped her. Im not sure Id have done the same. Just promise me no more secrets, yeah?
Emily nodded, relief washing over her.
*Sometimes, the hardest forgiveness isnt for themits for ourselves.*
