She’s Not Their Mother, These Five… But Who Could Say for Sure…

**Diary Entry 21st of October, 1972**

She wasnt theirs by blood, those five But whod ever say it?

Ethan lost his wife. She never recovered from the birth of their youngest.

Grieve or not, five children were left behind. The eldest, Michael, was nine. James, seven. The twins, Billy and Tommy, just four. And the babythree months old, little Emily, the daughter theyd waited so long for.

No time to mourn when children are hungry. Hed tuck them all in, then sit at the kitchen table late into the night, smoking.

At first, Ethan managed on his own. His sister-in-law came round now and then to help. No other family left. She offered to take Billy and Tommy”itd be easier for you,” she said. Then some folks from social services turned up.

They suggested sending all the children to a home. Ethan wouldnt hear of it. His own flesh and bloodhow could he? Life was hard, no doubt, but what choice was there? Theyd grow up in time.

Sometimes he managed to check the older boys schoolwork. Emily, of course, was the most trouble. But Michael and James pitched in where they could.

Then there was Nurse WilsonMargaret, she was calledwho visited often, fussing over them. One day, she promised to send a nanny. “Its too much for a man with a baby,” she said. “A good, hardworking girl. Works at the hospital.”

No children of her own, not married yet. But shed helped raise her siblingsbig family, from the next village over. And so Lucy came into their home.

Petite but sturdy, round-faced, with an old-fashioned braid down her back. Quiet. Never a word out of place. But everything changed in Ethans house. The place gleamedscrubbed, polished. Clothes mended, washed. Emily cared for, meals cooked. The school and nursery noticed straight awayclean clothes, neat, no buttons sewn on with black thread, no torn elbows.

Once, Emily fell ill with a fever. The doctor said shed pull through with proper care. Lucy stayed up night after night, never once lying down. Nursed the girl back to health. And somehow, she stayed.

The little ones started calling her “Mum,” starved for a mothers touch. Lucy never held backpraising, stroking their hair, hugging them. The older boys, Michael and James, were wary at first, never called her anything. Then just “Lucy.” Not nanny, not Mumjust Lucy. To remember their real mother. And she wasnt much older than them anyway.

Lucys family objected.

“Why saddle yourself with that lot? Plenty of lads in the village!”

“There are,” she replied. “But I feel for Ethan And the little ones are used to me now.”

So they lived. Fifteen years slipped by. The children grew, studied. Not without trouble, of coursemischief, scrapes. Ethan would lose his temper, reach for his belt. Lucy would tug his sleeve”Wait, Dad, lets hear their side first.”

They argued, made up. Soon, no one in the village called her Lucyshe was Mrs. Lucy Wilson, respected. Michael married by then, expecting his first.

The young couple lived apartMichael worked at the farm, never just a ploughman. Awards every year, bonuses. James was finishing university in the cityLucy swelled with pride. “My boy, the engineer.”

They stuck togetherplayed as children, stood up for each other as adults. Emily, now in Year 9, was Lucys joy. Sang, dancedno village do without her.

And Ethan often thought how well Nurse Margaret had chosen his wife

That summer, Lucy felt something wasnt right. Never sick a day in her life, but nowdizzy spells, nausea. She shooed Ethan and his pipe out to the porch when it struck. Thought itd pass. It didnt.

She came back from the doctor quiet, pensive. Brushed off Ethans questions”Nothing, just nonsense.”

That evening, when the children slept, she called him to the porch.

“Sit down, Dad. Need to talk You know what the doctor said? Im expecting Too late to do anything nowhave to keep it.” She covered her face. “The shame of it”

Ethan was stunned. All these years, no childrenand now?

“What shame, love? The older ones are nearly grown! Just the two of us left, eh? Nature knows best! Well manage.”

“How do I tell the children? Theyll say Im too old”

“Too old? Thirty-nine? Nonsense!”

“I dont know what to do The shame”

“Right. Ill tell them. Tomorrow, when theyre all home.”

And he did. Gathered round the table, he said it plain: “My dears, youll soon have another brother. Or sister.”

Lucy stared at her plate, red to her ears.

Michaelvisiting with his wifejust laughed.

“Brilliant, Mum! Well done! Yours and mine can grow up together!”

Billy chimed in: “Go on, Mum! We need another brother!”

Tommy disagreed: “Nah a girl. Too many lads here, just one girl. Spoilt our princess rotten”

Emily shot him a look.

“Spoilt me, did you? A sister, Mum! Ill tie her ribbons, buy pretty dresses!”

“Dresses? Shes not a doll,” James cut in. “A child needs raising too.”

“Well raise her,” Ethan said.

But Lucy still flushed, covering her growing bumpwith a shawl, a coat in summer heat, as if chilled.

The months passed. Michaels son arriveda boy! James went back to uni, holidays over. Billy and Tommy left tooenrolled at the agricultural college.

Emilys school year began. The house grew quiet, empty. She was either in class or with friends. Even had a lad walking her home from Sunday dances.

Lucy waited up, as always. Thenpain. Sharp, blinding.

“Ethan” she whispered. “Ethan, I think its starting.”

He paled, fumbling with his shoes.

“Wait, loveambulance, quick!” Emily bolted out.

Two minutes later, she was back.

“Mum, Tobyll drive youborrowed his dads car, wait!”

“Toby, eh?” Lucy thoughtthen another stab of pain.

“Oh, Mum! Whats happening?”

Five minutes later, the lad who walked Emily home stepped in.

“Dadll drive you,” he told Emily. “Coming?”

“Im coming,” Ethan snatched his coat. “Dont fret, Lucy, Im with you.”

All night, Ethan smoked on the hospital steps. At dawn, a nurse emerged.

“Waiting, Dad? Smoking? Might have to cut back now Your first?”

“Fifth,” he said hoarsely.

“Blimey! Rich man! Not fiveseven! Your missus had twins!”

“Twtwins?” Ethan stammered.

“Boy and girl! Boys a right screamer,” she laughed. “Girls a beauty! Go home, Dad. Come back tomorrow. Shell stay a bit. Babies need weight. Bring whats needed. Understood?”

“Right,” Ethan nodded, dazed.

On discharge day, the whole family gathered. Even the three students skipped classes, came home. The nurse handed over two bundlesone in blue ribbon, one in pink. Lucy, flustered, followed.

Ethan took one, hesitated over the other.

“Twos awkward Forgotten how.”

Michael took the second: “Here, Dad Not my first!”

“Oh, shes lovely!” Emily peeked into the blanket. “My little sister!”

Flowers and cake given (as was proper), they piled into the farm vanmanager lent it, special occasion.

“Well, Mum, youve pleased everyone!” Michael grinned.

Lucy cradled one bundle, smiling faintly. God willing, shed raise them right She glanced at Ethan, holding the other.

*Well raise them*, she corrected herself. *Of course, we will.*

“Children,” she turned to them. “What shall we name them?”

At once, they all chimed innames they liked, names that meant something.

And the van driver, Ethans mate, listening to the happy chatter behind him, thought*She wasnt theirs by blood, those five But whod ever say it?*

**A man learns soon enoughfamily isnt just blood. Its who stays.**