Against All Odds

Life never asks if were ready for its blows; it strikes without warning, mercilessly. In that instant you either crumble or learn to breathe through the ache.

At fourteen Emily found herself alone in the cottage. Her father had vanished, and her mother, Susan, promptly married a local farmer, Peter, and moved into his house.

Emily, youll stay here and look after the place, Susan said, eyes cold. Seth doesnt want you in his home. Youre nearly adult; you can manage the chores yourself.

Emilys voice trembled. Mum, Im scared being alone at night.

Susan brushed her tears aside. No one will eat you, love. Im not responsible for your fathers desertion.

A year later Susan gave birth to a little girl, Lily, and summoned Emily back.

After school youll help me with Lily, then return home by evening. And make sure Seth never sees you here.

Emily fetched water, washed floors, watched Lily, and at six oclock fled home before Peters evening shift began. She prepared her lessons at night and dressed herself for school by sunrise.

By sixteen Emily had blossomed into a striking young woman, though her clothes were modest. Susan bought her new outfits only when the old ones no longer fit. Emily treated every garment with care, washing and ironing them spotless. Whispers floated through the village school:

Emily lives alone, no mother, yet her clothes are always immaculate. Shes a proper girl. Everyone pitied her.

Neighbour Mrs. Larkin, an elderly widow, would offer jam and pickles. Emily helped her with trips to the shop and other small errands. When Emily finished Year9, she approached Susan.

Mum, I want to train as a hairdresser in town, but I need money for the bus fareabout £5 each way, every day.

Susan agreed; the faster Emily earned a trade, the sooner Susan could lift herself out of dependence. Seth, the stepfather, grumbled that his money was being spent on a girl who wasnt his. The training centre was twelve miles away, so Emily rode the bus daily, except on Sundays.

One afternoon a local lad, Ethan, spotted Emily. He was a college student who only visited the village on weekends and holidays. Tall and goodlooking, Ethan had admired Emily from afar, though she kept herself modest and plaindressed, fearing no boy would notice her.

In the village hall Ethan asked Emily to dance, escorted her home, and soon spent the night in her small bedroom. Emily was eighteen; no one objected when Ethan visited. Weeks later she realised she was pregnant.

Ethan, what do we do? Were going to have a baby, she whispered.

Ethan replied, Ill talk to my parents, well marry. Youll be nineteen soon enough. She felt a flicker of relief.

Susans voice cut through the night, fierce: We wont hear any of this. Well first find out if the child is truly yours. Perhaps another man was with you while you were at college.

Her parents pressed, and Ethan, under their pressure, walked away. He stopped coming to the village; when he did, he passed Emilys cottage without a glance.

Summer came, and Emily gave birth to a son, Tommy, under the care of a paramedic named Ray, then rushed to the hospital. Tommy was a sturdy, calm baby. No one helped Emily; she raised him alone. Ethan never looked her way, and his mother spread vicious rumours through the village.

Emily pushed her pram to the shop, when the gossipy Vicky cornered her.

Emily, you know Ethans getting married? The weddings this weekend. You should bring your child as a gift to the ceremony.

Emilys cheeks flushed with shame. She hoisted Tommy from the pram and hurried inside.

Calm down, Vicky, a voice called. It was Aunt Anna, who embraced Emily tightly. Listen, love. I had a child at your ageJack. His father walked away, too. Look how he turned out. Your Tommy will grow up fine. Everything will be alright.

Thank you, Aunt Anna, Emily whispered.

That very weekend Ethan wed a city girl hed known at college. Emily hadnt even known about it.

Time passed; Tommy grew under the watchful eye of Mrs. Larkin, who treated him like her own grandson. Emily worked at the post office, and on weekends the village women came to her for haircuts. There was no salon in the hamlet, so she set up a makeshift station in her kitchen, later moving outdoors in summer, charging modestly but earning enough to keep the lights on.

Emily became a beautiful woman, and the village noticed. Ethans younger brother, Ian, fell for her despite her attempts to stay distant. He followed her around, meeting her at the post office, and eventually she relented. Ian repaired tractors in the local workshop and became a steady presence in Emilys life.

The gossip swirled again, this time from Vicky:

Ian sneaks into Emilys house at dusk, leaves at dawn. He thinks no one sees but we all see.

Emily ignored the whispers, though she confided them to Ian.

Everyone knows us, love, Ian said. Were not hiding anything.

Their bond seemed solid until Emily discovered she was pregnant again. Fear clenched her throat; she wondered how Ian would react.

Ian, Im pregnant, she blurted, trembling.

Ians face lit up. Thats wonderful! Lets tell my parents together.

No, Emily snapped, shaking her head. Your parents once forbade us from marrying because of my brother. I cant go to them.

Ian, after work, went to his parents to announce the news and his intention to marry Emily.

Youve got to be joking, his mother shrieked. I warned youmaybe this isnt even your child. Ill only agree when Im dead! His father echoed, If you marry her, youre out of the house. Well never accept her.

Bound by filial duty, Ian fled. He never returned, eventually moving to the city to live with his brother.

Emily wept for weeks, seeking solace in Mrs. Larkins cottage.

What am I to do, Larkin? I cant get rid of this child. Why do I fall for men whose families will never accept me?

Mrs. Larkin, seventyeight and still spry, stroked Emilys hair. Nothing, love. Motherhood is our salvation. Ill help you. Im old, but I still have strength. Youre not alone.

Motherhood became Emilys anchor. She bore a second son, Nick, and Larkin helped from dawn till dusk. Together they raised two boys, the young Emily and the wise old Larkin.

Why does fate treat me so cruelly? Emily asked Larkin one evening.

Why cruel? Larkin chuckled. Its a blessing, dear. Two fine lads will be your pride and support. Children are wealth and joy.

Years slipped by. The boys grew strong. One day Andrew, an engineer sent to the village to repair farm machinery, noticed Emily. He tried to court her, but she resisted.

Emily, I wont waste time. I want to offer you my hand, he said, stopping her by the winding lane.

I cant, Andrew. I have two sons; theyre my world, she answered.

I love children, but I cant have my own. Ill love yours as if they were mine, he promised. Please, trust me.

Emily, weary yet hopeful, took his hand. They moved to the town, where Andrew helped her open a proper salon. He treated the boys as his own; the eldest, Ilya, called him dad.

Emily blossomed into a stunning, confident woman. Money came, a car rolled into the driveway, and soon Ilya was to be married. He had found a lovely girl, and Emily welcomed his future daughterinlaw with warmth.

May you both be blessed, Emily toasted at the wedding, eyes shining. May happiness fill your lives.

Occasionally, Susan, now an old lady, visited the village graveyard to tend to her mothers stone, but she never spoke a word to Emily. Their bond had long been erased.