Leave Her at the Maternity Home, They Urged Relatives

Leave her at the hospital, the relatives kept urging.

What on earth made you take her home? his husband shouted, gesturing at the newborn daughter tucked into the cot. They told you exactly what the diagnosis was!

How could you be so? Do you even realise what youve gotten yourself into?

She did realise, contrary to what everyone thought not just her boyfriend Sam, but the whole family as well.

Even her mother, Nora, and Lilys grandmother, whom shed taken to calling Gran, wailed:

Come on, Olivia! Are you going to have another one? What a mess! Get a stroller, so you dont tumble about, love!

Theyd all been told the little girl wouldnt last long.

Yes, theyd been told. And theyd suggested leaving the baby at the hospital a perfectly sensible option; not every parent can cope with such a shock.

If some mums can leave perfectly healthy tots, a sick one is even more of a stretch.

The infant didnt even bawl; she had bluish lips and fingertips medically known as acrocyanosis.

Doctors had diagnosed her with a moderate congenital heart defect a ventricular septal defect. She can survive, but itll be a tough road, the paediatrician warned.

Olivia suddenly wanted to take the baby home, because, when it comes to a child, the mother always has the final say.

And thats where the fireworks began.

Her loving husband and fatherinlaw backed out almost immediately when they saw she wasnt about to give the baby up. He even shouted that if Olivia changed her mind, maybe hed come back, and that she should hurry up if she still wanted a life with him.

That was the kind of love Sam and Olivia had.

Olivia didnt blame her husband not everyone can sacrifice themselves, and in this case, that was exactly what was needed.

In the end, Sam did show up, but without any fanfare no bouquets, no balloons. Whats there to celebrate? he muttered.

Both grandmothers had already made their stance clear: Leave the baby at the hospital we dont need this burden.

And you still think strangers kids dont exist? they scoffed.

Olivia tried to see things from her familys and husbands point of view, but she struggled: could she at least bring a sorrylooking bunch of flowers?

No one rallied behind the new mum. Only one person did: her faithful school friend, lifelong crush Michael Mick Carter.

Olivia and Mick had been talking less lately; Sam had warned her:

Theres no such thing as friendship between the sexes, stop pulling my leg! Ill never believe there was anything between you two!

Both Mick and Olivia resigned themselves. Still, Olivia often thought of her cheeky mate from a modest background, the one her mother Nora never liked.

Then there was Alex a proper bloke, not that factoryhand shapley whod left college to work in a plant where rockets and IT tech were being woven together!

Mick worked as a machineoperator at the same factory and was chuffed with his job.

Listen, Olly, hed call her, which always made Nora roll her eyes thats proper countryside talk! Ive just got a raise, maybe your mum will let you marry me?

The naïve lovestruck fellow hoped that if Nora approved, sweet Olivia would become his wife theyd been friends forever!

Olivia, however, was already smitten with Sam, the charming, welltodo lad whose mother gave her her blessing.

Thats what I call a proper mate to brag about to the girls! Not like that simple bloke of yours as cheap as a penny!

Olivia didnt understand why she should parade her chosen one in front of anyones friends, but she liked that the outwardly polished woman approved of her pick. Otherwise, shed have faced a domineering motherinlaw who loved to push her way.

And, apart from one odd episode when her daughter defied her and didnt sign a refusal form, the motherinlaws tyranny had been kept at bay.

How dare you disobey, you little terror? From now on I have no daughter! Dont you dare come back with your

In the end, Olivias decision to bring Lily home landed her in a situation reminiscent of that tearfilled drama about a London girl and her woes.

Only this time, Lilys defect was genuine and there was no quicksand escape to a happy ending.

Olivia never imagined that everyone would drop her like a hot potato husband, both mums, the fathersinlaw, even the rest of the clan.

And of course, the whole family rallied behind Nora:

Are you off your rocker? You want to keep this nightmare forever? Take her back before you get used to her! Sam will come round soon enough!

Even Sams mom was thrilled with the idea of a happy reunion, but Olivia, reeling from the betrayal of her kin and lover, didnt want Sam back.

She still loved him, but a slow, gnawing erosion of that love had begun.

It was clear they couldnt live handinhand forever; too much had changed, and not for the better.

Sam left that very day, taking the couples flat with him the furniture would follow later.

Olivia was left alone with her grief and Lily, far from the pastelcoloured nursery shed imagined.

Sam had even glued the wallpaper himself: My daughter will have the best of everything!

Now the nursery was pink, the furniture pristine, but Lilys future looked as foggy as a London morning. Would it ever be bright for her?

Tears were absent, only raw feeling. Olivia rang Mick, whose line had gone cold: Is that really how it is, mate? and Sam, whod apparently overindulged in pears.

She poured out the whole absurd saga to Mick, who, despite the ridiculousness, couldnt hide his delight.

Because, as he approached the waiting room where hed spent the last few years, the rumbling of a train echoed: Mick had finally found his slice of happiness.

The flat turned into a bustling hub. Olivia, soothed with a mug of tea and milk (the proper British way), was taken care of. Mick dashed to the shop and bought everything needed for the baby all the nappies, formula, the lot.

The cot was moved to another room so Lily could be right next to Olivia within arms reach.

Olivia, exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster, finally began to recover. She collapsed into bed, not thinking of anything else, because Mick was there, reassuring: Dont worry, love Ive got this covered.

When she awoke, Lilys nappy was fresh, a pot of broth simmered on the stove, Mick was dozing beside the sleeping baby, and Olivia lay on the other side of the double bed.

A strange calm washed over her; she felt confident that they would pull through. The three of them, yes, would slowly claw their way out of the mess.

Mick visited daily, helping with chores and money Lilys treatment was pricey.

To make Olivias life easier, they hired a parttime nanny.

Evenings, Mick would walk Lily and give her a bath one Olivia couldnt have managed alone. No calls came from Sam or Nora.

A month and a half later, Sam returned for his belongings:

I knew youd be lurking behind my back maybe it wasnt my fault after all theres no defect in our line! Dont you dare call my mother! And dont expect any maintenance payments!

Olivia hadnt hoped for any, let alone maintenance.

Mick, ever the gentleman, gently shooed the smug programmertype out the door:

Beat it, you tech nerd!

Sam stormed off, and Olivia filed for divorce. Still, the biological father couldnt escape the childsupport orders.

Time passed, Lilys health improved; her cheeks began to pink up. A major operation was scheduled, which would finally give her a real chance.

Mick stayed by her side, and when the moment came, Olivia asked him to stay longer. Not out of gratitude, but because she truly needed him.

Lilys surgery went smoothly, the recovery was uncomplicated, and rehab followed.

When Lily started school, she was placed in a folk music studio, where she sang traditional English ballads with a perfect ear.

By then, Olivia had launched her own blog, a little project encouraged by Mick, whod become indispensable.

Olly, youre brilliant! Post pictures of Lily, give them a catchy caption, and keep it regular!

She did, and people loved it: the simple, triumphant story of a little girl overcoming a serious illness, her hobbies, and daily joys.

The viral videos of Lilys bluetinted lips and chubby cheeks had tired the internet, and now her singing contests boosted the follower count exponentially.

Relations with Nora remained chilly; she never forgave Lilys disobedience. The granddaughter mattered little to her, sick or healthy.

One day, Nora called after Lily won another contest:

Olly, the girl looks just like my Sam same face! We were shocked! How does she sing? Im just a single lady, no husband, no kids. Fancy a meetup?

Later, Sam picked up the phone:

Sorry, I overreacted. Maybe we could meet you, me and Lily? I could finally talk to my own daughter.

Sure, Sam, but Lily has to want it too.

Lily, now thirteen and aware of her two dads, replied:

Why would I? I barely know you, Mum! What would we even talk about?

So, dear readers, thats the story.

The next morning, Nora rang again, bragging about Lilys gorgeous voice and her prizewinning performances.

Olivia, surprisingly vengeful, still hadnt forgiven her motherinlaw for trying to meet the granddaughter.

Shed rather raise Lily herself, feeling the deep satisfaction of having done it on her own she was a proper mum, and Mick, a proper dad.

And that, dear friends, is what truly matters.