Not Our Child

Not Our Child

Millions of children live in foster families, and well be a foster family for him. So why not look for other parents?

Because we are us. Here no one will hurt him, and elsewhere he could be mistreated and we wouldnt even know! Arthur exclaimed, his voice rising. Where theres one, theres another

Victoria never imagined her husband could be so sensitive. The death of his friends moved him more than anything else. No one wanted to take the child, and Arthur kept pleading with her

***

Lily was a relatively late baby. Her parents were already over thirtyfive, and her grandparents were well past sixty. Late, but longawaited, beloved, and, lets be honest, a bit spoiled. She got everything she asked for.

Her mornings always began the same wayher mother would wake her, call her down for breakfast, and lay out her clothes. Today was no different.

Morning, sleepyhead! her mum chirped. How did you sleep? Anything you dreamed about?

Even at seven a.m. Mum was brighteyed.

Morning, Mum. I dreamt I cant remember what exactly, Lily replied.

Later youll recall and tell us. Now lets eat; weve got a busy day ahead!

On the table were fluffy pancakesstill warm from the night before when Grandma had rushed to the clinicand a bowl of fresh fruit, neatly sliced by Arthur before heading to work. Lily, perched on her little high chair, piled on the pancakes while sharing her morning discoveries with her parents.

Mum, what should I wear to the school concert? she asked, dunking a pancake in jam.

In a yellow dress, her mum suggested.

Again in yellow

Do you want to try red? her mum offered.

Yes, Id love red!

There was still a month until the concert, but Lily could hardly wait.

After breakfast came the walk. Lily bounced out the door with extra spring because today was specialthe day she would finally ride the scooter Grandpa had gifted her for her birthday. The snow had finally melted, and the air was mild enough for her to stay out. A whole week of cold would have been too much.

In her trainers, Lily raced into the garden, Mum struggling to keep up.

All the other kids gathered around the new scooter, eager to see, admire, and try it out. Lily beamed as she showed off every trick she could manage.

Look what I can do! she shouted, pushing off with one foot, wobbling along the pavement. Who wants a turn?

She lost her balance and tumbled. It was only her fifth ride; her experience consisted of a few short trips with a playgroup friends scooter.

Nobody laughed.

Anyone else want to try? Lily brushed herself off and, as if nothing had happened, invited the others.

One by one they grabbed the scooter, attempting the little tricks theyd just witnessed. Lily spent the whole afternoon as their little hero. By the end, most of the kids were begging their parents to buy them the same scooter.

That evening, when Arthur came home from work, Lily ran to meet hima habit of hersonly to find a surprise waiting.

Surprise! Arthur announced, holding a small box that smelled delicious.

Whats inside? Whats inside? Lily squealed, impatient.

Arthur handed her the parcel. Inside were the finest chocolate eclairs with a smooth cream filling.

Dad, youre the best! Lily shrieked.

After the sweets came her favourite pastimebuilding with blocks. She spread the colourful pieces on the floor of her bedroom and, eyes bright, assembled a princesss castle, periodically checking the picture from the advertisement shed seen.

Until she turned seven, Lily knew no worries. Everyone adored her, doted on her, showered her with gifts, and took her wherever she wanted.

But one day, at six oclock as usual, Lily waited for Victoria to pick her up from nursery. Something happened that would herald big changes. Victoria arrived a halfhour earlyearlier than Lily could have guessed. The nursery nurse, a friend of Victorias, tried to start a conversation:

I was watching that film you mentioned last week. Im not usually into that genre, but theres something about it and the actor

Victoria cut her short.

Sorry, were in a hurry. Well talk about the film later.

Lily forgot her favourite doll at the nursery, still watching her mothers hurried steps. Shed never seen Mum look flustered, angry, or upset. Her childhood had been cloudless.

At home, Victoria, hair pulled into a ponytail, sat Lily down in the sittingroom instead of the kitchen and served her cottage cheese with sliced fruit.

Sit here, have a bite, and turn on the cartoon, she said.

Lily noddedshe was already thinking about the cartoon, not about whatever adult conversation was about to happen. Victoria, trying to be more patient, went into the kitchen where Arthur was already waiting.

She began where they had left off before the nursery incident:

Arthur, we cant adopt a child, she said, her tone firm, Its just too sudden. If we had more time, Id weigh the pros and cons

Arthur, brimming with confidence, replied:

What cons? What else is there to discuss? This is the son of our best friends. He has no close relatives, no grandparents like Lilys. Theres a distant uncle who certainly wouldnt want a stranger. If he ends up in care, would it be any different for Lily?

Victoria shivered at the thought of a child tearing her family apart, but answered:

Hell find a good foster family

Where will you know that? How can you be sure?

Millions of children are in foster homes, and we could be his. So why look elsewhere?

Because we are us. Here he wont be hurt, whereas elsewhere he might be, and we wouldnt even hear about it, Arthur said, his voice rising. Where theres one, theres another

Victoria had never realised how sensitive her husband could be. The loss of his friends affected him more deeply than anything else. No one wanted to take the child, and Arthur kept begging her

Im not ready for this. I love Lily, but I dont know how to handle another child. Hed need more attention, and Id have to take another parental leave, Victoria confessed.

Isnt it worth it for Lily and for Vera? Arthur pressed. Well manage, Vick. Lilys growing up; shell help. We have the money. We know how to raise kids. Well think about a second child sooner or later

When? At fortyfive? Victoria retorted, certain they would have only one child.

Even at fifty, if we have to! Arthur laughed.

After months of paperwork, they finally returned home not alone. In a car seat they brought a boy named Charlie.

Lily, already a primaryschool pupil, was told a baby brother was coming. Her parents tried their best to explain that this was wonderful and that they would still love her just as much.

But when Lily saw her father cooing over the newborn, a strange feeling washed over hershe realised her dad now had two children.

That night Lily refused to join the family celebration.

Victoria, bring more sliced fruit! Arthur shouted from the livingroom where relatives were gathering.

On my way! she called back.

Victoria, grab another spoon! her motherinlaw, Agatha, yelled.

Lily bounced around the house, thinking each shout was meant for her. Eventually someone noticed her absence.

Wheres our little banquet queen? her grandfather asked. Lily?

Lily? Victoria turned, Shes probably in her room with her tablet. Once you buy one, you cant get her attention.

Lily had already declared a boycott. Grandparents tried to coax her out, but she stayed put. Her parents seemed to have forgotten her entirely, their focus completely on the baby.

It was as if the chapter where Lily was the centre of the house had closed.

Now everything had to be shared: attention, games, presents. Her dad, who once always found time for her, now spent most of his evenings putting Charlie to sleep, playing with him, or teaching him new words. Her mum, who had been Lilys best friend, was now occupied with baby duties.

One afternoon Arthur came home with a bright plastic tractor for Charlie. Lily saw it and ran over.

What about me? What did you get for me?

Arthur, caught off guard, forced a nervous smile.

Oh, Lily, Im sorry, I forgot. Well get you something tomorrow, promise.

From then on Lily stopped meeting her dad at the door. She felt he no longer remembered her.

When she asked her mum for help with maths, Mum, struggling to get Charlie to brush his teeth, replied, In a minute, lovefirst Ill finish with him, then Ill be with you.

Lily often fell asleep before her mother could even get Charlie to bed, then she would start the washing and prepare dinner for the next day.

When she tried to share a school story, Mum, apologising, asked her to wait a moment while she calmed a feverish Charlie, who had been crying since sunrise and needed a doctor.

Over time Lilys resentment toward Charlie grew to a peak. The little boy who was supposed to be just a brother became, in her eyes, a rival for parental love. There was no friendship there at all.

At least we dont have to share a room, Lily told her friends as she got older.

Yeah, lucky you, replied Anne.

Whats so great about that?

Its not crowded! Youve got a spare room, I have two younger sisters crammed into one! Anne retorted.

By the time Charlie turned seven, Lily was on the brink of her thirteenth birthday, and the animosity only intensified. Charlie, now in Year1, could no longer be ignored.

What are you doing, Lily? he asked, peeking into her room.

Sleeping! she snapped.

Wanna play?

No!

One day Charlie burst into Lilys room with a watergun, trying to spray the curtains. He missed the curtains, hit Lily, and even splashed her notebook.

Dont ever come into my room! Lily shouted.

It was an accident! he protested.

It was your fault! Lily yelled back.

Ill tell Mum, Charlie warned.

Go ahead, Lily sneered. Lets see what happens. You should stay quiet, like a mouse, because you were adopted out of pity! she shouted, slamming the door.

That was the moment Charlie learned he was adopted. He would learn the truth later, when he was ready, but for now he didnt know.

That evening, when the parents returned, Lily was punished.

No phones or tablets, Arthur declared. A month. No, half a year! And youll never see any gifts again from us! How could you say something like that?

Charlie burst into tears with his mother.

What? The truth? They brought home a baby and suddenly you dont care about your own daughter?

Arthur, for the first time, raised his hand at Lily.

The next morning he tried to apologise, but Lily, ignoring him, grabbed her coat and fled to school.

Victoria clanged a fork against a plate.

Well done, she said to her husband, Thats topclass. Now youve practically lost a daughter.

Dont be ridiculous. Well talk later, Arthur replied.

It wont be forgiven Victoria whispered, hugging herself, Its not just that you hit her, its how we treat her I try to talk to her, but it isnt enough. Charlie never got her love. By saving him, we lost Lily

Do you want to change? Arthur asked.

I dont know! Victoria shouted. Im attached to Charliehes a wonderful boybut I still feel hes not my child.

Youre a good mother! Arthur snapped. Five years raising a son and you still dont love him?

I warned you this was too much. Ive turned everything upside down to keep Charlie in a normal family, and its failed! Bon appétit.

The tension between Arthur and Victoria grew, long before this crisis. Victoria felt something was off. Charlie, each year looking more like Arthur, raised more questions. How could that be? He was adopted, after all.

Victorias mother, a confidante, smiled reassuringly.

That happens, she said, Adopted children often start to resemble their adoptive parents. Its common.

I know, but Charlie looks exactly like youhair, eyes, walk, even the gestures!

Its just copying, nothing unusual.

Yet Victoria could not shake the doubt. She began to suspect a link between Arthur and Charlies mother, a friend who had died tragically. Arthur had been devastated by her loss. There was something more than friendship that Victoria had missed.

One day, gathering courage, Victoria ordered a DNA test.

The results arrived quickly and confirmed her worst fear: Charlie was Arthurs biological son.

She took Lily from school and drove to her mothers house, unwilling to face her husband. The revelation that Arthur and Vera had had an affair while Victoria was away hit her like a blow. Their son, once thought to be an adopted child, was actually their own.

Victorias elderly mother, struggling to process the news, said, Victoria, dont rush to tear everything apart. Think of the children. You now have two. Charlie is yours now. What will you tell him? Will you say youre no longer his mother?

Ill still see Charlie, Victoria whispered.

What will Lily think?

Lily, eavesdropping, seemed unmoved by the familys breakup. The childhood they all shared had clearly ended.

The story ends with a simple truth: love cannot be forced or divided by secret histories. When families hide truth, the wounds spread, but honesty, however painful, offers the only chance for healing. In the end, the only thing that truly matters is the sincerity with which we treat one another, for that is the foundation of any lasting family.