Romeo, my dear Romeo, we have twins!” Tanya sobbed into the phone. “They’re so tiny, just 5.5 pounds each, but perfectly healthy—everything’s wonderful!

“Rom, darling, it’s twins!” sobbed Tanya down the phone. “Theyre so tiny, just 5.5 pounds each, but theyre healthyeverythings fine!”

“God, the scan did say twins,” muttered the man, still half in shock. “Boys?”

“Yes, two little boys! Theyre beautiful!” Tears of joy streamed down the young mothers face. At last, she held her babies in her arms

Pregnancy had been no walk in the park for Tanya. For one, the father of her children, Roman, had initially been against the idea. They worked togethershe as an accountant, he as a delivery driver for a small firm. It wasnt exactly a sweeping romance. They were young, saw each other often, and one thing led to another. Especially since Roman had just broken things off with his fiancée, Lydia, after catching her snogging their mutual friend, Alex, in his car. The wedding was off, and Roman was nursing his pride. Tanya, a naive 20-year-old fresh out of college, happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Tanya had never been the belle of the ballbright red hair that stuck out in all directions, a smattering of freckles, and a lifelong battle with her weight. Roman was her first proper boyfriend, and she fell head over heels.

At first, Roman kept their relationship quiet. Hed wait for her after work, and theyd sneak offsometimes to the river, sometimes to a park bench. But in their small town, secrets didnt stay secret for long. Soon, everyone knew. Roman, still bitter about Lydia, played up their romance to spite his ex. Rumours reached Tanya, flattered that he bragged about their “passionate love.” She mistook his pride for affection.

Tanya was from the next village over, staying with her unmarried aunt in a tiny flat while she worked and studied. The aunt, thrilled at the idea of getting her niece out from underfoot, soon found a positive pregnancy test in the bin. When she discovered Romans mother, Martha, was an old schoolmate, she wasted no time in sharing the happy newsmuch to Marthas shock.

“Son, apparently youve got a fiancée!” Martha exclaimed. “I thought you were still moping over Lydia!”

“Fiancée? Were just seeing each othernothing serious!” Roman spluttered.

“Nothing serious? The whole town knows! And her aunt came round talking weddings!” Martha shot back. “Your Tanyas pregnant! I expect to meet this future wife of yours!”

And that was how Roman found out he was going to be a father.

“Why didnt you tell me?” he demanded when they next met.

“I was scared,” Tanya whispered, eyes downcast. “What if you didnt want the baby?”

Too late for that nowthe whole family knew.

They married quietly, just a registry office and a small gathering in Romans parents garden. His older sister, Kate, sneered at Tanya the whole time. “I dont get how you traded Lydia for *this*,” she muttered to Roman.

“Lydia cheated on me!” he snapped.

“She says it was a mistakethat she only loves you,” Kate pressed.

“Right. Like I didnt see her with my own eyes,” Roman scoffed.

Meanwhile, Tanya floated on cloud nine, oblivious to her new sister-in-laws disdain or her husbands gloomy mood.

Martha, at least, was kind, especially when the scan revealed twins. Over time, she pieced together the truthRoman had married out of spite, not love. He barely touched Tanya, never asked how she was, and worked later and later.

Tanya mightve stayed in her happy delusion if Lydia hadnt cornered her in the supermarket. “Now I see why Rom hardly comes home,” the blonde smirked, eyeing Tanyas swollen figure and faded sundress.

“Whats *that* supposed to mean?” Tanya frowned.

“Oh, come on. You know who I am.”

“Romans ex.”

“Not *quite* so ex,” Lydia laughed. “You really think he *chose* you?”

Tanya fled, contractions gripping her. Roman arrived at the hospital the next day, grumbling into the phone before hanging up. Tanya pushed the hurt asidehe wouldnt abandon his sons.

The twins, Oliver and Ethan, were a handful, waking each other in shifts. Without Marthas help, Tanya wouldve crumbled. Roman barely glanced at them, coming home late, his whereabouts a mystery.

“Son, the whole towns whispering youre back with Lydia!” Martha scolded over dinner. “Youve got a wife and babies at home!”

Roman shrugged. “I dont love Tanya. The kids? Well, she wanted them.”

Tanya, eavesdropping, choked back a sob.

That night, she packed her bags. “Im going to my parents!”

“Tanya, your dads a drunk, and your grans bedridden!” Martha pleaded. “Stay!”

“Fine,” Roman cut in. “*Ill* go.”

He moved in with Lydia, who quickly tired of cramped flat life and takeaways. “Why does *Tanya* get your parents house?” she griped.

Meanwhile, Tanya blossomedslimmer, her freckles softer, her hair tamed into a plait. When Roman visited the twins, he barely recognised her.

“Youve changed,” he blurted. “For the better.”

They talked, laughed, even joked. Martha watched from the window as Roman tossed the giggling boys in the air. “I think theyll sort it out,” she murmured.

Roman started spending weekends with Tanya and the boys. Lydia raged. “If you miss them *that* much, just go back!”

“I might,” he said lightly.

One evening, Tanya broached the unthinkable. “Should we divorce? If you want to be with Lydia properly”

“Lets not rush,” Roman said softly, holding her gaze. “Weve got two kids. Maybe we raise them together.”

That night, he didnt go home.

After a string of “work trips,” Roman finally packed his bags for good. Lydia, off on holiday with Alex, got the hint.

“Fine. Marry me then,” she told Alex, twisting the diamond ring on her finger. “Loves overrated anyway.”

Back home, Tanya clung to Roman, weeping with joy.

“Told you hed come back,” Martha said smugly.

Each woman, in the end, got what she believed in.