**Just My Fate**
* Mum, what are you doing here?* Emily gasped, spotting her mother in the maternity clinic waiting room.
* Oh, love, do you have an appointment today too? You didnt mention anything yesterday* Susan lowered her eyes, flustered.
* Mum, this is for pregnant women. Why are you here?* Emily ran a hand over her rounded belly.
* Em, I was going to tell you* Susan glanced around, searching for the right words. * Well, Im expecting too.*
Susan had Emily at eighteen. The girls father showed no interest, paying pitiful child support only after being dragged to court. But Susan adored her daughter. She worked two jobs, sewed late into the night. Friends would shake their heads: *”Why work yourself to the bone? Youll waste your youth!”* But Susan ignored them. As long as her little girl wanted for nothingthe finest chocolates, stylish coats, expensive dollsshed deny herself everything. Emily grew up pampered, never questioning the cost of things, even when she chose the most prestigious university with its hefty tuition fees. Susan didnt argue.
In her third year, Emily met James. Older, nearly graduated, he struck Susan as dependablea proper man with his head screwed on. She rejoiced: *At least my girl will have someone steady.* And when Emily fell pregnant, James proposed straight away. They had a lavish wedding, half paid by his parents, half by Susan, who even gifted them a holiday in Cornwall.
* James, lets go for a walk,* Emily suggested one evening.
* Sure. Lovely weather, and that new cafés opened nearby. Fancy a bite?* He smiled, brushing a hand over her bump.
They strolled through the park, fed the pigeons, then settled in the café. The moment they sat, Emily went pale.
* Whats wrong?* James frowned.
* Mum* she muttered.
Two tables away sat Susan with a stranger.
* Oh, it is her!* James turned.
Susan noticed them, offering an awkward smile.
* Lets say hello. Whos that with her?* James started to rise.
* No. I dont even want to look at her!* Emily bolted outside.
James paid and caught up. On the pavement, Emily was already hissing at her mother:
* Who is he?! Have you forgotten youre about to be a grandmother?*
* Emily, love, youre grown. Dont I deserve my own life?*
James stepped in gently. * Everything alright, Susan?*
* Yes, James, its fine*
* Lets go!* Emily yanked his arm, nearly running off.
Emily had always assumed her mother belonged solely to her. The idea of Susan with a man was unthinkableand truthfully, Susan hadnt dated in years, terrified of her daughters reaction. Until two years ago, when her boss, Edward, began courting her. Shed fancied him for ages but never acted. When he showed interest, she gave in.
They grew close. Edward even asked her to move in. Susan hesitated but eventually agreedonly she couldnt bring herself to tell Emily. Then the café disaster happened.
Soon after, Susan discovered she was pregnant. Forty-three was late, but abortion never crossed her mind. Edward was overjoyedhed never had children.
After the café, Emily stopped answering calls. Susan relied on James for updates, until another chance meeting at the clinic. Then, radio silence. Blocked numbers, ignored messages.
She learned of her granddaughters birth through James.
* A girl, 21 inches, 7 pounds!* he cheered.
* Congratulations! Can we visit? Id love to see her,* Susan whispered, voice breaking.
* Ill try to persuade Emily*
But Emily refused outright. Susan fretted, though her own pregnancynow six months alongmade stress dangerous.
Four months later, she had a daughter. She texted Emily: *You have a sister now.* Silence. Only James sent flowers and called.
Years passed. The girls grew. Emily and James named theirs Sophie; Susan and Edward chose Grace, after Susans mother. James occasionally sent photos: *First tooth!* or *Shes walking!* Susan hoped Emily would soften by Sophies first day of school. But she held firmas if she had any right to grudge.
On Sophies seventh birthday, Susan called James.
* Bring Sophie over. Wed love to see her.*
* Ill try*
That evening, James relayed the invite.
* Were not going,* Emily snapped.
* But shes your mother. And Grace is your sister.*
* She betrayed me. And I dont want to see that girl.*
They lived separate livesSusan and Edward in a countryside cottage, Emily and James in the suburbs. Occasionally, mutual friends updated Emily: *”Susans in hospital,”* or *”Grace has a fever.”* Deep down, she ached to reconcile, to hug her mum like before. But jealousy always won.
* James, we still need hair clips and indoor shoes for Sophie,* Emily said over dinner.
* Plenty of time. Hard to believe shes seven already*
* Mum, do I have to go to French club?* Sophie burst into the kitchen.
* Yes! We moved here for this school!*
Just like Susan once had, Emily spared no expense for her child.
September arrived. James took the day off for Sophies first day at an elite bilingual school. The bell rang, speeches were made
* Class 1A!* the teacher announced.
* Thats us!* Emily whispered, guiding Sophie forward.
Then, in the crowd of parents, she spotted her mother. Their eyes metjust for a second. Emily broke. She rushed to Susan, tears shed bottled for years spilling free, and Susan held her tight, like she had when Emily was small. In that moment, every grudge dissolved, as if it had never existed.
