In the bitter midwinter a barefoot, heavily pregnant woman knocked at the door. Inside the cottage it was warm and snug, the fire crackled softly in the stove, a favourite serial drama drifted from the television, and outside a blizzard howled. Agnes, an elderly former village nurse, settled into a worn armchair, watching the film while she stroked Morris the cat, who had curled into a tight ball on her lap.
Suddenly a rattle sounded at the window, then at the back door, and Baxter the dog erupted in a frantic bark that turned into a hoarse yelp before everything fell silent.
Who could bring someone out in this weather? Must be a trick of the mind, the woman muttered, slipping on her rubber boots and pulling on her coat before stepping out to fetch more firewood.
She fought her way through the snowdrifts to the back door, opened it, and froze, unable to believe her eyes. In the freezing night, a young woman clung to the fence, barely holding herself upright. She wore only a nightshirt, bare feet, and a knitted shawl draped over her shoulders. Her belly was swollen with child.
With barely a whisper she pleaded,
Please dont turn me away! They want to take my baby away!
There was no time for thought. Agnes hurried the stranger inside, wrapping the heavy coat over her shoulders.
Good heavens! What on earth is happening? Who would dare drive a pregnant woman out into the cold? she cried.
As a former nurse she knew the dangers of exposing a pregnant woman to such frost. She boiled water, warmed the womans feet, dabbed them with spirit, wrapped her warmly, served a cup of tea with raspberry jam, and put her to bed without asking any questions. Morning is wiser than night, she thought.
The girl fell asleep at once, managing only a whispered Thank you. All night the street was restless: people ran, shouted, cars circled.
Emily awoke to the magical scent of fried eggs on a sizzle and fresh bakery goods. Her unborn child stirred uneasily. She slipped out from under the covers. By the bedside lay a woollen dressing gown and a pair of warm slippers. A sudden rush of childhood memory washed over her, recalling the cosy cottage of her grandmother in the village. She felt no desire to return to the harsh world outside.
In the kitchen Agnes busily plated golden pancakes. Watching Emily, she said cautiously,
Come on, dear, wash up and have breakfast. Your baby must be hungry. Afterwards you can tell us what happened to you.
Emily ate with great satisfaction, then sighed and began her story:
Im an orphan, raised in a childrens home. I never knew my parents. Until I was five, my grandmother Mary looked after me; she loved me, then she died and I was placed in the home. After I left, I got a council flat and trained to become a teacher. At a disco I met a very wealthy young man. All the girls stared at him, but he chose me. His name is Simon, ten years older, with a house in the next village, his father a powerful landowner. He courted me with flowers and cinema trips, and I fell hopelessly in love. All the girls envied me, saying Id snagged a prize catch. When he looked at me, the ground seemed to vanish beneath my feet
We lived together in his house. At first everything was fine, but when I discovered I was pregnant, his mood turned sour. He began to abuse me, often coming home drunk in the early hours. I begged him to change, but he ignored me. Two weeks ago he completely abandoned mebrought another girl home and laughed with her in front of my eyes. Ive never felt such pain. I packed my things, intending to leave Simon, but he stopped me.
He snarled, struck me, and shouted,
Youll never leave. Youll give me a child and then Ill throw you away! Youll never see your son again! Understand? He locked me in a room, fed me only when the housekeeper Ivy brought food. I wept and begged. Yesterday evening Ivy finally left the door ajar. I bolted, ran as fast as I could, and somehow ended up at your doorstep Thank you, the girl sobbed.
Agnes gasped, Heavens! Does this really happen? What will you do now?
Emily shook, I dont know. Please dont turn me away! Simon will take the baby after birth and cast me asideIm nothing, not even his wife, just an orphan. I might even end my life, dear God!
Agnes replied, Dont let those thoughts linger! My son George is a local constable; hell be back from his shift soon. Tell him everything, maybe he can help.
George trudged home after his night patrol, mulling over how unfair life could be. He had recently split from his wife Irene, who hated his modest police salary and constant troubles. She wanted him to quit and join business, taking her to fancy resorts. Their breakup left her with a wealthy lover abroad, while George returned to his mothers house, convinced that women were only interested in money.
Entering the cottage, George called out,
Hello, Mum! and headed for the kitchen, where the aroma of something tasty lingered. He was famished.
Son, meet our guestEmily. Shes in trouble. Could you listen to her, perhaps we can think of a way to help? Agnes urged.
George glanced at Emily, who looked like a frightened fawn: wide, tearfilled blue eyes fringed with long lashes, golden hair pulled into a loose bun, and a protruding swollen belly. She seemed so fragile that Georges heart turned inside out.
Please dont turn me away, she whispered.
George was stunned, anger boiling at the abuse shed endured. He didnt yet know how to rescue her, but he swore he would not abandon her. A warm, foolish grin spread across his face.
Dont worry, Emily, no one will hand you over to that monster. Where are your belongings and papers?
Simon kept everything in his cottage. He took my passport so I couldnt run, and the keys to the flat. Im terrified to go back, she replied, tears spilling like pearls.
George thought and said, Stay with us for now. Ill go into town, buy you new clothes and whatever you need, then Ill use my contacts to find out who this Simon really is and try to retrieve your things. Deal?
Emily stammered, Its dangerous! Im to blame! Im sorry for dragging you into this!
Dont worry, George answered firmly, helping people is my job.
Through his colleagues George obtained records and learned that Simon Malvern was indeed the son of a wealthy local businessman, whose empire was under police scrutiny for shady dealings, rumored to involve illegal substances. George decided to confront Simon, though he sensed the meeting might not end well.
He drove to the cottage, knocked, and a smoothlooking young man opened the door, eyes narrowed.
What do you want? the lad asked.
Im Constable George, here to speak with you, George began.
Make it quick, I have guests, the lad sneered.
George said,
I know you illegally detained Emily Kline, confiscated her documents and belongings. Return them. Shes terrified and refuses to come back to you!
Simons face flushed with rage. He clenched his fists and shouted,
You little brat! I thought youd freeze in the cold. Complaining now? I dont need you. Ill take the baby, thats final! Who will this wretched girl give? Who asked her to get pregnant? Fool!
George, incensed by the arrogance, retorted,
You have no right to take a child from its mother without consent!
Simon laughed, My father controls the whole district! Shell get nothing unless I get the son! Hand it over! He slammed the door.
George, furious at the brutes behaviour, decided to go after the father. He spent a month gathering evidence on the familys illicit business, finally confronting the patriarch in his office. He laid bare the truth about his sons crimes, handing over copies of incriminating documents.
The businessman, after a moment of stunned silence, finally said,
Ive heard you. Ill take action. I dont need more trouble. Ill have all of Emilys things returned to her address. If it turns out the child is mine, Ill help.
George left, breathless, and rushed back to the cottage. He found Emily at the kitchen table, earnestly shaping pastries, flour dusting her nose, a stray lock of hair poking out of the bun. The sight filled him with an ocean of tenderness.
Emily, rejoice! Youre free. Tomorrow you can move back to your own home. Ive sorted everything, he declared.
Emily threw the pastry into the air, cried out and clutched George in a grateful hug.
Thank you, George, Ill be forever grateful! I thought Id never get out, she chattered.
Agnes interjected,
How can she move tomorrow? Ive grown fond of her, were happy together. How will she survive alone, with a child and no work?
George replied,
Perhaps we should look for her relativesbrothers or sisters? Maybe we can trace her family.
Emily admitted,
Ive always wanted to know my family, but never knew where to start.
Together they tracked down an old caretaker from the childrens home, discovered the name and address of Emilys grandmother, and untangled a knot of mysteries.
The revelations shocked everyone. Around the kitchen table, Agnes, George, and Emily wept together. Agnes whispered,
I felt a kinship the moment I saw you. You remind me of my sister Lily. Look, her eyes, her hairits the same. She was pregnant too, gave birth, then claimed the baby died. She fled, and later a car accident claimed her life. It seems fate guided you here.
George lowered his head and murmured,
So were cousins?
He stepped outside, crawled along the fence, fell to his knees, hammered the ground with his fists, and wept, wondering why fate had torn his heart apart.
Life slowly returned to its ordinary rhythm. Emily gave birth to a healthy boy, Sam, and moved into her own flat. On weekends she and Sam visited Aunt Agnes, who delighted in rocking the infant and singing lullabies.
George, however, seemed altered. He lost weight, ate little, grew withdrawn, and turned to drink. He feared even looking at Emily. Inside him a fire burned, yearning to hold her, to kiss her, yet he knew they could not be together. Emily, when their eyes met, blushed and looked away, understanding the forbidden nature of her feelings.
Agnes watched all this, her heart bleeding. At night she prayed,
Lord, give me strength to tell the truth! I cant keep this secret any longer.
For years she had guarded the terrible secret of Emilys birth. Now she finally decided to reveal it.
When Emily visited again, Agnes placed Sam to sleep on the veranda, called George and Emily into the sitting room, rummaged through a chest, and began:
George, my dear son, I thought you would never learn that I carried this secret to my grave. But it cannot stay hidden. I cannot watch you both suffer like wounded doves. Children, love each other! You are not bloodrelated!
George frowned,
Mum, what are you saying? How is that possible?
She sighed,
My husband Thomas died when I was thirty. I never loved again. I worked in the maternity ward all my life. One night a girl gave birth and left the baby, never looking back. She escaped through a window and vanished. When I took her in, I felt a bond, as if you were my own. The ward matron helped with the paperwork, and I adopted you. I was terrified youd discover the truth and reject me. Im sorry.
George was stunned, amazed, and overjoyed. He fell to his knees, embraced his mother, and whispered,
Thank you, Mum, for telling me! Ill never be angry. You are the dearest to me.
Emily stood frozen, unable to speak. Could such a thing really happen? She could not believe it.
George, regaining composure, turned to Emily,
Emily, I loved you from the first moment I saw you. When I learned we could not be together, my life stopped. Will you marry me? Ill be a faithful husband and raise Sam as my own. Ill never blame you.
Emily, trembling, whispered,
I accept.
She had never dreamed of a better man. All the horrors of the past fell far behind, and ahead lay a bright, happy future.
