Nina Thompson vividly remembers the day she had to decide the fate of another womans child. It was a Wednesday, and her husband, Victor, came home from work earlier than usual, his face dark as a storm cloud. Without a word, he handed her an envelope…
«Whats happened?»
«Veras gone. Without my consent, they cant send Danny to an orphanage.»
Nina had known about Victors son long before they married. A cliché story, really. Hed fallen for a girl during his military service, brought her home, and rented a flat together. But she packed up and left soon enough, returning to her hometown. Months later, a telegram arrived: *Congratulations, you have a son.* Victor never shared what went wrong between them, and Nina never pressed. Some things were better left in the past.
When Nina was four months pregnant, the ex suddenly turned up with one-year-old Danny, demanding to rekindle things. Victor sent her away and stayed with his wife. Nina didnt blame himhow could she hold a grudge over something that happened before theyd even met? Vera filed for child support, which Victor paid faithfully, and after that, she vanished. Years later, they learned shed remarried twice and, after the second divorce, took her own life.
By then, Nina and Victor had two children of their own: Robbie, just a little younger than Danny, and little Evie, barely a year old. Theyd decided to have their second child after buying their own housea modest, four-bedroom place with a garden, a shed, and even a small vegetable patch. After years in cramped rented flats, it felt like heaven. Robbie ran wild for days, racing through the rooms and around the yard.
Raising another womans child… That, of course, Nina never expected. Shed last seen the boy seven years ago and knew nothing about him. What was he like? What had he been through? It terrified her. Robbie was already a handful; how would two boys so close in age get along? Victor worked long hours, leaving the children mostly in her care. All these thoughts flashed through her mind in seconds. Victor sat frozen in the hallway, his face ashen.
Her heart twistedwhat would she do if it were Robbie facing such a fate? The answer came instantly.
«Vic, of course well take him. Hes your son, and that makes him family. If we turn him away, how could we live with ourselves? Whats two more hands when weve already got two? Well manage.»
A month later, Danny arrived. Quiet, shy, obedientnothing like bold, rowdy Robbie. Maybe that difference saved them; the sudden older brother didnt try to dominate, and the boys quickly bonded. Little Evie helped toosunny, sweet, and endlessly cheerful, she seemed to love everyone.
That autumn, Danny started primary school. He did wellhis mother must have prepared him. Money was tight, but Victor worked tirelessly, and later, Nina took a job too. The children grew, becoming real helpers around the house. They lived happily, never treating Danny as anything but their own.
By the time Danny started university, Nina fell seriously ill. Hospitalised for weeks, she underwent surgery. Fear gnawed at her, but she refused to despairher children still needed her, and she clung to the hope of seeing them grown, happy, with families of their own. Victor, however, crumbled. He turned to drink.
At eighteen, Danny became the familys rock. Switching to part-time studies, he found work and visited Nina nearly every dayreading to her, asking how to cook Robbie and Evies favourite meals, bringing samples for her to taste. He shielded her from the worst, hiding that Robbie had fallen in with a rough crowd and faced charges. Thankfully, he avoided prison, landing probation instead.
Nina recovered. But her marriage souredshe couldnt forgive Victors weakness when she needed him most. Still, the house was big enough for them to live as strangers under one roof.
Last year, Danny brought home his fiancéea girl hed loved since nursery. Training to be a psychologist, she immediately set to work helping Victor fight his demons. Life moved on. And soon, grandchildren would fill the housethe young couple recently discovered they were expecting twins.
Every day, Nina thanks God for her eldest son and believes shes alive only because she once made room in her heart for a child who wasnt hers.
