A Mother Betrayed by Her Own Son
At the graduation ball, every girl wanted a photo with him. But he chose Lucy She wasnt particularly pretty, clever, or accomplished. But her father was a local bigwigsome high-ranking official. And Lucys dress? The most expensive there. She even got into university without breaking a sweat. One moment, she was holding his hand at graduation; the next, she never let go. Years passed, and before he knew it, shed led him straight to the altar.
***
LIFE AS IT IS. Her Little Boy
As a child, everyone adored him like a picture-perfect cherub. Not only was he strikingly handsome, but he had a way of wrapping people around his little finger. Someone would pick him up, and hed nestle into them like family. Strangers slipped sweets into his hands without a second thought. Emily worried they might jinx her child with too much attention.
At school, girls fought over himfirst to be his friend, then his girlfriend. Nicholas was the ideal: top marks, star athlete. Only problem? His family had nothing. Still, the local girls didnt care that their beloved wore the same jeans until they were threadbare. Anyone else mightve been teased, but not him!
At graduation, every girl wanted a photo with him. He chose Lucy. Againnothing remarkable about her looks or brains. But her father? A man of influence. And that dress? The fanciest in the room. She waltzed into university effortlessly. One handhold at the ball turned into years of control, ending in marriage.
Before the wedding, Emily sold her pig and gave Nicholas the moneyevery last penny. He took those few thousand quid and walked away without a word.
* * *
Emily had arrived in the village years ago with a baby in her arms. Whether the rumours were true or just gossip, no one knew for sure. Some said the fathera married manhad bought her the cottage to keep her quiet. No one ever saw her family. She lived simply, working at the village shop and keeping a small garden. Suitors came and went, but she turned them all away. “Ive got my man,” shed say with a laugh. Ridiculous. Friends would press, saying how hard it must be alone, but shed snap at them.
When she took Nicholas to his first day of school, she spotted Victorthe new PE teacher, fresh out of university. Their eyes met, then kept finding each other after. Before she knew it, they were seeing each other. Victor taught Nicholas to ride a bike, fix a flat tyre, and even took him sledging in winter. Come spring, the three planted vegetables together. But Emily hesitated to tell her son the truth. She noticed how Nicholas bristled when she hugged Victor or even rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Why, love? Hes good to us. He could be your dad,” she whispered once after Victor left.
“I dont want you to love him! Just me!” the boy muttered.
One morning, Nicholas woke to find his mother in bed with Victor.
“This is how its going to be now, lad,” Victor said, his tone warm, his arms open.
“No! I dont want you here!” Nicholas screamed. He refused breakfast and bolted. Emily didnt find him till evening.
“Is he still here?” Nicholas asked through tears, glaring at the door.
“Yes.”
“Make him leave. Or I wont come in.”
“Sweetheart, hes never said a cruel word to you. We could be a proper family”
“I dont want proper! Just you and me! Hes not my dad!”
“He will be, youll see”
Victor walked out with his suitcase, just as hed arrived. He hugged Emily, kissed her forehead.
“Think it over, Nicholas. Im not your enemy,” he said softly. “Will you?”
“No!” The boy shook his head and turned away.
“If you let him stay, Ill run off!” Nicholas hissed once Victor was gone.
Emily chose her son. Victor left the villagefor good, it seemed, since no one saw him again.
That New Year, Emily had another boyGeorge. She braced for resentment, but Nicholas, curious about everything, never asked where the baby came from. He doted on his little brother. Yet Emily carried guilt, terrified of upsetting her eldest.
“My Nicholas is so grown up,” shed boast to friends. “Such a golden boyI ask him for advice, not the other way round!”
Theyd snicker, knowing full well it was his advice that kept her alone.
When Nicholas started dating Lucy, Emily was thrilled. The girl came from moneymaybe theyd help her son get ahead.
As always, she waited for him to come home on Saturday. Pies baked, jelly set. The train had come and gone. No Nicholas.
“Mum!” George ran in from the playing field. “Nicholas went to Lucys house!”
They waited. He didnt come. Not that night, not the next morning. He barely glanced at her when he dashed for the return train.
“Mum! Were getting married!” he announced.
She meant to scold him for staying out, to say all shed thought through the nightbut the words stuck when he added:
“Youll help me, right? Sell a pig or something.”
“Of course, love. Whens the wedding?”
“Dunno yet. Well do it in Londonstudent-style. Not here!”
By next weekend, Emily sold the pig. Nicholas came for the money. Took it without counting. Ran back to Lucy.
Villages talk. Whispers spreadhis in-laws were throwing a proper country wedding. Yet Nicholas never invited his mother. No betrothal, no discussion. Gathering courage, Emily went to the in-laws, offering help.
The mother-in-law met her at the gate.
“Help? From you?” She scoffed. “Weve hired professionals. And you? Youve no place at this weddingyoure neither wife nor widow! Your boy grew up fatherless because of you! A bastard! You think were thrilled to welcome that into our family? Himfine, for our daughters sake. But you? Stay away!” The gate slammed.
Emily staggered home, drunk on shame. No one had ever cut her so deep. How had she raised such a son? She gave them everything!
The village wedding was lavish. Three days of hired bands, selective guest lists. The talk? Not just the extravagancebut the grooms absent mother. Some smirked; others shook their heads. How could he?
Emily didnt leave the house that day. Shed waited the night before, sure hed come, invite her. Maybe at dawn Nothing. Decked-out cars honked past her cottage. She buried herself under blankets. George pretended to read.
At dusk, George slipped into the wedding crowd, grabbing his brothers arm.
“Nicholas! How could you? Mums been crying all day!”
“Listen, squirt. Tell her to stop. Im doing fine. My deal with Lucy and her parents? Marry herand never set foot near you lot again. I gave my word!”
“Rot in hell!” George swung, but Nicholas caught his wrist and twisted.
“Scram before anyone sees you! Dont wreck this for me!” He shoved him into the street. “Got it?”
Emily waited on the doorstep. Didnt ask where hed been. They hugged.
