“I want a testif Dasha is really mine, Ill take her.”
“Take her now, then! Shes always underfootfeeding her, dressing her, I cant even treat myself because I have to buy her something to eat. What a life Give me some cash, Mike, will you?”
Rita was getting ready for work. She quickly made her husband some sandwiches, wrapped them in foil, and left them on the table.
Mike worked at a garage, and since there was no canteen, he always had to bring his own lunch.
Rita herself worked as a cook at a local café. Her job was a bit farther from home, so she had to wake up an hour earlier than Mike.
Outside, a light drizzle had started. Rita grabbed the umbrella from the hallway, but it slipped from her fingers and clattered loudly on the floor. She froze, then peeked into the bedroomMike hadnt stirred.
She smiled to herself.
“Clumsy me!” she whispered, then slipped quietly out the door.
The bus arrived surprisingly fast. Rita took a seat by the window and stared out at the city, lost in thought.
She wasnt a young girl anymorenearing thirty, happily married They werent rich, but she thought they were happy.
Only one thing bothered hershe and Mike didnt have children. She longed for a baby, whether a boy or a girl.
For three years of marriage, shed gone for tests, but doctors just shrugged and said everything was fine.
The bus stopped. Rita paid and stepped out into the streetjust a quick walk through the park, and shed reach the café.
After a few steps, she stopped dead in her tracks. On a wet bench sat a little girl, crying. She wore a thin jacket and shivered in the cold, tears mixing with raindrops on her cheeks.
Rita approached carefully.
“Hello! Why are you out here alone?”
“Mum kicked me out” the girl sniffled.
“Kicked you out?” Rita couldnt believe itwho would leave their child in the rain?
“She was sleeping, and I was hungry. I woke her up, and she yelled. So now Im here.”
“Whats your name?”
“Dasha.”
“What am I supposed to do with you, Dasha?” Rita sighed, checked her watch. “Alright, come on. Where do you live? Far from here?”
“No, just over there.” The girl pointed vaguely.
They walked in the direction shed indicated, and in five minutes, stood outside a flat. Rita rang the bell, but no one answered for ages.
Finally, the door creaked open, revealing a dishevelled woman in a grubby dressing gown. Greasy, tangled hair framed her tired face.
She blinked at Rita, then at Dasha, and stepped aside without a word.
“Come in.”
Rita stepped over the threshold. The flat reekedsomething foul that made her stomach turn.
Dirty rags littered the floor, and a thick layer of dust covered the sideboard. As Rita glanced around, her eyes landed on a photoand her breath caught.
Shed seen it before, in Mikes old album. But in that one, the picture had been cropped, leaving only Mike.
Here, the photo was wholeMike, young and smiling, stood beside a pretty woman Rita barely recognised as the slovenly figure before her.
She turned back to the woman, stunned.
“Well?” the woman demanded.
“‘Well’?” Rita snapped back to reality. “Your daughter was sitting in the park crying! Do you even care what kind of mother you are?”
“You lecture me? Go raise your own kids! Stay out of mine!” She spun on Dasha. “Whereve you been?”
The girl darted into the next room and slammed the door. Rita realised she wasnt welcome and left.
All day, her mind racedDasha, the photo, that woman who clearly had a history with Mike.
That evening, Rita handed Mike the photo.
“Love, whos this with you?”
“I told you about Helen once. We dated for years, nearly got married. But she met someone else and left me.”
“Whyd you cut the photo?”
“Couldnt stand the sight of her. She wouldnt even keep my childwhen we split, she was pregnant, but she said she got rid of it. So I left town, met you. We came back togethernothing to hide. Why dyou ask?”
“Something strange happened today.” She told him about Dasha and her mother.
Mike listened quietly, then asked, “How old is she?”
Rita told him.
He went still. The timing matched.
“Where do they live?”
She gave the address and went to bedexhausted. She barely slept. At half one, she woke to find the kitchen light on.
She crept to the door. Mike sat at the table, lost in thought.
The next day, he knocked on Helens door. Dasha answered, staring up at the stranger who smiled at her.
“Hi! Youre Dasha? Wheres your mum?”
The girl turned and ran inside.
“Mum! Someones here!”
“Who?” Helen shuffled out, still unkempt.
Mike barely recognised herthe woman hed once loved.
“You?” She raised an eyebrow. “What dyou want?”
He stepped inside without invitation, grimacing at the stale air.
“Helen, I need the truth. Dashas ageshe could be mine. Is she?”
Helen slumped into a chair, looked up at him.
“Lend us some cash, will you? Bloody child supportyou never paid. Ive fed her all these years, not a penny from you. Give us a hundred quid, at least.”
“Whyd you lie? You said you got rid of the baby.”
“I wanted to. Valentin said hed raise her, be her dad Then he dumped me when she was three months old. Said he wasnt raising another mans kid. I tried finding you, but youd left town.”
“I want a testif shes mine, Im taking her.”
“Take her now, then! Always underfootfeeding her, dressing her, I cant even buy myself a drink. What a life Give us some cash, Mike, come on.”
Dasha crept closer.
“Are you my dad?” Her big eyes never left his face.
“Yes, Dasha. Im your dad. I want to take you home with me. Is that okay?”
The girl glanced at her mother, then whispered,
“You wont be mean to me?”
Mikes voice cracked.
“No, Dasha. Never.”
She nodded.
“Okay.”
He stroked her hair and turned to leave. Helen chased him into the hallway.
“So got that cash?”
Mike shoved a few notes into her hand. Her face lit up.
He couldnt take it. He turned back. Dasha still stood in the hall, eyes sad.
“Get your coat. Were leaving.”
One thought burned in his mind:
Shes my Dasha. I cant leave her here.
Half an hour later, Dasha stepped into Mike and Ritas flat. She recognised the kind lady whod brought her home before.
Rita stared, unable to believe this was real.
Later, after Dashabathed, fed, and playing with the cathad settled in, Rita turned to Mike.
“You really think this was right? You dont even know her.”
“Ill learn. Of course its righthow else would you treat your own child?”
Rita walked to the kitchen and cried.
Why is this happening to me?
Shed wanted children so badly, but couldnt have them. Shed have cherished every moment.
Now this girl. How was she supposed to feel? She couldnt be cruelbut what if she couldnt love her?
She was angryat Mike, at Helen, at life. Then she felt a small hand on her head.
She thought it was Mike. But when she looked up, it was Dasha.
“Are you sad? I cry too. Want me to tell you a nice story? I know one.”
Rita hugged her tight.
A year passed. Mike got the testjust for paperwork. Theyd already decided Dasha was staying, no matter what.
Rita grew to love her, pouring all her unused love into the little girl.
Mike adored her toothey were a happy family.
Then Rita fell ill. It came out of nowhere. She felt weak one morning, went to work anyway, then collapsed. She woke in hospital.
“Whats wrong with me?” Rita had never been frail.
“Tests will confirm, but youll stay for now. Your familys on the way.”
Mike and Dasha arrived soon after.
“Mum-Rita, whats wrong?”
“Nothing, sweetheart. Just need rest.”
The doctor returned.
“Honestly, love, you shouldve told us you were pregnant! Joking aside
