**July the Seventh! It cant be! Just a coincidence. But the name Andrew too.**
The woman in the HR department of the town hall finished processing the paperwork for the new employee, then picked up the phone.
*”Mrs. Collins, could you come to my office? Your new colleague is here.”*
Soon enough, the head housekeeper stepped in and immediately addressed the older woman sitting across from her.
*”Youre the new cleaner?”*
*”Yes.”*
*”Im the housekeeping managerJanet Collins,”* she introduced herself before asking directly, *”And you are?”*
*”Vera.”* Seeing the expectant pause in Janets eyes, she corrected herself. *”Vera Thompson.”*
*”Come along, Ill show you your workspace.”* They left the office, still chatting. *”Youll be responsible for the entire third floor”*
***
Vera was thrilled to have landed this job. Smiling to herself, she surveyed her new domain.
*”Only two years left till retirementand I could even stay on after. Eight hundred pounds a month, plus bonuses! At least Derek and I can live comfortably now. The kids have all grown up and moved out Oh, I dont even know the mayors name! How embarrassing if someone asks. Lunch soontheres a photo gallery of mayors on the ground floor. Why didnt I check earlier?”*
***
On her way back from the canteen, Vera paused at the display and read the name of the towns leader: *Andrew Bennett Born 1983.*
*”Goodness, hes still so young. Not even forty,”* she mused before suddenly remembering. *”Andrew? 1983?”*
She turned back, scanning the birthdate.
*”July the seventh! It cant be! Just a coincidence. But the name Andrew too. His middle name and surname are differentthough adoptive parents couldve changed those. Even his first name”* She stared at the portrait for a long time, as if searching for something familiar.
***
The new job kept her busy, pushing stray thoughts aside.
At home that evening, she talked at length with Derek. Eventually, he retreated to his room to watch football, while Vera went to hers.
Their three-bedroom flat felt spacious now that the children had moved out. Derek still shared her bed occasionally, but less and less these days.
Now, lying alone, her mind wandered back to her youthand to the secret shed never shared with her husband.
Before Derek, shed had a son. His name was Andrew. Shed been just nineteen thenno money, no job, stuck in a student dormitory never meant for raising a child. She managed for six months before giving him up.
Three years later, she married Derek. They never pried into each others pasts. Soon, they had their own childrentwo daughters.
Both girls grew up well. The eldest went to university in Manchester, married there, with grandchildren already in school. The younger one married and now lived in London.
Vera herself never secured a proper trade. For the past twenty years, shed worked as a supervisor in a factory warehouseuntil the place went bankrupt and laid everyone off. Then her friends daughter suggested this cleaning job at the town hall. She took it.
And now Mayor Andrew Bennett, born in 1983. Not that Vera regretted her life. But all these years, shed wondered about the son shed given away. Sometimes, he even appeared in her dreams. She just wanted to knowwas this him? Was he all right?
***
Days passed.
Vera was cleaning her floor when voices echoed down the corridor. She looked up to see Andrew Bennett walking briskly, deep in conversation with a staff member. Spotting her, the mayor nodded and passed by, still talking.
Suddenly, Vera saw not the mayorbut Victor, the boy shed loved forty years ago. Handsome, carefree back then, though shed always imagined him serious, responsible. She never could picture ituntil now, watching Andrew Bennett stride past.
But Victor had vanished the moment he learned she was pregnant, promising to find work up north. Shed waited, hopedthen realized hed simply run.
*”Could Andrew Bennett really be my son? If I hadnt given him up, would he be where he is now? But then, my daughters turned out well. The eldest is settled, with a nice house and car. The younger ones doing fine too. Daughters I havebut no son.”*
*”And would I have married Derek otherwise? No, everything wouldve been differentfor me, for him, for Andrew. Or maybe Andrew Bennett isnt even my son. Arent there countless unlikely coincidences in the world?”*
*”Does it even matter? He has parentshe was only six months old when I left him. They probably still havent told him. His surnames different. His childhood mustve been happy. Its not every day a boy from nowhere becomes mayor.”*
***
After lunch, her younger colleague Emma approached.
*”Hey, Auntie Vera!”*
*”Hello!”*
*”Were celebrating Lucys birthday this Fridayshe cleans the sixth floor. Turning forty-five. Fancy joining us?”*
*”Of course!”* Vera smiled.
*”Brilliant! Just chip in twenty quid. And bring somethinga salad, maybe? Something nice.”*
*”Sure.”* Vera fished out the money.
*”We do this for everyones birthdays.”*
*”Emmajust Veras fine. Were colleagues.”*
*”Right you are, Vera!”*
***
Friday evening, they gathered on the seventh floor in an empty office. A table was laid out.
Standard office-party fare followed. Toasts were made. Small sips of red wine after each.
Then the door swung openand in walked Andrew Bennett. He smiled.
*”Lucy, happy birthday!”* He handed her a small box. *”Just a little something.”*
*”Thank you!”* Lucys eyes glistened.
*”Andrew, join us!”* Janet urged.
*”Just for a bit,”* he agreed, taking the seat beside Vera.
She immediately filled a clean plate for himsalad, slices of ham. Glasses were refilled. He raised a toast.
Vera watched him, her heart trembling. This was her son. She no longer doubted it.
***
Andrew stayed twenty minutes before excusing himself.
*”What a man!”* said Kathy, the longest-serving employee, who knew all the gossip. *”The old mayor wouldnt have dreamed of sitting with us.”*
*”How longs Andrew been here?”* Vera asked.
*”A year. Remember last years election?”*
Truthfully, Vera didnt. Derek handled all that.
*”You know his parents are loaded, right?”* Kathy continued. *”But theyre not his real parents.”*
*”Really?”* Lucy gasped.
*”Came out during his campaign. They say even he didnt know till then. And get thishe didnt even react. Just carried on like nothing happened.”*
*”Kathy, how do you know all this?”*
*”The old mayors deputy was Sarah Parker. She dug up everything on Andrew, wanted her boss to stay in power. But people voted him out.”*
*”So he still doesnt know who his real parents are?”* Vera finally asked.
*”Doesnt seem to. He adores the ones who raised him. Our mayors a proper decent man.”*
Vera gazed at the door where Andrew had left. Her heart swelledjoy that her son had done well, sorrow that shed never hold him.
*”My fault,”* she thought. Smiling faintly, she whispered in her mind:
*”I wont trouble you, son. Ill just stay close.”*
