“Rom, love, we’ve got twins!” sobbed Tanya over the phone, her voice trembling with joy. “Theyre so tiny, just 5.5 pounds each, but theyre healthyeverythings perfect!”
“Ultrasound did say twins,” Roman muttered under his breath. “Boys?”
“Yes, boys! Theyre absolutely beautiful!” Tears of happiness streamed down the young mothers face. Finally, she held her babies in her arms
Pregnancy hadnt been easy for Tanya. First, the father of her children, Roman, had been against having them at all. Theyd worked togetherTanya as an accountant, Roman as a driver for a small company. It wasnt some grand, passionate love storyjust two young people who saw each other often. Things had started between them after Roman split from his fiancée, Lydia, whod cheated on him with a mutual friend. Roman had caught them kissing in a car, and the wedding was off. Heartbroken, hed thrown himself into distraction, and Tanyaa naive 20-year-old fresh out of collegewas there at the right time.
Tanya had never been the type to turn heads. Her bright red hair stuck out in all directions, and her freckles made her look like Pippi Longstocking. Shed struggled with her weight since school, sometimes winning the battle, sometimes losing to cakes and chocolate. Roman was her first real boyfriend, and shed fallen hard, diving into the relationship with her whole heart.
At first, Roman kept things quiet. Hed wait for her after work, away from prying eyesstrolls by the river, quiet moments in the park. But in their small town, secrets didnt stay hidden long. Soon, everyone knew, and Roman, eager to spite his ex, bragged about his great love for Tanya. Rumors reached her ears, and she basked in the attention, convincing herself it was real.
Tanya was from a nearby village, living with her unmarried aunt in a tiny flat while she studied and worked. Her aunt, thrilled at the idea of Tanya moving out, noticed the pregnancy test and morning sickness. She dug into Romans family history and discovered his mother, Martha, an old schoolmate. A visit revealed Martha had no idea about Tanyaor the baby.
“Son, apparently youre engaged!” Martha confronted Roman. “I thought you were still heartbroken over Lydia!”
“What fiancée? Were just seeing each othernothing serious!”
“Nothing serious? The whole towns talking! And her aunt came asking about wedding plans!”
“Wedding plans? We never discussed that!”
“Well, *you* might not have. But Tanyas pregnant. Time to introduce me to your future wife.”
Roman learned hed be a father sooner than expected.
“Why didnt you tell me?” he demanded when they next met.
“I was scared,” Tanya admitted, eyes downcast. “What if you didnt want the baby? What would I do then?”
By then, it was too late to back out. Everyone knew.
They married quietlyjust a registry office and a dinner in Romans parents garden. Tanya moved into their spacious house, while Romans sister, Katie, sneered at the match. “How could you trade Lydia for *this*?” she hissed, eyeing Tanyas freckled face and fuller figure.
Roman shrugged. “Lydia cheated. End of story.”
Katie scoffed. “I saw her yesterday. She regrets everythingsays she loves only you. Did you even talk to her?”
“Whats there to say? I saw her with *him*.”
Tanya, blissfully unaware, floated on cloud nine. She loved Roman, and that was enough.
Martha took pity on her daughter-in-law, especially after learning Tanya was carrying twins. Over time, she realized Roman had married out of spitehe barely touched Tanya, never asked about the babies, and stayed late at work.
Then Lydia showed up at the supermarket.
“Now I get why Romie avoids home,” she sneered, eyeing Tanyas faded sundress and postpartum weight.
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, hes not exactly rushing back to *you*,” Lydia laughed. “Were still involved.”
Tanyas stomach twisted. She barely made it home before collapsing in pain.
After the twinsKyle and Ethanwere born, chaos reigned. They were fussy, sleepless babies, and Tanya was exhausted. Roman stayed distant, handing over half his paycheck but barely looking at his sons. Lydia nagged him to divorce Tanya, but he refused.
One night, overhearing Roman admit hed never loved her, Tanya packed her bags. “Im going to my parents,” she told Martha, tears streaming.
“Stay,” Roman said firmly. “*Ill* go.”
He moved in with Lydia, but their life was far from perfect. She hated cooking, forgot to do laundry, and expected Roman to fund her lifestyle. Meanwhile, Tanya thrived. She lost weight, braided her wild hair, and glowed with quiet confidence.
Roman started spending weekends with his family. The twins, now toddlers, adored him. Lydia raged, but he shrugged. “I want to see my sons.”
“Fine! Go back to your wife, then!” she snapped.
So he did.
One evening, Tanya asked, “Should we divorce? If you want to be with Lydia”
“Lets not rush,” Roman murmured, meeting her eyes. “Weve got two children. Maybe well raise them together after all.”
That night, he stayed.
Lydia, sensing the end, left for a “holiday” with an old flame. Roman moved back home for good.
“Told you hed come back,” Martha said smugly to her husband.
Lydia, sipping cocktails abroad, accepted a diamond ring from her new man. “Love isnt everything,” she mused.
Tanya, curled in Romans arms, disagreed. *Love saved us.*
Both women were rightin their own way.
