Emily had just been hired as a cleaner in London and was heading to her first job. It was a lovely house in Kensington, but something shocked herin the study, a framed photo of her mother sat on the mantelpiece. Then a man walked in.
“Ill do a perfect job,” Emily repeated to herself for courage. She and her best friend Sophie had moved to London just days earlier to chase their dream of starring in the West End.
But first, they needed work to afford rent. Luckily, Sophie got a job at a clothing boutique, and Emily found work through a cleaning agency.
It was idealnot too time-consuming, and she enjoyed cleaning because it calmed her. If the house was empty, she could even practice singing.
Just before stepping inside, her mothers face flashed in her mind. Her mum, Margaret, had never wanted her to chase such dreams, let alone live in London.
Emily had been born and raised in Manchester, not too far away. Shed never had a father, and her mother refused to speak of him. For some reason, Margaret hated London. Shed smothered Emily all her life, which only pushed her to leave.
When she and Sophie packed their bags, Emily knew her mother would never allow it. She even suspected Margaret might fake an illness to stop her. But Emily had to fight for her dreamsit was her life. So she left a note on her mothers dressing table while she slept and slipped away.
Days had passed, and Margaret hadnt called, which was strange. Emily assumed she was just angry. Hopefully, shed forgive her once Emily made her West End debut. For now, she had to focus on cleaning.
The agency said an older man lived alone here, so the house wasnt too messy. Emily finally unlocked the door with the key hidden under the doormat and got to workkitchen first, then the living room, before moving to the bedroom.
She paused at the studys threshold, but no rules barred her from entering. Deciding not to touch the desk, she kept cleaning.
A grand fireplace dominated the room, with shelves above, and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the opposite wall. It was the kind of study Emily had only seen in films.
She tidied quickly but carefully, then froze at the mantel. Among several photos, one caught her eyeher mothers face. She looked at least twenty years younger, but it was definitely her. “Why is my mothers photo in this mans house?” she whispered.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded, and an older man entered. “Oh, hello! You must be the new cleaner. Im James Wilson, the homeowner,” he said warmly. “Nearly finished here?”
“Almost, sir. Butmay I ask you something?” Emily hesitated, worried hed be upset. “Whos this woman?”
“Who?” He stepped closer, adjusting his glasses. “Ah, yes. Thats Margaret. She was the love of my life.”
Emilys pulse quickened. “What happened?” she blurted.
“She died in a coach crash. She was pregnant at the time. I couldnt even attend the funeralher mother despised me. It was madness I tried to move on, but I never could. I still love her,” James said, removing his glasses before sitting heavily.
“Sir, Im sorry for prying, but this woman looks exactly like my mother. Its uncanny,” Emily admitted.
The man frowned. “What do you mean?”
“Well, my mother, Margaret, is her double. Shes older now, but the resemblance is shocking. Im almost certain its her,” she said, turning the photo toward James.
“Margaret? Your mothers name is Margaret? Where did you grow up?”
“In Manchester,” she said, shrugging. Her eyes widenedif this was Margaret, then this man could be her father.
James covered his mouth. “It cant be” he murmured. “Could I have your mothers number?”
“Of course,” she said, giving it to him.
“Would you stay while I call?” he asked. Emily nodded.
He dialed on the study phone, and after a few rings, her mother answered. “Hello? Emily, is that you?”
James glanced at Emily, then spoke. “Is this Margaret Hayes?”
“Yes. Whos calling?” Margarets voice sharpened.
“Margaret, its James,” he said, his voice already shaking.
“James who? Wait James Carter? What do you want after all these years?” Margaret snapped, her tone turning icy.
Emily and James exchanged baffled looks, but he pressed on. “What do you mean, after all these years? I thought you were dead!”
“What?”
James explained the supposed crash, how hed lost his fiancée and their unborn child. He added that Margarets mother had barred him from the funeral and refused to speak to him afterward. But Margaret had no idea what he was talking aboutand shared her side.
“My mother told me you called to say you wanted nothing more to do with me. So I raised our daughter alone,” Margaret revealed, leaving Emily stunned.
“Thats not true Margaret, Id never have abandoned you. I never moved on. I thought of you every day. I grieved for you. I suffered for nearly twenty years,” James said. Margaret stayed silent.
“I cant believe Mum would do this. But it sounds like her. I dont know what to do now,” Margaret finally said. “Waithow did you even find out Im alive?”
“Mum, Im here,” Emily cut in. She quickly explained everything and reassured her she was safe in London.
“I cant believe this is happening. And I cant even ask my mother why shed do such a thingshes been gone for years. Anyway, when are you coming home, Emily?” Margaret asked, her tone firmer.
“Im not coming back until Ive made it in the West End. And now well, Ive got another reason to stay,” Emily said, smiling slightly at James.
“Fine. But Im coming to London soon,” Margaret said before hanging up. James and Emily stared at each other in silence.
“So I guess youre my dad,” Emily said brightly. He burst out laughing, and the tension broke.
Whats the lesson here?
Let your children chase their dreams. Emily left because her mother smothered her. Guide them, but let them live their own lives.
Some parents dont always act in your best interest. Margarets mother did something terrible to her and James, and theyll never know why.
