“You’re no daughter of mine anymore.”
The words still stung. Olga sighed as she rocked little Vlad in her arms. Who he was and where hed come fromno one knew. Her mothers disapproval had been instant. “Move into Grannys cottage and live like the adult you claim to be. Face the consequences of your choices.”
“Oi, Oli! Did you hear? Theyve brought some blokes from head office to help out. Fancy popping down to the social club tonight?” Masha flopped into the armchair with a grin.
“Mash, whats got into you? Whos going to watch Vlad? Bring him along?” Olga laughed.
“What about asking Auntie Luba?” Masha suggested carefully.
Olga waved a hand. “Dont be daft. She still hasnt forgiven me for having Vlad. She wanted me married off to Andrew, but noI had to go off to uni. Didnt get in, came back with a bump instead. Took her a year to even speak to me again. Go without me. Maybe youll get lucky and find someone.”
Masha sighed. “Fine, Ill drag Tanya along. Ill tell you everything tomorrow.”
That night, Olga tucked Vlad into bed and stepped onto the porch. The distant thump of music from the club carried on the breeze. Wrapped in her shawl, she pictured them all insidelaughing, dancing. Masha was probably wearing that awful leopard-print dress again. Olga smirked; in it, her friend looked like a bedraggled caterpillar. With a sigh, she turned in.
At dawn, Masha burst inand, just her luck, Olgas mum had chosen that moment to visit. Olga pressed a finger to her lips, but when had that ever stopped Masha?
“Blimey, you missed out last night! Absolute stunners, the lot of em. One even walked me homebloke named Will. Chatty, funny. Reckon Ive got a date lined up!” Masha blurted.
Olgas mother arched a brow. “Married, I suppose?”
Masha shrugged. “Dunno, didnt check his ring finger. Even if he is, at least its a story, innit?”
“For heavens sake, girl. Andrews right theredecent chap! My Olgas missed her chance, but you could still reel him in,” Auntie Luba chimed in, warming to the idea.
“Oh, give over, Auntie! Whod want him? And his mums worse than a nosy neighbour. No thanks!” Masha scoffed. She turned to Olga. “There was this one bloke last nightproper fit. All the girls were gawping. Stood with his mates, then left alone. Didnt ask a single girl to dance.”
Thenshock of shocksAuntie Luba mused, “You ought to go next time, Olga. Ill mind Vlad. Might meet someone proper. He needs a father. Just steer clear of the married onesthey can smell a single mum a mile off. Understood?”
Olga, hardly daring to believe it, nodded. She planted a kiss on her mums cheek.
“Get off, you suck-up,” her mum grumbled.
That Friday, Olga stood in her best dress, chatting with the girls. Shed missed thiscarefree, unburdened.
“Look. Hes back,” someone whispered.
Olga glanced overand her legs turned to jelly. She spun away. “II should go. Vlads probably crying”
Masha gawped. “Olga Stevens, you are not leaving! First night out in ages, and youre bailing? You havent even danced!”
But Olga was firm. “Im off. Your Wills headed this wayyoull manage.” She made for the door.
A hand caught hers. “Care for a dance?”
Olga kept her eyes down, tugging free. “I dont dance.”
The stranger was persistent. “Just one. Please?”
She turnedand her heart stalled. It was him. The one whod changed everything. And judging by his smile, he didnt recognise her. Relief trickled in. She smiled. “One. Then Im gone.”
He spun her into the rhythm. “Husband waiting at home?”
“Not married,” she said flatly.
He winkeda gesture so familiar it stole her breath. “So Ive got a shot, then?”
Olga stepped back. “Not a chance,” she said, and fled.
She cried the whole way home. Shed remembered him foreverfallen for him in an instant. And he hadnt known her at all.
Theyd met on a train. Shed been gutted after flunking her exams. Hed been visiting family. Noticing her gloom, hed tried to cheer her up.
“Names Max. Mum calls me Maxie, nephew calls me Moo. Take your pick.”
Olga had giggled. “Moos funnier.”
Hed offered a hand. “Almost friends, then. And you are, oh lovely creature?”
“Olga.”
Max had nodded. “Knew it. Fit for a queen.”
Bit by bit, shed confessed her failed exams, her mothers inevitable “I told you so”s.
“Study over winter and try again,” hed said.
Olga had brightened. “Youre right! Cheers.”
Hed studied her. “Has anyone told you youre gorgeous?”
Shed flushed. “Im alright. But ta.”
Hed leaned closer. “Its true,” and kissed her. The rest had been a blurequal parts shame and sweetness. Hed left early. “Ill find you,” hed promised.
Only later did she realise hed never asked where she lived.
Then came the baby. Her mothers scorn. “Youre no daughter of mine.”
Olga had worked at the library until her due date. Masha had met her at the hospital. Her mother hadnt come. Not until Vlad was five months old.
“Not our blood,” shed sniffed. But shed visited more after that, bearing toys.
“Home so early?” her mum asked now. “Club that dull?”
Olga nodded. “Vlad asleep?”
Her mother smiled. “Out like a light. Ill head off, then.”
After she left, Olga tried to sleep. Dawn found her bleary-eyed, coaxing Vlad to eat.
“No porridge, no growing up big and strong like your dad.”
“Flattering. Is this my son, then?”
Olga dropped the spoon.
Max grinned in the doorway. “Told you Id find you. Didnt know Id be a dad, though. Bloody forgot to ask where you lived. Suppose fate sorted it.” He pulled a face at Vlad, who giggled.
By morning, Olgas mother found a happy Olga and a stranger bouncing Vlad on his shoulders.
“This him?”
Olga beamed. “Yes.”
Her mother offered a hand. “Luba Stevens. And Ill be watching what kind of manand fatheryou are. Closely.”
Max shook it solemnly. “Understood.”
