As a single mother, she was happy with the way her life had unfolded.
Her daughter was sitting at the kitchen table, drawing. She had always loved drawing and her mother was often amazed at just how good she was. She certainly had talent. In fact, she was extremely bright for her age. In private moments, she had often wondered where she got it from. She came into the kitchen and looked over her shoulder. She pointed at one of the figures and asked, “Who’s that?”
Her daughter’s head went to one side. “I’m not sure,” she said. “It’s a man. I’m just not sure yet.” She said, and went back to her drawing.
It was quite a while later, when her mother was at a work surface preparing vegetables that her daughter suddenly piped up, quite unexpectedly.
“Mummy. I don’t have a Daddy, do I?”
“No. That’s right, dear, you don’t.”
“Why is that?”
“That’s because I found you, pet.”
“Did you? Did you really find me?”
“Yes, love,” she replied, trying to sound as casual as possible.
Still moving her crayon around, she asked, “Where? Where did you find me?”
“On a railway station, my love.”
“How did I get there?”
“I suppose somebody just left you there. It happens sometimes.”
“Do you know who it was that left me there?”
“No, sweet. I don’t know who it was.” At this point her eyes became wet, as she thought of him.
“Didn’t you ask somebody?”
“No, dear. I couldn’t, there was no one around.”
“Why?”
“It was late… and dark.”
“Was it cold?”
“No, pet, it was summer.” She took a deep breath, feeling as though she had just run a marathon. “I just need to check the washing,” she said, and went out into the back garden. Looking at the empty clothes line, she just hoped her bright little kid didn’t notice. She was so bright, so inquisitive. She blew her nose and went straight back in, this time standing behind her, she wrapped her arms around her.
“…and before you ask any more of your questions, I have to tell you that I really didn’t want to ask anybody anything. I just knew that I had found you, and that’s the way it was meant to be.”
Her daughter climbed down from her chair and gave her mother a hug.
Before she could say more, her daughter went back to her drawing.