Anne Sargent was on her kitchen floor, tears streaming down her face. It was late at night, the only moment she could let out her sadness — when her three kids were asleep upstairs.
Feeling the baby move inside her, Anne gently placed a hand on her belly. “I’m sorry,” she murmured to the child not yet born. “I’m trying my hardest, but it’s just not enough…”
Only two months earlier, Anne had been a truly joyful wife and mother, eagerly awaiting the arrival of her fourth child and feeling secure in both her life and husband’s affection. That woman seemed lost now.
Anne was expecting her fourth child when Derek left.| Source: Unsplash
One night Derek came home and announced he was leaving without any warning. “But why?” Anne questioned. “I thought we were happy!”
“YOU were happy!” Derek shouted back. “YOU! Not me! All you did was have kids and take care of them; now there’s another one coming!”
“But you wanted children!” Anne argued back. “You seemed happy every time I got pregnant…”
“Happy?” yelled Derek furiously. “Happy that you gave all your love to our kids? To you I was just a paycheck! Well that’s done with!”
So three months after announcing she would have another baby, Derek vanished from their lives completely.. Immediately after he left , Anne found herself a part-time job at a nearby grocery store.
The owner would’ve offered full-time work but for that she’d need to pay for someone to watch over the boys which would eat up most of what she earned so she carefully managed what little money she had . Even with some support from derek it still wasn’t enough .
To make ends meet , anne started selling some old china passed down from grandma which helped cover bills for several months . Then there went an old silver brush-and-mirror set she’d kept since childhood which paid for food . Little by little as time passed &her belly grew bigger , anne sold off precious items just to keep everyone fed &safe .
Eventually there wasn’t anything valuable left except junk around the house . She glanced at an ancient stroller she’d pulled up from storage.. It belonged to Her as a baby &had been used by each kid afterwards too ; though very old probably dating back decades it remained in great shape still !
Anne felt heartbroken by how derek acted | Source : Unsplash.
Running fingers along roses painted onto its side made tears well up again ; needing this stroller for new baby but needing cash even more than that…She thought about getting good price selling it at flea market since vintage stuff always sells well… So off went stroller where dealer offered $50 not much really but every bit counts !
Annes walked away knowing she’d likely never see stroller again until two days later opening front door revealed surprise -the same stroller sat waiting on porch!
A note inside read :”Please call me.” Followed by phone number; curious anne dialed number where woman answered.
“Hello?” said annes,”Did u leave my stroller? How did u know who owned it?”
“Derek told me,” replied voice on other end.”I’m Grace Robbs; we should meet.”
An hour later grace sat sipping tea while looking unhappy; younger than annes maybe six or seven years with blotchy skin showing signs of crying recently…
“I was his girlfriend,” Grace mentioned.
“Was?” Anne questioned. “You two broke up?”
What Anne earned just wasn’t enough. | Source: Unsplash
“Today, actually,” Grace said and began to cry. “I didn’t know…I had no idea about you or the kids, or the baby… I found out I was expecting, and I didn’t know how to tell him…”
“So I went to a flea market with a friend and saw this cute stroller and bought it. I placed it in the middle of the living room and tied balloons to it with a note: ‘Hello Dad!’”
“But he wasn’t excited like I thought he’d be. He started yelling and asking where II got that stroller and if his dumb wife had given it to me. He wondered if it was some kind of joke.”
“He told me to return it right away, that he didn’t want anything to do with your baby. So I said: ‘It’s for OUR baby.’ And that’s when he lost it.”
“He accused me of trying to trap him, saying he already had three kids with you and one more on the way, so he didn’t want my child at all! He told me to leave and go back to you.”
“He said: ‘Might as well have all the breeding cows under one roof.’ I’m really sorry; I didn’t know about you! Guess I didn’t know him at all!”
Anne stood up & wrapped her arm around the crying girl. “It’s okay! It will be alright; you’ll see.”
”He’s kicked me out,” Grace whispered softly.”I have no family here & nowhere else… I’ve got a job but rents are so high in this city; living alone is impossible & who would want a pregnant roommate?”
“I will!” Anne replied strongly.”I need someone because what I’m making isn’t enough & can’t work full-time since babysitting after school is too expensive.”
“But…” Grace’s face brightened up.”I work online! After school care for kids is easy for me.I love children!”
“So can i take on full-time work?” asked Anne happily.”The grocery store owner wants ME TO manage things for him.With your help,I can do this!And don’t worry about stuff for your baby.After having three kids,I’ve got plenty!”
Grace smiled through her tears.“And we have that stroller too…” she pointed out.“Are you sure? It’s Derek’s kid…”
“No,” Anne shook her head.“It’s YOUR child,and my children’s sibling—that’s what matters most.”
The two women began their new life together,and when Anne gave birth,Grace was there.When four months later,it was Graces turn.Anne held her hand.They became like family raising five children together.
As for Derek—he faced many failed relationships before finally showing up at Annes door.He looked shocked seeing grace there asking if they could talk.Anne asked,“What do you want,Derek?”
“I miss YOU babe…”Derek replied.
Anne stared long then said,“Sorry—not interested!” And she shut the door in his face.
