As I started noticing that my daughter and I weren’t talking as much, I made a decision to surprise her. I hopped on a train, baked her favorite cinnamon buns, and made my way to her city. But when I knocked on her door, what happened next was far from what I expected.
I am Ingrid, and for most of my life, my world has revolved around my daughter, Anna. I raised her as a single mother, juggling double shifts at a diner, where I still work—now as a manager.
Anna’s arrival wasn’t planned, and as I realized I’d be raising her alone, I made a promise to myself: she’d never lack for anything. And I kept that promise. More than that, Anna and I became so close that our bond felt unbreakable. I always thought of us as Lorelai and Rory from Gilmore Girls, minus the drama.
Anna had a serious relationship with a man named Jason. He was kind, funny, and I liked him. Eventually, they married and moved to a city three hours away. It was tough for me, but it was her life.
Initially, we talked every day, with me listening to her stories about their new adventures. But over time, our conversations became shorter. She’d say she was “busy,” and I could tell there was something she wasn’t telling me. My heart ached. Was this normal? Was I losing her?
Other mothers might’ve just moved on, but I couldn’t let it go. So, I decided to visit. I needed to know what was going on.
2 weeks ago, I woke up early, baked cinnamon buns, and hopped on a train to her city, hoping to see her face light up with joy. But when I arrived at her apartment and knocked on the door, the reaction I got was nothing like I expected.
When the door cracked open, Anna peered out, her eyes widening, but not in joy. She quickly stepped outside, as though trying to shield something behind her, and shut the door.
“Mom? What are you doing here?” she whispered, her voice tense, almost angry.
I smiled, holding up the basket of buns. “I just wanted to see you! I brought your favorite,” I said, trying to sound upbeat.
She glanced nervously down the hall. “You can’t be here. Just go, Mom.”
My heart sank. “Anna, what’s going on? Is Jason—”
“Mom, I said GO!” she snapped, her voice sharp. She looked me in the eyes for the first time in what felt like forever. Fear? But before I could say anything, she slammed the door in my face.
I stunned, holding the basket. Was it Jason? Was their marriage in trouble? My mind raced with a thousand terrible thoughts. Was she scared of him?
No way was I leaving now. I knew knocking again would get me nowhere, so I moved out of sight, tucked myself around the corner of the hallway, and waited.
Hours passed, and my mind was consumed with worry. Was she in trouble? Was he inside? When her door finally creaked open, I quickly retreated into my hiding spot.
Anna stepped out. Her face was pale, her eyes red from crying. My stomach turned.
She called the elevator, and as soon as the doors closed, I rushed to her apartment. I didn’t know exactly what I was planning, but fortunately, she had left the door unlocked. I slipped inside quietly.
If Jason was there, I would confront him, and I pulled out my phone, ready to call 911 if necessary. But the sight that greeted me was something I never expected.
Anna’s apartment was a mess— dishes piled up, clothes scattered everywhere. But what made me pause were the small clothes and dishes. I walked further into the apartment, and then I stopped dead in my tracks.
There, in the living room, was a crib.
A crib.
I felt like the ground had been pulled out from under me. My daughter had a baby, and she never told me! I blinked rapidly, as if trying to wake from a nightmare.
Just then, I heard footsteps behind me. I barely turned around before Anna stood in the doorway, frozen. After a moment, her shoulders slumped in defeat.
“Mom…” she whispered.
“Anna… you have a baby?” I asked, my voice trembling with emotion. I was on the verge of breaking down.
She lowered her eyes, and I saw the shame on her face. She nodded slowly. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Tell me that you’re a mother? That’s the most important thing you’ll ever do!” My voice cracked. “Where’s Jason? Is he hurting you? The baby? Is that why you were so scared?”
She shook her head, her voice shaky. “No, Mom. It’s not like that.” She let out a heavy breath. “He left. When I told him the baby wasn’t his, he left me.”
“What?” I was stunned. “What happened?”
Anna’s face twisted with guilt. “I made a terrible mistake, Mom. I cheated with my boss. I thought he would give me more than what Jason and I had, but it ruined everything.”
I was reeling. Her boss?
She went on. “I asked him to leave his wife, but he laughed in my face and fired me. Then, I found out I was pregnant.”
My heart sank. “Anna, you should’ve told me sooner.”
“I know,” she said quietly, looking down at the floor. “But I thought I could handle it. I didn’t want to disappoint you. You worked so hard to give me a better life, and now look at me. I’m a mess.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “I did all of that because I love you. I didn’t do it so you could hide from me. I’m here for you, no matter what.”
She broke down, sobbing into my sweater. “I thought I could fix everything on my own, but it’s been so hard, Mom. I’m barely holding it together.”
“Well, Mama’s here now,” I said, smoothing her hair. “You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here for you, for both of you.”
She wiped her eyes and looked up. “Her name’s Stella.”
Stella. My granddaughter.
I stayed with Anna for the next couple of weeks, helping her through the chaos. But while Anna’s life had taken an unexpected turn, one thing was clear: she wasn’t going to face this alone.
As for the man that had taken advantage of my daughter? I wasn’t about to let him off easy. I’ve already hired a lawyer, saved some money, and tracked down his wife’s Facebook.
I guess the “man drama” is real, after all. Just not the kind I imagined.
