An ordinary weekend, a wonderful summer day. The Morgan family was having breakfast on the sunlit terrace of their small but very cozy and well-kept house. The head of the family, William, was sipping aromatic brewed coffee with steaming fluffy pancakes and reading the fresh newspaper. The lady of the house, Claire, was eating oatmeal with milk, while their beloved twenty-year-old daughter, Katie, was drinking apple juice and listlessly poking her spoon around her plate. Her mother glanced at her child, didn’t like the sullen little face and dark circles under her eyes, and began to lecture her:
— Katie, sweetie, eat a proper breakfast. You’re just drinking juice. You’ve already gotten so thin with your diets, you look like a little bird! You’ll make yourself sick. Have a pancake, at least eat a couple of spoonfuls of oatmeal.
The girl snorted:
— Mom! Stop treating me like a little kid! I’m a grown woman, I’m getting married soon! I’m not eating your oatmeal with butter and milk, I won’t fit into my wedding dress! God forbid Josh stops loving me. He only likes skinny girls!
Claire threw up her hands:
— Oh, honey, you’re so head over heels for your Josh that you can’t see what’s right in front of you! You shouldn’t rush into this wedding, you’ve only been dating for three months, is that any time at all? Your father and I have been together since high school…
Katie grimaced:
— Oh, Mom, don’t start playing that old record again. I’ve heard it a hundred times! How boring, dating for so many years! You can get sick of each other a hundred times over! My Josh is so handsome, he looks like that famous actor, Chris Evans, and he’s in creative business, so I’m really lucky. All the girls in my class are jealous. He’s not some snot-nosed classmate, he’s a real entrepreneur!
The woman started getting angry:
— Katie, listen to me for once. Your father is in business too, but it’s all straightforward and clear, he sells office equipment. Everything’s above board, no deception. What does your fiancé actually do? Tell me, specifically? It all seems so slippery and vague! All flash, no substance! He just dazzles people with some nonsense, and they’re silly enough to pay him for it, it’s just… charlatanism!
With tears in her eyes, Katie fired back:
— You just don’t understand anything! He runs workshops and coaching sessions, helps people find themselves, boost their self-esteem, his events are packed every week, and wealthy people attend his intensives too! And he’s into cryptocurrency. It’s incredibly popular and promising right now! We live in a world of cutting-edge technology, and you’re still judging everything by old-fashioned standards. To you, business is selling tomatoes at the farmer’s market! Nobody makes money that way anymore! Dad, say something to her!
William looked lovingly at his dear ladies and said peaceably:
— Girls, don’t quarrel! Claire, why are you picking on her? Personally, I liked Josh very much, he’s sharp, savvy, knows the latest trends. Things really have changed a lot, young people know how to earn money in completely different ways now. Judging by his car and clothes, he’s definitely not living paycheck to paycheck. Our Katie loves him, let them get married.
Claire fell silent and pursed her lips, thinking to herself:
«Well, never mind. I’ll figure out a way to check up on you, future son-in-law.»
Her daughter flew off on her date after breakfast…
Katie was absolutely crazy about her fiancé. Josh courted her so beautifully, always came up with something interesting. Today, for example, they had agreed to go to a lakeside beach to swim and sunbathe. Katie threw a towel, sunscreen, and sunglasses into her beach bag, completely unsuspecting. But when Josh drove her there, she was simply stunned. The guy had set up a truly heavenly spot! He spread out a blanket, pulled ice-cold drinks and fruit, even ice cream, from a basket! From the trunk, he dragged out a huge inflatable double lounger, with special cup holders on the sides. The couple took their cocktails and floated down the river. It was so romantic: the splashes of refreshing cool water, the breeze, her beloved beside her. Katie was simply happy! It seemed to her it would always be like this, easy and fairytale-like. It couldn’t be any other way, they were young, in love, and their whole life was ahead of them!
Claire and her husband stayed home that day. With his demanding job, William didn’t often get a day off, and the couple cherished every minute spent together. They sat for a long time, arms around each other on the terrace, reminiscing about their youthful and school days! And they had plenty to remember, as Katie’s parents had been inseparable their whole lives, ever since high school. Claire had grown up in a rather poor family; her dad was a shop teacher, and her mom cleaned at a roadside diner. They were both paid pennies, barely enough to get by. Her mom wore the same old, worn-out coat and leaky boots for a decade, and her dad saved on everything. Their table almost always had fried potatoes or pasta with pickles; sausage and delicacies were only for big holidays. But her parents were good people, didn’t drink, and her mom periodically took on extra work; they managed as best they could. They constantly scrimped on themselves but tried to buy their only daughter at least cheap things, but new ones, so she wouldn’t be worse off than others. Her mom sewed well, and if they managed to buy cheap fabric, Claire often ran around in sundresses and dresses her mother had made.
The girl loved her parents very much and tried not to fuss or ask for toys and new clothes too much, understanding it was hard for them. She saw how her family struggled to get by and drew a conclusion very early for herself: she would be a straight-A student, get a good profession, move to the city for sure, and never repeat her parents’ fate. This became her goal, and she worked towards it doggedly, practically from the first grade. So she made her parents proud with her grades and awards. The girl was an excellent student and the school’s pride. Her teachers always held her up as an example, but her peers didn’t like her much, considering her a bore and a grind.
There was another outcast in the class, a boy named Will. He was from a troubled home, raised by his elderly grandmother, while his good-for-nothing parents were perpetually off somewhere on a bender. They didn’t care at all where their son was or if he had eaten; their only goal was to find a bottle of cheap liquor and get drunk. So the kid was withdrawn, wore threadbare hand-me-downs, and barely got by in school. The boys constantly picked on him, called him a ragamuffin, and also made fun of him because the guy had a bad lisp and couldn’t even pronounce his own name, Will, properly. When the teacher called on him at the blackboard, giggles and shouts immediately erupted in the classroom: “Oh, here we go! Morgan, spit out whatever’s in your mouth first, then answer, or we’ll get gibberish again!” Because of the constant bullying, Will was quiet and closed-off, hardly speaking to anyone. He often skipped and ran away from class.
One day during recess, their homeroom teacher, Mrs. Jones, came up to Claire and asked:
— Claire, dear! You’re our smart girl, class president, straight-A student. I have a big favor to ask. Take Will Morgan under your wing. You see, there’s potential in him, I feel it, he could do well, but as you see, no one looks after him, he gets picked on. Maybe you could tutor him a bit, otherwise I’m afraid he won’t pass his exams. He’ll be held back. I feel sorry for the boy.
The girl wasn’t thrilled with the offer; she really didn’t want to bother with this pimply mute, but as a responsible and dutiful person, she couldn’t refuse the teacher and promised to help. That same day, after class, she walked up to the boy and said matter-of-factly:
— So, Will. Mrs. Jones told me to tutor you in English and math. So like it or not, you’re coming to my house to study. I’ll help however I can. Otherwise, you’ll be held back, to the delight of your bullies.
The boy looked at her so intently and asked quietly:
— If you won’t make fun of me, then let’s go.
And so they became friends. Claire tackled the task so actively that by the end of the year, Will had gone from failing to getting B’s, amazing everyone. It turned out the guy was smart and quick, just terribly ashamed of his speech impediment and his poverty. But Claire convinced him to fight that too:
— Don’t give up, Will! I brought some special books from the library, we’ll do specific exercises with you to fix your speech. What if it helps? And anyway, don’t mumble, don’t be afraid of that Jenkins kid! He just looks tough, he’s just a regular bully! It doesn’t matter if you beat him or not, the main thing is not to back down! Show him you’re not scared and stand up to him! You’re a strong guy! And we’ll figure something out about clothes too. Money’s tight in my family as well, but my mom sews really well. If you can get some fabric, she’ll easily make you a couple of shirts, just as good as store-bought, and we’ll find you some shoes on sale this weekend. I manage somehow! As you can see, I’m not dressed from boutiques either.
The boy suddenly took her hand and looked at her warmly:
— Thank you, Claire! You’re my only real friend! You’re the only one who understands me, who’s not ashamed to be seen with me, messing around with me, my own parents haven’t needed me in years! It hurts so much! And Granny is so old already, it’s too much for her to handle me alone. They shouldn’t have had me at all!
The girl encouraged her friend:
— Come on, don’t mope! School will be over soon, let’s apply to college together? It’ll be easier; I don’t really get along with the other girls anyway. I know they think I’m a bore. And what am I supposed to talk to them about? Designer clothes, or acid-wash jeans that I don’t have? Or about where they went on vacation while I was out in the fields with my mom picking strawberries to help the family? They’d just laugh. But with you, it’s so easy and calm. You’re just like me; I’ve seen you loading boxes at the market in the evenings to earn a few bucks. We’re cut from the same cloth. So we have to stick together. I try to see the humor in everything. So I didn’t go to the beach this year either, big deal! I still got a tan! So you should do the same, forget them all, and believe in yourself! We’ll make it!
Thanks to Claire’s care and attention, the boy’s lisp improved a lot, and he managed to stand up to the ringleader, Jenkins! He overcame his fear, grabbed the bully by the scruff of his neck, and shouted loudly:
— Touch me or Claire again, and I’ll beat you up! Got it?
The other boy was taken aback and quieted down. And most importantly, Will finished school without a single D! And he got A’s in English, math, and physics! He could solve any equation or problem easily. Now the classmates just smirked behind Claire and Will’s backs, whispering:
— Lovey-dovey! Sweethearts! A perfect match! Found each other, two boring bookworms!
But the friends paid no attention and stubbornly moved towards their goal.
Over all those years, Katie’s parents had long grown accustomed to Will and considered him their own. Despite their difficult financial situation, they never minded an extra bowl of soup or a serving of potatoes, and he never left their home hungry. On the contrary, Katie’s mom encouraged and praised the boy for his academic success, understanding how important it was for him, since his own wretched parents didn’t care about their son’s fate. And Katie’s father was calm about his daughter—she wasn’t running around at night, always supervised—so Will was always welcome.
Then came college. It was hard to study in the big city, especially without support. Other kids’ parents brought them money and huge bags of food, but they had nothing. It was during this period that Will discovered his entrepreneurial streak. The guy so wanted to help his friend, now his girlfriend, make her life easier that he started trading. On weekends, he’d go to the wholesale market at night, buy popular youth items in bulk, and then resell them at a slightly higher price retail. The profit wasn’t huge, but it was enough for him and Claire for food and clothes.
The girl wasn’t idle either; she tutored, wrote essays and tests for lazy students for a small fee, and also got deeply involved in the drama club. She loved doing stage makeup, participating in student plays and concerts. It was her favorite hobby, her escape; she completely immersed herself in the chosen role.
And so they walked hand in hand with Will, never parting for a moment. They had a modest courthouse wedding right after getting their coveted degrees. It was their shared victory! After college, they first lived for a long time in married student housing, Will went into business, it started working out, over time they bought an apartment, then a house, a car, raised their daughter. Claire devoted herself completely to her family, only tutoring occasionally for her own pleasure! Katie grew up smart and clever, studied well, and got into a prestigious university herself. Her parents adored their daughter and couldn’t get enough of her.
Life flew by in the blink of an eye. Over the years, Claire had grown so close to her husband that they could easily anticipate each other’s moods and desires and were practically one entity. The woman never once regretted spending her life with Will; such a devoted and faithful husband was impossible to find. There had never been, even in their youth, fiery passions and ardent declarations between them; they simply fit together like two pieces of a puzzle, they had one shared inner world for the two of them, from their school days until today.
It was just on the matter of their daughter’s marriage that their views diverged so drastically for the first time. Claire herself didn’t really understand why she had taken such a dislike to the future son-in-law! But she disliked him immediately; Josh wouldn’t look you in the eye, was evasive and clearly shady, while her daughter seemed to have blinders on! But okay, she was a lovesick fool, and her husband was no better! He’d taken their daughter’s side and was fully involved in wedding preparations with her. He’d already picked out a venue and discussed the menu. For some reason, he saw Josh as his successor and expected his son-in-law to gradually get involved in his business and take it over.
But Claire decided not to give up so easily; it wasn’t in her nature. And she got to work, especially since time was running out—the wedding was in just a month. The woman got makeup from friends at the community theater, a black long-haired wig, green contact lenses, a special dental appliance that goes in the mouth and completely changes a person’s face and speech, and bought a long, colorful robe. Three hours of work, and instead of a well-groomed, forty-five-year-old brunette in the mirror stood an old fortune-teller, no two ways about it. Claire spent a long time searching online for the legal address of the company Josh supposedly worked for. It was mysteriously named “Path to Self!” But everything there was murky too. All their intensives and workshops were held in various rented spaces around the city, and the company’s own address was in an industrial zone on the outskirts. Claire resolutely went there, making up a story on the way about how she was struggling and needed to boost her self-esteem, etc. All services were paid, so she had to bring a considerable sum. It all seemed more like a scam than any kind of serious organization. The woman in disguise was just walking down the hallway when she saw a joyful, radiant girl about Katie’s age in an ultra-short dress fly out of an office, followed by a happy Josh. They embraced and started kissing passionately, cooing about something of their own, noticing no one and nothing around them. Josh whispered hot words of love to her, and the young flirt giggled and swooned. Blood rushed to Claire’s head:
«You creep! So you’re cheating on my daughter too? You scoundrel! Your own wedding is around the corner, and you’re carrying on here! Just you wait! So this is what my future son-in-law does at work!»
Walking past, deliberately shuffling her feet loudly like elderly people often do, Claire suddenly stopped and, looking Josh in the eye, said hoarsely:
— Hello there, young man! I see great happiness awaits you! You have an interesting fate! Let me read your fortune, you won’t regret it! What was, what will be, you’ll learn everything!
Josh was taken aback:
— Who are you, and who are you here to see?? And how did you even get in here?
Claire answered confidently:
— I’m a seer, Juliana. Haven’t you heard of me? Well, I decided to sign up for your workshops. I help others, give my all, but nothing works out in my own life! I’m at my wit’s end. Maybe you can help me? I’ve heard people praise your outfit, they find meaning in life! Your specialists seem top-notch. So? Want to know what awaits you? I won’t even charge you, I’ll tell you everything, straight up, as it is!
Josh became interested, especially since the girl next to him was watching everything with wide eyes and obvious curiosity, and he waved his hand:
— Go on, then! I don’t believe in any of this fortune-telling stuff, but I’m curious what you’ll say! At least I’ll get some entertainment!
The woman could barely contain herself, she was furious, thinking:
«Oh, you’ll be entertained, alright…»
Claire took his hand. She rolled her eyes back as expected, stayed silent for a long time, then suddenly declared:
— You will marry soon, but not this girl. Another one. Her name is Katie. She’s wealthy, her parents have money, you’ve already booked the venue. Katie loves you so very much! But she is not your destiny! You don’t need her. There will be no happiness for you! That’s what I see!
Josh’s face changed and he shouted:
— Who are you, old woman? And how do you know all this?
The guy suddenly looked at the fortune-teller in a nasty way; her appearance seemed somehow vaguely familiar. He lunged at the woman and tore the wig off her head! Claire spat out the dental appliance and threw off the heavy robe, declaring triumphantly:
— Well, what do you know, caught you, future son-in-law? Not only is your company a sham, I checked it all, you’re simply scamming people out of money! And on top of that, you’re cheating on my daughter with this girl? Have you lost all conscience?
The girl standing next to him burst into tears and slapped Josh hard across the face:
— You bastard! So you sing me love songs every day, but you’re marrying someone else? You’ll pay for this! I know better than anyone that all these workshops are just a scam! And now everyone will know! I’ll make sure of it! This will teach you to mess with girls’ heads!
And she ran off in tears. Josh stood there shamefacedly silent, rubbing his burning cheek, and began to make weak excuses:
— You… You’ve got it all wrong. I love Katie… honestly… This, it’s nothing serious! I’m sorry!
Claire told him harshly:
— Get out of our lives. The wedding is off, understand? And you’ll tell Katie everything yourself, and make sure it’s the truth! I don’t ever want to see you again! And be glad I haven’t reported your shady dealings to the proper authorities yet!
He had no choice; Josh had to confess his infidelity to Katie. The wedding was called off. Although her daughter had loved Josh, she couldn’t forgive such a betrayal! It made her sick. After all, if the man you love cheats and sleeps with someone else even before the wedding, what will happen later? How can you start building a family when there’s no more trust?
Katie took it very hard and couldn’t recover from the betrayal for a long time. She had so dreamed of a strong, close family like her parents’. Of walking through life hand in hand…
But time is the best healer. After graduating, the girl got a job as an economist at a decent private company. And it was there, a year later, that she found her true love. Roman was her boss. From the first day, he was smitten with Catherine, but for a long time he didn’t dare say anything or even hint at it. He saw how Katie immediately shut down any attempts by male colleagues to get to know her. The girl was always thoughtful and sad but very responsible and diligent. Roman was a full ten years older than Catherine. He had inherited the business from his father and managed it skillfully. But his personal life had never worked out. He kept dreaming of finding someone like his mother, who could manage a home, be a friend, and a lover. But, as luck would have it, he only met mercenary, money-hungry gold-diggers who only knew how to demand gifts and fancy dinners. Years passed, his parents were gone, and Roman lived all alone in a huge house, apart from a cleaning lady who came in and a fluffy cat named Simon. He often didn’t even feel like going home—no one was waiting for him there.
But Katie turned everything in the man’s soul upside down. It was her serious, always slightly sad gray eyes that sank deep into his heart. Every time the girl brought him reports to sign, his heart skipped a beat! He could barely breathe; nothing like this had ever happened to him before. He probably never would have dared to approach the unapproachable beauty if not for one incident.
Roman suddenly fell seriously ill, struck down with a terrible bout of flu. He didn’t even have the strength to go get medicine. He just called a clinic and had a doctor sent to the house, and that was it; his fever was sky-high and his whole body ached. At the end of the workday, the secretary, Lucy, walked into the office and asked loudly:
— Girls, the boss is sick. He won’t be in. Can any of you stop by his place and drop off some papers for him to sign? It’s my job, of course, but I have to pick up my kid from daycare. Can someone help out?
And then always-quiet Katie suddenly said softly:
— I can. It’s on my way anyway. Give me the address.
Katie herself didn’t understand why she volunteered; she just felt like it, that’s all! It wasn’t on her way at all; she lied and had to drive across the entire city to a house in the suburbs.
The truth was, Mr. Roman was very appealing to Katie, not just as her boss. He was fair, even-tempered, never took his frustration out on the staff, and was respectful even to the cleaning lady, whom he exclusively called the “Cleanliness Fairy.” So, hearing her boss was sick, the girl really wanted to check on him and help if needed.
Katie took a taxi to the director’s house. The house was imposing and very well-kept. The girl rang the doorbell, knocked—no one. She tried calling his phone—silence. Seriously worried now, Katie pushed the heavy front door, and it gave way. She went in. She started walking through the rooms, calling out:
— Mr. Roman? Where are you? It’s me, Catherine Morgan. I brought documents for you to sign, per Lucy’s request. But you didn’t answer her calls.
Suddenly Katie heard a weak moan. She rushed to the second floor. In the bedroom, sprawled across a huge bed, lay the director, all sweaty and delirious. He was clearly out of it; some pills and a bottle of medicine were laid out on the nightstand. A terrified Katie touched his forehead—it was burning up! She threw the folder and her bag right on the floor and rushed to help the sick man.
The girl made him compresses with vinegar and water, like her mom had done for her as a child, wiped down his whole body after undressing him down to his underwear, found fever reducer, and practically forced it into his mouth. Three hours later, she did it again! She couldn’t leave her boss in that state, so she called her mom, explained the situation, and she sent their family doctor to Roman’s address. The doctor examined the man, diagnosed him, gave him antibiotic and fever-reducer shots, and left, having written out a treatment plan. He assured her the patient would feel better in a couple of hours. And Katie stayed to watch over the director at his house.
By morning, Roman finally started feeling better. He woke up and couldn’t believe his eyes! In the armchair by his bed, Katie was dozing, her face anxious and concerned! All this time he had thought that Katie talking to him was just a dream. Roman could barely talk, the hellish pain in his throat and chest preventing it:
— Katie… sweetheart? How are you here? What a miracle! This is more happiness than I ever dared dream of!
The girl immediately perked up:
— Oh, you’re awake! Thank goodness! Lucy, the secretary, sent me over yesterday to get your signature. I came in, and you were out cold! I got so scared! I called my mom, and she sent our family doctor over. He calmed me down and told me to keep an eye on you until you got better. So I’ve been guarding your sleep! Well, since you’re better, I guess I should go? Oh, and I made you some chicken soup in the kitchen, be sure to eat something hot. And here’s the doctor’s prescription. If you want, I can run to the pharmacy.
Roman couldn’t stop looking at Catherine:
— Thank you, Katie. You’re my savior. Just so you know, I won’t eat that soup without you. So let’s have breakfast together!
Katie was embarrassed but agreed. She really was ravenous after the whole ordeal. The young people ate together, chatted amiably, and naturally slipped into using first names. As she was leaving, Katie said shyly:
— Get better. Do you… want me to come by again tomorrow after work?
Roman answered joyfully:
— I dream of you never leaving this house and becoming its mistress! I like you very much, Katie, so I’ll be waiting!
And so their relationship began! Roman was nothing like the passionate, fiery Josh. He exuded strength, confidence, and calm—truly, like a solid rock.
A year later, they had a wedding. Katie moved to live in the suburban house with her husband. And sometime later, Katie realized she was pregnant. Her husband and parents were overjoyed; they had long dreamed of grandchildren. The woman was even a little scared when she found out it was twins. But, thank God, the pregnancy proceeded without complications, and Katie carried it to term successfully. Although her feet swelled badly, and she could hardly see past her huge belly.
The time for the birth approached. Roman, a responsible dad-to-be, had thought of everything down to the smallest detail. At an elite maternity clinic, a private, comfortable room awaited Katie, and a leading professor in obstetrics was on call to come deliver the babies. The man had already set up the nursery, bought a fashionable, expensive stroller and a beautiful crib, and all the necessary diapers and onesies for the first days. Roman no longer stayed late at work and flew home like a bullet to give his wife foot massages and stroke her belly, trying to ease her condition.
But then, as luck would have it, her husband had to leave on an urgent two-day business trip to another city. A very lucrative deal was in the works, promising significant income if signed successfully. The director couldn’t entrust this to anyone and decided to go himself. Roman was terribly worried:
— Katie, sweetheart, why don’t you check into the hospital today, just to be safe? I know it’s still three weeks early, but still. It’s winter, I won’t be nearby, how will you manage alone here? They have a TV and a shower in the room, and doctors are on duty around the clock. I’d feel so much calmer. Especially since we’ll have two babies; it’s not a simple matter.
His wife gently hugged him, barely reaching around her huge belly, and reassured him:
— Don’t worry, everything will be fine. I feel wonderful, no stomach pains. I’m eating for three, I’ll pop like a balloon soon. You’ll be back the day after tomorrow. I just don’t want to go to the hospital; it’s so nice at home. I’ll watch my favorite movies, sleep on my favorite couch. You know how hard it is for me to find a comfortable position so the babies don’t throw a dance party inside. Besides, Mom promised to come over tomorrow. She’ll even stay the night if need be. So go and handle your business! I left you sandwiches and coffee in the kitchen. Take them with you, you can snack on the road if you get hungry.
Roman got down on his knees, kissed her belly, pressed his ear to it, and whispered:
— Bye-bye, my little ones! Daddy will be home soon. Be good in there!
Katie laughed; her husband’s tender care always melted her heart.
She saw him off and decided to rest. She settled comfortably on the pillows and turned on a romantic movie. But then the phone rang. It was her friend from university, Lena. Katie was very happy with the unexpected call, and the women chatted away. Lena kept exclaiming:
— Wow! Good for you! You married well *and* you’re having twins soon! Not like your ex, Josh! What a loser!
Something stirred in Katie’s heart:
— What about him? I haven’t run into him even once since we broke up.
— Lena hurried to share the news. — Well, his company went bust like a soap bubble, and on top of that, he got dragged through lawsuits. For a while, he hit the bottle hard, but then pulled himself together. He got a job as a driver for a regular delivery van, delivers mail and parcels around the city, lives with his sick mother. She has a heart condition, they say she needs surgery. And no money. So that’s how it is. Well, whose fault is that… He ruined his own life! Serves him right for fooling around!
Katie felt strangely sad:
— I guess so, but I still feel sorry for him! First love is the strongest, after all. Anyway, Lena, it was great hearing from you! Goodbye!
Katie got up, walked to the window, and gasped. Just an hour ago it had been quiet and sunny, but now a terrible blizzard was raging, and you couldn’t see a thing!
«How is my love doing? God, please let him get there safely! Please don’t let anything happen to him, I couldn’t bear it!» the woman pleaded with the heavens.
She grabbed the phone and frantically tried to call her husband; she needed to hear his voice, to calm down knowing he was okay! But all she heard was, “The subscriber is unavailable.” Katie grew even more nervous, pacing back and forth across the room. She had worked herself into a state, thinking about the road and that blizzard! From all this anxious thinking, her stomach started to ache, and it became hard to breathe! Her back was killing her; contractions were starting. And then suddenly something warm gushed down her legs! The terrified woman realized her water had broken! She tried calling her husband again and again, but he was still unavailable! Katie panicked and called her mom. She screamed, her voice unrecognizable:
— Mommy! My water broke! I’m in labor! And Roman just left on his trip two hours ago! I can’t reach him! Probably no signal on the road! He begged me to go to the hospital today! He had a feeling! And I was such a fool not to listen! Mom! I’m scared! What do I do?
Claire did her best to calm her daughter down, while her own heart sank:
— Don’t panic! I’m calling an ambulance! The medics will be there soon!
Then she called her daughter again:
— The ambulance is on its way! Pull yourself together! How are you feeling? Are the contractions frequent? Dad and I are leaving too! Maybe we’ll get there faster! Hold on, breathe deeply! We’re right here! Everything will be fine! Get your insurance card and all your documents ready, have them handy!
Katie sobbed from fear and pain, wailing:
— Mommy! Get here fast! I’m scared! Am I going to die? Did you see what a blizzard it is? What if the ambulance can’t make it? Oh-oh! It hurts so much!
Claire rushed around the house, shouting to her husband:
— Will! Quick, go start the car! Katie’s in labor! And Roman’s away on business! We’re leaving now! I already called an ambulance!
The man shot off like a rocket and ran to the garage without another word. But seeing what was happening outside, he ran back into the house:
— I’m afraid we won’t get past the driveway! There’s a terrible blizzard out there! Oh, Lord! Everything at once! We have to do something!
The woman threw on her clothes and ran out into the yard. It was snowing so hard you couldn’t see a meter ahead! She grabbed a huge shovel and started frantically clearing snow:
— Fine, I’ll clear the road myself, I’ll go on foot, but I’m helping my daughter! Help me, no time to waste! Our daughter’s in trouble! It’s all my fault! I should have made her go to the hospital with Roman! Or at least come to her today, not tomorrow! Then she wouldn’t be alone!
Working together, they briskly shoveled the snow off their property and set off, taking the shovels with them, understanding they’d definitely need them more than once.
Meanwhile, Katie was writhing in pain, praying to God that the ambulance crew would make it in time and get her to the hospital! Finally, she heard a car honking outside. She got dressed with her last strength and almost crawled to open the door, contorted with pain. She let the medics in and collapsed right on the steps:
— Oh, Mommy! AAAA. Oh, it hurts! Help! I’m dying!
The paramedic didn’t miss a beat, ran over to the woman in labor, and with an assistant carried her to the bed. He laid down a sheet. Started calming her:
— Okay, easy, easy! What’s your name? How old are you? What’s your due date? How frequent are the contractions? When did your water break? Don’t panic, I’m right here, I’ll help you, everything will be fine. Breathe out, that’s it, good, and now calmly answer my questions.
Catherine came to her senses a bit and started explaining everything in detail. The doctor examined her and shook his head:
— Okay, you’re four centimeters dilated! Labor is in full swing, we’re having the baby here, we won’t make it to the hospital. That’s for sure. Honey, why did you wait until the last minute? You should have been at the hospital long ago.
Seeing the woman’s wide, almost frantic eyes, he started calming her again:
— I’ll say it again, everything is going according to plan, you have no complications. Just listen to me, don’t freak out, and together we’ll manage! Okay, Sarah, get everything ready, bring the kit. Catherine, where can we get clean sheets and some boiled water? Come on, now, don’t cry, breathe out, again, breathe out again, that’s it, hold my hand! Think about how hard it is for the babies right now too, help them come into the world! There’s a good girl. Okay, now again, breathe in, breathe out, and push!
Surprisingly, everything went well, and within an hour Katie gave birth to two babies one after the other, a couple of minutes apart—a boy and a girl. One cried right away, but with the second, the doctor fiddled for a long time, suctioning something out, spitting, shaking him, rubbing him, and finally the little one let out a weak squeal! The paramedic exhaled:
— Phew, you gave me a scare, little guy! Katie, enough crying! Everything’s fine! You gave birth, the babies are alive and well! Though your boy is a bit weak, we need to get to the hospital regardless, and you’ll need to stay under observation for a bit. I did what I could. So, where are the diapers and things for the newborns? Do you have anything?
Catherine grabbed the paramedic’s hand:
— Thank you! So, so much! I don’t know how to thank you! You’re my savior. If it weren’t for you… I have everything ready for the babies, over there, in the dresser drawer, take it all. It’s a blizzard out there, dress them warmly.
Just then the phone rang; it was Roman:
— Katie! Sweetheart! What happened? The signal is terrible on the road! How are you? So many missed calls from you!
Katie started crying again:
— I had the babies, a boy and a girl! Labor started at home, prematurely! Thank God the ambulance got here in time, the paramedic, Mr. Anthony, delivered them. Now they’re taking me to the hospital.
Roman almost yelled:
— Oh God! I told you to go in early! I should have listened to my gut and checked you into the ward! Hold on! I’m dropping everything and coming back! Honey, I’ll be with you tomorrow! To hell with everything! Thank you, my love, for the babies! I can’t even process that I’m a dad yet! Give the phone to the medic, I’ll tell him where to take you, I made arrangements, they’re expecting you.
Catherine was carried out on a stretcher to the ambulance, and they set off. A nurse held the babies. Katie finally calmed down a little. Well, the worst was over… She could breathe out…
Now they’d put her and the children in a comfortable room, check her son over, and everything would be fine!
Right then her mom called:
— Honey! How are you! Where are you? I’ve been calling and calling! No signal, then busy! I’m going out of my mind! Dad and I are digging ourselves out, we can’t get onto the main road! It’s crazy here! I don’t know how we’ll get to you out in the suburbs!
Katie answered:
— Mom! I already had the babies! You’re a grandma! And congratulate Grandpa! The paramedic delivered them. They’re taking me and the babies to the hospital, the boy is a bit weak, so you and Dad go straight there! Write down the address, 6 Northview, maternity wing.
Claire wiped the snow falling on her face with her hand and started crying so loudly that William got scared to death and dropped the shovel, expecting the worst:
— What? What is it? Tell me! What’s wrong with Katie?
The woman rushed at her husband and practically tackled him into the snow:
— Our daughter had her babies! You’re a grandpa! Thank God! A boy and a girl! She said the girl is fine, the boy is a bit weak. They’re taking her to the hospital by ambulance! Thank God! It’s over! Let’s get to the hospital on Northview, quick, that’s where they’re taking her!
William couldn’t contain his joy; he hugged his wife so tightly it cracked and started kissing her, kissing her…
Unbelievable! Just yesterday, it seemed, he was a student himself, and now he was a grandpa! Two grandchildren at once! My poor girl! I can’t even imagine how she endured all that alone! But as it turned out, it was too early to celebrate!
And Catherine still had trials ahead! On the road, the ambulance got hopelessly stuck in the snow; the roads weren’t plowed. For a whole hour, they tried to get the vehicle out on their own! The driver and medics were soaked and exhausted to the bone. But the wheels only sank deeper and got more stuck. They had to kill the engine because it was overheating anyway! The driver tried to contact dispatch and report the emergency, while the terrified Katie started calling her mom and Roman, telling them what had happened! Roman, panicking, tried to call a tow truck or a snowplow; he was going crazy with worry and blaming himself every second for going on this cursed business trip, leaving Katie alone at home! He knew the birth was close! A grown man with no sense!
Claire and her husband, having just rejoiced, panicked all over again! They kept asking the medic exactly where on the road they were stuck to somehow help their daughter! It was getting cold in the ambulance; Katie started to freeze. She hugged her babies to her chest! They just moved their little eyes and lips. The woman panicked:
— Will they get us out soon? And if not? What will happen to me and the babies? The doctor said my son is weak! We’ll freeze to death! Is there much gas left? Can you run the heater again? Why am I so unlucky! One thing after another, all in one day! My husband told me, silly girl, go to the hospital!
Three hours passed, it was already dark outside, and no help came! Even the calm doctor started getting nervous; he swore over the radio at everyone, cursing, appalled by the indifference of the municipal services and officials! After all, they had reported it everywhere!
And then, in the middle of the road, they all saw headlights; a small van was coming towards them. The ambulance driver waved his arms, asking for help! A young man in a bulky hooded jacket got out of the cab, listened to what was going on, and without a word started helping push the vehicle. They tried forward and reverse; no good! Realizing they wouldn’t get out that way, he hooked the medics’ vehicle to his van with a tow rope and started gently pulling. They struggled for another good half hour but finally managed to free the ambulance! The van driver didn’t abandon the medics and the new mother; he towed them all the way to the hospital, since the ambulance had long run out of gas. The man watched from his window as medics ran out and wheeled the woman and children into the ward on a gurney, and only then did he wave to them from afar and drive home. It was late by then. It was Josh—yes, Katie’s ex-fiancé. By a twist of fate, it was he who found himself on that deserted, snow-covered road that evening in his old van, just returning home after making his mail and parcel deliveries.
And Josh had no idea who was in the vehicle; he helped simply out of pity for the woman in labor and the babies caught in such a bind. The guy caught a terrible chill, got soaked, and fell into bed literally without any strength! And that night he himself spiked a high fever; his elderly mother couldn’t bring it down on her own, and the next day he was admitted. It turned out he had pneumonia, and he’d be there for a while.
Katie and her children were examined; everything was fine. Her mom and dad arrived, and in the morning, her beloved husband too. Bouquets of flowers adorned the windowsill; Katie was showered with treats and fruit. But a strict doctor put a stop to it, confiscated the flowers and the citrus fruits, explaining what was and wasn’t okay for a new mother. All the relatives and loved ones were happy everything ended so well and congratulated the new mom on the birth of her babies. They took turns holding the infants and cooing over the little ones. Katie kept insisting:
— We absolutely must find that van driver who pulled us out and thank him from the bottom of our hearts! If it weren’t for him, we’d have definitely frozen out there until morning! Dad, will you help me with that? You have connections…
But they didn’t have to look for anyone. A nurse who came into the room and overheard Katie and her father’s conversation immediately replied:
— So, why look for him? Your savior is in the next building with pneumonia. They brought him in last night. Everyone knows already; this doesn’t happen every day! You’re celebrities here now, it’s just like a TV series!
Katie immediately jumped out of bed:
— Mom, Roman, will you stay with the babies? It’s still an hour until the next feeding anyway. I’ll be quick, you can go through the internal passage. If anyone asks, I just went to the restroom, or they’ll scold me. I’m not supposed to leave the maternity ward. I’ll just thank him, that’s all! I mean, he saved our lives and ended up sick! Must have caught a bad chill.
Just as she was, in her robe and slippers, Katie quietly slipped through the stairwells, asked that same nurse which room her savior was in. And when she walked in, she was simply floored! It was Josh! Her ex-fiancé, her first love! He saw her and also asked in surprise:
— Katie? I don’t believe my eyes! What are you doing here? And dressed like that?
The woman sat on a chair:
— So it was you who saved me and the children yesterday! I can’t believe it! Thank you, Josh! From the bottom of my heart! If it weren’t for you, we’d have frozen for sure on that snowy road with my babies! How are you? The nurse said you have pneumonia?
Josh waved his hand:
— Ah, it’s nothing, just got really chilled and soaked yesterday, it’ll pass, I’m already feeling a bit better. I’m glad, Katie, that I helped you specifically, somehow making up a little for that awful thing I did. You know, I regretted it a hundred times afterwards! I could never build a family, kept looking for someone like you, and never found her! And I sincerely congratulate you on the birth of your babies. So you found your love after all?
Katie answered:
— Yes, Josh, I did… And I’m married to a very good, decent man, his name is Roman. And I haven’t been angry with you for a long time, though it took me a while to get over the betrayal. But that’s all in the past now. Let bygones be bygones. Get well! I wish you could meet your love too, get married, start a family…
Josh just waved his hand again:
— I’ve given up on my personal life; here I’m just trying to scrape together enough for my mom’s surgery. She has heart trouble, needs a bypass. I’ve been saving bit by bit, but I can’t seem to get even halfway there. Oh well, that’s my problem! Don’t you worry about it! Be happy, Katie, and forgive me for everything!
Katie came back to her room quiet and said sadly:
— And do you know who saved me yesterday? Who the van driver was? You’ll never guess. It was Josh, my ex-fiancé. That’s just how life goes sometimes. I still can’t believe it. He’s changed so much. Completely different from how he was before. Life really gave him a hard time, I guess.
Claire immediately sighed:
— Well, I never. It seems he’s not a complete scoundrel; he’s capable of good deeds too. Come on, Will, let’s go visit him. We’ll thank him for our daughter and grandson. Let the new parents have some time alone.
Roman suddenly felt a painful stab of jealousy—he hadn’t expected that from himself—and asked with tension in his voice:
— What did you talk about for so long, Katie? I’m terribly jealous of you! Just so you know, I’m not giving you up to anyone! Got it? Do you… still love him?
The woman laughed and hugged her husband:
— My love, don’t work yourself up and don’t imagine nonsense! You are my happiness, and the babies, and I don’t need anyone else. I loved Josh deeply, that’s true. But that was a long time ago. It’s only with you that I’ve understood a woman is truly happy only with someone who cherishes her! I even feel sorry for Josh; he lives with his sick mom, saving up for her operation. No decent job, no personal life either. I mean, it’s his own fault, no arguing that, but still, I feel sorry for him.
The babies woke up, started making funny faces, searching with their little mouths and crying. Roman took little Brandon in his arms and rocked him while Katie fed Lara. The man admired how beautiful a woman looks nursing a child! The little girl made funny smacking sounds and grunted, and Katie melted with tenderness. She wanted to kiss that tiny, funny nose and never let go.
Claire and William visited Josh, had a heart-to-heart talk. They let go of past grievances and forgave each other. At a general family council, they decided to help his sick mother and pay for her surgery. They made it in time; everything went well, and the elderly woman started recovering. And William got the man a job as a manager at his company; after all, he did have a head for business.
Little by little, Josh’s personal life improved too; he met a simple, unassuming woman named Olivia who worked as a cashier at a supermarket. Perhaps it was only after that conversation with Katie that Josh truly let her go in his heart, stopped dreaming of a possible reunion or looking for someone just like her. He remembered his mistakes well, so he didn’t lie to his fiancée but told her everything as it was.
Josh happily devoured Olivia’s borscht and pies and didn’t even notice the woman’s plumpness or her freckles. They sometimes went for walks in the park with Katie and Roman and the kids; the women quickly found common ground and became friends, discussing recipes and other girly things. Olivia adored children and happily fussed over the little ones. They too gurgled happily and reached for her, sensing a good person. With Olivia’s arrival, Roman completely calmed down and stopped being jealous of his Katie; he was proud of his big, extended family! Old friends and acquaintances of the Morgan family could only marvel: well, I never, how their lives got intertwined!
Good people, they helped Katie’s ex-fiancé and his mother, became friends, and socialize as if nothing had ever happened. But Katie thought differently: you just have to give any person a second chance, because we all sometimes do nasty, shameful things we later regret so much. The main thing is to realize it and change, to be able to ask for forgiveness and to forgive! Just to remain human. That’s the whole secret.
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