Emily had expected shock, perhaps even disbelief, but Margaret said nothing. She simply watched Emily with a look that was hard to read, leaning in slightly as Emily spoke. As the story went on, Margaret’s expression shifted, the sadness in her eyes deepening. By the time Emily finished, Margaret was silent, her hands folded in her lap.
For a long moment, Margaret didn’t speak. Emily waited, the silence pressing on her chest. Finally, Margaret got up from the table and went to a small drawer by the counter. She pulled out a worn, faded photo and handed it to Emily. The picture was old, its edges frayed, the colors dimmed with time.
It was a photo of two babies in a hospital crib, side by side—one with a mop of brown hair, the other with slightly darker curls. “Luke and Jacob,” Margaret said softly, her voice trembling. “They were born on the same day, minutes apart.
But I had to give Jacob away. Their father left when he found out I was pregnant.” “I was alone, Emily. I couldn’t raise two babies by myself. So, I made the hardest choice of my life. I gave one of them up.”