Inside, the apartment was a mess, but what stopped me in my tracks was the sight of a crib in the living room. Anna had a baby. She hadn’t told me!
Then I heard her footsteps behind me. When she saw me, she slumped in defeat.
“Mom…” she whispered.
“You have a baby?” I asked, my voice trembling.
She nodded slowly, shame on her face. “I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? You’re a mother now! Where’s Jason? Is he hurting you?” I asked, fear rising in my chest.
“No, Mom, it’s not like that,” Anna said. “He left when I told him the baby wasn’t his.”
I was stunned. “What happened?”
“I made a terrible mistake,” she admitted. “I cheated with my boss. I thought it would make me happier, but it ruined everything. When I told him I was pregnant, he fired me.”
My heart sank. “Anna, I wish you’d told me sooner.”
“I know,” she said, looking down. “I didn’t want to disappoint you. You worked so hard for me, and now look at me.”
“Oh, sweetheart,” I said, pulling her into a hug. “I’m here for you, no matter what.”
She broke down into tears. “I thought I could handle it on my own, but it’s so hard.”
“Well, Mama’s here now,” I said, smoothing her hair. “You don’t have to do this alone.”
She looked up, wiping her eyes. “Her name’s Stella.”
Stella. My granddaughter.
I stayed with Anna for the next couple of weeks, helping her through the chaos. And while her life had taken an unexpected turn, one thing was clear: she wasn’t alone.
As for the man who took advantage of her? I’m not letting him off easy. I’ve already hired a lawyer and tracked down his wife.
The “man drama” is real—just not the way I expected.