Phillip has loved Pippa ever since they were schoolmates, and they intend to tie the knot someday.
Phillips mother, Angela Smith, who runs the maternity ward at St.Marys Hospital, disapproves of her sons choice. She has always favored a nurse named Claire and hopes her son will marry the girl who is popular with the staff and the patientsa young woman from a family of doctors.
After finishing school, Phillip enrolls in medical school, while Pippa starts a degree in modern languages to become a translator like her mother and grandmother. Their classmates decide to celebrate the graduation by heading into the countryside, staying at Phillips familys cottage in the Cotswolds.
They spend almost a month there, refusing to leave, but the new term looms and they must get ready for lectures.
One autumn afternoon Pippa tells Phillip, Im pregnant. How do you feel about that?
He grins, What do you think? Ill whisk you straight to the registry office.
She sighs, Im not exactly light, you know.
He jokes, Scare a former school wrestler? I used to wrestle at school. Youre as light as a feather to me.
She asks, What about our studies?
He replies, Looks like youll need a year off after the birth.
She says, Ill switch to distance learning, like Mum. She had me at nineteen and juggled everything. But lets agree, Phil: after the wedding youll move in with us, keep your distance from my mother. Ive known for ages shell never accept meshes a character.
Phillip agrees, Only to keep the peace, Pippa.
They submit their marriage notice at the registry office and then go their separate ways. Pippas flat is filled with guests. A friend of her father arrives with his wife and their sixteenyearold son, Alexander, who looks older than his age.
Back at his house, Phillip tells his parents about the upcoming wedding, urging them to start planning.
Angela dislikes the news and, that evening, drives to Pippas parents house to cause a scene. She rings the doorbell several times, but no one answers. The family is setting the table, and music playing from the livingroom drowns out the chime. Alexander, who is taking a shower, hears the bell, wraps a towel around his waist, and opens the door.
Startled, Angela pulls out her phone, hits record, and begins filming the hallway, with Alexander still in his towel.
Are you here to see MrsBennett? Alexander asks, not catching the motion of the phone.
Its not, Angela says, hurrying down the stairs.
Later she shows Phillip the footage, pointing out how long it took Alexander to answer.
Do you recognize Pippas hallway? No one knows who the babys father is.
Phillip replies, I get it, Mum. You were right. She isnt the one for me.
He sends an angry text to Pippa, then turns his phone off. Pippa, confused, tries to call him but gets no answer, so she decides to go to his flat despite the late hour.
Angela, expecting Pippa to rush to her son for an explanation, watches from the window. When she sees the girl, she darts to the hallway and flings open the front door herself. She blocks Pippa, steps onto the landing and says, What do you want from Phillip? Hes already in bed. And you, playing both sides? Keep seeing other lads, you twofaced thing, then slams the door shut and retreats to her own flat.
Pippa, bewildered, collapses onto the steps and cries. After a while she stumbles back home. In the kitchen, her mother, Margaret Bennett, washes dishes while her tearful daughter embraces her.
Petra, whats wrong? The wedding is coming upyou should be happy.
Mom, theres nothing left except that Im carrying his child. His mother stirred up trouble after she learned wed applied for marriage, Pippa explains, showing Margaret a screenshot of Phillips angry message accusing her of cheating.
If Phillip behaves like that, hell stay loyal to his parents. God has kept him away from you. Well raise the child ourselves, Margaret comforts her.
After the fallout, Pippa endures a rough pregnancy. One night, while her parents are at work, she is rushed to the maternity ward. She ends up delivering under anaesthetic, the only option available, and later learns the baby was stillborn.
The paperwork hands the newborns wrapped body to the parents, who bury him quietly. Pippa remains in the ward, missing the funeral service.
Following the tragedy, Phillips parents quickly sell their house and move away from the neighbourhood.
Its for the best, love. Youve had enough drama with Phillip, and hell just walk past you with his head held high, Margaret says.
Hope so, Mum. I want to forget him faster, Pippa replies.
Eight years fly by.
Pippa works as a translator for a boutique agency in Manchester when Phillip unexpectedly walks into her office.
What are you doing back in my life? Ive long moved on, she says.
Im sorry, but a disaster has brought me to you, he replies.
Thats odd, Phil. Your mother is you should talk to her about your problems. I dont have time for this. Please leave, Pippa tells him, turning back to her screen.
Phillip pleads, Please listen, Pippa. It matters to you too. Ill wait at the café across the street after work.
She sighs, Ill come out of curiosity only, and returns to her computer, signalling the end of the conversation.
That evening they meet outside the office.
Im sorry, Pippa, but my son is ill and needs a donor.
Youve got the wrong address, Phillip. Your mother has more resources here.
Weve been waiting, and no donor has turned up. Ive even put my flat on the market. Youre a motheryou have a better chance of helping our boy.
Is this a joke? Our son was stillborn. My parents buried him.
Hes alive now, eight years old.
How? Pippa asks.
Remember the day we filed the marriage notice?
Ill never forget your nasty message, she snaps.
Phillip repeats the story his mother told him about the hallway video.
Pippa explains who Alexander is, and Phillips face turns pale. He still loves her and never married; she remains single, fearing another pregnancy loss.
Phil, tell me about your mothers part, Pippa urges.
When you were in the maternity ward, my mother saw you being wheeled into surgery. She guessed the baby might be yours, ran a test, and it confirmed paternity, but she refused to give you the child. Im to blame for agreeing. My grudge haunted me, and now God seems to be punishing usour son, Samuel, is ill.
Lets get him tested for compatibility. If youre not a match, the first donor must share my blood type, Phillip says.
I have typeO, Pippa replies.
The clinics ward holds a trembling eightyearold Samuel. Pippas hands shake as she sees him.
Samuel, Ive finally found our mother. Weve been lost for years, but people have helped us meet, Phillip says, while Pippa stands speechless.
Mom, Ive been waiting for you, Samuel whispers, though we never had your picture at home.
Sweetheart, everything will be alright. Im here and will do anything to make you healthy, Pippa cries, hugging him.
The doctors confirm Pippa is a perfect match; Samuels treatment succeeds. Phillip sells his remaining property and settles the clinics bill. They move into a flat above Pippas parents house.
Pippa, forgive me. We need to marry, and you should have another child. Our sons doctor says a sibling donor is better than a parents, Phillip says.
Ive read that, Phil. For our childrens health, Im ready for whatever it takes, she answers.
Phillip and Pippa finally marry. Besides Samuel, they now raise two more childrena boy and a girlliving together in their new home, their lives finally steadied after years of turmoil.
