Emily has loved Charlotte since they were in school, and they plan to marry someday.
Charlottes mother, Angela Hartley, runs the maternity ward at St.Georges Hospital and disapproves of her sons choice. She has long favored a nurse called Christine and hopes her son will marry hera woman loved by the hospital staff and patients alike, coming from a family of doctors.
After finishing school, Philip enrolls in medical school, while Charlotte studies foreign languages to become an Englishlanguage translator like her mother and grandmother. Their classmates decide to celebrate the occasion in the countryside and head to Philips familys cottage in the Cotswolds.
They spend almost a month there, reluctant to return home, but the new term is about to start and they must prepare.
In autumn, Lily tells Phil:
Im pregnant. How will you react?
What do you think? Of course Ill take you to the registry office.
Im not lightfooted; Im heavy now.
Scare a sportsman? I used to wrestle at school. Youre as light as a feather to me, Philip jokes, delighted.
But what about our studies?
For school, yes, Lily. It looks like youll need a years break after the birth.
Ill switch to distance learning, like my mum. She had me at nineteen and managed everything. But lets agree, Phil: after the wedding youll move in with us, keep your distance from my mother. Ive known for ages she wont accept meshes a character.
Only for your peace of mind, Lily, Philip agrees.
Emily and Philip lodge their marriage notice at the registry office and then go their separate ways. Guests gather at Lilys flat. A friend of her father arrives with his wife and their son Alex, sixteen but looking older.
Back at his house, Philip tells his parents about the new development and warns them to start preparing for the wedding.
Angela Hartley despises this and, that evening, pays a visit to Charlottes parents to cause a scene. She rings the doorbell several times, but no one answers. They are setting the table in the lounge while music, similar to the doorbell tune, plays, and they pay no heed. Alex is in the shower at that moment and, hearing no reaction, wraps a towel around his hips and opens the door.
Angela is momentarily stunned, then pulls out her phone, hits record, and films the hallway, focusing on Alex in his towel.
Are you here to see Mrs.Nelson? Alex asks, not understanding the womans phone movements.
No longer, Angela replies, hurrying down the stairs.
At home she shows Philip the clip, emphasizing how long it took Alex to open the door.
Recognise Lilys hallway? Nobody knows who shes carrying.
I get it, Mum. You were right. Shes not the one for me.
Philip sends an angry text to Charlotte, then switches her phone off completely. Lily, bewildered, cant get through to Philip, so she drives to his place despite the late hour.
Angela anticipates Lilys arrival, watches her from the window, and when Lily appears she rushes to the hallway and opens the door herself. She blocks Lily from entering, steps onto the landing and says,
What do you want from Philip? Hes already asleep. And you, playing both sides? Keep seeing other men, you twofaced woman. She then returns to her flat and slams the door.
Charlotte, confused and crying, sits on the stairwell. After a while she goes back home. In the kitchen, Mrs.Nelson washes dishes; her tearful daughter embraces her.
Lily, whats wrong? The wedding is close; you should be happy.
Mum, theres nothing left except that Im carrying his child. It seems his mother stirred things up after learning we applied for marriage, she says, showing her mother the message from Philip about Lilys alleged cheating.
If Philip behaves like that, hell keep obeying his parents. God has kept him away from you. Well raise the child ourselves, her mother tries to console her.
After the fallout with Philip, Charlotte struggles with a hard pregnancy. She is rushed to the maternity ward while her parents work. She delivers a son under anaesthetic, the only option available. Later the staff inform her the baby was stillborn.
Following the paperwork, the tiny body is handed to the parents, who bury him. Charlotte remains in the ward, missing the ceremony.
Soon after, Philips parents sell their flat in London and move away.
Its for the best, love. Youve had enough of random encounters with Philip, and he just walks past with a haughty look.
I hope, Mum, Ill forget him faster.
Eight years pass.
Charlotte works as a translator for a small firm, and suddenly Philip steps into her office.
Why are you back in my life? Ive long forgotten you.
Im sorry, but tragedy has brought me to you.
Thats odd, Phil. You have a great mum. Go to her with your problems. I have no time for you. Please leave my office.
Lily, I beg you to listen. It matters to you too. Ill wait at the café across the street after work.
Ill only come out of curiosity, Charlotte replies, turning back to her screen, signalling the end of the conversation.
That evening they meet outside.
Im sorry, Lily, but my son is ill and needs a donor.
Youve got the wrong address, Philip. Your mother has more resources here.
Weve been waiting, and no donor is available. Ive even put my flat up for sale. Youre a mother; you have a better chance of helping our son.
Is this a joke? Our son was stillborn. My parents buried him.
Hes alive, eight now.
How?
Remember the day we lodged our marriage notice?
Ill never forget your nasty message.
Philip repeats the story his mother told him about the hallway.
Charlotte explains who Alex is, and Philip turns pale. He still loves Lily and has never married. She remains single, fearing another loss after the first grief.
Phil, tell me about our son. What did your mother do?
When you were in the ward, Lily, my mother saw you being wheeled to the operating theatre. She guessed I might be the father and tested it. The results confirmed paternity, but she refused to give you the child. Im to blame for agreeing. My grudge haunted me. Apparently God punished us; our son Samuel is ill.
Lets see if Im a match. If Im not, he must share my blood type, which is Opositive.
Yes, Lily, Im Anegative.
Charlottes hands tremble as she sees the boy in the clinics ward.
Samuel, Ive found our mother. Weve been lost so long, but people have helped us meet, Philip says, while Lily watches in silence.
Mom, Ive been waiting for you and imagined you like this, even though we have no photos of you at home, Samuel says.
Sweetheart, everything will be alright. Im here and will do everything to make you healthy, Charlotte cries, hugging him.
Son, let your mother go. She needs to talk to the doctor.
Charlotte turns out to be a perfect match, and Samuel recovers. Philip sells the remaining flat, pays the clinics fees, and they move into a new home with Lilys parents in Manchester.
Lily, forgive me. We must marry, and you should have another child. I want our son to be well, but his doctor says siblings are better donors than parents.
Ive read that, Phil, and for our childrens health Im ready for anything.
Philip and Charlotte marry and, besides Samuel, raise two more childrena boy and a girltogether in their new English home.
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