Philip has loved Elizabeth since they were in secondary school, and they intend to marry someday.
Philips mother, Angela Simmons, runs the maternity ward at StMarys Hospital and disapproves of her sons choice. She has long favoured a nurse named Claire and hopes Philip will marry her insteada nurse liked by the staff and patients alike, daughter of a family of doctors.
After finishing school, Philip enrolls in medical school while Elizabeth studies foreign languages to become an English translator like her mother and grandmother. Their classmates decide to celebrate the occasion outdoors and head to Philips familys cottage in the Cotswolds.
They spend almost a whole month there and are reluctant to leave, but the new term is imminent and they must prepare.
In autumn, Elizabeth tells Philip:
Im pregnant. How will you react?
What do you think? Of course Ill carry you to the register office.
Im not light, Im heavy.
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?
About that, love, youll need a year off 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 mothershes a character and wont accept me, Elizabeth says.
Only for your peace of mind, love, Philip replies.
Elizabeth and Philip file their marriage notice at the register office and then go their separate ways home. Guests gather at Elizabeths flat. A friend of her father arrives with his wife and their son, Alexander, 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 dislikes the news and, that evening, drives to Elizabeths parents house to cause a scene. She rings the doorbell repeatedly, but no one answers. They are setting the table in the lounge while music plays, and no one notices the ringing. Alexander is in the shower and, puzzled by the silence, wraps a towel around his waist and opens the door.
Angela is initially confused, then, realizing she has her phone, starts recording the hallway, focusing on Alexander in his towel.
Are you here to see Anne? Alexander asks, not catching the movement of the phone.
Not any more, Angela replies, hurrying down the stairs.
At home she shows Philip the clip, emphasizing how long it took them to answer the door.
Recognise Elizabeths hallway? No one knows who the babys father is.
I get it, Mum. You were right. Shes not the one for me.
Philip sends an angry text to Elizabeth, then switches her phone off completely. Elizabeth cant reach him, so she decides to go to his flat despite the late hour.
Angela anticipates that Elizabeth will come to her son for an explanation and watches her approach from the window. When she sees the girl, she darts to the hallway and opens the door herself. She refuses to let Elizabeth in, steps onto the landing and says,
What do you want from Philip? Hes already asleep. And you, playing both sides? Keep seeing other boys, you twofaced witch, before slamming the door behind her.
Elizabeth is bewildered, collapses onto the step and weeps. After a while she returns home. In the kitchen, Anne is washing dishes, and her tearstained daughter embraces her.
Liza, whats wrong? The wedding is near, you should be happy.
Mum, theres nothing left except that Im carrying his child. It seems his mother stirred up trouble after she learned we applied for marriage, Elizabeth says, showing her mother the angry message from Philip accusing her of cheating.
If Philip behaves like this, hell keep obeying his parents. God has taken him away from you. Well raise the child ourselves, Anne tries to comfort her.
After the fallout with Philip, Elizabeth endures a difficult pregnancy. While her parents are at work, she is rushed to the maternity ward. She delivers a son under anaesthetic, the only viable option, and later learns the baby is stillborn.
Following the paperwork, the newborns body is handed to the parents, who bury him. Elizabeth remains in the ward, missing the funeral.
Soon after, Philips parents sell their flat and move out of the neighbourhood.
Its for the best, love. Youve had enough trouble with Philip, and he just walks by with a smug look, Anne says.
I hope I can forget him faster, Elizabeth replies.
Eight years pass.
Elizabeth works as a translator for a small agency, and one day Philip walks into her office.
Why are you back in my life? Ive long forgotten you, she says.
Im sorry, but tragedy has brought me to you, he answers.
Thats odd, Phil. You have a nice mum. Go to her with your problems. I have no time for you. Please leave my office, Elizabeth snaps.
Liza, please listen. It matters to you too. Ill wait at the café across the street after work, Philip pleads.
Ill only come out of curiosity, Elizabeth says, turning back to her screen, signalling the end of the conversation.
That evening they meet outside.
Im sorry, Liza, 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 on the market. 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 and already eight.
How? Elizabeth asks.
Remember the day we filed our marriage notice? Philip replies.
Ill never forget your nasty message, she says.
Philip repeats the story his mother told him about the hallway recording.
Elizabeth explains who Alexander is, and Philips face turns pale. He still loves Elizabeth and has never remarried. She also remains single, fearing another pregnancy could end in the same grief.
Phil, tell me about our son. What did your mother do?
When you were in the maternity ward, my mother saw you being wheeled into the operating theatre. She guessed I might be the father, tested, and it came back positive. She didnt want to give you the child. Im to blame for agreeing to that. My resentment haunted me, and now our son, Samuel, is ill.
Lets go to him. Test me for compatibility. If Im not a match, he must have the same blood type as me.
Yes, Liza, Im typeO, Philip says.
Elizabeths hands shake as she sees the boy in the clinic ward.
Samuel, Ive found our mother. Weve been lost for so long, but people have finally brought us together, Philip says, while Elizabeth watches in silence.
Mom, Ive been waiting for you. We never had photos of you at home, Samuel whispers.
My dear, everything will be alright. Im here and Ill do anything to make you healthy, Elizabeth cries, hugging him.
The doctor says youre a match, so Samuel can receive a transplant, the physician announces. The operation succeeds, and Samuel recovers.
Philip sells the remaining flat, pays the clinics fees, and the family moves into a new flat with Elizabeths parents.
Liza, forgive me. We need to marry, and you should have another child. Our sons doctor says siblings make better donors than parents.
Ive read that, Phil. For the sake of our children Ill do whatever is needed, Elizabeth replies.
Philip and Elizabeth marry, and alongside Samuel they raise two more childrena boy and a girlliving together in their new home in Manchester. Their lives finally settle into a hopeful, ordinary rhythm.
