A soon-to-be mother of four found herself in a tough spot when she had to sell her stroller to provide for her three kids after her husband walked out on them. Late at night, Anne Sargent sat on her kitchen floor, allowing her grief to surface now that her children were asleep upstairs.
Feeling the baby kick inside her, she placed a gentle hand on her belly. “I’m sorry,” she murmured to her unborn child. “I’m trying my hardest, but it just isn’t enough…” Just a couple of months earlier, Anne had been a blissfully happy wife and mother, eagerly awaiting the arrival of her fourth baby, and feeling secure in her husband’s love. That confidence had vanished.
Anne was pregnant with her fourth child when her husband left her. One evening, Derek came home and abruptly announced he was leaving. “Why?” Anne asked, bewildered. “I thought we were happy!”
“YOU were happy!” Derek shouted. “YOU, not me! All you did was focus on the kids, and now there’s another one on the way!”
“But you wanted children!” Anne replied. “You seemed happy every time I was pregnant…”
“Happy?” Derek yelled. “Happy that you devoted all your love and time to the kids? To me, you were just a paycheck! Well, that’s over!” Three months after Anne revealed her pregnancy, Derek was gone.
Determined to make ends meet, Anne quickly found a part-time job at a nearby grocery store. The owner offered her full-time work, but paying for a sitter for her three boys would have consumed most of her paycheck, so she made do with her part-time salary. However, even with the child support from Derek, it still wasn’t enough.
To keep her family afloat, Anne began selling family heirlooms, starting with some antique china that had belonged to her grandmother, which covered their utility bills for a while. Next, she sold a silver brush-and-mirror set from her childhood to buy groceries. As her pregnancy progressed, she sold her treasures bit by bit to ensure her family was fed. Eventually, she was left with only knick-knacks to sell, and all valuable items were gone.
One day, Anne glanced at an old stroller she had retrieved from the cellar. It had belonged to her when she was a baby and had been used by all her children. Although it was quite old, dating back to the sixties, it was in pristine condition. Struggling with Derek’s harsh words, she gently caressed the roses painted on the side, holding back tears.
She desperately needed the stroller for her new baby, but even more urgently, she needed the cash. She decided to take it to the flea market, where vintage items were always in demand. After some haggling, she sold the stroller for $50. While it wasn’t a lot, every little bit counted.
Two days later, Anne opened her front door to find the stroller on her porch! Inside was an envelope with a message: “Please call me.” It contained a phone number. Curious, Anne dialed it, and a woman answered.
“Hello? Is this the person who returned the stroller? How did you know it was mine?”
“I heard about it from Derek,” the woman said. “My name is Grace Robbs. I think we should meet.”
An hour later, Grace arrived at Anne’s home, looking distressed. She was younger than Anne by a few years, with blotchy skin and swollen eyes, as if she had been crying.
“How do you know Derek?” Anne asked, though she already suspected the answer.
“I was his girlfriend,” Grace replied.
“Was?” Anne pressed. “You two broke up?”
“Actually, today,” Grace said, tears streaming down her face. “I didn’t know about you or the kids, or the baby. I just found out I was pregnant, and I didn’t know how to tell him…”
“I went to the flea market with a friend and saw that adorable stroller. I bought it and decorated it with balloons, thinking it would be a sweet surprise: ‘Hello Dad!’”
“But he didn’t react the way I thought he would. He exploded, demanding to know where I got the stroller and if his ‘stupid wife’ had given it to me. He accused me of trying to trap him, saying he already had three kids with you and didn’t want mine.”
Anne embraced the weeping girl. “It’s okay. Everything will be alright, you’ll see.”
“He kicked me out,” Grace admitted quietly. “I don’t have any family in this area, and I have nowhere to turn. I have a job, but given the high rent prices in this city, I can’t afford to live by myself. Plus, who would want a pregnant roommate?
“I will!” Anne declared. “I need a roommate because my salary isn’t enough, and I can’t work full-time without a babysitter for after school.”
“Really?” Grace’s face brightened. “I work online! I can assist with looking after the kids after school. I really enjoy being around children!”
“Does that mean I can take the full-time job?” Anne asked, excitement bubbling within her. “The grocery store owner wants me to manage the store, and with your help, I can do it! And don’t worry about baby supplies. After three kids, I have more than enough!”
Grace smiled through her tears. “And we have the stroller back…”
“Are you sure?” Grace hesitated. “It’s Derek’s baby…”
“No,” Anne shook her head firmly. “It’s YOUR baby and my children’s sibling. That’s all that matters.”
The two women embarked on a new journey together, and when Anne gave birth, Grace was right there with her. Four months later, when it was Grace’s turn, Anne supported her through labor.They created a genuine family by nurturing their five children together.
As for Derek, he struggled with several failed relationships before coming back to Anne’s door. He was shocked to find Grace there and asked to talk to Anne.
“What do you want, Derek?” Anne asked coldly.
“I miss you,” he said softly.
Anne stared at him for a moment before replying, “No, thank you!” She then closed the door, leaving Derek to face the consequences of his choices.
