“I’m pregnant, Hans. We’re going to be parents.

Isn’t it wonderful?” I revealed this to my boyfriend, Hans. He was my T.A. at the University of Richmond in Virginia. He was handsome and treated me like a princess. I already pictured us getting married, so I wasn’t upset when I discovered my pregnancy. In fact, I was ecstatic and couldn’t wait to tell him. But Hans didn’t share my excitement. “A baby? Now? I don’t think I’m ready for that kind of responsibility,” he said, backing away. “What do you mean?” I asked, feeling my heart drop. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this,” Hans said, leaving me stunned and alone. I became a single mom while juggling my college courses. My son, Liam, became my world. I dated occasionally, but every man disappeared when they found out about Liam. They couldn’t handle the idea of being a father figure to a child that wasn’t theirs. Then I met Glenn. He was different from anyone I had ever dated—kind, patient, and genuinely interested in me. I fell for him quickly, but I was scared. I decided to keep Liam a secret, not wanting to scare Glenn away before he could see how amazing my son was. Our relationship flourished, and Glenn proposed a year later. I was over the moon but also terrified. How would Glenn react when he found out about Liam? I planned to tell him after the wedding, but fate had other plans. On our wedding day, the ceremony was beautiful, and everything was perfect. As we exchanged vows, I saw movement at the back of the church. It was Liam, holding a small bouquet of flowers, his face lighting up when he saw me. “Mama!” he shouted, running down the aisle. Gasps echoed through the church. Glenn turned to me, his eyes wide with surprise. “Who is this?” he asked, his voice soft but bewildered. “This is Liam,” I said, my voice trembling. “He’s my son.” There was a moment of silence, and I feared the worst. But then, Glenn knelt down to Liam’s level, smiling warmly. “Hi, Liam. I’m Glenn,” he said gently.