Gemma and Geoffrey Grimble had been married for seven years. They had known each other all their lives and were brought up on neighbouring properties.
After they married, they moved to Bridgenorth in Shropshire County. It was only about thirty miles from where their parents lived.
Geoffrey was a teacher at the local primary school and Gemma worked as a practise nurse with the local doctor.
Both Gemma and Geoffrey had looked forward to the day when they would have a family of their own, but after months of tests Gemma found out she was unable to have a baby. She was broken-hearted and Geoffrey, although sad, tried to console his wife by suggesting they try and adopt a child.
Gemma kept putting it off; she felt a failure and felt not having a child would affect her marriage. She became withdrawn and sad.
“Please don’t upset yourself so darling, I love you and the fact we have each other is enough”, Geoffrey said to his wife, “Dry your tears and let’s go out for a walk along the river. It’s such a lovely day and we can take a flask of tea and some sandwiches”, he added trying to cheer her up.
Gemma nodded and went out into the kitchen to prepare the sandwiches.
**
It was a lovely Sunday afternoon, it was late autumn and there was hardly a cloud in the sky.
Geoffrey found a pretty little spot under an elm tree, and the autumn leaves made a lovely carpet for them to put down their blanket. The river looked lovely as it glistened in the autumn sun. The old bridge nearby linked both sides of the town together. Gemma was starting to feel more relaxed as she sat in the sun and kicked off her shoes. Geoffrey also relaxed seeing his wife perk up.
Gemma was about to lie down on the blanket when she heard a sound.
“Did you hear that”, she whispered, looking around.
“I thought I heard something but I’m not quite sure what it was”, Geoffrey replied.
“There it goes again; it sounds like a baby crying. You better go and investigate”, Gemma said to her husband.
Geoffrey rushed off in the direction of where the sound was coming from. Gemma saw him climb down the bank by the bridge.
A few minutes later he came running back with a baby in a carrycot.
“Gemma look at this, I found this poor little baby all alone under the bridge”, Geoffrey said puffing.
Gemma gasped, “What on earth…” she said.
“There is a letter in the bassinette, perhaps we should open it”, Geoffrey suggest, all flustered.
Gemma agreed.
Geoffrey opened the envelope. He put his hand to his mouth and after reading it he passed the letter to his wife.
“Oh my goodness”, she exclaimed after reading the contents.
“Oh the poor little mite has been abandoned by his mother; she was only 15, how dreadful”, Gemma said with tears welling in her eyes.
“We should take the baby home and call the police,” said Geoffrey.
**
Once inside their house, Gemma picked the little bundle up. He was clean and obviously had a had a bottle recently as there were traces of milk in the corner of his mouth. At the end of the bassinette, there were two changes of clothes and some cloth nappies along with a bottle of milk.
“It is obvious the young mother did care for her baby, but she must have felt she was not in a position to bring him up”, Gemma said to her husband.
“Well I will call our local constable and get him over straight away”, said Geoffrey.
About half an hour later Constable Burton arrived.
“My, what do we have here”, he said.
Constable Burton said he would need to start making enquiries straight away and asked the young couple if they would look after the baby for a few hours.
Both Gemma and Geoffrey agreed.
“I will get some baby milk sent over as soon as I get back to the station,” called out the constable on his way out.
“We will need more nappies too”, Gemma replied.
**
It was two hours later before the constable returned armed with baby formula, baby clothes and nappies.
“My wife has donated a few things as our little boy is eight months old now so has grown out of these clothes. The baby looks about six weeks old I think”, he said, “At this point, I have not had any luck with any of my enquiries, I need to contact other stations in towns close by. Would you consider looking after this wee chap for a day or two?” asked Constable Burton looking at the couple hopefully.
“I guess I could ask for a few days off, I have leave due to me”, Gemma said looking over at her husband for approval.
“Of course we can, happy to help even though we haven’t had any experience with babies”, he replied.
“Thank you so much, I know he will be well looked after by you both, I will keep you updated with progress in the enquiry”, the constable said as he made his leave.
“This poor wee man must only be a few weeks old and he is ever so cute”, said Gemma looking directly at her husband.
“Yes he is cute darling, but don’t get too attached, his family will be located sooner or later”, he said gently.
**
Two weeks passed before Constable Burton returned.
“I found the family and the young woman who gave birth to the baby in a town fifty miles away”, he told Gemma and Geoffrey.”
“Oh really, so you are taking the baby to them?” said Gemma, her heart beating fast.
“Well actually no, the baby is to be put up for adoption. The young mother cannot look after him and the girl’s family already have seven children and can’t afford to keep him”, said the constable earnestly.
“Oh no, where will you take him until he is adopted?” said Gemma looking concerned.
“Well I was wondering if you would like to continue to foster him until suitable adoptive parents can be found”, he suggested.
“Yes please we will care for him”, Gemma said looking at her husband for approval, “We are very fond of him and have started calling him Luke. We are happy to look after him; he is a joy to have around”, Gemma said excitedly.
“I will come and check on you every few days and keep you updated with the adoption process. Thank you for caring for the little one”, said the constable as he took his made his way out.
**
Over the next few days Gemma and Geoffrey felt they were bonding with Luke, he was a happy, settled little baby. He was gaining weight and his blonde hair was starting to grow. His blue eyes sparkled; he was quite simply a joy.
Gemma and Geoffrey could feel the bond between them all deepening, and so they decided to ask Constable Burton on his next visit if they could be considered as adoptive parents.
“Well if you are sure, it’s a massive undertaking taking on someone else’s child, please think long and hard and if you decide in another month you want to lodge an application then I will present it for you”, the constable said in a thoughtful tone.
“We will discuss it fully and weigh it all up properly”, Geoffrey replied.
**
Over the next few weeks Luke continued to grow, he was such a happy wee boy and settled well. Gemma and Geoffrey loved him and decided they wanted to adopt him, he would be the child they couldn’t have. Gemma could afford to give up work until he started school; the couple had saved hard the last few years with the view of having a family. Their cottage was small but quite adequate. It was quaint with ivy growing on the outside. Luke had his own little room and gradually Gemma turned it into a real baby’s room, complete with a cot, blue curtains and soft toys.
The couple told Constable Burton of their decision to try and adopt Luke.
Papers were lodged with the court. Now they had to wait for all the relevant checks to be completed.
**
Weeks went by and finally the letter in the mail arrived – they were now officially the adopted parents of wee Luke.
The couple were overjoyed and arranged a christening at the local St Martins Church.
Little Luke blossomed; he was settled and reached each milestone.
Gemma realised how lucky she and Geoffrey were, and how they must have been meant to go on the picnic that day.
Over the next five years, Luke brought the family immense joy. He was developing well and was a happy, contented little boy. Gemma took him to preschool from the age of three, which he enjoyed.
The following two years went by fast and Luke was ready to start school. It was hard for Gemma letting him go, she went back to work part-time and picked Luke up from school every day.
Weekends were a special time for the family, they loved taking Luke to a park where he could run and play. He was a very social little boy and mixed well with the other children at school.
Gemma enjoyed working part time again at the doctor’s surgery but after lunch she found herself looking at the clock to see when it would be time to go and pick up Luke.
**
It was now winter and on this particular day the weather was very cold and wet, the winds howled and the rain came down in bucket loads.
It was 2.30pm and three people involved in a car accident arrived at the surgery. Chaos ensued as the surgery was already busy, Gemma knew she was going to be caught up and so rang the school to tell them she would be late picking up her son.
What happened next changed Gemma’s life forever.
”Luke has already been picked up Gemma, a lady who said she was his aunt collected him”, said the woman from the school office said.
“No, no!” screamed Gemma into the phone.
With that Gemma quickly explained to one of the doctors what had happened and she had to go.
On arrival at the school, the headmaster was in the room along with the teacher.
“I had no reason to believe the lady was not a relative, she showed me ID and I let her take Luke”, she said in a guilty tone.
“No, no one apart from my husband or myself has authority to pick our son up”, cried Gemma.
“I will call the police”, said the headmaster as he tried to calm Gemma.
Constable Burton soon arrived along with Gemma’s husband.
They quickly gathered information along with a description of the woman who took Luke.
The teacher said she appeared to be in her early twenties, had blonde hair tied back and left in a small car with a man driving, Luke was put in a car seat in the back.
Gemma gasped, “The person who took Luke may well be his birth mother. She would be about that age”.
“We will start enquiries immediately, we will get your son back”, Constable Burton said trying to reassure Gemma, “Go home with your husband lass, try and rest and we will keep in touch”, he said as he left the room.
Gemma cried all the way home, Geoffrey did his best to look after his wife but she was inconsolable.
“Where is our precious little boy? He will be so scared”, Gemma cried.
“The police will find him darling, have faith”, Geoffrey said to his wife.
**
A week passed, then two, then finally a letter came.
Geoffrey opened the letter and gasped.
“We need to call Constable Burton,” he said looking over at his wife.
“What is it, what’s happened?” Gemma cried out.
“The letter is from his birth mother Jane, and she wants Luke back. She thanks us for caring for him but now she is married she wants her son back”, Geoffrey said looking distraught.
“She can’t do that, he is our son now. We adopted him legally, so he belongs to us now”.
Constable Burton soon arrived. “This is a complexed situation, but you are indeed Luke’s parents. It will take a bit of sorting out but you need to stay calm Gemma,” he said.
Gemma dried her eyes,” I just want Luke back please”, She said.
**
Over the next few days, Constable Burton managed to track down Luke’s mother Jane. She said that at the time she was too young to care for Luke but now she was married and older she wanted him in her life.
Gemma and Geoffrey were told about how Jane felt and after a lot of consideration and what they felt would be best for Luke they agreed to let Luke visit his birth mother from time to time. Arrangements were put in place for Luke to be told when he was old enough that Jane was his real mother and Gemma and Geoffrey was his adoptive parents.
Over the coming years Gemma and Jane built up a special bond, and they shared Luke’s milestones together. Luke lived with Gemma and Geoffrey but some weekends he would go and stay with his mother.
When Luke was eleven Jane was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She passed away a year later. Luke was heartbroken but he was happy he had been able to spend some time with his birth mother before she died.
It took Luke some time to settle down but eventually, he came to terms with his mother’s passing.
Gemma and Geoffrey bought Luke a Golden Labrador puppy and he named him Timmy. Timmy brought happiness back into Luke’s life and sometimes he would take him for a walk to visit his mother’s grave. He loved to pick bluebells on the way and leave them for her.
Luke grew up a well-adjusted young man. He was grateful for the love of his adoptive parents and also he was thankful he did get to meet his birth mother.
After university Luke went on to study as a doctor. Gemma and Geoffrey could not have been more proud of their son.
By Kay Rayner
Kay is a writer and film producer.
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