Amanda had always prided herself on being the voice of reason in her neighborhood.
With her strict sense of order and a knack for giving unsolicited advice, she became the self-appointed moral compass for everyone around her. So, when she first met Jane—an unexpected addition to her book club—Amanda couldn’t help but notice something a little off about the 50-year-old woman.
The way Jane carried herself, the slight hesitance in her smile, and the strange timing of her absences from the club had Amanda’s curiosity piqued. What was really going on behind that polite exterior?
It wasn’t long before Amanda noticed something that would make her question everything: Jane was pregnant. At her age? Amanda couldn’t wrap her head around it. What kind of woman has a baby at fifty? And more importantly, why was she hiding it? As the gossip began to swirl among the book club members, Amanda couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to Jane’s story than met the eye—and she was determined to find out. Little did she know, her assumptions were about to lead her down a path of deep regret and a hard lesson in humility.
Amanda and the women in her book club quickly judged a 50-year-old pregnant woman without knowing the full story. It wasn’t until they learned the truth about her pregnancy that they regretted their actions.
Amanda, in her 60s and happily single, had never married or had children. To keep herself occupied, she hosted a weekly book club at her home, where the local women would gather every Saturday. Throughout the years, Amanda only truly connected with those in the book club.
She loved order, and whenever a neighbor’s child would break a flower pot or make a mess, she would get upset. As a result, the local children tended to avoid her front yard, and none of them offered her the baked goods or drinks they sold every summer, unlike the other neighbors.
One day, Amanda ran into Jane, a 50-year-old neighbor she hadn’t spoken to before, at the grocery store. Jane was looking at junk food, and Amanda, in her usual way, advised her to avoid unhealthy snacks as they got older. Jane politely smiled and explained that her household always had chips for guests, but Amanda insisted she buy organic snacks instead. She always thought she knew best, and everyone in the neighborhood knew it. Rather than arguing, Jane simply thanked her.
The two women ran into each other again at the checkout, and Amanda invited Jane to join their book club, suggesting that weekends might get boring for her. Jane agreed and said she would come on Saturday. Amanda was pleased to have gained another member.
For the next two weeks, Jane showed up to the club, but then she started missing meetings. Amanda was shocked, especially when Jane stopped answering her calls. After a month of silence, Amanda saw Jane walking down the street with her hand on her round belly.
The following day, Amanda couldn’t wait to share what she’d seen with the book club. “I swear Jane is pregnant!” she exclaimed. Another woman agreed, commenting on how large Jane’s belly looked. Amanda shook her head. “At her age, she should be babysitting her grandchildren, not having a baby! It’s disgusting!” she said behind Jane’s back. Another elderly woman added, “What will the baby call her? Grandma?
Can you imagine attending parent-teacher conferences with gray hair while the other moms are in their thirties?” The club members laughed in agreement. “Who would want a child from her?” Amanda mocked.
A few days later, Amanda saw Jane again at the grocery store, caressing her belly while looking at peanuts on a shelf. Amanda rushed over, eager to find out who the father was. Before asking, she decided to give Jane some unsolicited advice. “Pregnant women shouldn’t eat peanuts; it can cause allergies!” Amanda said. Jane turned calmly to her and replied, “I’m not allergic to peanuts, and my doctor has given me the go-ahead to eat them.”
“That doesn’t matter! You’re putting your child in danger. How selfish!” Amanda scoffed. Jane suddenly looked unwell and hurried to the bathroom. “Ugh. That’s why women your age shouldn’t have babies!” Amanda called after her.
Suddenly, Jane’s daughter and her husband arrived, and her daughter confronted Amanda. “Why are you yelling at my mom?” she asked. Amanda explained that she was trying to teach Jane a lesson about the risks of eating junk food while pregnant. “How can she even sleep around? Isn’t she a widow?” Amanda added.
Jane’s daughter was horrified. “First of all, with all due respect, my mom’s pregnancy is none of your business,” she said. “But since you’re so interested, the truth is, I’ve been trying to get pregnant for two years, but every attempt ended in a miscarriage. I tried surgery and IVF, but nothing worked. The doctor said our chances were almost zero. Adoption wasn’t an option for me.”
At that moment, Jane stepped out of the bathroom and continued the story. “I offered to be a surrogate mother for my daughter, so she and her husband could have the child they’ve always dreamed of. This is my daughter, Billie, and her husband, Timothy Watson,” she explained.
Amanda stood speechless and embarrassed. Then it hit her—Timothy Watson was the heir to a multimillion-dollar corporation in their state, one Amanda had once worked for. “I’m so sorry,” she said, deeply apologetic. “I didn’t know Jane gave you such a beautiful gift by having your baby. Really, I’m so sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize,” Billie said with a smile. Then she turned to Jane. Amanda, now tearful, added, “I’m sorry for judging you without knowing your story. I hope you can forgive me.” Jane forgave her, and Amanda promised to be more considerate.
When Jane gave birth, Amanda was the first to visit the hospital after her daughter and son-in-law. She offered to help with the baby and supported Jane’s recovery every time she visited. In the end, Amanda became good friends with Jane, having learned a valuable lesson about not jumping to conclusions and respecting others’ personal choices.
In the end, Amanda learned a powerful lesson in humility and compassion. Her quick judgment of Jane, based on assumptions and a narrow perspective, led her to make hurtful comments and alienate a neighbor she barely knew. However, after learning the truth about Jane’s pregnancy and the selfless act of surrogacy that brought joy to her daughter and son-in-law, Amanda realized the importance of understanding and respecting others’ circumstances.
Her apology and willingness to make amends showed her growth, and over time, she built a genuine friendship with Jane. Through this experience, Amanda learned that it’s easy to judge others from the outside, but true wisdom comes from being open-minded, kind-hearted, and willing to listen before forming opinions.