“Will I have to spend my whole life proving I’ve done nothing wrong…”
Emily was watching TV while her husband, James, sat at the computer when her mum rang.
“What’s wrong, Mum?” Emily asked warily, muting the telly.
“Nothing’s wrong. Just thought I’d call.”
But Emily knew her mum never rang without a reason.
“Come on, Mum, out with it. Has Lily been up to something again?”
Her mum sighed.
“She’s been going on and on about coming to stay with you. Says she wants to go to uni. But her grades are rubbish—all she cares about is partying. What uni? We’ve got a decent college and a nursing school right here. Won’t even hear of them,” her mum sighed again.
“James and I only have a one-bed flat. It’d be a tight squeeze with her here,” Emily said.
“I know. I’m worried she’ll just run off to you. That’s why I rang—to warn you. Maybe you can talk some sense into her? She won’t listen to me. Completely out of control.”
“Mum, she won’t listen to me either. Once she gets an idea in her head, there’s no shifting it. You know that. I’ll try ringing Uncle Robert. Maybe he’ll take her in.”
“Do that, love. Though he’s got his own family now. Might be awkward.”
“Why awkward? She’s his daughter, after all. Alright, Mum, I’ll talk to him and ring you back.” Emily put the phone down.
“Your mum?” James glanced up from his screen.
“Yeah. Lily wants to move in—says she’s going to uni.”
“So? If she gets in, they’ll give her a dorm,” James said, turning back to his screen.
“She won’t get into uni, and she doesn’t even want the local college. She just wants a husband. That’s all she’s after. I’ll talk to her dad—maybe he’ll take her. He should. She’s his own flesh and blood.” Emily frowned.
*No, I’ve got to convince Uncle Robert. James is handsome—too handsome, or I wouldn’t have married him. And Lily? There’s no telling what she’d do. She couldn’t take her eyes off him at our wedding.*
Emily and Lily had different fathers. Emily’s dad drowned when she was six, out fishing with his mates—had a few pints, went to free his hook from a snag in the river, and never came up. His friends were too drunk to save him in time.
Mum, young and pretty, was left alone with Emily. She didn’t let any suitors near until Emily was in Year 6, when a handsome young maths teacher started at her school. Rumor had it he’d moved from London after a bad breakup.
He became Emily’s form tutor. At parents’ evening, he saw Mum and fell head over heels. Soon, he was round their house all the time, helping Emily with her homework—not just maths. Before long, she was top of the class, and the whispers started.
Then Mum got pregnant. She didn’t want to marry him, but Robert—or Mr. Carter, as Emily called him at school—talked her round. At home, she called him Uncle Rob. They wed, and when Lily was born, Emily became the big sister. She loved it—Mum trusted her to run errands, push the pram, even babysit if needed.
They lived like that for two years. Then Uncle Rob got offered a teaching post at a fancy grammar school in Manchester—no surprise, really, since he was brilliant at his job.
Mum refused to go with him. She never said why, but Emily was old enough to guess—Mum was embarrassed he was younger, scared he’d leave her in a big city, so she let him go first.
Uncle Rob left, and it was just the three of them. He paid child support faithfully, even sent a bit extra for Emily, knowing things were tight.
The sisters couldn’t have been more different—not just in looks. Emily studied hard, was sensible and driven. After A-levels, she moved to Manchester and sailed into uni.
Lily? Couldn’t be bothered. She’d always known she was pretty and used it.
At uni, Emily once bumped into Uncle Rob at the Trafford Centre. He was with his wife and their little boy. He stopped, asked after Mum and Lily—even seemed happy to see her. Gave her his number and address, told her to call if she ever needed help.
Emily went round a couple of times when she was skint, but his wife clearly resented it, so she stopped. He never rang her.
The day after Mum’s call, Emily rang Uncle Rob.
“Emily!” he said warmly. “How are you? How’s your mum? Been ages.”
“I’m married now, Uncle Rob. Got a job. All good. Actually, I’m calling about Lily.”
She could almost feel him tense down the line. He waited in silence.
“Mum rang yesterday. Said Lily wants to move here, go to uni. James and I live in a tiny flat. I thought—maybe she could stay with you?” Emily forced the words out.
“I’ll talk to my wife, Sarah, and ring you back. What uni’s she aiming for?”
“Honestly? No idea. Doubt she’ll get in. Grades are awful. If she does, she’ll get halls—if not… Guess she’ll crawl back to Mum.”
“Right. And you—any little ones on the way?”
“Not yet. Thanks, Uncle Rob.” *Too easy*, she thought.
Three weeks later, Lily turned up with her GCSE results.
“We’ve sorted it—you’ll stay with your dad. I rang him; he’s expecting you.”
“Who asked you?” Lily snapped. “I’m not going. I thought I’d be staying with you.”
“Where? The kitchen?”
“So? I can sleep there. Or are you worried about James? Too old for me, but…” Lily smirked.
Emily swallowed a surge of panic.
“Tomorrow, we’ll go to the admissions office. Where are you applying?”
“Please. I’m not a kid—I’ll handle it.”
“Fine. Term doesn’t start for a month. No way you’re lounging here. Sort your applications, then go back to Mum’s till enrolment. Non-negotiable. Now, let’s get you to your dad’s.”
Sarah, Uncle Rob’s wife, made no effort to hide her disdain for her husband’s daughter. Two days later, Lily was back in her hometown. But by late July, she was back.
“Why didn’t you stay with your dad?” Emily said flatly.
“He’s on holiday—Spain,” Lily chirped.
Grinding her teeth, Emily let her stay. Couldn’t exactly kick her own sister out.
It was a sweltering summer, the flat stifling even with a fan. Lily pranced about in tiny shorts and a crop top, no bra. Emily bit her tongue, shooting James anxious looks—but he seemed oblivious.
*Just a week till enrolment. Then she’s gone.*
The next day, Emily’s boss asked her to dash to London—some contracts needed signing. His deputy was on paternity leave, and she was the only one who knew the details.
Reluctantly, Emily agreed, though the thought of leaving James alone with Lily made her queasy. She left, forcing herself not to dwell on it.
James shut his laptop at 1 a.m. No sign of Lily. He rang her—no answer. An hour later, a slurred voice crackled over pounding music.
“You coming home? Do you know what time it is?” James snapped.
“Ooh, daddy’s worried,” Lily giggled.
“Your sister will kill me if anything happens. Where are you?”
A man’s voice cut in. “You’re not going. Dance with me—”
“Which club?!” James yelled.
“Piss off, I’m not—” The line went dead.
Still in his loungewear, James grabbed his keys. Couldn’t be far—probably one of the city centre spots. He’d have to check them all.
He found her in the first one, swaying against some greasy-haired bloke with glassy eyes. James tried pulling her away, but the guy squared up.
“Oi, grandad. Watch it.” His pupils were huge.
“Want the cops here? She’s underage.” James thumbed 999. “Calling them?”
The guy slunk off. James bundled Lily into the car.
She giggled all the way home, thrilled he’d nearly fought for her. Inside, he shoved her into the bathroom.
“Clean up. You look like a… lady of negotiable affection.”
“A what? You—bloody copper!” Lily shrieked, pounding the door. James leaned against it until he heard the shower.
4 a.m. Three hours till work. He collapsed into bed.
He oversThe next morning, as James rushed out the door, he glanced at Emily—still unsure if she believed him—and wondered if he’d ever truly escape the shadow of Lily’s lies.
