**Diary Entry**
Ill never understand you, my girl. Youre a woman, after allwhats that poor little one done wrong? So shes another womans childso what? Youre the one wholl raise her, and shell call you Mum in time. Its happened this way, but youve got to be wiser. If you love your husband, love his daughter too.
Then the call came from social servicesa daughter he never knew he had.
“Emma, sit down,” James sighed. “Theres something I need to tell you.”
“They rang today. My daughters in care now.” Emma gasped, stunned.
“What daughter? From who? Is this a joke?”
James hung his head. “No, Em. Six years back, before I met you, there was Sophie. When things got serious between us, I left her. A year later, she tracked me downsaid shed had my girl, Lily. I didnt believe her at first, but one look no DNA test needed. No idea what happened to Sophie, but they rang asking if Id take Lily in.”
Emmas first instinct was to scream, *No, I dont want some strangers child!* But the look in his eyes changed her answer. “Alright lets visit her first. Together.”
James brightened, and they agreed to go the next day. Standing there, Emma studied the girlsmall for five, clutching a threadbare teddy, hiding her face in its fur whenever spoken to. Honestly, Emma didnt like her. Pity, yes, but jealousy for the other woman now twisted towards the child.
Turned out, Sophie had lost custodydrinking, late nights, never sparing a thought for Lily. But shed named James as the father, and that was that.
Emma fought him tooth and nail, but one day James snapped. “You cant have kids of your own, so sit quiet. I wont abandon my blood. Dont like it? Leave. Ill manage alone.”
The words stung, but he wasnt wrong. James wanted children; she couldnt give him any. Years ago, doctors said shed never conceive, and besidesshe loved him. Hardworking, sober, the kind of man women fought over. Where would she find better?
When he brought Lily home, he warned, “If I see you mistreat her, youll regret it.” Emma scrubbed the girl stiffly in the bath, wincing at her bony frame, dressed her in a clean frock, braided her hairlike lifting a weight off her soul.
Lily was quiet. Leave her be, and shed stay in her corner, whispering to her bear.
“Shes feral,” Emma complained to the neighbors. “Wont even acknowledge James. Just nods or shakes her head.” Sometimes shed watch the girl and wonder*what if theres something off in her head? Quiet now, but what if she snaps?*
James changed too. Once, hed greet Emma with kisses. Now, his attention was all for Lily. At first, the girl shied away, but soon she shadowed him like a duckling.
Emma burned with jealousy, and James noticed. One evening, while Lily played outside, he muttered, “You treat her like some doll. Never a kind word. She needs a mother, not a stranger.”
That set her off. “*Mother?* Shes nothing to me! I wont dance attendance on her. Im leavinggo live happily ever after!”
She stormed out, expecting James to chase her. He didnt. A week passed, then another. Emma wept; her mother soothed her but wouldnt let her ruin her marriage.
“I dont understand you, love. Youre a grown womanwhats that child done? So shes anothers. Youll raise her; shell call you Mum. Be wiser. Love your husband? Love his girl too.”
Emma returned home. James was tinkering in the garage, Lily giggling beside him with her bear. He spotted Emma, eyes guarded. Then Lily stood, took his hand, and led him forward.
“Make up,” she said, joining their hands.
“Im sorry,” Emma sobbed.
James pulled her close with one arm, the other around Lily. Emma cried harder, hugging the girl too. They stood like that till Lily piped up, “Me and Teddy are hungry!”
James and Emma exchanged a glance. Then they walked insidefinally, a family.
*(Names adapted: Mariya Emma, Dmitro James, Anya Lily, Svetlana Sophie. Cultural references adjusted to English setting.)*
