Long ago, in the quiet village of Wexford, a storm raged within the walls of a humble cottage.
“I’ll leave you, and you’ll never see the child again!” shrieked Jane, her voice trembling with fury. “I want a proper familyno outsiders!”
“Jane, calm yourself!” Alexander pleaded, trying to soothe his wife. “There *are* no outsiders in this house! Emily is our daughter too!”
“Alex, lets send Emily back to the orphanage!”
“Have you lost your senses? How could you even suggest such a thing?” Alexander stared at her, aghast.
“Its simplewe return her! Well soon have our own child. Why keep a strangers?” Jane tossed her curls defiantly.
“Jane, dont you see? This blessing comes *because* we took in an orphan! You were the one who insisted on adopting her!”
“I never thought wed have a child of our ownthats why I did it! What sort of family has no children?”
Little Emily, just five years old, stood frozen outside the bedroom door, her heart breaking. She wasnt *theirs*? They meant to send her away? Tears spilled down her cheeks. She had been so happy about the coming baby and now, because of it, she would lose the only parents she knew.
As if sensing her presence, Alexander rose and opened the door. There stood Emily, her face streaked with tears.
“Papa am I not your real daughter?” Her wide, fearful eyes searched his face.
“Oh, my darling, of course you are!” He scooped her into his arms. “You are as much ours as any child could be!”
“But you said youd send me back! Doesnt that mean I dont belong?” She wiped her cheeks roughly.
“Yes, we brought you home from the orphanage, but that doesnt make you any less *ours*! We love you dearly! Your mothers just upsetthe baby has her emotions in a tangle. Come, lets tuck you in.”
—
The months passed, but Janes temper did not ease. One evening, she stood before Alexander, her voice sharp as ice.
“I wont stay another day! Chooseeither she goes, or I do!”
With a heavy heart, Alexander helped Emily pack her things.
“Youll stay with Granny for a while,” he murmured, forcing a smile. “Once the baby comes, your mother will see sense, and well bring you home. All right?”
Emily nodded, too afraid to protest. Anything was better than the orphanage. And she loved Granny, who always had sweets waiting and a warm hug to give.
“Granny,” Emily asked the moment they arrived, “if Mama tries to send me away, may I stay with you instead?”
Edith Lockwood fixed her son with a stern glare. He gave a weak smile.
“Janes justwell, the baby has her all out of sorts.”
“Of course you may stay, my dear!” Granny helped Emily out of her coat. “But your mother wont send you awayyoure her daughter! Shes only speaking from fear.”
—
Two months slipped by. Alexander visited less often, torn between work and the hospital where Jane lay, frail from complications.
One morning, as Granny cooked breakfast, Emily watched the road through the window. A familiar car pulled up, and she cried out joyfully, “Granny! Papas come!”
“So early?” Granny frowned.
Her son never arrived before noon. Sensing trouble, she sent Emily to the kitchen and went to meet him.
“Jane passed in the night,” Alexander said, sinking onto the hallway bench. “The birthshe didnt survive. Nor did the child.”
The three of them sat at the kitchen table, untouched tea cooling before them.
“Mother, Ill take Emily home. Its time.”
“If you need me, Ill stay with you awhile,” Edith offered gently.
“Thank you”
—
Summer faded, and autumn brought Emilys first day of school. She twirled before the mirror, admiring her new ribbons and crisp uniform. The front door creaked open.
“Papa!” She ran to greet himonly to stop short. A slender woman stood beside him.
“Emily, this is Elizabeth,” Alexander said with forced cheer. “Shell be living with us.”
“Hello, Emily,” Elizabeth said warmly, holding out a bouquet. “For your first day.”
Emily muttered a hello, ignored the flowers, and fled to her room.
“Dont take it to heart,” Alexander assured Elizabeth. “Shes really a sweet girl.”
“Im sure well be friends,” Elizabeth replied.
*Hah! As if!* Emily slammed her door.
Time passed. Alexander married Elizabeth quietly, then buried himself in work. Elizabeth did her besthelping with lessons, attending school meetings, taking Emily to the cinema. Slowly, the girl thawed. A fragile peace settled over the house.
Then came the news: Elizabeth was expecting. Emily locked herself in her room and wept.
“Emily, please!” Elizabeth begged through the door. “I love you! Id never send you away! Youll always be my girl!”
“Truly?” Emily emerged, her face blotchy.
“Of course!” Elizabeth embraced her. “Youre my child, just as much as this baby will be.”
Months later, Emily cradled her baby brother, marveling at his tiny fingers.
“Mama, look how funny he is!” The word slipped out before she realized.
Elizabeth, blinking back happy tears, pulled her close.
—
Years rolled on. Emily grew, and life seemed steadyuntil the day Alexanders carriage overturned on the road. The house fell into silence, broken only by little Colins confused cries.
One evening, Elizabeth took Emilys hands.
“We cant go on like this. We must keep living.”
Emily nodded. But grief was not done with them.
A stern woman from the parish arrived, declaring Emily must go to the orphanageshe had no legal parents now.
“How can this be?” Elizabeth protested.
“Show me the adoption papers,” the woman demanded. There were none.
Granny was too old to care for her, the woman said. And Elizabeth? She was no relation at all.
Emily felt nothing as she packed. Elizabeths promises to fetch her meant nothing. Who wanted an orphan?
Visits came at first, but Emily refused to see her. Then the visits stopped. *Of course*, Emily thought bitterly. *She has her real child now.*
Two months later, the matron summoned her.
“Youve a family at last!”
“I dont want one,” Emily said flatly.
“Want or not, go meet them.”
Outside stood Elizabeth.
“What are you doing here?” Emily whispered.
“I told you Id come.”
“Butyou adopted me?”
Elizabeth smiled. “The parish doesnt easily trust a widow, but I proved I could provide. And, well, bribes still work. Were a proper family now. Come homeColin misses you.”
Emily took her hand.
“Lets go Mama.”
