I just dont understand you, love. Youre a woman, after allwhats that poor girl done wrong? So shes from another woman, so what? Youll raise her, and shell call you Mum. Thats how it is, but youve got to be wiser than this. If you love your husband, love his daughter too.
David had gotten the call from social servicescome collect his biological daughter, the one he never knew existed.
Emily, sit down, please. Theres something important I need to tell you, David sighed.
Social services rang me today. My daughters in care right now. Emily gasped, stunned.
What daughter? From *who*? Are you joking? She couldnt believe it.
David lowered his head. No, love, Im not. About six years ago, before we got serious, I was seeing a woman named Sophie. When things with you turned proper, I ended it with her. A year later, she tracked me down, said shed had my little girlLily. I didnt believe her at first, but one look at the child and well, no DNA test needed. No idea what happened to Sophie after that. They just rang and asked if Id take Lily or not.
Emilys first instinct was to shout, *No, I dont want some strangers kid!* But the look in Davids eyes made her say something else entirely.
Alright. Lets go see her first, together.
Relieved, David agreed, and they decided to go the very next day. Emily studied the girlfive years old, tiny for her age, clutching a tatty teddy bear and hiding her face in its fur whenever spoken to. Honestly? Emily didnt *like* her. Pity, sure, but jealousy toward the other woman had somehow landed on this child.
Turns out, Sophie had lost custodytoo much drinking, too many late nights, never sparing a thought for her daughter. But shed named David as the father, and that was it. No undoing it.
Emily saw the determination in David to bring Lily home. She argued, protesteduntil David snapped.
You cant have kids of your own, so just sit quiet then. Im not abandoning my flesh and blood. Dont like it? Leave. Ill manage on my own.
It stung. But from every angle, he *was* right. He wanted children. She couldnt give him thatdoctors had made that clear years ago. Besides, she loved him. Hardworking, hardly touched a drop, every penny went into the house. How many women would *kill* for a man like that? She wasnt likely to find better.
When David brought Lily home, he warned Emily straight off:
If I see you mistreat her, dont expect kindness.
Emily forced herself to care for the girlbathed her, scrubbed her thin little frame (though it broke her heart to see those ribs), dressed her in a pretty frock, braided her hair. Felt like a weight had lifted.
But Lily was odd. Never spoke unless spoken to, sat in corners whispering to her teddy.
Shes feral, Emily complained to the neighbours. Doesnt even acknowledge David, just yes or no. I swear, sometimes I think theres something not right in her head. Quiet, quietthen *bam*, who knows what shell do?
The neighbours nodded sympathetically. David changed tooonce full of kisses and hugs for Emily, now all that affection went to Lily. The girl had started following him around like a shadow.
Of course, Emily seethed with jealousy. And then David grumbled one day, while Lily was outside:
Youre treating her like some doll. Never a kind word. She needs a *mother*, not some stand-in aunt.
That did it.
Im *not* her mother! Shes *nothing* to me, you hear? And I wont dance attendance on her either. Im leavinggoing to Mums. You two can live however you like!
Off she stormed, certain David would come chasing, begging her back.
He didnt.
A week passed. Then another. Emily cried herself silly. Her mum, at first soothing, soon ran out of patience.
I dont get you, love. Youre a grown womanwhats that poor child done wrong? So shes another womans. Youll raise her, shell call you Mum. Thats life. Be smarter about it. Love your husband? Love his daughter too.
Emily walked into the garden. David was tinkering in the shed, Lily beside him, happily playing with her bear. He spotted Emily, glared. She frozethen Lily stood, took Davids hand, and led him forward.
Make up, she said, joining their hands.
Im sorry, Emily wept.
David pulled her into a hug with one arm, drawing Lily in with the other. Emily sobbed, holding the girl tight. They stood like that for agesuntil Lily piped up:
Me and Teddy are *hungry*!
David and Emily exchanged a look. They went inside together.
At last, they were a family.
