“I just dont understand you, love. Youre a woman, after allwhats that poor little girl done wrong? So shes from another woman, so what? Youll raise her, and shell call you Mum in the end. It is what it is, but youve got to be wiser than this. If you love your husband, love his daughter too.”
A call came from social services, telling the husband to collect a daughter he never knew he had.
“Emily, sit down, please. Theres something important I need to tell you,” Daniel sighed.
“Social services rang me today. My daughters in care right now.” Emily gasped in shock.
“What daughter? From who? Are you joking?” She couldnt believe it.
Daniel lowered his head. “No, Em, Im not. About six years agobefore we got seriousI was seeing a woman named Sophie. When things turned serious with you, I ended it with her. A year later, she tracked me down and told me shed had my daughter, Lily. I didnt believe her at first, but one look at the girl and I knewno test needed. No idea what happened to Sophie after that. They just rang and asked if Id take Lily in or not.”
Emilys first instinct was to shout, “No, I dont want some strangers child!” But the look in her husbands eyes made her say something else entirely.
“Alright. Lets go see her firsttogether,” she said carefully.
Relieved, Daniel agreed, and they decided to go the very next day. When Emily saw Lily, she struggled to find any resemblance to Daniel. At five years old, the girl was tiny, frail, clutching a worn-out teddy bear. Whenever spoken to, shed bury her face in its fur. Truth be told, Emily didnt take to herpity, yes, but any warmth was smothered by jealousy toward the woman whod come before her.
It turned out Sophie had lost custodytoo fond of the bottle, too many late nights out, never sparing a thought for her daughter. But shed named Daniel as the father, and that was that.
Emily could see Daniels resolvehe wouldnt leave Lily in care. She argued against it, but one day he snapped.
“You cant have kids of your own, so maybe keep quiet. I wont abandon my own flesh and blood. If you dont like it, leave. Ill manage alone.”
The words stung, but he wasnt wrong. Daniel wanted children; she couldnt give him any. Health issues in her youth had made that impossible, and she loved him too much to walk away. He was hardworking, barely touched a drinkwhat woman wouldnt fight to keep a man like that?
When he brought Lily home, he warned Emily outright: “If I see you mistreat her, dont expect kindness back.”
Emily forced herself to care for the girlbathed her, scrubbed the grime away (though the sight of her bony little frame nearly brought tears), dressed her in a clean frock, braided her hair. It eased the weight on her conscience a little.
Lily was quietnever spoke unless spoken to, just sat in the corner whispering to her teddy.
“Shes feral,” Emily complained to the neighbours. “Doesnt respond to mebarely even to Dan. Just nods or shakes her head. Sometimes I wonder if theres something off about herso quiet, then suddenly, God knows what shell do.”
The neighbours nodded sympathetically. Daniel had changed tooonce all kisses and hugs for Emily at the door, now his attention went straight to Lily. At first, the girl shied away, but soon she trailed after him like a shadow.
Of course, Emily burned with jealousy. Worse, Daniel started grumbling. One day, while Lily played outside, he snapped.
“You treat her like some stray doll. Never a kind word. She needs a mother, not some cold stranger.”
That set Emily off.
“Mother? Shes nothing to me, and I wont pretend otherwise. Im doneIll go stay with Mum. You two live how you like.”
She left, expecting him to chase after her, begging her to come back. He didnt. A week passed, then anotherstill nothing. Emily dissolved into tears. Her mother, at first soothing, soon lost patience.
“I dont understand you, love. Youre a womanwhats that child done wrong? So shes from another womanso what? Raise her, and shell call you Mum. Lifes handed you thisbe wiser. Love your husband? Love his daughter too.”
Emily stepped into the garden. Daniel was fixing something in the shed, Lily playing cheerfully with her teddy beside him. He spotted Emily, his gaze sharp. She froze. Then Lily stood, took her fathers hand, and led him to Emily.
“Make up,” she said, clasping their hands together.
“Im sorry,” Emily wept.
Daniel pulled her into a one-armed hug, drawing Lily close with the other. Emily sobbed, wrapping her arms around the girl. They stood like that for ages, until Lily piped up:
“Me and Teddy are hungry!”
Daniel and Emily exchanged a glance. Then, together, they walked insidefinally a proper family.
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