“I just dont understand you, loveyoure a woman, after all. Whats the poor girl done wrong? So shes from another womanso what? Youll raise her, and one day shell call you Mum. Its not ideal, but youre wiser than this. If you love your husband, love his daughter too.”
The call from social services came out of the blueJames had a daughter he never knew existed.
“Emily, sit down. Theres something I need to tell you,” James sighed.
“Social services rang me today. My daughters in care right now.” Emily gasped, her voice sharp with disbelief.
“What daughter? From who? Is this a joke?”
James dropped his gaze. “No, Em, Im not joking. About six years ago, before we got serious, I was seeing a woman named Lucy. When things started getting serious with you, I broke it off. A year later, she tracked me down and told me shed had my little girl, Lily. I didnt believe her at first, but one look at the child andwell, no DNA test needed. No idea what happened to Lucy, but now theyre asking if Ill take Lily in or not.”
Emilys first instinct was to snap, “No, I dont want some strangers child!” But the look in Jamess eyes made her swallow the words. “Alright. Lets go see her firsttogether,” she said carefully.
Relieved, James agreed, and they went the very next day. Emily studied the girlfive years old, small for her age, clutching a tatty old teddy bear. Whenever anyone spoke to her, she buried her face in the bears fur. Honestly? Emily didnt like her. Pity, sure, but the jealousy shed once felt for Lucy had now latched onto this child.
Turns out, Lucy had lost custodytoo much drinking, too many late nights, no time for motherhood. But shed named James as the father, and there was no undoing that.
Emily tried to talk him out of it, but James finally snapped. “You cant have kids of your own, so just sit quiet, then. I wont abandon my own flesh and blood. If you dont like it, leave. Ill manage without you.”
The words stung, but he wasnt wrong. James wanted children; she couldnt give him any. Health issues in her youth had made that impossible, and besidesshe loved him. Hardworking, hardly touched a drop, every penny went into their home. A man like that? Half the women in town would fight for him. She wasnt sure shed find better.
When James brought Lily home, he warned Emily straight off: “If I see you mistreat her, dont expect kindness back.” So Emily gritted her teeth and played stepmotherbathed the girl, scrubbed the grime off her bony little frame (though it was hard not to cry at the sight), dressed her in a clean frock, braided her hair.
Lily was quiet. Leave her alone, and shed stay in her corner, whispering to her teddy.
“Shes feral,” Emily grumbled to the neighbours. “Doesnt even acknowledge meor James, for that matter. Just yes or no, thats all you get. Sometimes I wonder if theres something not right with her. Too quiet, and thenbam!shell do something mad.”
The neighbours nodded sympathetically. James had changed tooonce all kisses and cuddles the moment he walked in, now his attention went straight to Lily. At first, the girl shied away, but soon she was trailing after him like a shadow.
Of course, Emily was jealous. And James had started grumbling. One day, while Lily was outside, he snapped.
“You treat her like a stray cat. Never a kind word. She needs a mother, not some standoffish auntie.”
That was the last straw.
“Mother? Shes no daughter of mine! And I wont dance attendance on her, either. Im leavinggoing to Mums. You two can live however you like!”
She stormed off, certain hed come chasing. A week passed. Then another. Nothing. Emily wept. Her mother, at first soothing, soon lost patience.
“I dont understand you, love. Youre a grown womanwhats that poor child done? So shes another womansso what? Raise her, and shell call you Mum one day. Its not perfect, but be the bigger person. Love your husband? Then love his daughter too.”
Emily walked into the backyard. James was tinkering in the shed, Lily happily playing with her teddy nearby. He spotted her and frowned. Emily frozethen Lily stood, took Jamess hand, and led him to her.
“Make up,” she said, pressing their hands together.
“Im sorry,” Emily sobbed.
James pulled her into a one-armed hug, drawing Lily in with the other. Emily cried harder, wrapping an arm around the girl too. They stood like that until Lily piped up, bored
“Me and Teddy are hungry!”
James and Emily exchanged a glance. Then, together, they walked inside. Finallya proper family.
