Little Molly could never understand why her parents didn’t love her. Her father found her irritating, and her mother seemed to go through the motions of caring for her mechanicallyfar more concerned with keeping her husband in good spirits.
Her paternal grandmother, Margaret Wilson, would explain that her father worked long hours, her mother worked too, all so Molly would want for nothing. And then there were the household chores
The truth came out when Molly was eight, after she accidentally overheard her parents arguing.
“Nora, you’ve oversalted the soup again!” her father bellowed. “Cant you do anything right?”
“Nick, what? I tasted itit was fine!” her mother protested weakly.
“Everything’s always ‘fine’ with you! You couldnt even give me a son! The lads at work take the mickey’Nick the daughter-maker!'”
It was unlikely anyone actually mocked himhe was a stern man, a long-haul lorry driver whod seen plentybut the bitterness in his voice, the resentment toward his wife for giving him a daughter instead of a son, made Mollys stomach twist.
Now she understood why they always sent her to Grandmas when her father returned from a triphe simply couldnt stand the sight of his “failure.”
Molly loved staying with Margaret. They did homework together, cooked, sewed little dresses But it still hurt, knowing how her parents truly felt.
Not long after that argument, Nick and Nora suddenly announced they were moving to London.
They claimed theyd grown stagnant in their small town, wanted a fresh startmaybe even a son in the new place. Of course, it had been Nicks decision, and Nora had dutifully agreed.
There was just one problemthey didnt want Molly coming along.
“Youll stay with Gran for now, and well bring you over later,” her mother muttered, avoiding her eyes.
“I dont even want to go!” Molly said defiantly, though her chest ached. “Id rather stay with Gran!”
Fine. Here, she had her loving grandmother, close friends, familiar teachers.
Let her parents live however they wantedshe wouldnt waste another tear on them.
Molly had just turned ten when Nick and Nora finally had their long-awaited sonher little brother, Benjamin.
Her father announced it grandly over a video callneither parent had visited even once in those years. Her mother called occasionally; her father “sent his regards.” Occasionally, they transferred small sums to Margaret, but mostly, Molly was her grandmothers responsibility.
Then, a year later, her mother suddenly declared that Molly must move in with them. She even came to fetch her in person.
“Darling,” she chirped, “now well all be together at last! Youll finally get to know your baby brother”
“I dont want to go,” Molly said flatly. “Im happy here with Gran.”
“Dont be difficult, love! Youre old enough to help your mum now.”
“Hold your horses, Nora!” Margaret cut in sharply. “If youre after a free babysitter, I wont allow it!”
“Shes my daughter, and well handle this ourselves!” Nora snapped.
But Margaret wasnt so easily silenced.
“You try this, and Ill report you for child abandonment! Youll lose parental rightsimagine the scandal!”
They argued further. About what? Molly didnt hearGran urgently sent her to the shopbut her mother never mentioned the move again, leaving the next day.
For the next ten years, her parents stayed away. Molly finished school, then college, and with the help of Grans old friend, Albert Thompson, she landed a job as an accountant at a small firm.
She began dating a driver named William, and they planned a weddinguntil they had to postpone it. Margaret passed away.
Her father and mother arrived for the funeral alone. Benjamin stayed behind”no need for the lad to see such sadness.”
Molly felt numb. Shed adored her grandmother, and the loss left her shattered.
Maybe thats why she didnt immediately grasp what her father was discussing at the wake.
“Well the flats seen better days,” he mused, glancing around. “Wont fetch much.”
“Nick” her mother chided weakly. “Not now”
“Why not? Best settle things quickly. Weve got to get backBens on his own.”
“Albert, know any estate agents?” Nick pressed. “Someone to handle the sale?”
“What exactly are you selling, Nick?” Albert asked.
“The flat, obviously! Bens going to need his own place soon. This wont cover much in London, but its a start. Well pay off the mortgage by the time hes eighteen.”
Molly, tear-streaked, stared out the window, silent.
“So youd toss your own daughter out, would you?” Albert said coolly. “Wheres she to live?”
“Shes a grown woman! Let her get marriedher husband can provide!”
Albert sighed. “Margaret was right about you But it wont work, Nick. Theres a willlegally binding. This flat belongs to Molly now.”
Her father fell silent.
“So she got to Gran, did she?” he spat, glaring at Molly. “Fine. Well seewills can be challenged.”
“Margaret anticipated that too,” Albert said evenly. “Try it, Nick, but you wont win.”
It took Nick one day of consultations to realize the law was on Mollys side. He could try, but itd cost himwith no guarantee of success.
“Got no conscience, Molly?” he tried instead. “Youll have a husband to look after youBens the one who needs a home! Give up the inheritance!”
“No.”
“Well pay you! Thirty grandenough for a deposit!”
“No. I dont even want to speak to you.”
“Listen here”
“One more word, and Im calling the police. Theyll throw you out.”
Molly had no intention of betraying Grans wishesnor of ending up homeless.
Nick had no love for the policehe preferred staying clear of them. He and Nora left that day and stayed silent for four years.
In that time, Molly married William, and they welcomed a daughter, Maggie. Money was tight, but they were happyuntil her mother called.
“This is your fault!” she sobbed. “If you hadnt clung to that flat, your dad wouldnt have worked himself to death! He wouldnt have taken that last job!”
“Youre not thinking straight. Do you need help with the funeral?” Molly asked quietly.
She pitied Nickbut as she would a stranger, not a father.
“I want nothing from you! Because of you, Bens an orphan! Live with that!” The line went dead.
“You know none of this is your fault, love?” William said gently, watching her pale face.
“But what if”
“No. They abandoned you years ago. Dont torment yourself.”
She sighed. “Youre right.”
A year later, her mother reappeared unannouncedolder, tight-lipped, barely looking at Molly as she made fresh demands.
“Ben and I need money. Hes starting uni soonyour brother, in case youve forgotten.”
Molly cut her off. “Im not to blame, and you know it. That wont work on me.”
“Margarets upbringing really took, didnt it?” Nora sneered. “She always hated meraised you the same.”
“Say one more word against Gran, and youre out,” Molly said coldly. “And no, I wont give you money.”
“Dont play poor! Ive seen how you live!”
They had recently renovatedsaved for years, took a loan for the rest.
Molly didnt explain. Why justify herself to this womanthis stranger?
“You didnt even ask about your granddaughter.”
“Shes got two parents. Shes fine. But whos going to help us?”
“You get survivors benefits. You work. Live within your means. Ben can go to college.”
“Nick dreamed of his son having a degree!”
“Enough. The answers no.”
An old wound throbbedher parents had never spared a thought for her future.
“Fine,” Nora marched to the door. “Youll regret this.”
That evening, Molly told William about the visit.
“What can she even do?” he frowned. “Weve no money to give.”
“I dont know. But she wouldnt have come without a plan.”
A week later, a court summons arrived.
“Lost your mind?” Molly asked flatly over the phone. “Whats your game?”
“Ill make you support your brother. Theres laws for that. But youve time to reconsidersave us the humiliation.”
“And youre not humiliated already?”
“The laws on my side. Im fighting for my child!”
“Then I
