Little Emily couldnt understand why her parents didnt love her.
She annoyed her father, while her mother mechanically went through the motions of caring for hermore concerned with keeping her husband happy than with their daughter.
Her paternal grandmother, Margaret Thompson, tried to explain it away. “Your father works long hours, and your mother works too, so you never go without,” shed say. “And theres always the housekeeping”
The truth came out when Emily turned eight and overheard her parents arguing.
“Susan, this soup is too salty again!” her father barked. “Cant you do anything right?”
“John, what? I tasted itit was fine!” her mother protested weakly.
“Everythings always ‘fine’ with you! Couldnt even give me a son! The lads at work take the mick’John the Girl-Dad!'”
It was unlikely anyone actually mocked himhe was a stern, hardworking long-haul lorry driver whod seen his fair share of lifebut the bitterness in his voice over having a daughter instead of a son made Emilys stomach twist.
Now she understood why they sent her to Grans whenever Dad came home from a trip. He just couldnt stand the sight of his “not-a-son.”
At Grans, Emily was happy. They did homework together, cooked, sewed clothes Still, it stung that her parents treated her this way.
Not long after that argument, John and Susan abruptly announced they were moving to London.
“Stagnating here,” they claimed. Wanted a fresh startmaybe even have a son in the new place. Of course, it was Dads decision, and Mum just nodded along.
Only one problemthey didnt want Emily coming with them.
“Youll stay with Gran for now, and well fetch you later,” her mother mumbled, avoiding eye contact.
“I dont want to go anyway! Id rather stay with Gran,” Emily declared, chin highthough her heart ached from the rejection.
Fine. Shed stay with her loving gran, her friends, her familiar teachers.
Her parents could do as they pleasedshe wouldnt waste tears on them anymore.
Emily had just turned ten when John and Susan had their long-awaited sonher little brother, Oliver.
Her father announced it proudly over video callthey hadnt visited even once in all those years. Mum called occasionally; Dad just “sent his regards.”
They occasionally sent Margaret some money, but mostly, Emily was Grans responsibility.
Then, a year later, Mum suddenly insisted Emily move in with them. She even made the trip herself.
“Darling,” she gushed, “well all be together now! Youll finally meet your brotherbond with him!”
“I dont want to go,” Emily said flatly. “Im happy with Gran.”
“Dont be difficult! Youre old enough to help me now.”
“Susan, hold your horses!” Gran cut in. “If youre after a free babysitter, think again!”
“Shes my daughterIll decide!” Mum snapped.
But Gran wasnt backing down. “Hand her over now, and Ill report you for abandonment! Social services will strip your rightssee how you like that!”
They arguedEmily didnt catch the rest; Gran sent her to the shopbut Mum never brought up moving again. She left the next day.
For the next ten years, Emilys parents vanished. She finished school, then college, and with the help of Grans old friend, Albert Harris, landed a job as an accountant at a small firm.
She started dating a driver named James, and they planned to marryuntil Gran passed away, forcing them to postpone.
Her parents showed up for the funeraljust the two of them. Oliver stayed behind”no need for a boy to see such sadness.”
Emily didnt care. Shed loved Gran deeply, and the loss shattered her.
Maybe thats why she didnt immediately grasp what her father was hinting at during the wake.
“This place is run down,” he mused, eyeing the flat. “Wont fetch much.”
“Johnnot now,” Mum chided.
“Why not? Best sort things straightaway. Olivers home alone.”
“Albert,” Dad pressed, “know any estate agents? Need to sell quickly.”
“Sell what?” Albert asked.
“The flat, obviously. Oliver will need his own place someday. Wont cover much in London, but its a start. Well have the mortgage paid by the time hes eighteen.”
Emily, numb, stared out the window.
“John,” Albert said slowly, “youd toss your daughter out? Wheres she to live?”
“Shes grown! Let her marryher husband can house her.”
Albert sighed. “Margaret was right about you But it wont work. The wills legal. This flat belongs to Emily now.”
Dad fell silent.
“So she conned Gran, did she?” he hissed, shooting Emily a glare. “Well see about thatwills can be challenged.”
“Margaret planned for that too,” Albert said coolly. “Try it, John. I wont let you bully her.”
One day was all Dad needed to consult a solicitor and realise the law wasnt on his side. He could trybut itd cost him, with no guarantee of winning.
“Emily, wheres your conscience?” he tried instead. “Youll marryyour bloke can provide. Oliver needs this! Hes the son. Just walk away!”
“Not a chance,” she said flatly.
“Finewell buy you out. A hundred grand. Enough for a depositget your own mortgage.”
“I dont want your money. And I dont want to speak to you.”
“Why, you!”
“Leave, or Ill call the police.”
She meant it. This was Grans homethe one person whod truly cared for her. She wouldnt lose it.
Dad hated dealing with the law. He and Mum left that dayand didnt contact her for four years.
In that time, Emily married James, and they had a daughter, Lily. Money was tight, but they were happyuntil Mum called out of the blue.
“This is your fault!” she screamed down the line. “If you hadnt clung to that damn flat, your dad wouldnt have taken extra shifts! He wouldnt have been on that road!”
“Youre not thinking straight. Do you need help with the funeral?” Emily asked quietly.
She pitied Johnbut like she would a stranger, not a father.
“I need nothing! Olivers an orphan nowlive with that!” The line went dead.
“Em, you know this isnt on you?” James said, seeing her pale.
“But what if?”
“No. They abandoned you years ago. Dont blame yourself.”
He was right.
A year later, Mum reappearedunannounced, aged, lips tight. She barely looked at Emily before making demands.
“Oliver starts uni soon. He wont get a bursaryyoull help. This is your doing.”
“Stop,” Emily interrupted. “Im not responsible, and you know it. This wont work.”
“Margarets raised you well, hasnt she?” Mum sneered. “She always hated mepoisoned you too.”
“One more word against Gran, and youre out,” Emily warned. “And no, I wont give you money.”
“Dont lie! I see how you live.”
Theyd recently renovatedsaved for two years, took a loan for the rest. But Emily didnt justify herself to this stranger.
“You didnt even ask about Lily”
“Shes got both parentsshes fine. Oliver and I have no one!”
“You get widowers pension, and you work. Live within your means. He can go to college.”
“John dreamed of him going to uni!”
“Enough. The answers no.”
For a second, old hurt flaredher parents had never dreamed of her future.
“Fine,” Mum headed for the door. “Youll regret this.”
That night, Emily told James.
“What can she even do?” he frowned. “Weve got no money to give.”
“No idea. But shes planning something.”
A week later, a court summons arrived.
“Lost your mind?” Emily asked flatly. “Whats your game?”
“Making you support your brother. Theres a lawbut youve time to back down and avoid the shame.”
“And you wont be embarrassed?”
“The laws on my side. Im fighting for my child!”
“Am I not yours?” Emily whispered, hanging up.
In court, Mum put on a showtearfully claiming she “had” to leave Emily with Gran. How shed finally had her precious son, lost her husband, and now struggled.
The judge seemed sympatheticuntil Emily spoke, calm and
