**The Stepfather**
“What the hell do you think you’re doing, bothering a young girl like that?” snapped Gary.
“What?!”
“Youve got Emily completely wrapped around your finger! Dont think I havent noticed how you look at herlike shes not even your stepdaughter!”
Peter lost his tempergrabbing the lad by the front of his jacket with one hand, he raised the other to give him the thrashing he deserved.
“Pete!” Emilys frightened voice stopped him cold. He let go.
Peter had married Laura when her daughter, Emily, was just ten years old.
The girl still remembered her real father, whod died two years earlier, and at first, she was wary of this new man in her mothers life.
But Peter had won her over.
She never called him “Dad,” yet the way she said “Pete” was so warm and affectionate that no one doubted their bond.
In fact, it was Emily who held the family together when, six years into the marriage, Peter made the stupid mistake of cheating on Laura at a work party with a colleague named Ingrid.
Too much drink, the thrill of celebration, the high of a job well donehe barely remembered a thing. But someone made sure Laura found out.
The row that followed was explosive. Peter begged for forgiveness, but Laura refused to listen, threatening divorce.
They argued while Emily was at school, but the girl, kind and sensitive, still sensed something was wrongand it broke her heart.
“Only for Emilys sake,” Laura hissed through gritted teeth. “But this is the first and last time.”
Next time, it would be over for good.
Peter cursed himself a hundred times, desperate to make amends. He spent more time with his family, relieved when the light returned to Emilys eyes.
But she grew up. And at eighteen, she brought a boyfriend home to meet her parents.
Gary. Peter disliked him immediatelylanky, smirking, too full of himself. Only for Emilys sakewho gazed at the boy with stars in her eyesdid Peter keep his temper in check.
“Em, are you sure hes the one?” he asked softly once Gary had left.
“You dont like him, Pete?” Emilys face fell. “You just dont know him yet. Garys really sweet.”
Peter sighed but forced a smile. “Well see. Youve always had good judgment.”
Gary, sensing his future stepfathers dislike, kept his distancepolite, though it clearly took effort.
Then, for a while, Peter had bigger worriesLaura accused him of cheating again with Ingrid.
“Was she that good the first time you couldnt resist?” she seethed. “Just go to her, then! Why stay with me?!”
“Laura, what?!” He was baffled. After that one mistake, hed never even considered straying again. “Wheres this coming from?”
“Someone told me!”
He didnt waste time arguingjust called Ingrid on speakerphone.
“Peter,” she said dryly, hearing his question about their supposed affair, “are you drunk? I got married six months agoIm expecting my husbands baby. Did you even show up when I brought treats to celebrate at work?”
“Sorry,” he muttered. “My mistake.”
Peter shot Laura a pointed look. She flushed but huffed and stormed out.
For two days, she refused to speak to himmaking a show of her angerbefore things settled again.
He had to invent some excuse for Emily about the fightthough she was wrapped up in Gary, she still worried when her parents werent talking.
Then Peter got hit by a car. A stupid accidenthed stumbled into the road (as if someone shoved him), and a car clipped his legs.
Luckily, it wasnt speeding. He escaped with a sprained ankle and mild concussionthough the fall on the tarmac hadnt helped.
Struggling to move around the house, Peter relied on Emilys care. She brought him meals in bed (despite his protests), played card games, read to him, or just chatted.
“Honestly, why bother with him?” Peter overheard Gary whisper in the hallway one day. “Hes a grown manhe can manage.”
“Gary!” Emilys hissed reply was furious. “Petes like a father to me! I love him, and Ill take care of him no matter what!”
Gary muttered something defensive. Peter smiledtheyd raised a good girl.
But trouble wasnt done with him. His boss accused him of shoddy work after a clienta man named Leonard Smithclaimed Peters team botched a ceiling installation.
“Mr. Smith says the ceiling sags, the corners are crooked,” his boss said, lowering his voice. “And he swears you demanded extra money to do the job properly.”
“Thats rubbish! We did a perfect jobnever asked for a penny more!” Peter choked on his outrage.
Smith had been a fussy, nitpicking client, but hed seemed happy with the result. Why the sudden complaints?
“Just fix it!” his boss snapped. “Or the whole teams outwith no references.”
Smith dodged his calls, so Peter returned home tense. He explained everything to his family.
“Pete, dont worry!” Emily reassured him. “Hes just confused. Want me to come with you?”
“God, no,” Laura sighed. “Sort it out yourself.”
At Smiths door, the man looked startled. “What do you want? Im taking this to court! Youll be fired!”
“Show me the problem,” Peter said tightly. “Well fix it.”
“Theres nothing to see!” Smith shrilled. “Experts will handle thisreal professionals!”
Peter shoved past him. The ceilings were flawless.
He fixed Smith with a hard stare.
“W-well, what about the money? You extorted me!”
Peter stepped closer. Smith flinched, babbling about police.
“Quiet.” Peters voice was ice. “Who put you up to this?”
Smith cracked instantly. A young man named Gary had suggested complainingeven paying Smith to get Peter fired. “He said you had it coming!”
Peter showed him a family photoGary in the frame.
“Thats him!” Smith babbled. “You know him?”
Peter found Gary waiting outsideodd, since he usually came up for Emily.
The lad recoiled at the sight of him.
“Why?” Peter demanded.
“Because youve got no right hanging around her!” Gary spat. “Think I dont see how you look at Emily? Shes not even your daughter!”
Peter grabbed him by the collar.
“Pete!” Emilys cry made him freeze. He let go.
“Truth hurts, doesnt it?” Gary sneered, backing away. “Yeah, I wanted you gone. I even told Laura about Ingridwho knew shed check?!”
“Did you push me into the road?”
“No! Dont pin that on me!”
Peter scoffed. “Not worth dirtying my hands.”
When Emily learned the truth, she dumped Gary, ignoring his pleas. Now, shes focusing on her studieswith her parents full support.
