**A Second Chance**
“Mum, I dont want to go to Grandmas!” little Emily, just seven years old, wriggled in her mothers arms, desperate to escape. “She doesnt like me! She only likes Uncle Michael!”
“Emily, dont be silly,” sighed Sarah, buttoning up her daughters coat. “Grandma loves all her grandchildren the same.”
“Thats not true!” Emily stamped her foot. “Yesterday she gave Oliver, Aunt Sophies boy, an ice cream, and nothing to me!”
“Maybe you had a sore throat?” Sarah offered weakly.
“No! She just doesnt like me because Im not her real grandchild!”
Sarah froze, the hairbrush still in her hand. How could a seven-year-old know such things? Who had told her?
“Emily, who said that?”
“No one.” The little girl turned to the window. “I just know. Oliver says his dad and my dad are brothers. And I know my dad isnt my real dad. My real dad lives far away.”
Sarahs chest tightened. She sat beside Emily on the sofa.
“Listen carefully, love. Dad William is your real dad. Hes loved you since you were two. And Grandma Margaret loves you too.”
“Then why does she always praise Oliver and tell me off?” Emilys eyes brimmed with tears.
Sarah hesitated. Because Emily was right. Her mother-in-law *did* treat her differently from her eldest sons grandson.
“Sarah, were running late.” William walked in. “Emily, hurry up or Grandma will be waiting.”
“I dont want to go!” Emily burst into tears again. “She doesnt like me!”
William frowned at Sarah. “Whats this about?”
“Ill explain later,” Sarah whispered. “Emily, get dressed. Were all going together.”
They walked through the park in silence. Emily dragged her feet behind them, sniffling now and then. William carried a bag of groceries for his mother, while Sarah dreaded the visit.
Margaret had always been difficult. When William first introduced Sarah and her two-year-old daughter, his mother had been cold.
“Why take on another mans child?” shed said. “Find a proper girl and have your own.”
But William was stubborn. He loved Sarah and Emily as his own. They married, he adopted her legally, and gave her his name.
Margaret accepted it, but she never loved Emily the way she deservedespecially when her eldest son, Richard, gave her a “real” grandson: Oliver.
“Anyone home?” William knocked on the door.
“Come in, come in!” Margarets voice called from inside.
She hugged William tightly. “Oh, my boy, Ive missed you!” She kissed his cheek and nodded at Sarah. “Hello, Sarah.”
“Hello, Mrs. Harris.”
“And wheres my little granddaughter?” Margaret spotted Emily hiding behind her father.
“Here,” Emily mumbled.
“Come, sit.” Margaret led them to the sitting room. “How are you? William, youve lost weight!”
“No, Mum, Im fine.” He laughed. “Sarahs cooking keeps me well fed.”
“Thats good. And Emily, hows school? Good marks?”
“Fine,” Emily muttered.
“Emily, answer properly,” Sarah chided.
“Leave her,” Margaret waved a hand. “Children are like that. Oliver got a D in Maths yesterday. Richard spent all evening tutoring him.”
“Emily only gets As in Maths,” William said proudly.
“Very good,” Margaret said flatly. “Richards coming today with Oliver. Weve missed them.”
Sarah saw Emilys face fall. She knew Grandma was happier to see one grandchild than the other.
“Mum, remember when Emily and I visited last month?” William asked. “She recited a poem for you.”
“I remember,” Margaret said. “It was lovely.”
“Would you like to hear another?” Emily asked shyly.
“Go on, then.”
Emily stood in the middle of the room and recited a poem about spring. Sarah watched her daughters effort, her desperate wish to be loved.
“Well done,” Margaret clapped when she finished. “Now wash your hands, lunch is ready.”
Emily obeyed, and Sarah stayed to help set the table.
“Mrs. Harris, can we talk?” Sarah whispered.
“About what?”
“Emily. She feels you treat her differently.”
Margaret slammed a plate down. “I dont know what you mean.”
“You do. Children notice everything. She cried today because she didnt want to come.”
“And what am I doing wrong?” Margaret turned. “I feed her, I invite her.”
“But she sees the difference. When Oliver comes, you hug him, kiss him, give him gifts. With Emily, its just cold.”
“Because shes not *mine*!” Margaret snapped. “I didnt raise her! She has her own grandmotherlet *her* care!”
“Mrs. Harris, Emily isnt to blame for not being Williams by blood. Shes been your granddaughter for five years. He adopted her, gave her his name.”
“Just papers,” Margaret scoffed. “Bloods thicker than water. Olivers my grandson. This ones a stepchild.”
Sarahs throat tightened.
“So youll never love her?”
“Why should I? When you have real children, well talk.”
Just then, Emily walked in.
“Mum, why did Grandma say Im a stepchild?” Her voice trembled. “Im her granddaughter!”
Sarah realised shed heard everything. Margaret flushed.
“Emily, go to your father,” Sarah said.
“No! I want to know why Grandma doesnt like me!”
“Emily, I *do* like you,” Margaret tried.
“Liar! You called me a stepchild! Im not! Im Dads daughter!”
Emily ran out in tears. Sarah glared at Margaret and followed.
In the sitting room, Emily sobbed on the sofa beside William. He stroked her hair, confused.
“What happened?”
“Your mother called Emily a stepchild,” Sarah said coldly. “And she meant it.”
William paled.
“Mum, is that true?”
Margaret shuffled in, ashamed.
“Son, I didnt mean to It just slipped out.”
“Grandma said Im not hers,” Emily cried. “That I have my own grandma.”
William stood. Sarah saw his jaw tighten.
“Mum, how could you?”
“Son, I just”
“Just *what*?”
In the end, after tears and hard words, Grandma Margaret hugged Emily and promised to love her as a true granddaughter. And from that day on, the little girl never felt alone in that family again.
