“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 shell call you Mum in the end. Things turned out this way, but youre the wiser one. If you love your husband, love his daughter too.”
Then the phone rangsocial services, telling the husband to collect a daughter he never knew he had.
“Emily, sit down, please. Theres something I need to tell you,” Daniel sighed.
“Social services called today. My daughters in care.” Emily choked on her tea.
“What daughter? From who? Is this a joke?” She couldnt believe her ears.
Daniel looked down. “No, Em, its not. Six years ago, before I met you, I was seeing a woman named Lucy. When things got serious with us, I ended it. A year later, she tracked me down and said we had a daughter, Lily. I didnt believe her, but one look at the girl andwell, no DNA test needed. No idea what happened to Lucy. They just called and asked if Id take Lily in or not.”
Emilys first instinct was to shout, *Absolutely not! I dont want some strangers child!* But the look in Daniels eyes made her say instead, “Alright. Lets go see her first. Together.”
Relieved, Daniel agreed, and they went the next day. Lily, all of five years old, was tiny and thin, clutching a battered teddy bear. When spoken to, she buried her face in its fur. Honestly? Emily wasnt won over. Pity, yesbut jealousy over Daniels past had now latched onto the child.
Turns out, Lucy had lost custodytoo fond of bottles and late-night escapades to care for a child. Shed named Daniel as the father, and that was that.
Daniel was adamant: Lily was coming home. Emily argued, but he finally snapped, “If you cant have kids, fine, but I wont abandon my own. Dont like it? Leave. Ill manage.”
The words stung. Butpainful as it washe wasnt wrong. Daniel wanted children; Emily couldnt give him any. Health issues in her youth had seen to that. And truthfully? She adored him. Hardworking, barely touched a pint, every penny went to their home. Women would queue for a man like himshe might not find better.
When Lily moved in, Daniel warned, “If I catch you mistreating her, it wont end well.” Emily gritted her teeth and played housemaid: baths, clean dresses, braided hair. The girl was eerily quiet, speaking only in nods or shakes, whispering to her teddy, *Mister Paws*.
“Shes feral,” Emily complained to the neighbours. “Doesnt acknowledge either of us. Quiet as a mousetill shes not.” They nodded sympathetically.
Daniel changed too. Once, hed smothered Emily in kisses the moment he walked in. Now? All attention went to Lily, whod gone from skittish to trailing him like a shadow.
Naturally, Emily seethed. Then one day, while Lily played outside, Daniel muttered, “You treat her like a stray cat. Never a kind word. She needs a mum, not a stand-in aunt.”
That did it.
*”Her* mum? Shes nothing to me! And I wont dance attendance on her. Im leavinggo live happily ever after, just the two of you!”
She stormed off, expecting Daniel to come begging. He didnt. A week passed. Then two. Emily wept; her mother soothed her but wouldnt tolerate her throwing away a marriage.
“Honestly, loveyoure a grown woman. Whats the child done to you? So shes another womansbig deal. Raise her right, and shell be calling you Mum soon enough. Be the bigger person. Love your husband? Love his girl too.”
Emily returned home. Daniel was tinkering in the shed, Lily giggling beside him with Mister Paws. He spotted Emily and scowled. She frozethen Lily stood, took Daniels hand, and led him over.
“Make up,” she said, joining their hands.
“Im sorry,” Emily wept.
Daniel pulled her close with one arm, the other around Lily. Emily hugged the girl too, crying into her hair. They stood there, tangled together, until Lily piped up:
“Me and Mister Paws are *hungry*.”
Daniel and Emily exchanged a look. Then, as one, they headed insidefinally, a proper family.
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