You Just Can’t Get Through to Him: The Story of Anna, a Stepmother Who Tried Everything for Her Husband and His Teenage Son—But Was Left Unseen, Unheard, and Unloved in Someone Else’s Home

Author Harlan CovingtonReading 11 minViews 2

You cant tell me what to do! Youre not my mum!

Edward flung the plate into the sink, sending water and soap suds splashing across the worktop. Sarah froze for a moment, heart thumping. The fifteen-year-old glared at her as though shed single-handedly ruined his entire life.

I just asked you to help with the washing up, Sarah replied, fighting to keep her voice steady. Thats all.

My mum never made me do the dishes! Im not a girl! And you cant order me about youre nothing to me!

Edward marched out of the kitchen, and moments later, the heavy thud of music echoed down the hall from his bedroom.

Sarah leaned against the fridge and squeezed her eyes shut.

Just a year ago, everything had looked so different

Matthew had entered her life almost by accident. He worked as an engineer in a nearby department at a large construction firm; they kept running into each other in meetings. It started with coffee breaks, then dinners after work, followed by late-night phone conversations that stretched into the early hours.

I have a son, Matthew admitted on their third date, nervously twisting a napkin between his fingers. Edward is fifteen. His mum and I split up two years ago. Hes well, he finds it hard.

I understand, Sarah covered his hand gently with her own. Divorce is always tough on children.

Are you sure youre ready to take us both on?

At that moment, Sarah truly believed she was. She was thirty-two, her first marriage had ended quietly with no children, and she longed for a real family. Matthew seemed like exactly the sort of man she could build a future with.

Six months later, Matthew proposed, shy and awkward, slipping a ring into a box of her favourite biscuits. Sarah laughed and said yes in an instant.

They kept the wedding simple both sets of parents, a handful of friends, a modest pub lunch. Edward spent the day glued to his phone, never once looking up at his new stepmother.

Hell warm up, Matthew whispered, noticing Sarahs uncertainty. Just give him time.

Sarah moved into Matthews spacious three-bed flat the day after their wedding. It was a lovely place light and airy, with a large kitchen and a balcony overlooking a communal garden. But from the start, Sarah couldnt shake the feeling she was a guest in someone elses home.

Edward treated her like she was part of the furniture glimpsed, ignored, hardly acknowledged. When Sarah entered a room, hed slide on his headphones. If she tried to speak to him, hed mumble monosyllables and look away.

For the first fortnight, Sarah chalked it up to adjustment. The boy needed time. Accepting a new wife for his father would never be easy. Things would settle down eventually.

But they didnt.

Edward, please dont eat in your room. Well end up with bugs.

Dad lets me.

Edward, have you done your homework?

Mind your own business.

Edward, tidy up after yourself, please.

Do it yourself. Youve got nothing better to do.

Sarah tried talking to Matthew, wary of sounding like the wicked stepmother from fairy tales.

I really think we need some basic rules, she said one evening after Edward had retreated to his room. Like no eating in bedrooms, clearing up, getting homework finished at a set time

Sarah, hes struggling as it is, Matthew rubbed his temples. The divorce, someone new at home lets not add more pressure.

Im not putting pressure on him. I simply believe the house should run smoothly.

Hes still a child.

Hes fifteen, Matthew. At that age, he ought to be able to wash up after himself.

But Matthew only sighed and switched on the telly, marking the end of the conversation.

Every day, things grew worse. When Sarah asked Edward to take out the rubbish, he looked at her with outright contempt.

Youre not my mum. And you never will be. Youve got no right to boss me around.

Im not bossing you just asking for help around the house. We all live here.

This isnt your house. Its my dads house. And mine.

Again, Sarah went to Matthew. He listened, nodded, promised to talk to Edward, but nothing changed or maybe those conversations never even happened. Sarah couldnt tell anymore.

Edward started staying out until all hours, coming home after midnight without phoning or texting. Sarah would lie awake, listening for the front door. Matthew snored contentedly beside her, completely undisturbed.

Will you at least ask him to let us know where he is, or when he’ll be home? Sarah pleaded one morning. Anything could happen.

Hes grown-up, Sarah. We cant control him.

Hes fifteen!

I was out late at his age.

At least talk to him? Explain that were worried?

Matthew just shrugged and went off to work.

Every effort Sarah made to introduce boundaries ended in an argument. Edward would shout, slam doors, accuse her of tearing the family apart and every time, Matthew sided with his son.

Hes having a hard time since the divorce, Matthew chanted like a mantra. You need to understand.

And what about me? Sarah finally burst out. I live in a house where Im openly detested and my own husband acts like nothings wrong!

Youre overreacting.

Overreacting?! Your son told me Im nothing here that I dont count. Word for word.

Hes just a teenager theyre all like that.

Sarah rang her mum, who always knew what to say.

Sweetheart, I hear the unhappiness in your voice, her mother said, concern clear down the crackling line. You sound miserable.

Mum, I dont know what to do. Matthew refuses to admit there even is a problem.

Thats because, for him, there isnt one. Hes happy the way things are. Youre the only one suffering, love.

Her mother fell silent for a moment, then spoke quietly:

You deserve better, darling. Just remember that.

With nothing and no one to hold him accountable, Edwards behaviour spiralled. The music blared long after midnight. Dirty dishes appeared everywhere on the coffee table, windowsills, even in the bathroom. Socks cluttered the hallway, textbooks were abandoned across the dining table.

Sarah cleaned, because she couldnt stand the mess. She scrubbed and tidied and cried in frustration.

Eventually, Edward stopped even pretending to acknowledge her existence unless it was to snarl or sneer.

You just cant get through to him, Matthew said one night. Maybe youre the problem.

Get through to him? Sarah let out a sharp laugh. Ive been trying for six months. He calls me her even when youre right there.

Youre being a bit dramatic.

Sarahs final attempt to connect took an entire day. She found a recipe online Edwards favourite: honey-glazed chicken with rustic potatoes. She bought the best ingredients, spent four hours cooking.

Edward, dinners ready! she called, laying the table.

The teenager appeared, glanced at the food, and grimaced.

Im not eating that.

Why not?

Because you made it.

He turned and left. The front door banged as he headed out to see his mates.

Matthew arrived later, peered at the cold food and his wifes anguished face.

Whats happened?

Sarah told him. Matthew only sighed.

Dont take it personally, love. He doesnt mean to be cruel.

Doesnt mean to?! Sarah couldnt hold it in any longer. He goes out of his way to humiliate me! Every single day!

Youre far too sensitive.

A week later, Edward brought five classmates home. When Sarah found the kitchen ransacked and leftovers scattered all over the place, she stormed into the lounge.

Out, now. Its nearly eleven!

Edward didnt even look up.

This is my house. I do what I want.

This is our home. There are rules.

What rules? one friend snickered. Ed, who even is she?

No one. Ignore her.

Sarah retreated to the bedroom, fighting back tears, and rang Matthew. He turned up an hour later, when the boys had already left, surveyed the chaos and his frazzled wife.

Dont make such a fuss, Sarah. They were only here a short while.

A short while?!

Youre making a mountain out of a molehill. And honestly, he frowned, its starting to look like you want to turn me against my own son.

Sarah stared at her husband, hardly recognising him.

Matthew, we really need to talk, she said the next day. About us. About the way forward.

Matthew stiffened, but sat down.

I cant go on like this, Sarah spoke slowly, choosing her words with care. For six months Ive endured disrespect. From Edward, contempt. From you, complete indifference to how I feel.

Sarah, I

Let me finish. Ive tried. Truly tried to make myself part of your family. But there is no family. Theres you, your son, and me a stranger in my own home, tolerated because I cook and clean.

Thats not fair.

Not fair? When did your son last say a kind word to me? When did you last stand up for me?

Matthew fell silent.

I love you, he whispered at last. But Edward is my son. Nothing else comes before him.

Not even me?

Not even you.

Sarah nodded. Something inside her went cold and still.

Thank you for being honest.

Two days later, her patience ran out. Sarah found her favourite blouse a birthday gift from her mum slashed to ribbons, the scraps lying on her pillow. There was no doubt whod done it.

Edward! Sarah stormed into his room, torn cloth in hand. What is the meaning of this?

He shrugged, eyes locked to his phone.

No idea.

These are my things!

So?

Matthew! Sarah rang her husband. Come home now.

Matthew arrived, looked at the blouse, his son, then at his wife.

Ed, did you do this?

No.

There you go, Matthew shrugged. He says he didnt.

Who, then? The cat? We dont have a cat!

Maybe it was an accident

Matthew!

Sarah looked into her husbands eyes and knew it was pointless. He would never change. Hed never support her. Edward was his whole world, and she she was little more than a convenient fixture.

Edward is lost without his mum, Matthew repeated for the hundredth time. You must try to understand.

I do understand, Sarah replied quietly. I truly do.

That evening, she brought out her suitcase.

What are you doing? Matthew froze in the doorway.

Im packing. Im leaving.

Sarah, no lets talk about it!

Weve been talking for half a year. Nothing changes. Sarah folded her dresses into the case. I deserve happiness too, Matthew.

Ill change! Ill speak to Edward!

Its too late.

She glanced at her husband a good man, perhaps, but only ever a father, never truly a husband. And the sort of father whose blind devotion was spoiling his own child.

Ill file for divorce next week, Sarah said, zipping her suitcase.

Sarah!

Goodbye, Matthew.

She left without looking back. In the hallway, Edward glanced at her, and for the very first time, she saw something in his eyes that wasnt contempt confusion, perhaps even fear. But Sarah had nothing left to give.

Her new flat was small, but welcoming a one-bed in a quiet part of town, its windows overlooking a peaceful garden. Sarah unpacked, made a cup of tea, and perched on the windowsill. For the first time in months, she felt at ease.

The divorce was finalised two months later. Matthew phoned a few times, asking her to reconsider. Sarah was politeeven friendlybut stood her ground: no.

She hadnt broken. She wasnt bitter. Shed simply realised what happiness is, and isnt. Happiness is not endless endurance and self-sacrifice. Real happiness comes from being valued and respected. And someday, Sarah knew, shed find it.

Just not with this man.

On the Edge of This Summer Working at the library, Dana considered her life dull—there were few visitors these days, as everyone was online. She often rearranged books on the shelves, dusting them off, but the highlight of her job was reading countless books of every genre: romance, philosophy… And by thirty, she realized that romance had somehow passed her by. At her age, she should probably start a family, but she wasn’t striking in appearance, her job paid little. It had never really crossed her mind to change her job, since she was content. The library mainly saw students, and occasionally schoolchildren or pensioners. Recently, a professional competition was held at the county level and, to her own astonishment, Dana won the grand prize—a fully paid two-week holiday by the seaside. “That’s fantastic. I’ll definitely go,” she cheerfully told her friend and mother. “On my salary I’d never get this far—this is happiness handed to me!” Summer was drawing to a close. Dana walked along the deserted beach; most holidaymakers were at cafes, since today the sea was especially rough. It was her third day at the seaside, and she wanted to stroll the shoreline alone, think, and dream. Suddenly, she saw a young man swept off the pier by a wave. Without a thought for herself, she rushed to help—it was close to shore, and though not a strong swimmer, she could manage in the water. The waves helped her pull the boy, holding him by the collar, until she finally managed to stand waist-deep on solid ground. One idea filled her mind: stay on her feet. She finally managed it. Standing there in her lovely dress, now clinging to her body, she looked at the boy in surprise. “He’s only fourteen, maybe a bit older, just tall and a little taller than me,” she thought and asked, “What were you thinking, swimming in this weather?” The boy got up, thanked her, and, swaying a little, walked off. Dana just shrugged and watched him go. The next morning, she woke with a smile—the weather was stunning, the sun shining bright, the sea sparkling blue and calm, apologising for yesterday’s roughness. After breakfast, she wandered down to the beach, basked in the sun, and later headed for a walk in the park. There, spotting a shooting range, she remembered her sharp aim from school and university. The first shot missed, but the second hit the target. “See, son, that’s how you shoot!” came a man’s voice behind her. She turned, surprised to see the boy from yesterday. The boy’s eyes flashed with fear—he recognised Dana—and she realised his father had no idea his son had nearly drowned. She smiled slightly. “Perhaps you can give us a lesson?” suggested the tall, friendly-looking man. “Zhenya here can’t shoot, and sadly, neither can I,” he added with a warm smile. Afterwards, they wandered together, enjoyed ice cream at a café, and rode the Ferris wheel. Dana half expected Zhenya’s mother to join them soon, but both father and son seemed content and were expecting no one. The boy’s father, introducing himself as Anton, was a fascinating conversationalist, intelligent, and with every passing minute Dana found herself ever more drawn to him. “Dana, have you been here long?” “No, just started my first week—I’ve got another left.” “And where are you from, if you don’t mind me asking?” As it turned out, father and son were from the same town as Dana. All three laughed. “Funny, isn’t it? We never met at home, but here—even by chance,” Anton smiled warmly, clearly taken by the charming, composed woman beside him. Zhenya, now at ease, chatted freely—realising Dana wouldn’t tell his dad about the previous day’s mishap. They parted late, Anton and Zhenya seeing Dana to her hotel, promising to meet the next morning. Dana arrived at the beach first; her new friends were nearly an hour late. “Morning!” came Anton’s familiar voice. “Forgive us, Dana, we totally forgot to set the alarm and overslept!” he laughed apologetically, settling beside her. “Dad, I’m going swimming,” said Zhenya, heading toward the water. But Dana shouted, “Wait! You can’t swim!” Anton looked surprised. “Of course he can, he does competitions at school,” he replied. Dana fell silent. Surely, he couldn’t swim? Perhaps she’d been mistaken. They all stayed in a neighbouring hotel. The next days were magical. They met every morning at the beach, parted late, went on sightseeing trips. Dana longed to talk with Zhenya alone—she felt he had something weighing on his mind. In fact, she learned father and son lodged in the neighbouring hotel. The chance soon came. One morning, only Zhenya appeared. “Hi. Dad’s got a fever,” he said, “but I asked if I could come—I told him you’d keep an eye on me,” he smiled. “Sorry I decided that, but I just didn’t want to sit cooped up.” “Zhenya, can I get your dad’s number to call and check on him?” He dictated it. “Hello?” answered Anton, “Maybe not a ‘good’ morning, feeling rough with a fever. Please look after my boy—he’s promised to do everything you ask…” “Don’t worry, just get well. He’s nearly grown and very sensible. I’ll look in later to check on you,” Dana assured him. After a swim, Zhenya sprawled on a sunbed beside Dana and said, “You know, you’re a real friend.” She looked at him, he smiled. “What makes you say that?” “Thanks for not telling Dad about what happened,” Zhenya said, blushing. “I was swept off the pier by a wave, and I panicked for a moment.” “You’re welcome,” Dana smiled, and after a pause, asked, “Zhenya, where’s your mum? Why are you here with just your dad?” Zhenya hesitated, thinking, but then seemed to decide he was grown up enough. Anton’s job sometimes took him away on business trips—Zhenya would stay with his mum, Marina. To everyone else, they looked like a happy family. But as it turned out, it was just an act—because of Marina. One day Anton told his wife, “I’m being sent to London for three weeks for training—afterwards, my boss hinted at a promotion and a pay raise…” His wife seemed pleased. While he was gone, Marina told Zhenya, “We’re having guests—my colleague Arthur and his daughter Kira. Arthur and I need to work on some plans, so you need to entertain Kira. She’s a couple years older than you.” Kira was lively, decisive. Soon, she suggested, “Let’s hang out in the park or something…” Marina agreed and handed her son twenty pounds. “Treat her to an ice cream!” The days passed. With Kira, Zhenya found new experiences—she was older, wise beyond her years. Before his father returned, Kira said, “Well, little man, lucky your dad’s finally coming back. Frankly, I’m tired of keeping you busy—it’s only to keep you out of the way while our parents have fun.” Zhenya was disgusted; still, he could no longer ignore the truth. Back home, he saw his mother’s coldness to his father. The family was on the verge of breaking. He considered whether to tell his dad. Soon enough, he overheard his parents argue. “Yes, I’ve been cheating. So what?” he heard his mother shout as he entered from training. “Nothing. I’ll just file for divorce. You don’t care for our son, so he’ll stay with me…,” said his father. “Fine,” his mother replied, “I’ll have another family.” Hearing the door slam as she left, Zhenya was certain—he wanted to stay with his dad. When Anton tried explaining everything, Zhenya said, “No need. I already know. I love you, and I think we’ll be better off alone.” “You’re a grown-up now,” his father ruffled his hair. “Stay in touch with your mum if you wish—she’s left me, not you.” But Zhenya wasn’t ready to forgive. After the beach, Dana and Zhenya brought fruit to Anton, now feeling better. He promised they’d be at the beach the next day. Three days later, father and son had to go home, but Dana still had two days left. Summer was ending. On the edge of that summer, they said goodbye. Anton promised to meet Dana at the airport; Zhenya smiled. Dana made no plans, just happily reread Anton’s affectionate messages, as he confessed he missed her already and looked forward to her return. Soon, Dana moved into Anton and Zhenya’s flat—perhaps most delighted of all was Zhenya, happy for his father, for himself, and for Dana.

“Whose Girl Are You, Love?.. Let Me Carry You Home to Warm Up — I Lifted Her in My Arms, Brought Her to My Cottage, and the Village Was Ablaze With Gossip: ‘Goodness, Anna, Where Did You Find Her?’ ‘What Will You Do With That Child?’ ‘Anna, Have You Lost Your Mind? How Will You Feed Her?’ The Floor Creaked Underfoot — Again I Remind Myself I Should Fix It, But Never Find the Time. Settling at My Table, I Opened My Faded Diary: Pages Yellowed Like Autumn Leaves, Yet Its Ink Preserved My Thoughts. Outside, the wind howls and a birch tree taps the window, begging to be let in. ‘Why All The Fuss?’ I Ask It. ‘Just Wait — Spring Will Come Soon Enough.’ It’s Funny to Talk to a Tree, I Know, But When You Live Alone, Everything Feels Alive. The war left me a widow — my dear Stephen gone, his last letter still folded tight and worn with rereading. He promised to return, promised love, promised happiness… A week later, I learned the truth. God did not grant me children—perhaps merciful, as there was little to feed them in those harsh years. The farm boss, Mr. Nicholas Evans, tried to comfort me: ‘Don’t worry, Anna. You’re young yet, you’ll marry again.’ ‘I won’t remarry,’ I always replied. ‘I’ve loved once, that’s enough.’ The day begins at sunrise and ends at sunset at the farm. The foreman, Mr. Peterson, often shouts: ‘Anna Evans, go home already! It’s getting late!’ ‘I’ll manage,’ I reply. ‘As long as my hands work, my soul stays young.’ My little farm: stubborn nanny goat Maggie and five hens that woke me better than any rooster. My neighbour, Claudia, liked to tease: ‘You’re not a turkey, are you? Why do your hens crow before the others?’ I kept a garden — potatoes, carrots, beets. All from my own soil. Each autumn, I’d jar pickles, tomatoes, mushrooms — winter’s jar cracked open brought summer right back to my kitchen. I recall that day vividly: March, damp and cold. Morning drizzle turned to an evening freeze. Off to the woods for kindling, I gathered an armful. Passing the old bridge, I heard crying. At first, I thought it was just the wind, but no — clear, childlike sobs. Beneath the bridge I found a little girl, caked in mud, soaked and ragged, terrified eyes wide and silent. She froze at seeing me, shivering like a leaf. ‘Whose girl are you?’ I whispered, not to frighten her. She didn’t answer, just blinked. Blue lips, swollen red hands. ‘You’re freezing,’ I murmured. ‘Let me carry you home and warm you up.’ Tiny and featherlight, I wrapped her in my scarf, pressed her to my chest, wondering — what sort of mother leaves a child under a bridge? Couldn’t comprehend it. I left the kindling behind, the child more urgent. All the way home she clung tight and quiet. At the cottage, neighbours gathered — news travels fast in English villages. Claudia arrived first: ‘Good grief, Anna! Where did she come from?’ ‘Found her under the bridge — abandoned, so it seems.’ ‘Oh, dear… What’ll you do with her?’ ‘I’ll keep her.’ ‘Anna, you’ve surely lost your mind! How will you feed a child?’ ‘I’ll feed her with what God provides,’ I retorted. First, I stoked the fire hotter than ever and heated water. The poor girl was all bruises, ribs sticking out. I bathed her gently, dressed her in my old jumper — nothing else fit. ‘Are you hungry?’ I asked. She nodded, shy. Yesterday’s soup and a slice of bread — she ate hungrily but neatly. Not a street child, I reckoned, but someone’s family. ‘What’s your name?’ She stayed mute, whether fearful or not knowing the words. That night I tucked her in my bed, myself taking the bench. Woke several times to check on her — she slept curled, crying softly in dreams. At dawn, I marched to the parish office — notified Mr. Stephen Jones, the Council Chair: ‘No child’s been reported missing,’ he said. ‘Perhaps someone from town abandoned her…’ ‘What now?’ ‘By law she goes to the children’s home. I’ll call the district today.’ My heart clenched: ‘Wait, Mr. Jones. Give me time — maybe her parents will come. Until then, I’ll care for her.’ ‘Anna Evans, think carefully…’ ‘No need. I’ve decided.’ I named her Mary, after my mother. I kept hoping her family would appear — none ever did. Thankfully; I was already smitten with her. At first, she hardly spoke, only searched the room with her eyes. At night, she woke screaming — I’d hold her, stroke her head: ‘It’s all right, darling. Everything will be fine.’ Out of my old dresses, I stitched her some clothes — dyed them blue, green, red. Simple but cheerful. Claudia clapped when she saw: ‘Anna, you’re a wizard with your hands! I thought your talent stopped at the spade.’ ‘Life makes you a seamstress and a nanny too,’ I replied, secretly proud. But not everyone was so clever — especially old Mrs. Martha, crossing herself at the sight of us: ‘Nothing good comes of this, Anna. To take in a foundling is to call trouble. Must have been a wicked mother — an apple never falls far from the tree…’ ‘Hush, Martha!’ I snapped. ‘Not your place to judge another’s sins. That girl is mine now, and that’s final.’ The farm boss also frowned at first: ‘Why not send her to a proper children’s home, Anna Evans? They’ll feed and dress her well.’ ‘And who will love her?’ I asked. ‘Plenty of orphans in homes already.’ He shrugged, but soon started helping — sending milk, oats. Mary thawed slowly; words came, then sentences. The first time she laughed, I was knocked off my stool hanging curtains. Sat on the floor, groaning, and she burst out with honest, child’s laughter — so bright my pain vanished. In the allotment, she’d “help” — tiny hoe in hand, copying me, mostly trampling weeds into the beds. I never scolded, just pleased to see life spark in her. Then disaster: poor Mary fell sick with fever. Red and raving. I ran to our paramedic, Simon Peterson: ‘Please, you must help!’ ‘Anna, I’ve three aspirin for the whole parish! Maybe some will arrive next week.’ ‘Next week? She might not last till morning!’ Off I trudged nine muddy miles to the hospital. Shoes battered, feet blistered, but I made it. The young doctor, Alex Mitchell, took one look at wet, filthy me: ‘Wait here.’ He returned with medicine, explained the dosages: ‘You don’t owe me, just nurse her back to health.’ For three days I didn’t leave her side. Whispered every prayer I knew. Changed compresses round the clock. On the fourth day, the fever broke: ‘Mum… water.’ Mum — her first word for me. I wept for happiness, for exhaustion, for everything at once. She wiped my tears with her little hand: ‘Mum, why are you crying?’ ‘Not pain, darling — joy.’ Afterwards she blossomed — chatty, cheerful. Soon school beckoned; her teacher couldn’t praise her enough: ‘Such a quick learner!’ Village folk warmed in time, stopped whispering. Even Mrs. Martha softened — shared pies, especially after Mary helped her light the fire during a nasty cold snap. Martha, laid up with arthritis, no wood chopped. Mary offered: ‘Mum, should we check on Mrs. Martha? She must be freezing alone.’ They became friends — the old grump and my girl. Martha shared stories, taught knitting, never again speaking of foundlings or bad blood. Years passed. At nine, Mary began asking about the bridge. One evening while I darned socks and she cradled her homemade doll: ‘Mum, remember when you found me?’ My heart skipped, but I nodded: ‘I remember, darling.’ ‘I remember a bit too. It was cold. I was scared. There was a woman crying, and then she left.’ My needles dropped. She continued: ‘I don’t remember her face, just a blue scarf. She kept saying “Please forgive me…”’ ‘Mary…’ ‘Don’t fret, Mum, I’m not sad. I just remember sometimes. You know what? I’m glad you found me that day.’ I hugged her tight, throat knotted. So many times I wondered — who was that woman in blue? What drove her to leave a child under that bridge? Starvation? Cruelty? Not for me to judge. That night sleep would not come. I thought: life seems so empty, so unfair, until the moment it prepares us for what matters — to warm a lost child. Often, Mary would ask about her past. I held nothing from her, always gentle: ‘Sometimes people are driven to desperate choices, darling. Maybe your mother suffered terribly.’ ‘You’d never do that?’ she would ask, searching my eyes. ‘Never. You are my joy, my blessing.’ Years raced on. Mary shone at school, rushed home: ‘Mum! Mum! Today I recited a poem at the board, and Miss Jane said I have talent!’ Her teacher, Miss Jane Williams, often said: ‘Anna Evans, that girl ought to go further. Gifted, especially with words. You’d be amazed at her stories.’ ‘How? We’ve got no money…’ ‘I’ll tutor her for free. Can’t bury that kind of gift.’ Miss Williams coached her in our cottage. I brought tea with raspberry jam, listened in as they debated Shakespeare, Dickens, Eliot — my heart swelling. At sixteen, Mary fell for a new lad who’d moved to the village. Wrote poems in a notebook, hidden under her pillow. I played innocent, knowing all too well — first love, tender but bittersweet. After school, she applied to teacher training college. Gave her all my savings, even sold our cow — fond Zora, but what could I do? ‘You can’t, Mum!’ protested Mary. ‘How will you manage?’ ‘Potatoes for me, eggs from the hens. You must go.’ When her acceptance letter arrived, the village rejoiced. Even the farm boss came round: ‘Well done, Anna! You raised and educated a daughter. Now we’ll have a student from our village.’ On the day she left, we stood at the bus stop. She hugged me, crying. ‘I’ll write every week, Mum.’ ‘You will,’ I choked, heart breaking. When the bus vanished round the bend, Claudia joined me: ‘Come, Anna. Chores are waiting at home.’ ‘You know, Claudia,’ I said, ‘I’m happy. Others have children by blood; mine was Heaven-sent.’ True to promise, Mary wrote often. Each letter a holiday. I memorised every line — tales of college, friends, the city, but always between the lines, her longing for home. Second year, she met her own David — a history student. He crept into her letters, at first in passing, but I knew. At summer, she brought him home. A solid lad, handy too: fixed the roof, mended the fence, won neighbours over. On the porch he shared stories of history — captivating. Clearly loved my Mary. When Mary visited, the whole village gathered to see the beauty she’d become. Even Mrs. Martha, aged and slow, crossed herself: ‘Dear me! I was so wrong when you brought her home. Forgive me, foolish old woman. Look at this joy!’ Mary became a teacher herself, at city school now. She’s married to David, happy as can be. They’ve given me a granddaughter — Annabella, named for me. Annabella — the spit of Mary at that age, only bolder. When they visit, not a moment’s peace. Wild with curiosity, always exploring. Brings life to the house — without a child’s laughter, a home is silent as a church without bells. I sit, writing in my diary again, while the wind howls outside. Still the floor creaks, still the birch taps, but the quiet is peaceful now — gratitude for every smile from Mary, for fate guiding me to the old bridge that day. On my table: a photo of Mary, David, little Annabella. Beside it, my tattered scarf, the one I wrapped her in all those years ago. I keep it safe — sometimes I lay it out, stroke it, and the warmth of those distant days floods back. Yesterday a letter arrived: Mary’s expecting again. A boy! David’s picked the name Stephen, for my late husband. The family line goes on — someone will remember. The old bridge is long gone, replaced by sturdy concrete. I rarely pass that way now, but I always pause, remembering: how one day, one chance, one child’s cry on a damp March night… changed everything. They say fate tests us with loneliness, so we cherish those we love. I believe something else — life prepares us to meet those who need us most. Blood means nothing; only the heart’s truth matters. And under that old bridge, my heart did not fail me.”

I Was Eight When Mum Left Home: She Took a Taxi from the Corner and Never Came Back. My Brother Was Five. From That Day On, Everything in Our House Changed. Dad Started Doing Things He’d Never Done Before—Getting Up Early to Make Breakfast, Learning to Do the Laundry, Ironing Our School Uniforms, Clumsily Brushing Our Hair Before School. I Watched Him Get the Measure of Rice Wrong, Burn Dinners, Forget to Separate Whites and Colours. Yet He Never Let Us Go Without. He’d Come Home Tired from Work, Check Our Homework, Sign Our Books, Make Tomorrow’s Packed Lunches. Mum Never Visited Us Again. Dad Never Brought Another Woman Home, Never Introduced Anyone as His Partner. We Knew He Went Out and Sometimes Stayed Late, But His Personal Life Stayed Outside Our Walls. At Home, It Was Just Me and My Brother. I Never Heard Him Say He Fell in Love Again. His Routine Was Work, Come Home, Cook, Clean, Sleep, Repeat. On Weekends, He’d Take Us to the Park, Wander by the Thames, Visit Shopping Centres—Even Just to Window-Shop. He Learned to Make Plaits, Sew on Buttons, Prepare School Lunches. If We Needed Costumes for School Events, He Made Them from Card and Old Fabric. He Never Complained. He Never Said, “That’s Not My Job.” A Year Ago, My Dad Went to Be With God. It Was Sudden—No Time for Long Goodbyes. While Sorting His Things, I Found Old Notebooks Where He’d Recorded Our Expenses, Important Dates, Notes Like “Pay the Fee,” “Buy Shoes,” “Take the Girl to the Doctor.” I Never Found Love Letters, Photos with Another Woman, or Clues to a Romantic Life. Only the Evidence of a Man Who Lived for His Children. Since He’s Gone, One Question Won’t Let Me Go: Was He Happy? My Mum Left to Find Her Own Happiness. My Dad Stayed, and It Seems He Set Aside His Own. He Never Started Another Family, Never Had a Home With a Partner, Never Became a Priority for Anyone But Us. Now I Realize I Had an Incredible Father. But I Also Understand He Was a Man Who Stayed Alone So We Didn’t Have to Be. And That’s Heavy. Because Now That He’s Gone, I Wonder If He Ever Got the Love He Deserved.