Granddaughter
Ever since I was born, my mother, Joanne, never wanted me. To her, I was no more than another old cushion in the flatjust part of the furniture, neither here nor there. She was always rowing with my dad, Mark, and after he went back to his wife, she completely lost the plot.
He left, did he? Never planned to ditch his cleaning woman, did he? Drove me round the bend, he did! Lied to my face, shed scream down the phone, and now hes dumped me with this brat? Ill chuck her out the window or leave her with the tramps at the train station!
Id clamp my hands over my ears and try not to cry, soaking up Mums hatred like a spongeher dislike was as constant as the air I breathed.
Dont care what you do with your daughter. In fact, I doubt shes even mine. Goodbye! replied Dad, cold as ice, at the other end of the line.
Suddenly moving as if possessed, Joanne began stuffing my little clothes into a bag. Important papers followed. She snatched me upat just fiveand bundled me into a cab.
Ill show him! And all of you! Her head filled with angry vengeance. She gave the cabbie a posh address as if she were royalty.
Shed decided to leave me with Marks mum, Edith Watkins, who lived outside Canterbury.
The cabbie didnt much fancy my mothers nasty tone, especially the way she snapped at me whenever I whispered a question.
Mum, I need the loo, I said, my voice barely there, expecting nothing good in return.
Oh, put up with it! You can use your posh grans toilet when we get there! she snapped at me so harshly the driver winced, fists twitching on the wheel. He had a granddaughter my age, and his daughter-in-law doted on her, never even raising her voice. Not like this.
He kept his glare on the road but muttered, Oi, lighten up, love. I could just as easily let you out and take your girl to social services.
Excuse me? You keep your gob shut! Trying to play the hero, are you? I could report you, say you were perving on my daughter and making lewd suggestions. Who do you reckon theyll believe? A cabbie or a trembling mum? she shot back. Shes mine; Ill raise her as I please. So shut it.
The driver bit his tongue. No point picking a fight with a nuttera shame for the little girl, though.
About ninety minutes later, we pulled up in front of Ediths place.
Wait here! Mum huffed, but the cabbie slammed his foot down and sped off. Walk the rest, snake! he shouted, fading into the distance.
Mum spat on the footpath, swore, then yanked me into the garden, kicking the gate open with her heel.
There! Heres your precious one. Do as you like with her. Your son gave the go-ahead. I dont want her! she barked, voice husky from too many cigarettes, turning on her heel and charging off.
Edith just stood there, stunned.
Mum! Please dont go! Mummy! I cried and ran after her, face streaked with tears and dirty fists rubbing my cheeks.
Oh, get off! Go to your gran. Shes yours now! Joanne tried to prise my little fingers off her houndstooth skirt.
Neighbours peeked out from behind their curtains or over their low hedges. Edith, clutching her heart, rushed after me as best she could.
Come on, love. Come inside, my sweet berry. Tears rolled down her creased cheeksshe hadnt even known about me until now!
Mark hadnt bothered to mention me, his illegitimate daughter.
Dont be afraid, I wont hurt you. Fancy some pancakes? Ive got some cream as well. Edith stroked my hair, gently leading me into her cosy cottage.
At the gate, she turned and saw Joanne flagging down a passing car, leaving behind only a swirl of dust.
We never heard from Mum again. Edith welcomed me with open arms, believing I must be heaven-sent. Shed never for a second doubted I belongedwe looked so alike, me and her little Mark. He only ever came out to the village so rarely, she barely recalled his face.
Ill raise you, Molly, she promised. Ill do everything in my power to give you a good life.
And so she raised me, surrounded by her love and care. Saw me off to my first day at primary school. Time flew bysuddenly, it was my final year, with A-Levels and prom looming. Id grown up into a kind and thoughtful young woman, well-read and clever, and dreamt of going to medical school, though for now, college would have to do.
Its sad Dad refuses to acknowledge me, Id sigh, hugging Edith as we sat on the terrace steps of an evening, watching the sun dip behind the garden apple trees.
Her wrinkled hand stroked my hair, softer than silk. But what could she say? Mark wanted nothing to do with raising me, his relationship with his wife now restored, a beloved son of their own. He doted on that boy, whilst I was just a source of shame to him.
When Dad did visit Edith, hed rarely miss a chance to belittle me, muttering about my threadbare clothes.
Youre the ragamuffin, not her! Edith snapped at him one day. You show up on pension day, beg for money even though you and the wife both have jobs. You bleed me dry! Get out, Mark. Dont come back again. Better this way than having poison in the house!
So that’s how it is, Mum? Fine! When you’re on your deathbed, I wont even bother to bury you! Mark raged, bundled his son, Freddie, into the car (after hed finished taking the mick out of me), and sped off. He never set foot there again.
God will sort him out, Molly, Edith would say, pulling herself to her feet. Come on, bedtime tea and then off to sleep. Tomorrows a big dayyoure getting your results.
Summer vanished in a blur of gardening and jam-making, and soon it was time for me to head off to college in London.
Ill ask Vic-the-next-door to drive usitd take ten trips by train otherwise, with all your things, Edith said, bustling about but still slower these days. She had another important task to see to in the city.
Outside the halls, I clung to her for ages.
Work hard, love. Its all down to you in the end. You can only rely on yourself. Im just an old woman now, not much time left…”
I blinked my tears back.
Oh, Gran, dont be ridiculous! Youre still a spring chicken. She smiled, hugged me goodbye, and hopped into Vics car, heading straight for her appointment with the solicitor. She wanted everything sorted while she still could.
Every weekend, Id travel back to the village to visit Gran, worrying about her health, cramming for exams, dreaming of university and extending her years with my newfound knowledge.
Then I started to visit less oftenId fallen for a classmate, Charlie. He was a sweet lad, clever too, hoping to get into university as well.
Edith was happy for me. After finishing college with distinction, Charlie and I married at barely twenty, in a modest café filled with his huge family; my Gran, the only one on my side.
Youve been my mum, my dad, and my Gran, all rolled into one, I said, voice trembling, tears welling as I knelt before her. You gave me more than shelteryou gave me a real home, your heart, and your love. Thank you for everything, Gran.
Everyone was moved, some even sniffling into their napkins.
Get up, Molly, love! No need for all this fuss, Gran whispered, bashful and beaming with pride.
Nothing embarrassing about it! Charlie boomed, sweeping Gran into a seat at our table. Youre the bedrock of our family now. Welcome to the lot! He flung his arm around his merry relatives.
That whole evening, toast after toast was raised to our happiness, and to the remarkable Edith whod nurtured me with such devotion.
Not long after, Edith grew frailer. It was as though shed given her all and was ready for a final rest.
Charlie and I took turns caring for her, dashing to and from our flat in London, juggling studies and our new responsibilities.
One day she squeezed my hand tightly and whispered, When Im gone, my son and all his lot will swoop in like vultures. Stand your ground, Molly. You have every rightI gifted everything to you years ago, signed properly with the solicitor. All legal and above board.
Oh, Gran
No, listen. Your parents never cared for you, so I did the best I could on my own. When my time comes, I need to know youll have a roof over your head. You and Charlie can sell this place, get yourselves a nice flat in town.
I could only weep, too choked up for words.
After that talk, with gentle care, Edith lived another eighteen months and passed away quietly in her sleep, no pain, just peace.
As she predicted, forty days after the funeral, Mark turned up with his family.
Youll have to vacate the house, he said bluntly. With Mum gone, youve no right to stay here.
I froze, seeing his disdain, his wifes unfamiliar face, and my half-brother Freddie, chewing gum and looking the house up and down, no doubt eyeing up how fast he could get his hands on a car from the proceeds.
Charlie came in from the shops and clocked our unwelcome visitors.
Who are these then? Got another lover already? Mark barked at me.
Charlie ignored him, calmly setting the bag of shopping on the table.
Im her husband. And you are? I dont recall us being introduced, he said coolly.
Mark, red with rage, pointed at the door. Get out, both of you!
I beg your pardon? Thats no way to speak to your daughter and her husband. As it happens, Molly owns this house. Want to see the paperwork?
W-what paperwork? Dad stammered.
That hussy tricked your mother, Mark! Go to court, quick! his wife urged, tugging his sleeve.
Ill show you! Ill prove youre not my daughter and not even Mums granddaughter! Dad railed.
Pack your things, beggar, Freddie sneered at me. Well make sure youre out.
After they left, I slumped to the floor and sobbed into my hands. Why do they hate me so much? Dad never brought me a single sweet as a girl, and now he wants my home too.
Do they really need this place, Charlie? Its all I have left of Gran! I sobbed.
Charlie gently lifted me up and hugged me tight. Well sell itright away. Otherwise, theyll never give you peace. Edith wanted us to sell and move into town, remember?
I just didnt think itd happen so soon… My whole childhood is here.
We found buyers quickly, people whod long dreamed of a lovely country house. They didnt even haggle.
The cottage was sprawling, set far from the road, its orchard awash with blossom, windows overlooking the pines, a wooden gazebo at the end of the garden entwined with grapevines. The sturdy brick house was just what theyd been searching for.
Charlie and I managed to buy a cosy little flat nearer the centre of London. Soon, we were expecting our own childcherished and wanted from the very start.
Lying in bed at night, Id whisper, Thank you, Gran, you gave me lifeand knew she was smiling down on us, her love alive in my heart.
