Granddaughter
From the moment she was born, little Emily had never truly been wanted by her mother, Diane. Diane treated her as little more than some fixture in the flatthere, but unseen, unremarked. She was always having bitter rows with Emilys father and, after he left her to return to his lawful wife, Diane seemed to lose all sense.
Hes gone, has he? So much for all his empty promises! He was never going to leave that woman! Tore my nerves to shreds, lied his way through life, she screeched into the telephone, her voice tight with rage. Now hes dumped me with his child? Ill toss her through the window or leave her at Kings Cross with the tramps!
Emily covered her ears and cried softly, absorbing the contempt of her own mother like a sponge absorbs water.
I dont give a toss what you do with your daughter. As far as Im concerned, she might not even be mine. Goodbye, replied Mark, her father, on the other end of the line.
For a moment, Diane stood there as though possessed, then flung a few of Emilys clothes into a bag, stuffed her birth certificate on top, and bundled the five-year-old girl into a taxi.
Ill show him! Ill show the lot of them! she fumed, instructing the driver with an affected, snobbish tone as to where she needed to go.
She planned to leave Emily with Marks mother, Margaret Thompson, who lived in a small village in Kenta world away from their city flat.
The taxi driver, a kindly chap with grandchildren of his own, disliked Dianes arrogance and rough tongue, especially when she barked at the timid little girl.
Mum, I need the loo, Emily whispered, bracing herself.
Diane shot back so sharply, the driver clenched his fists on the steering wheel, fighting the urge to say something. His own daughter-in-law doted on his granddaughter; shed never so much as raise her voice.
Hold it! Youll go at your posh-grannys place!
Diane turned away and stared ferociously out of the window.
Alright, love, take it easy, the driver said, a gentle warning in his voice. Or I might just tip you out right here, take the little one to social services myself.
You what? Oh, shut it! Defender of girls, are you? Ill tell them you were looking at my daughter funny and making lewd suggestions. Who do you think theyll believesome cabbie or a sobbing mother? Shes my kid. Ill raise her how I see fit. So keep your mouth shut!
The driver got the messagebest not to get involved with someone so volatile, but his heart ached for Emily.
An hour and a half later, they finally reached Margarets cottage.
Wait here, I wont be a minute! Diane snapped before slamming the car door, only to hear the taxi speed off without her.
Walk home, you witch! drifted from the departing cab.
Diane spat over her shoulder, cursed, seized Emilys hand, and strode into the garden, kicking open the little iron gate.
Here! Heres your precious granddaughter. Do what you like with her. Your darling boy agreed to all thisshes your problem now! Diane barked, her voice harsh and smoky, before storming out without a backward glance.
Margaret just stared after her, shocked.
Mum! Mummy! Dont go! sobbed Emily with such misery that Margarets heart broke. The child ran desperately after her mother, whod already reached the lane.
Get lost! Go to your granny. Youre living with her now! Diane bellowed, trying to wrench Emilys fingers from her checked skirt.
A few neighbours poked their heads out, curiosity piqued by the commotion. Margaret, clutching her chest, hurried after the wailing girl as best she could.
Come, precious. Come here, sweetheart, Margaret soothed, her wrinkled face streaked with tears. She knew next to nothing about Emilyher son had never even mentioned her existence.
I wont hurt you, darling. Lets go inside. Shall I make you pancakes? Theres clotted cream too, she cooed, coaxing the little girl back to the warm safety of her kitchen.
Margaret glanced back through the garden gate just in time to see Diane hop into a passing car and speed away, leaving only a cloud of dust behind. They never heard from her again. But Margaret welcomed Emily as a gift from above; she didnt doubt for a second that this girl was truly family. Emily was the spitting image of little Mark, who barely visited these daysso rarely, in fact, Margaret often forgot what he looked like.
Ill raise you, Emily. Ill see you grow strong and give you all I canwhatever strength I have left.
And so she did. She doted on her granddaughter, lavished her with care and kindness, and saw her off to her first day at primary school. The years whisked by in a blink.
Soon, Emily was graduating from sixth form, her prom fast approaching. She had grown into a striking young woman, clever and thoughtful, with a heart of gold. Her dream was to become a doctor, but for now, she would apply to college.
Its just such a shame Dad wont acknowledge me, Emily sighed one evening as she hugged Margaret out on the porch, watching the sunset after a long day.
Margarets hand shook as she stroked Emilys soft hair. There was little she could say. Her son Mark had never accepted Emily as his; hed rebuilt his marriage and adored the son from itspoiling that boy endlessly. As for Emily, he avoided her, only ever showing up on the odd pension day to badger his mother for money and insult Emily as a ragamuffin.
Takes one to know one! Margaret had finally snapped. You only show up when my pension hitsbegging for handouts, even though you and your wife both have jobs. Just go, Mark, and dont come back. Better none at all than this!
Oh, thats how it is now, Mum? Fine! When youre on your deathbed, I wont even come to your funeral! Mark shouted, dragging his son Tomwhod just been giving Emily grief in the gardenoff to their car. As they left, Mark glared bitterly at Emily.
Margaret tried to shrug it all off. God will deal with him, Emily. Come nowlets have a cuppa before bed. Tomorrows a big dayyou get your certificates!
That summer flew by in a haze of tending vegetables and piecing together plans for college. When the time came, Margaret enlisted Victor, the kindly neighbour, to help with their luggage. She wasnt feeling great herselfperhaps it was time to sort out her affairs.
Outside Emilys new lodging, the two hugged for ages.
Just knuckle down and studyyour futures in your hands now, love. Im old and worn out. Who knows how long Ill be about
Emily wiped at the tears threatening to spill.
Oh, Gran! Dont be sillyyoure just approaching your prime!
Margaret smiled, pressed a kiss to her granddaughters brow, and left with Victor. On the way home, she popped into the solicitors office in town, feeling content as she returned to the village.
Emily visited every weekend, anxious for her gran, working hard at her coursework and dreaming of medical school. She was certain her future could, somehow, give her gran many more good years.
As time wore on, Emilys visits grew less frequent. Love found her in the form of a bright classmate named Alex. He was a steady, focused lad, intent on university himself.
Margaret, pleased as punch, watched with pride as Emily finished college with distinction. The young couple, both only twenty, married in a simple ceremony at a modest cafeMargaret, the only guest on the brides side.
Youre not just my granyoure my mum and my dad in one. All these years, youve given me nothing but warmth and love. You cared for me, fed, clothed, and taught me. You gave me a real home. I love you, Gran! Thank you, for everything, Emily managed, her voice trembling with tears. She knelt before Margaret, wrapping her arms tightly round the old lady.
There wasnt a dry eye among the guests.
Up you get, Emily. Youll set me off! Margaret whispered as pride threatened to burst her heart.
Nothing to feel awkward about! Alex declared, pulling Margaret over beside him. Youre the real matriarch of our family! Welcome!
The rest of the night was filled with toasts for the happiness of the newlyweds and the health of Margaret, whod raised such an extraordinary girl.
Before long, Margarets strength finally began to fade. With her lifes work done, it seemed, she became bedridden. Emily and Alex took turns rushing between town and village, tending to her while balancing their university studies.
One day, Margaret gripped Emilys hand and said quietly, When Im gone, youll see Mark and his wife descend on you like vultures. But you stand strong, love. Years ago, I signed the house over to you. Its all legal and above board with the solicitor.
Gran
No, darlingdont say a word. You never had real parents. I did my best alone. I want to leave this world knowing you have a home of your own. Sell it with Alex and buy a flat in town when youre ready.
Emily could only sob, words stuck in her throat.
With their devoted care, Margaret lingered another year and a half before passing away peacefully in her sleep.
Just as shed warned, Mark turned up with his family forty days later.
Time to leave, he said coldly. While Mum was alive, you were allowed to stay. Now shes goneyoure out.
Emily froze, staring at faces she barely recognised. Marks wifewhom Emily had never metlooked contemptuous. Her half-brother, chewing gum insolently, was already sizing up the house, no doubt hoping his parents would sell quickly and buy him a cara clapped-out one, perhaps, but at least itd be his. No more begging Dad for the keys just to impress the girls.
Just then, Alex walked in with the groceries and paused, sizing up the unwelcome visitors.
And whos this? Already inviting your lovers in? Mark sneered.
Alex calmly set the bag on the table. Im her husband. And who, exactly, are you? I dont recall us meeting.
Mark flushed red, indignant. Both of youout! he barked.
First of all, stop shouting. Secondly, Emilys the rightful owner here. Care to see the transfer papers? Alex said calmly, brandishing the solicitors letter.
W-what transfer? Mark stammered.
She mustve tricked your motherstraight to court with this! Marks wife snapped at her husband.
Ill prove youre not my daughter or my mums granddaughter! Ill see you out of here if its the last thing I do! Mark raged, clenching his fists.
Pack your bags, ragamuffin. Well make sure you dont stay long, sneered her half-brother, his dream of a new car slipping away.
They left a vacuum in their wake. Emily slid to the floor and sobbed behind her hands. What had she ever done to deserve such hate? Her father had never given her as much as a lollipopnow he wished to steal her home as well.
Are they struggling so much? Have nowhere else to go? Alex, this is all I have left of Gran! she cried into her husbands chest.
Alex held her firmly. Tomorrow, well list the house for sale. You know theyll never stop hounding you otherwise. Dont argue; remember Margaret always said we should sell and move to town when the time came.
I just never thought itd come so soon. This house was my whole childhood.
The house sold quickly, snapped up by a well-off family whod always wanted a place in the countryside. They didnt even try to haggle.
The property was large, fruit trees shading the gardens, set well back from the lane. Windows looked out onto the pines; a wooden pergola smothered in vines stood in the farther corner. The solid brick house suited the new owners perfectly.
Emily and Alex bought a cosy little flat near the town centre. Before long, they were expecting their first childa child longed for and deeply loved.
And every night before sleep, Emily would whisper into the darkness, Thank you, Gran. You gave me life.Ill make sure our baby has everything you gave melove, safety, and a home that truly belongs to them.
As the weeks drifted by and the seasons turned, Emily found herself standing on her tiny balcony one golden evening, feeling the first shy flutters of new life within. She gazed up at the drifting clouds, the sun setting in honeyed splendor beyond the rooftops. Margarets wedding ring was looped onto a chain around her neck, warm against her skin.
Down below, Alex waved up to her, his arms full of groceries and little gifts already for the baby. Emily hurried down the stairs and met him at the door, laughter and love filling every corner of their home.
That night, as she rested against her husband and drifted toward sleep, Emily dreamed she walked again through her grans leafy garden. Margaret was there, smiling among the apple trees, her arms open and her eyes bright with pride and infinite affection.
You did it, darling girl, the dream-voice whispered, gentle and strong. You brought all the love you learned and grew it into something new. Whatever storms come, remember this: you are wanted, always. You are loved.
Emily woke with the sunrise on her face, peace blooming quietly inside her. She pressed a hand to her growing belly and smiled, knowing that her grandmothers loveunyielding, steadfast as the oakswould live on, woven forever into the heart of a new family and every tomorrow yet to come.
