– Look over there, its her! Im telling you, thats definitely her! whispered a stately woman to her rather simple-looking companion. Lets watch for a moment.
A little girl of about five played quietly in the sandpit, hard at work building her own princess castle. Well, so far it looked more like a great big mound, but Emma stubbornly refused any help from grown-ups. She was determined to do it by herself! She also needed to remember to dig a moat around the castle, and make a cave for a dragon someone had to protect the kingdom!
It was a sweltering summer day in the middle of July. Unlike her parents, Emma was comfortable thanks to the canopy stretched over the sandpit, shielding her from the sun. Her mother, wary of heatstroke, had retreated into the shade and sent Emmas father off for cold drinks and ice creams. Distracted by a phone call, Sarah only briefly lost sight of her daughter. But that was all the opportunity the onlookers needed.
– Hello, sweetheart, the woman boldly sat down next to Emma, making her flinch and pull back in alarm. She lost her balance, tumbling straight onto the castle, flattening most of it in an instant. Tears welled up in Emmas eyes; her hard work had been completely destroyed! Dont cry, its just a bit of sand! If you want, I can help you build a real castle.
– MUMMY! Emma drew a deep breath and shouted, recalling every safety lesson shed ever learned at nursery and at home.
Quickly scrambling to her feet, Emma darted out of the sandpit, barely dodging the arms of a complete stranger who tried to grab her.
Sarah, hearing that dreadful cry, ran to her daughter, dropping her phone in the process. For a moment, her friends anxious voice could still be heard from the phone lying in the grass.
– My darling, clutched Sarah, hugging her child. What happened, my love?
– There was there was a strange lady! Emma sobbed, wrapping her arms around her mums neck. And a man! He tried to catch me! Mummy, I was so scared!
At that moment, Emmas father arrived. After making sure his daughter was safe and unharmed, he glanced sharply at the pair who had frightened her.
A woman of around sixty pursed her lips with irritation as she watched the little family reunion. That girl… No doubt about it she was her granddaughter! The hair, the eyes, the shape of her face she looked just like Michael at that age, except for being a girl.
– Well, youve come a long way, havent you, began the woman disdainfully, looking Sarah up and down. And how dare you take my granddaughter halfway across the country?
– James, take Emma home, Ill handle this, Sarah said quietly, trusting her precious bundle to her husband. And perhaps ring Dad, just in case. He can send round someone from the station.
– Oi, dont you dare! I want to meet my granddaughter! the older woman burst out, though she made no attempt to stop James, who frankly was far too imposing for her to challenge. Why hadnt they checked if Sarah had remarried?
– Mrs. Solloway, Sarah drawled, regarding the woman in front of her with barely disguised distaste. What on earth are you talking about? What granddaughter? Or is your memory slipping? Let me refresh it
********************
– So, hows my future grandson? the woman demanded impatiently of her son and his wife, just back from the hospital.
– Its going to be a girl, I told you already, Sarah replied, forcing a smile and wishing her mother-in-law would leave their flat for once. Lately, this woman only went home to sleep! Sarah was forced to hide in the bedroom, claiming to feel unwell just for a bit of peace.
– The doctor clearly made a mistake, declared Mrs. Solloway. Solloways only have boys, always have, always will!
– Is that why you cut your eldest son out of the family? Because his wife had a girl? Sarah asked bitterly, weary to the bone of hearing the same speech every. single. day.
– Well, its not his child! snapped the older lady, hating any reference to that unpleasant matter. Tanya lied to him, and he, the fool, believed her! Refused to listen to ME! Let himself be led around by some trollop!
– Tanya has the DNA results, and you know it. You checked those papers half a dozen times yourself, and still kept trying to convince Alex it was all fake.
– It was fake! How dare you doubt me? Cheeky girl Mrs. Solloway practically hissed, but bit back further complaint. Cant risk a scene, not when it might cause stress, and the family needed an heir! It was mortifying enough; all her friends had grandsons except her.
– I need to lie down, if no one minds. Im feeling light-headed.
Sarah went to her room and closed the door, troubled more than ever by a question lately gnawing at her: Had she made a mistake marrying Michael? She did love him, that was unquestionable. But to put up with a mother-in-law like this Her own mum had been right, urging them to move far away from the new, frankly unwell, relation.
Shed suggested moving to Michael several times, but he always reacted badly.
How could he? Abandon his mother to fend for herself? And what about Dad? He was useless, sat quietly on the sofa all day, couldnt even knock in a nail or carry a shopping bag. And her brother? Well, hed fallen out with Mum, let himself get duped. And the DNA test? Anyone could forge a bit of paper
Sarah then pleaded that they at least ask Mrs. Solloway to not drop round so often or interfere quite so much.
– Mum just wants whats best for us! Michael objected hotly. She gives helpful advice, does the chores for you. A bit of gratitude wouldnt go amiss! Youre always hiding in the bedroom
– I only disappear, as you say, because Im sick to death of your mother! Sarah finally snapped. Was she really being blamed for trying to avoid a row? And if she doesnt stop needling me, she wont see her granddaughter at all! Ill just leave for my parents! And dont forget, my fathers a retired superintendent hell help if I need to go. Understood?
After that outburst, Mrs. Solloway calmed down a little. She didnt stop her daily visits but limited her time at their flat and nagged less. Though Sarah knew it was only a matter of time before things flared up again.
What haunted her most was how much the woman despised the idea of having a granddaughter. She wanted a grandson! Solloways had boys! The fallout with her older son, who turned out to be perfectly sensible, was proof of her obsession.
Michael, to Sarahs dismay, seemed to be falling into the same rut. He was convinced hed have a son. The scan results meant nothing to him.
– If its a girl, Ill kick you both out, Michael once announced drunkenly. Means you cheated. I wont be taken for a fool like Alex!
Those words shattered something in Sarah. She realised then that her so-called marriage was nothing but a rigged game. She began quietly preparing for divorce. Her father could pull a few strings, make things happen smoothly…
The inevitable happened and she gave birth to a girl. Michael threw an almighty tantrum in the hospital ward, not caring about Sarahs barely adult roommate, who shrank away in fear. Security had to drag him out of the building.
The next day, Mrs. Solloway came storming in as well. She didnt yell, having seen her sons fate, but laid into Sarah in the foulest language. But before she could start all over again, Sarahs guardian angel walked in a stern-faced man in uniform. With a single raised eyebrow, he removed the troublemaker and warned her off.
Michael wasted no time. He rushed to file for divorce, only to be told plainly that in England, he couldnt do so until the baby was over a year old. He immediately disowned the child and tried to dispute paternity.
The solicitor helping him almost rolled his eyes at the reason. Girls simply didnt happen in their family? Absurd! Only DNA would settle anything.
– I really doubt youll succeed in court, the solicitor admitted. Especially as your brother had a daughter too, according to your own story.
– Not his child!
– But theres the DNA proof
– All forged! Michael, pushed on by his mother, was belligerent.
– Look, I’ll be honest, the court will take any DNA test as hard evidence.
– I know its not my girl, and thats that
But in the end, there was no need for a test. Sarah chose to sever all ties with that toxic family and accepted Michaels petition. She didnt want him suddenly turning up in her daughters life years later. Better, she thought, to raise Emma as her own, with no ties to the Solloways
************************
– So, remember now? Why didnt you bring Michael?
– Michael Michaels gone, the older woman said mournfully. And your daughter is all I have left of him. Dont worry, well raise her well, make a proper person out of her
– You? Raise her? On what grounds? Sarah hissed in fury. Youre nothing to my daughter. Your sons nothing either! The laws decided that! If I see you near her again, Ill go straight to the police. Attempted abduction. My fathers highly respected in this town dont expect mercy!
– You dont understand, weve got nobody else!
– Youve got your eldest son. Alexs got a daughter too go to them.
– He wont even look at us now, the old woman muttered, looking away. Only now did she understand the enormity of her mistake.
– Sensible man, Sarah nodded. After all you put us through, what more do you want? Shall I remind you what you used to call my daughter?
– Sarah Johnson, is there a problem? Two uniformed officers, moving briskly, approached the daughter of their former chief.
– Yes, just a small issue. Please see that these people leave our town.
– But
– No buts, one of the officers said firmly, stepping forward. The Solloways started backing away, earning a satisfied smile from Sarah. This way, please.
Sarah headed home. Her spirits were high. She did frown slightly at one thought, though.
– Ill have to keep an eye on those Solloways. Best make sure they stay put and dont set foot in this town again. Ill speak to Dad Im sure he can arrange somethingBut as she opened the front door, her sombre mood dissolved in an instant. Emma had already rebuilt her mound, cheeks flushed, plastic tiara askew, waving a stick like a royal sceptre. James knelt nearby, pretending to be a captured dragon, and roared so quietly it made Emma shriek with delight. The sight made Sarahs heart squeeze.
She knelt in the sand beside her daughter, brushing a stray curl from Emmas damp forehead. Did you finish your moat, Princess? she asked.
Emma nodded, fierce with pride. And Daddys the dragon, but he listens to me now. Our castles safe.
Sarah smiled, a lump in her throat. It always will be, my love.
Her father arrived a few minutes later, lunch in tow and stories at the readya solid, loving presence who never failed her. Together they ate, laughed, and watched Emma build dreams into the golden grit.
Some shadows will always try to creep in, Sarah knew. But in her sunlit gardensurrounded by real family, unfashionable plastic castles and allshe promised herself they would never reach Emma.
Let others dwell on old names and nonsense. Here, in this little kingdom of their own making, the future sparkled bright and free.
