“I just dont understand you, love. Youre a woman, after allwhats the poor girl done wrong? So shes from another womanso what? Youll raise her, and shell call you Mum in time. Things turned out this way, but you must be wiser. If you love your husband, love his daughter too.”
The call came from social services, telling the man to collect his biological daughterone he never knew existed.
“Emily, sit down. Theres something important I need to tell you,” said Thomas with a sigh.
“Social services rang today. My daughters in care right now.” Emily gasped in shock.
“Your daughter? From who? Are you joking?” she demanded, unable to believe it.
Thomas hung his head. “No, love, Im not. About six years ago, before we got serious, I was seeing a woman named Lucy. When things between us became serious, I left her. A year later, Lucy tracked me down and said shed had my childSophie. I didnt believe her at first, but one look at the girl, and I knew. No test needed. No idea what happened to Lucy after that. They just called and asked if Id take Sophie in or not.”
Emilys first instinct was to scream, *No, I dont want some strangers child!* But the look in Thomass eyes made her say something else entirely.
“Alright. Lets go see her firsttogether,” she said carefully.
Relieved, Thomas agreed, and they decided to go the next day. When Emily saw the girl, she couldnt spot any resemblance to Thomas. At five years old, Sophie was tiny and thin, clutching a ragged teddy bear. Whenever anyone spoke to her, she buried her face in its fur. Truthfully, Emily didnt like herthough she pitied her. If Sophie had been a strangers child, her heart might have softened. But the jealousy shed once felt for Lucy now shifted to the girl.
It turned out Lucy had lost custodytoo fond of drink and late-night parties, never sparing a thought for her daughter. Still, shed named Thomas as the father, and that couldnt be undone.
Emily saw Thomass determination to bring Sophie home. She argued against it, but one day, he snapped.
“You cant have children of your own, so keep quiet. I wont abandon my daughter to a care home. If you dont like it, leave. Ill manage alone.”
The words stung, but from every angle, he was right. Thomas wanted children. She couldnt give him anydoctors had said as much years ago, after health troubles in her youth. Besides, she loved him. He was hardworking, hardly drank, and brought every penny home. Plenty of women would fight for a man like himshe might never find better.
When Thomas finally brought Sophie home, he warned Emily bluntly: “If I see you mistreat her, dont expect kindness.”
Emily forced herself to care for the girlbathed her, scrubbed the grime from her thin frame (though she couldnt help crying at the sight of her bony back), dressed her in a pretty frock, and braided her hair. It felt like a weight lifted.
Sophie was quietnever spoke unless spoken to, just sat in the corner whispering to her teddy.
“Shes feral,” Emily complained to the neighbours. “Doesnt even acknowledge Tomjust says yes or no and thats it. Sometimes I look at her and wonder what if theres something wrong with her? Quiet as a mouse now, but what if she snaps one day?”
The neighbours nodded sympathetically.
Thomas had changed too. Once, hed greet Emily at the door with kisses and hugs. Now, all his affection went to Sophie. At first, she shied awaythen she started following him everywhere like a shadow.
Of course, Emily was jealous. Then Thomas started grumbling. One day, while Sophie played outside, he snapped again.
“You treat her like a dollnever smile at her unless you have to. She needs a loving mother, not some stand-in aunt.”
Thats when Emily exploded.
“Mother? Shes nothing to me, and I wont dance attendance on her! Im leavinggoing to Mums. You two can live however you like!”
She stormed off, expecting Thomas to chase after her, begging her to return. He didnt. A week passed. Then another. Still nothing. Emily cried endlessly. Her mother, at first sympathetic, grew impatientshe wouldnt let her daughters marriage fall apart.
“I just dont understand you, love. Youre a woman, after allwhats the poor girl done wrong? So shes from another womanso what? Youll raise her, and shell call you Mum in time. Things turned out this way, but you must be wiser. If you love your husband, love his daughter too.”
Emily returned home. Thomas was fixing something in the garage, Sophie playing happily beside him with her bear. He spotted Emily and gave her a wary look. She hesitatedbut then Sophie stood, took her fathers hand, and led him to Emily.
“Make up,” she said, joining their hands.
“Forgive me,” Emily sobbed.
Thomas pulled her into a one-armed hug, drawing Sophie close with the other. Emily cried harder, wrapping her arms around the girl. They stood like that for agesuntil Sophie finally piped up.
“Me and Teddy are hungry!”
Thomas and Emily exchanged a glance. Then, together, they headed insidefinally a proper family.
