“He only married you out of pity,” her sister said before stepping out of the kitchen.
“Kates school called again,” Marina slammed her cup down so hard that tea splashed onto the table. “Her teacher says shes completely stopped trying. Sits in class like a ghost.”
Lena flinched, setting aside the knife shed been using to peel potatoes. Her sister stood in the doorway, arms crossed, wearing that familiar expressionthe one shed had since they were children. Marina only looked like that when she was about to say something harsh.
“Maybe shes just tired? The curriculums difficult these days,” Lena replied softly, picking up another potato.
“Tired?” Marina scoffed. “Whats she got to be tired about? Edward dotes on her, and you dance around her like shes made of glass. And for what? Bad grades and warnings in her planner.”
Lena stayed quiet. Kate *had* changed after she and Edward married. Shed become withdrawn, silent. Before, her daughter had been talkative, cheerful. Teachers praised her; classmates were her friends. Now
“You know what I think?” Marina moved closer, sitting across from her. “Kate *knows*. Kids sense things even when adults pretend they dont.”
“What are you talking about?” Lena looked up.
“That your marriage is a lie,” Marina said calmly, but her voice had an edge. “You think she doesnt notice how you and Edward act around each other? Like strangers sharing a house.”
Lenas chest tightened. A potato slipped from her fingers and splashed into the water.
“We get along fine.”
“Oh, come off it! Im not blind. You dont even argue properlyjust coexist. Edward comes home, eats dinner, watches telly. You cook, clean, tidy up. Like flatmates, not spouses.”
“Not every couple has to fight,” Lena said evenly. “Maybe were just calm people.”
Marina shook her head.
“Lena, stop lying to yourself. You *see* how Edward looks at youor rather, how he *doesnt*. When you walk into a room, he doesnt even glance up from his paper.”
It was true. Lena had noticed long ago but refused to dwell on it. Edward barely seemed aware of her. A nod in the morning, a question about dinner in the evening. Conversations were strictly practicalno warmth, no smiles.
“Remember how he used to look at Olivia?” Marina pressed. “When she was still alive?”
Lena stiffened. Her sister rarely mentioned Edwards first wife.
“Dont.”
“I *have* to. You remember them together. How he doted on her when she was illcouldnt take his eyes off her. His hands *shook* when the doctor spoke. Now? If you caught flu, he wouldnt even fetch you paracetamol.”
Lena stood and walked to the window. Rain tapped against the glass, streaks of grey sliding down. She remembered the day Edward had proposedsix months after Olivias funeral. Theyd been drinking tea at the kitchen table while Kate slept. After a long silence, hed said:
*”Lena will you marry me? Kate needs a mother. And I I cant do this alone.”*
No declaration of love. No romance. Just a practical solution to a problem.
“He married you out of pity,” Marina said before leaving the kitchen.
Lena stayed by the window, the words echoing. *Out of pity.* Maybe it was true. Edward had pitied hera single woman in her thirties, no husband, no children. And shed pitied *him*a widower with a little girl. The result? A family without love. And Kate was paying the price.
Lena returned to the table, picking up the knife again. Her hands shook. She thought of the night shed accepted his proposal, believing love might come later. That being needed was enough.
Two years had passed. Nothing changed. Edward remained polite, gratefulbut cold. Sometimes she caught him staring at Olivias photo in the living room, his face softening in a way it never did for her.
The front door clicked. Kate was home from school. She walked straight to her room without stopping in the kitchensomething shed never done before.
Lena followed. Kate sat at her desk, hunched over a textbook but not reading.
“Sweetheart, how was school?”
“Fine,” Kate muttered without looking up.
“What homework have you got? Need any help?”
“No. Ill manage.”
Lena sat on the edge of the bed. Kate still wouldnt meet her eyes.
“Love, whats wrong? You barely talk to me anymore.”
Finally, Kate looked up. Her eyes held a sadness too old for a child.
“Whats the point?” she whispered. “Youll leave soon anyway.”
“Why would I leave?”
“Because Dad doesnt love you,” Kate said simply. “He only loved Mum. He just puts up with you.”
Lenas throat tightened. So Kate *did* understand. And shed been suffering in silence, afraid of losing someone else.
“Kate, Im not going anywhere. I promised, didnt I?”
“But youre unhappy. I hear you crying at night when you think no ones listening.”
Lena had no answer. She *had* cried often latelynot from anger, but from the slow suffocation of living someone elses life.
That evening, after Edward returned from work, Lena waited. They ate in silence. Kate finished quickly and disappeared. Edward turned on the telly.
“Edward, we need to talk,” she finally said.
He muted the TV, frowning. “Something wrong?”
“The school called. Kates struggling.”
“Right. What do you suggest?”
Lena sat opposite him, hands clasped.
“Dont you think its not *just* school? Maybe she senses somethings off in this family?”
He frowned. “Not following.”
“That were not a *family*. Were just people sharing a house.”
Edwards jaw tightened.
“Lena, I dont know what youre getting at. Were fine. Kates fed, clothed, cared for”
“But she doesnt have happy parents,” Lena said quietly. “Children *know*.”
Edward turned to the window.
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth. Why did you marry me?”
Silence. The clock ticked. The fridge hummed.
“Because Kate needed a mother,” he finally said. “And I needed someone to run the house. You cook well. Youre tidy. Kate likes you.”
“And love?”
He met her eyes, his gaze almost apologetic.
“Lena, I never promised love. I told you why I needed a wife.”
True. He *hadnt* promised. Shed assumed it was just awkwardnessthat feelings would come. But they never had.
“What if Olivia were alive?” she asked.
His face changedsofter, warmer.
“But shes not.”
“Answer me.”
“If Olivia were alive, Id never have married anyone,” he said simply.
There it was. The truth shed feared. Shed always be seconda placeholder.
“Edward, what if I left?”
He blinked. “Why? This works for us.”
“For *you*. Not for me. Or Kate.”
“Kates fine. Its just teenage moodiness.”
“No. Shes clever. She *sees* this. And its hurting her.”
Edward stood, pacing.
“What do you want, Lena? For me to *force* myself to love you? Thats not how it works.”
“I dont want forced love. I want you to let me find someone wholl love me *properly*.”
He stopped, turning.
“And Kate?”
“She stays with you. But she needs a father whos *present*not stuck in the past.”
A long silence. Then Edward sank back into his chair.
“Where will you go?”
“Marinas. Until I find work and a flat.”
“I wont file for divorce.”
“I will.”
Another pause.
“What do I tell Kate?”
“The truth. That adults make mistakes. That well always care, but we cant live like this.”
He nodded.
“Alright. Maybe youre right.”
That night, Lena lay awake, terrified of starting overbut more terrified of spending her life as a stand-in.
In the morning, she knocked on Kates door.
“Sweetheart, I need to tell you something.”
Kate eyed her warily.
“Im leaving. Not because I dont love you. But sometimes grown-ups realise theyve made the wrong choice.”
Silence.
“Youll live with Dad. Ill be nearby. Well still see each otherwhenever you want.”
“And Dad?” Kate whispered.
“Hell be okay. He just needs time to figure things out.”
Suddenly, Kate hugged her.
“Lena will you find a nice man? One who loves you properly?”
“I dont know, sweetheart. But Ill try to be happy.”
“Good. I hate it when you cry.”
Lena packed lightly. Edward walked her to the door.
“Lena,” he said awkwardly. “Thank you. For everything. You deserve better.”
“And you deserve to *live*not just exist,” she replied.
Marina hugged her without questions. “Better late than never.”
That evening, Kate called.
“Lena? Dad took Mums photo down today. Said it was time. And he booked me a therapist. Said I should talk about everything.”
“Thats good, sweetheart.”
“He also said youre really brave. That hes glad he knows someone like you.”
For the first time in years, Lena smiled*truly* smiled.
Maybe Marina was right. Edward *had* married her out of pity. But Lena didnt need pity anymore. She needed love. And now, she had a chance to find it.
