“Stay out of it, you’re not family,” the girl muttered, turning her back.
“Emily, have you picked a dress for the graduation ball yet?” asked Margaret, spreading bridal catalogues across the table. “Perhaps we could go shopping together?”
The fifteen-year-old stepdaughter lifted her eyes from her phone and gave her a frosty look.
“Why do you care? I have a mother wholl take me.”
“Of course, I just thought” Margaret swallowed the familiar sting. “What if all three of us went? It might be fun.”
“No need. Mum can manage.”
Margaret sighed and set the catalogues aside. Outside, drizzle painted the world grey, matching the heaviness in her chest. She glanced at the clocksoon, Edward would return from work, and the endless tightrope between wife and daughter would begin again.
“Emily, what would you like for supper? I could make your favourite shepherds pie.”
“Doesnt matter. Im going to Mumsshes making roast dinner.”
The girl stood, grabbing her coat from the hook.
“Emily, wait.” Margaret stepped closer. “Lets talk properly. Why do you resent me so much? What have I done wrong?”
Emily paused at the door and turned slowly. Her eyes burned with a rage too old for her years.
“Do you really not know? Or are you pretending?”
“I dont understand. Truly.”
“You ruined our family!” the girl burst out. “Dad left Mum because of you! And now you act all sweet and caring!”
Margarets breath caught. She sank into a chair, legs unsteady.
“Emily, that isnt true. When I met your father, he was already living apart. They divorced long before”
“Liar!” the girl shouted. “Mum told me everything! How you stole him, how you schemed!”
“Schemed? Emily, we worked at the same firmwe were just friends”
“Stay out of it, youre not family!” With that, Emily wrenched the door open.
The words struck harder than a slap. *Not family.* Three years of marriage to Edward, three years of tryingyet she remained an outsider.
The door slammed. Alone in the silent flat, Margaret let the tears fall.
When Edward returned, he took one look at her red-rimmed eyes. “What happened?” He sat beside her, arm around her shoulders.
“Emily again.” Margaret wiped her nose with a tissue. “Edward, she *hates* me. Truly hates me.”
“What did she say this time?”
“That I destroyed your family. That I stole you from her mother. Called me an outsider.”
Edward sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Margaret, love, weve talked about this. Shes just a childshe doesnt understand”
“A child? Edward, shes fifteen! At her age, I was working after school to help my mother. Your daughter acts like a spoiled princess!”
“Dont speak of her like that,” he snapped. “The divorce wounded herits a trauma for any child.”
“The divorce was *four years ago*! When does it end?”
“Just be patient. Shell come round, see youre not the enemy.”
Margaret stood, pacing. “Patient? How much longer must I be patient? Im human too! Ive triedtried to love herand she”
“And she what?”
“She despises me! And you refuse to see it!”
Edward rose, reaching for her. “I know its hard. But Emilys my daughter. I cant abandon her.”
“But you can abandon me?” she whispered.
“This isnt about choosing! Youre an adultyou understand.”
“So I must endure her scorn because Im *grown*?”
“Margaret, dont twist it. Emily isnt cruelshes”
“Not cruel?” A bitter laugh escaped her. “Did you hear her? *Youre not family.* What else would you call it?”
“She was upset”
“And Im not?”
They stood, locked in silence. Margaret realised thenhed never take her side. His daughter would always come first.
“Right.” She strode to the bedroom, yanking a suitcase from the wardrobe. “While you decide your priorities, Ill stay with Jane.”
“Margaret, dont be daft! Where are you going?”
“To Janes. To think.”
“Over one row, youd throw away our marriage?”
She halted in the doorway. “This isnt one row, Edward. Its *every day*. Every day I feel unwelcome in my own home. And you do *nothing*.”
“What would you have me do? Punish her for loving her mother?”
“Make her understand you *chose* me. That she must respect that.”
“Margaret”
“No. Im tired of apologising for loving you. For marrying you.”
She packed essentials, Edward trailing her.
“Stay. Well talkfind a way.”
“Talk?” She whirled around. “Weve talked for *three years*. And whats changed? Emily still hates me. You still defend her.”
“Im not defendingIm trying to”
“To *what*? Excuse her cruelty?”
She tugged on her coat, keys in hand.
“I cant live like this, Edward. Begging for a place in my own home.”
“What about our plans? The baby we wanted?”
Her hand froze on the doorknob.
“What baby? In a house where your daughter loathes me? Where Im an *outsider*? Imagine how shed treat our child!”
“Shed adjust”
“To *what*? Me staying forever? She doesnt *want* that! She wants you back with her mother!”
Edward bowed his head. “I love you both.”
“You cant love us the same. Ones your child; the others your wife. If you dont see the difference, weve no future.”
She opened the door, but he seized her wrist.
“Wait. Lets speak to Emily togetherexplain”
“Explain *what*? That she must love me? Love isnt *explained*, Edward. Its *earned*. How can I earn it from someone who blames me for every sorrow?”
“Margaret, please”
“I need time. To decide if I can bear this.”
She stepped into the rain, leaving him in the doorway. On the bus, grey London blurred past the window. She thought of how it beganEdward, kind and steadfast, a devoted father. Shed been ready to love his child as her own.
But Emily had made it clear from the start: a stepmother would never be family. Coldness turned to spite. And Edwardblind or unwilling to see.
At Janes flat, her sister frowned. “Margaret? Youre soakedwhats wrong?”
“May I stay? Perhaps longer.”
“Of course. Was it Edward?”
Margaret sank onto the sofa. “Worse. Ive realised my marriage was a mistake.”
“Dont be absurd. You love each other.”
“Love isnt enough when theres a third wheel.”
“Emily again?”
“Always. Today she called me an outsider. And the worst part? Shes *right*.”
Jane hugged her. “Have you spoken to her mother? Perhaps shed reason with her.”
“Youre joking? Her mother *fuels* this! Tells her Im a homewrecker.”
“And the truth?”
Margaret moved to the window. “Edward was honestseparated six months, divorce settled. I believed him. Then learned his ex-wife hoped for reconciliation.”
“But he didnt go back?”
“No. Divorced her, married me. Emily thinks theyd have reunited without me.”
“Maybe they wouldve.”
Margaret spun around. “*You* think Im at fault?”
“No! But divorce is a childs nightmareespecially with a stepmother.”
“I *tried*! Gifts, her favourite meals, helping with homework! All met with scorn!”
“Perhaps she needed more time?”
“How *much*? Another three years? Five? I want a family, Jane. But how can I bring a child into a house of hatred?”
Jane sighed. “What does Edward say?”
“To wait. Claims shell adjust. But she only grows crueller.”
“Have you spoken to her alone?”
“Useless. She wont even listen.”
Edwards call interrupted them. Jane urged her to ignore it, but Margaret answered.
“Where are you? Im worried.”
“At Janes. I need time.”
“How long?”
“I dont know. A day? A week? I must decide if I can live like this.”
“What do I tell Emily?”
“The truth. That your wife wont tolerate disrespect.”
“Margaret”
“Dont argue. I need space.”
“I love you.”
“I know. And I love you. But love isnt enough without peace.”
She hung up. Jane murmured, “Perhaps shes afraid.”
“Of what?”
“That loving you betrays her mother. Children think that way.”
Margaret considered it. Was Emilys spite just armour?
“But what can I do if she wont even speak to me?”
“I dont know. Its complicated.”
They talked late into the night. Jane spoke of friends whod weathered stepfamily storms.
“My friend Clara married a man with two children. The first years were hellthey rejected her, he was torn. But it settled.”
“How?”
“She had her own child. The older ones accepted she was staying.”
“And if that fails?”
“Then you choose. Endure or leave.”
Margaret lay awake on Janes sofa, memories swirling. Edward, their love, the family shed dreamed ofnow fracturing under a childs unforgiving heart.
At dawn, an unknown number flashed on her phone.
“Margaret? Its Helen, Emilys mother. May we meet?”
