I’ll Leave You and You’ll Never See the Child Again!” Jeanne Shouted. “I Want Us to Have a Proper Family—No Outsiders!

“I’m leaving you, and you’ll never see the child again!” shouted Jane. “I want us to be a proper family! No outsiders!”

“Jane, calm down! There are no outsiders in our family!” Alexander tried to soothe his wife. “Emily is our daughter too!”

“Alex, lets send Emily back to the orphanage!”

“Have you lost your mind? ‘Send her back’? What are you talking about?” Alexander stared at her in disbelief.

“Its simplewe just take her back! Were having our own child soonwhy do we need someone elses?”

“Jane! Maybe this is Gods way of rewarding us for giving an orphaned little girl a home! You were the one who insisted on adopting her!”

“I never thought wed have our own babythats why I pushed for it. What kind of family is it without children?”

Five-year-old Emily stood outside her parents bedroom door, unable to believe what shed heard. She wasnt their real daughter? They wanted to send her back to the orphanage?

Tears streamed down her face. Shed been so happy about the new baby brother or sister on the way but now, because of them, she would lose her parents.

As if sensing something, Alex got up and walked to the door. There stood Emily, crying.

“Daddy am I not really yours?” Her big eyes stared up at him, full of fear.

“Of course you are, sweetheart!” He scooped her into his arms.

“But you said you want to send me away! That means Im not really yours!” she insisted, wiping tears across her cheeks.

“Yes, we adopted you from the orphanage, but that doesnt mean youre not ours! We love you so much! Mummys just hormonal with the baby coming Lets get you to bed.”

***

“I’m leaving you, and youll never see the child again!” Jane screamed. “I want a normal familyno outsiders!”

“Jane, stop it! There are no outsiders in this family!” Alex pleaded. “Emily is our daughter too!”

“I didnt give birth to her! Shes not mine! Chooseher or me!”

Alex helped pack Emilys things.

“Youll stay with Granny for a while, just until Mummy calms down,” he told her. “Once the babys here, shell come to her senses, and well bring you home, alright?”

Emily nodded.

Shed agree to anything if it meant not going back to the orphanage. And she loved Grannyshe was kind and always had treats for her.

“Granny if Mummy tries to send me away, can I just live with you instead?” Emily asked the moment she stepped inside.

Lydia gave her son a sharp look. He shrugged helplessly:

“Janes hormones are all over the place!”

“Of course, my darling!” Granny helped Emily out of her coat. “But Mummy wont send you anywhereyoure her daughter! Shes just upset, thats all.”

***

Two months passed with Emily at Grannys. Her father visited less and less, torn between work and the hospital, where Jane was on bed rest.

One morning, while Granny made breakfast, Emily watched out the window. Spotting her fathers car, she cheered:

“Granny! Dads here!”

“This early?” Lydia frowned.

He never came before noon. Sensing something wrong, she told Emily to stay in the kitchen and went to meet him.

“Jane didnt make it last night. The labour started, and she couldnt pull through. The baby either.” Alexander slumped onto the hallway bench.

The three of them sat in the kitchen, untouched tea cooling in their cups.

“Mum, Im taking Emily home. Its time.”

“If you need me, I can stay with you for a while,” Lydia offered gently.

“Thanks, Mum”

***

Emily excitedly examined her new hair ribbons. Soon, shed be a proper schoolgirl! A smart uniform and a bright backpack waited for the big day.

The front door clicked open. Dad!

“Daddy!” She rushed to greet himbut he wasnt alone. A petite woman stood beside him.

“Sweetheart, this is Lisa. Shell be living with us.” His forced cheer didnt fool her.

“Hello, Emily.” Lisa smiled softly, holding out a bouquet. “For your first day.”

“Hi.” Emily ignored the flowers and stalked off to her room.

“Dont take it personally,” she heard her father say. “Shes really a sweet girl.”

“Im sure well be friends,” Lisa replied.

“Yeah, right!” Emily slammed her door.

Dad and Lisa married quietly. Soon, he was promoted and barely home.

All Emilys care fell to Lisa, who tried everythinghelping with homework, attending parents evenings, taking her to films and cafés.

Eventually, Emily softened. The house settled into peace.

But the school years end brought another shockLisa was expecting. Emily locked herself in her room, sobbing. Lisa pleaded through the door:

“Emily, please dont cry! I love you! Id never give you up! Youll always be my girl!”

“Really?” Emily emerged, tear-streaked.

“Of course!” Lisa hugged her tight. “Youre my child, and no ones taking you away!”

Months later, Emily cradled her baby brother, amazed at how tiny he was.

“Mum! Look how funny he is!” She hadnt even realised shed called Lisa “Mum.”

Lisa, fighting happy tears, hugged her.

Two more years passed.

Then disaster struckAlexander died in a car crash. Emily and Lisa moved through chores, caring for little Charlie, barely speaking.

Afraid words would bring tears. Charlie, too young to understand, just fussed.

One night, after hed fallen asleep, Lisa sat beside Emily.

“We cant go on like this. Dads gone, but life isnt. We have to keep living. Okay?”

“Okay.” Emily agreed. But then the doorbell rang.

A stern woman introduced herself as a social worker. Emily, she declared, must go to a childrens homeshe had no legal guardian.

“What? But Im right here!” Lisa protested.

“Show me the adoption papers.” There were none. “Exactly. The grandmothers too old, and youre no relation. Pack your things, Emily.”

Unlike Lisa, Emily didnt cry. She didnt care anymore. Her worst fear had come trueshe was alone.

“Ill get you out of there!” Lisa called after her. But Emily didnt believe her.

Who wanted an orphan? When Dad was alive, shed been loved. Now, she was nothing.

Lisa visited often, but Emily refused to see her. She watched from windows as Lisa waited on the bench, then left. Eventually, the visits stopped.

“Got tired of playing mother,” Emily thought bitterly.

Two months later, the headmistress summoned her.

“Congratulations, Emily! Youve been placed with a family!”

“I dont want a family. They never last.”

“Be that as it may, pack your things.”

Outside, Lisa stood waiting.

“What are you doing here?” Emily asked flatly.

“Ive come for you.”

“Ive already been adopted.”

“By me.”

Emilys heart leapt. “You?”

“I told you Id never give you up. Single mothers arent first choice for adoption, but I proved I could provide for you. And, well bribes still work.” She smiled. “Were a proper family now. Come homeCharlies missed you.”

“Okay Mum.”