Divorce Over a Stepdaughter: A Complicated Family Drama

Neither one nor the other. Im not going off on holiday with your daughter! I cant keep pretending Im happy about it.

Im sick of this big happy family that exists only at my expenseat the cost of my patience.

And what do you suggest? David squinted. Divorce? Because of a break? Youre serious?

Not because of a break, David. Because you never hear me. And you never will.

To you, Ethel is sacred. As for me and little Tom, were just extras.

On Sunday, Gwen, as usual, stalked into the stepdaughters room with a bucket and a mop; the place was a disaster once more. She hadnt set foot in that room since Ethel left.

Gwen spread her hand and the rag slapped against the table.

Princess, she hissed, eyeing a poster of some pop group on the wall. How can a girl be so sloppy?!

Shed at least tidy up after herself!

Three years ago Gwen met David, moved in with him and Tom. For thirtysix months the three of us lived in a constant war. We loathed each other, hiding our true feelings from the husband and father.

For almost two hours Gwen cleaned Ethels room, then slipped out into the hallway and pushed open the tiniest bedroom, a narrow little cubbyhole.

The window faced north, so it was dark all day. A foldout sofa was there because a proper doublebed wouldnt fit.

Tom, eleven, never complained. He was a quiet boy, happy to take whatever was given to him, and that annoyed Gwen doubly.

She didnt have to deepclean Toms room; a quick dusting and a swipe of the floor was enoughTom kept his own space tidy enough.

Mum, what are you doing in there? Toms voice drifted from the kitchen. The kettles whistling.

Gwen sighed, wiped the hallway floor, flushed the grimy water down the loo and went to make tea.

David was hunched over his laptop.

Sit down, Gwen, he said without looking up. Im looking at options. Spain or Greece?

Probably breezy in Greece now.

Gwen poured herself a coffee. Tom finished his tea, thanked her and shuffled away from the table.

Gwen decided it was time.

David, we need to talk.

He finally tore his eyes away from the screen.

Whats with the tone? Whats happened? Did Tom bring home a bad grade again?

No. Its not about Tom. Its about the holiday.

Go on.

Theres a brilliant fivestar resort in Brighton, huge waterpark, Ethel would love it, and Tom would too.

Just the mention of Ethel made Gwens throat tighten.

David, her voice trembled. I was thinking maybe this time we could go just the two of us?

David frowned, puzzled.

What do you mean? Whose holiday? We werent invited by anyone else.

I mean without Ethel. Just you, me and Tom.

A pause hung in the air. David slowly closed his laptop.

Gwen, Ethels on school break, shes expecting this trip. We always go together. Its a tradition.

And just the two of us means what? Isnt my daughter part of my family?

Traditions can change if we want. Weve been married three years and have never holidayed as a trio. Its always her with us!

Im exhausted, David. I just want a break with my own little family, without worrying about what your daughter wants, what mood shes in, which seat shell need.

Davids face darkened.

Ethel is part of my family. You knew that when you married me.

I knew! But I didnt expect her to dominate everything! She lives in another city, has a mum, school, friends.

Why must every vacation revolve around her?

Because Im her father. I see her rarely. A holiday is the only time we can actually spend together.

What about me? And Tom? Are we just props for your bonding? Servants?

Tom lives in a perpetual cage. His room is half the size of hers, even though he stays here permanently!

Again with the room, David winced. Weve already talked about it. This is the house I grew up in, that room was mine, then hers.

So my son doesnt deserve his own space?!

David exhaled, stood and walked over to his wife.

Alright, calm down. I hear you. Youre worn out, works a mess, nerves frayed you want your own companyfine.

Gwen froze. Did he actually hear her?

Are you serious?

If its that hard for you, lets try. Just once. No Ethel.

Gwen turned and pressed her cheek against his, a quiet smile breaking through. Small victory, but a victory nonetheless.

The whole next day Gwen floated. Reports at work fell into place on their own, the usually stern accounts clerk seemed charming, and the drizzle outside felt like a gentle spring rain.

That evening, while preparing dinner, her phone buzzeda message from David.

Check the options. I like the second one, nice spa.

Three links followed.

Gwen wiped her hands on a towel, unlocked the screen and clicked the first link.

Each site flashed a Adults only banner.

At first she was confused, then realised those hotels simply didnt take childrenonly adults.

She reread the message. Mistake?

She called David. He answered immediately, a car engine humming in the backgroundhe was driving home.

Seen any? Which ones best? his voice was upbeat. The second looks good, great steakhouse.

David why are they 18+?

Because you said yesterday you wanted a holiday with your own family, tired of kids.

I thought, why not? Lets just the two of us. A honeymoon we missed.

Tom will stay with his grandma, Ethel with her mother. Well finally rest.

David, you dont get it, Gwen said slowly. I didnt want a holiday without children at all. I wanted it without Ethel.

Silence stretched.

Without Ethel? What about Tom?

Of course! Where else would I put him? Mums pressure wont last two weeks.

Hed just learned to swim last year

Hold on. Lets sort this out. You said our own family. I naïvely thought you meant romance. Turns out you just wanted to shove my daughter out of the trip?

Not shove! Gwen leapt, darting around the cramped kitchen. Just once, just us three: me, you, Tom.

Whats criminal about that? We live together! Were a separate family, David!

And Ethel?

She lives elsewhere! David, it hurts! Tom is always the afterthought. I want my son to feel he matters, that the break is for him, not for her.

So, listen, Gwen. Ill never sort children into first class and second class.

Your son is firstclass because he lives here. My Ethel is secondclass because shell manage.

Im not sorting!

You are. Youre asking me to take your son and tell my daughter, Sorry love, you dont fit our perfect picture, stay home. Can you imagine how that looks? How Id have to explain it? Aunt Gwen doesnt want you?

Why be so harsh? We could say there were no slots, money was short

I wont lie to her. And Im not a scoundrel.

David fell silent, then continued.

Bottom line. Either we all gome, you, Tom and Ethelas usual, or just the two of us, no kids at all. No third option where one child suns while the other sulks in a dusty town.

But David

Enough. Im off. Conversation over.

David hung up, and Gwen flung the phone onto the table. It slid across the wood and hit the bread box.

It infuriated her. If they went alone, Tom would stay in this stifling town with his grandma, whod feed him porridge with lumps and force him to read Dickens aloud. If they all went again Ethel would claim the best seat in the car, get the first icecream, and David would coo, Dont burn yourself, love, Want some water? while Tom would be crammed at the back like a tail.

The next morning David returned, they ate in strained silence. The holiday talk began with David.

So, booking the one with the waterpark? he said, opening his laptop. For four. Two rooms, kids together, us together.

David, Gwen whispered.

What?

Dont book it.

He froze, lifted his eyes slowly.

What do you mean, dont book? Is this happening again?

I heard your ultimatum, she cut in. You said: either all four or just us two.

Right?

Im filing for divorce

Dont be ridiculous. Have you gone mad? I love Tom, I love you, I

Love, Gwen nodded. Like a comfy sofa. But if the sofa no longer fits in the room where your daughters piano sits, you throw the sofa out!

Gwen, stop this hysteria! I dont understand whats starting!

She walked to the window, stared silently for a few minutes, then said.

You know, I might actually file.

David snorted and slammed the laptop shut with a loud bang.

Well then. Go ahead. Destroy the family over childish jealousy. Very mature.

Who will you need then? A child, a rented flat? Think with your head, not just your heart!

I think, Gwen replied without turning. I think about living in a modest onebed flat, knowing its still ours.

That my son sleeps on a proper bed, not in dads cramped attic, and we no longer have to fight with a girl for what rightfully belongs to us.

Well manage, David

The floorboards creaked in the hallwayTom must have been listening.

Of course Gwen was fed up. Divorce meant debt, loneliness, a son newly accustomed to having a father. Yet she could no longer tolerate the endless compromise. How long could she keep this up?

Well talk tomorrow, David tossed as he rose. Im off to bed. You think it over, alright? Youre angry at nothing.

He left, the bedroom door closing softly, and Gwen remained in the kitchen. Ethel would be back in a week, dumping her things in the living room, laughing loudly at the table, while David would stare at her with the adoration she never gave Gwen.

No, she whispered. I cant any longer.

She opened her banking app, checked her balancejust enough for a deposit on a flat and the first months rent.

She slipped out of the room and headed for the bedroom. Tomorrow would be toughpacking, talking to Tom, hunting for a new place. She needed a proper break.

Despite Davids feeble protests, Gwen finally filed for divorce. She had hoped hed see sense, give up his older daughter, but nothing changed.

Soon after the papers were signed, Gwen and Tom disappeared from Davids life. He stopped calling, stopped texting, didnt even drop by.

Sometimes Gwen regrets it. Maybe she should have endured a little longer. With her own hands shed shattered what little happiness remained.