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

“I’m leaving, and you’ll never see the child again!” screamed Joan. “I want a proper familyno outsiders!”

“Joan, calm down! There aren’t any outsiders in our family,” Alexander pleaded, trying to soothe his wife. “Emily is our daughter too!”

“Alex, let’s just send Emily back to the orphanage!”

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

“How? Just like that! We’ll have our own child soonwhy keep someone else’s?” Joan tossed her curls defiantly.

“Joan! Maybe this is God rewarding us for taking in an orphan in the first place! *You* were the one who insisted on adopting her!”

“I never thought we’d have our own childthats why I pushed for it. What kind of family doesnt have children?”

Five-year-old Emily stood outside her parents’ bedroom, unable to believe what shed heard. She wasnt *theirs*? They wanted to send her back to the orphanage?

Tears spilled down her cheeks. She had been so excited for a little brother or sister But now, because of *them*, she was going to lose her family.

As if sensing something, Alexander got up and walked to the dooronly to find Emily standing there, crying.

“Daddy am I not yours?” Her huge, frightened eyes searched his face.

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

“But you said you wanted to send me away! That means Im not really yours!” She wiped her tears stubbornly.

“Yes, we took you from the home when you were tiny, but that doesnt mean youre not ours! We love you! Mummys just hormonal because of the baby Come on, lets get you to bed.”

***

“Im leaving, and youll never see the child again!” Joan shrieked. “I want a proper familyno strangers!”

“Joan, stop this! There are *no* strangers in our family!” Alexander tried to calm her. “Emily *is* our daughter!”

“I didnt give birth to her! Shes *not* mine!” Joans anger flared. “Choose: me or her!”

Alexander helped pack Emilys things.

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

Emily nodded.

Shed agree to *anything* if it meant avoiding the orphanage. Besides, she loved Gran. Gran was kind and always had treats for her.

“Gran If Mummy wants to send me away, can I just live with you instead?” Emily asked as soon as they arrived.

Lydia Edwardovna shot her son a sharp look. He gave a helpless shrug:

“Joans hormones are all over the place!”

“Of course, my little love!” Gran helped Emily out of her coat. “But Mummy wont send you awayyou *are* her daughter! Shes just upset, thats all!”

***

Two months passed. Emily stayed with Gran while her father visited less and less, torn between work and the hospital where Joan was on bed rest.

One morning, as Gran made breakfast, Emily stared out the window. Spotting her fathers car, she squealed:

“Gran! Daddys here!”

“This early?” Lydia frowned.

Her son never came before noon. Sensing trouble, she told Emily to stay put and went to meet him.

“Joan died last night. The labour started, and she didnt make it. The baby either.” Alexander slumped onto the hallway bench.

The three of them sat at the kitchen table, ignoring the cooling tea.

“Mum Im taking Emily home. Its time.”

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

“Thank you”

***

Emily marvelled at her new hair ribbons. Soon, shed be a proper schoolgirl! Her crisp uniform and bright backpack waited eagerly.

The front door clicked open. Daddy!

“Daddy!” She rushed to greet himbut he wasnt alone. Beside him stood a petite, slender woman.

“Sweetheart, this is Lizzie! Shell be living with us!” Alexander forced a smile.

“Hello, Emily!” Lizzie held out a bouquet. “For your first day of school.”

“Hi,” Emily mumbled, ignoring the flowers and retreating to her room.

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

“Give us time,” Lizzie replied.

*Yeah, right.* Emily slammed the door.

Her father and Lizzie married quietly. Soon, he was offered a promotion and vanished into work.

Lizzie took over Emilys carehelping with homework, attending parents evenings, taking her to cinemas and cafés.

Slowly, Emily warmed to her. The house settled into peace.

Then, at the end of the school year, another happy announcement: Lizzie was pregnant. For Emily, it was a blow.

She locked herself in her room, sobbing. Lizzie begged through the door:

“Emily, please! I love you! Id *never* give you up! Well always be togetheryoure my girl!”

“Really?” Emily emerged, tear-streaked.

“Of course!” Lizzie hugged her. “Youre *my* child. No ones taking you away!”

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

“Mum! Look how funny he is!” She didnt realise shed called Lizzie *Mum*.

Lizzie, fighting happy tears, hugged her tight.

***

Two years flew by. Emily started Year 4then disaster struck. Alexander died in a car crash.

Emily and Lizzie moved like ghosts: chores, caring for little Colin and silence.

Tears lurked beneath every word. Colin, oblivious, grew fussy.

One evening, after hed fallen asleep, Lizzie sat beside Emily.

“We cant go on like this. We have to live. Daddys gone but were still here. Lets stop hurting. Alright?”

“Alright.” Emily nodded. She was rightDaddy wasnt coming back.

But trouble never comes alone.

A sharp knock at the door. A stern woman introduced herself as a social workerEmily was to be taken to a childrens home.

“What? Why?” Lizzie protested.

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

Unlike Lizzie, Emily didnt cry. She didnt *care* anymore. Her oldest fear had come trueshe was alone.

“I *will* get you back!” Lizzie called after her. Emily didnt believe it.

Who wanted an orphan?

Lizzie visited often. Emily watched from windows, never coming out. Over time, the visits dwindledthen stopped.

*Of course. Shes done playing mother.*

Two months later:

“Emily! The headmistress wants you!” Vasily, the homes bully, smirked.

*What now?*

“Congratulations, Emily! Youve been placed with a family!” the headmistress beamed.

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

“Like it or not, pack your things!”

Emily obeyed, numb. Outside stood Lizzie.

“What are *you* doing here?”

“I came for you.”

“Ive already been adopted.”

“By *me*.”

“You?” Emilys voice cracked.

“I *told* youyoure mine. Single mothers arent favoured, but I fought. Proved I could provide. And well, bribes still work.” She smiled weakly. “Were a proper family now. Come homeColin misses you.”

Emily took her hand.

“Okay Mum.”