Stepfather

**The Stepfather**

*”Because youve got no right sniffing around a young girl!”* Val shot back, his voice sharp with defiance.

*”Excuse me?”*

*”Youve turned Emilys head, havent you? Think no ones noticed shes more than just a stepdaughter to you?”*

Peter lost controlhis fist clenched the front of Vals jacket, the other hand raised, ready to strike.

*”Pete!”* Emilys frightened cry sliced through the tension. He released the younger man with a stiff shove.

Peter had married Claire when her daughter, Emily, was just ten. The girl still remembered her real father, whod died two years earlier, and at first, shed regarded her mothers new husband with suspicion. But Peter had won her over. She never called him *Dad*but *Pete* from her lips sounded so warm, so natural, that no one doubted their bond.

It was Emily whod held the family together when, six years into the marriage, Peter had stumbled into a drunken mistakea reckless fling with a colleague, Ingrid, at a company party.

Hed had too much to drink, caught up in the celebration of a successful project Barely remembered a thing afterward. But someone had told Claire.

The fallout had been brutal. Peter begged for forgiveness, but Claire had been icy, threatening divorce. They argued while Emily was at school, but the girlsensitive, kind-heartedstill sensed the rift between them and was crushed.

*”Im only forgiving you because of Emily,”* Claire hissed through clenched teeth. *”First and last time.”*

Next time, it would be over.

And Peter had done everything to make amendsspent more time with them, watched with relief as the light returned to Emilys eyes.

Then she turned eighteen and brought home a boyfriend.

Val.

Peter didnt like him from the starttoo lean, too smirking, too sure of himself. But for Emilys sake, he bit his tongue.

*”Sweetheart, are you sure hes the one?”* he murmured after Val left.

*”Pete, you didnt like him?”* Emilys face fell. *”You just dont know him. Vals wonderful.”*

Peter forced a smile. *”Well see. Youve got a good heartcant go wrong.”*

Val, sensing the disapproval, kept his distancepolite, but strained.

Then Peters attention was yanked elsewhereClaire accused him of cheating again, this time with Ingrid.

*”Enjoyed her so much the first time, couldnt resist?”* she spat. *”Go on, then! Why stay?”*

*”Claire, what the hell?”* Peter was stunned. *”Wheres this coming from?”*

*”People talk!”*

He didnt waste time arguingdialled Ingrid on speakerphone.

*”Peter,”* she said flatly, *”are you drunk? Im marriedsix months now. Expecting my husbands baby. You missed the celebration at work?”*

*”Sorry,”* he muttered. *”Wrong call.”*

Claire flushed but stormed out. Two days of silence followed before things settled. Peter gave Emily some flimsy excusethough she was wrapped up in Val, she still worried when her parents stopped speaking.

Then Peter was hit by a car. A stupid accidenthed stepped into the road (had someone *shoved* him?) and a sedan clipped his legs. Lucky it was slowjust a sprain, a mild concussion.

Emily fussed over him, bringing meals to the sofa (*”I can walk!”* hed protest), playing board games, reading to him.

*”Why bother?”* Peter overheard Val mutter in the hall one evening. *”Hes a grown man”*

*”Val!”* Emilys whisper was furious. *”Petes like a father to me! I *love* himof course Ill take care of him!”*

Val muttered something defensive. Peter smiled. Theyd raised her right.

Then disaster struck again. A clientLeonard Sinclairaccused Peters crew of shoddy work on his ceiling fittings, even claimed theyd extorted extra money.

*”He says the seams are uneven, corners crooked. And”* Peters boss lowered his voice, *”he swears you demanded cash to do it properly.”*

*”Thats bollocks!”* Peters breath came short with outrage. Leonard had been nitpicky, but theyd done flawless work.

*”Sort it out,”* his boss snapped. *”Or youre all sacked with black marks.”*

Leonard was jumpy when Peter arrived.

*”Take me to court!”* he blustered. *”Youre fired either way!”*

Peter pushed past him (*”Excuse me”*) and inspected the ceilings. Perfect.

*”Well?”* Peters voice was dangerously quiet.

Leonard stammeredthen cracked. A young man named *Val* had put him up to ittold him how to squeeze compensation, even paid him to get Peter sacked.

Peter showed him a family photo. *”Him?”*

*”Yes!”* Leonard cringed. *”You know him?”*

Val was waiting outsideodd, since he usually came up for Emily.

*”Why?”* Peter demanded.

*”Because youve got no right sniffing around a young girl!”* Val squared up. *”Youve turned her headshes not just your stepdaughter, is she?”*

Peter grabbed him by the collar, fist raised

*”Pete!”* Emilys cry stopped him cold.

*”Truth hurts, doesnt it?”* Val sneered, backing away. *”I told Claire you cheated too! Didnt think youd wriggle out of it!”*

*”You pushed me into that car?”*

*”No! Dont pin that on me!”*

Peter scoffed. *”Not worth the dirt on my hands.”*

When Emily learned the truth, she dumped Valno matter how he begged.

Now, shes focusing on university. Her parents? Theyve got her back. Always.