«Nobody’s mine,» she muttered, and I wondered if Edward had ever thought of me at all. Emma slipped a quiet question past her husband, «I know you love your daughter. Im not about to cut you off from her but dont you find it odd that your exwife keeps siphoning money from you through the child?» She pressed on, «Your formers whims are making us shrink our world. When will it end?»
Emma had returned from the factory earlier than Edward and set the table. It was a Friday, which meant that later that night Edwards elevenyearold daughter from his first marriage, Milly, would be joining them. A knock at the front door sent Emma hurrying down the hallway. Edward stood there with his stepdaughter. Milly slipped in without a glance at Emma, tossed a brief «Hi» over her shoulder, and vanished into the living room. Edward gave his wife a guilty look and murmured, «Hello, love. How was your day?»
«Fine,» Emma replied, veiling her irritation, «Come and eat.»
A heavy silence fell over the table. Edward tried to lighten the mood, narrating the drudgery of his day to Milly, but the girl answered in monosyllables or remained mute, deliberately ignoring Emma. She ate in silence, feeling a lump rise in her throat.
«Papa, Mum says she urgently needs money for a new winter coat,» Milly blurted out midway, «Hers is threadbare; shes embarrassed to go to school with her brother.»
«Alright, Milly,» Edward said calmly, «We’ll talk after supper.»
Emma felt a fire spark within her. «Again with the money, again the endless pleashow long will this go on?» she thought.
After the meal, Edward and Milly retreated to Millys bedroom for homework. Emma stayed in the kitchen, washing dishes, catching fragments of their conversation.
«Papa, you understand she really needs it. Shes the one holding us together, and her,» Millys voice dropped.
«Cant her husband buy her a coat?» Edward asked timidly.
«Papa, why involve husband? He has no cash! I wouldnt ask you if things werent dire. Youre a man; you ought to support her! And youre my father!»
Emma could take no more. She flung the sponge into the sink and marched into the bedroom.
«Edward, we need to talk,» she said firmly.
«Not now, love,» Edward tried to dodge, «Were midhomework.»
«No, now,» Emma insisted, «Milly, could you give us a minute?»
Milly grimaced, but left the room. Emma slammed the door shut and turned to Edward.
«How long will this go on?» she demanded.
«What do you mean?» Edward feigned ignorance.
«The money, Edward! Your exwife, Milly, the whole lot! We can barely keep upmortgage, billsI give up everything, and you keep feeding her! Its absurd!»
«Darling, shes my child,» Edward began to defend, «I cant turn my back on her.»
«And what about me? About us? We have needs too! I cant even afford to fix my teeth,» Emma snapped.
«I understand,» Edward said apologetically, «Ill speak to Olivia»
«Shell never listen!» Emma shot back. «She always gets what she wants. Maybe you should remind her that she also has a husband who ought to look after his own family.»
«Emma, cut the talk about Olivia,» Edward frowned, «Shes a decent mother.»
«A decent mother? If she were, she wouldnt dump all her problems on you! Shes happy you foot the bill,» Emma retorted.
«Enough!» Edward exploded, «Dont speak like that about the mother of my child!»
«And dont forget you have a real wifeone who loves and supports you!» Emma shouted, tears welling.
«I love you,» Edward whispered, «but I cant abandon my child.»
«Then perhaps you should choose who you love more?» Emma challenged.
Edward lowered his head in silence.
«What’s all this shouting about?» Emma asked, looking at the sobbing Emmano, at herself, tears streaking, «Are you arguing?»
«No, Milly,» Edward tried to calm his daughter, «Everythings fine.»
«Not fine!» Emma cried, «Your father and I are fighting because of you and your mother!»
«Because of me?» Milly raised an eyebrow in surprise.
«Yes, because you keep demanding money, because you treat me like an empty space!» Emma spat.
«What am I supposed to do, love you? Youre nobody to me!» Milly snapped, «Ive got my mother!»
Emma felt as if a slap had landed across her face. She stared at Edward, waiting for a word, but he only bowed his head in silence.
«You know what, Milly?» Emma managed, her voice trembling, «You may stay as long as you like, but I wont endure this any longer. Im done pretending everythings alright. My patience has run out.»
She left the room, leaving Edward and Milly alone. Retreating to the bedroom, Emma snatched her phone and dialed a friend.
«Hello,» she choked out, tears blurring her vision, «I need to talk.»
The next day Emma met her friend in a café in Manchester. She looked gaunt, barely touching her scone. After listening, her friend asked, «Emma, are you seriously thinking of a split?»
«I dont know,» Emma admitted honestly, «I love Edward, but I cant live like this. Hes torn between me and his former family, and I feel like an unwelcome extra. Im exhausted.»
«I get it. But maybe give him another chance, talk it through again?» the friend suggested. «Explain how you feel, what you need.»
«Ive told him a thousand times!» Emma brushed her hand over the table, «He seems to understand, but nothing changes. He wont hurt his daughter, yet he hurts me.»
«What about Milly? Have you tried speaking with her?» the friend pressed.
«Talking to her is futile!» Emma erupted, «She only listens to her mother and does everything to spite me. She sees me as nothing.»
«Kids often echo their parents behaviour,» the friend remarked, «Maybe you could find some common ground after all?»
«She cant stand me! She ignores me on purpose! Its impossible,» Emma snapped.
«But perhaps you could try?» the friend persisted. «Show her you want a relationship, and she might soften.»
Emma considered this. She knew her friend had a point. If she wanted to save the marriage, shed have to swallow some pride and attempt to bridge the gap with the headstrong teen.
«Fine,» Emma finally said, «Ill try. I dont expect miracles, though»
That afternoon, when Edward brought Milly home, Emma set her plan in motion. She emerged from the kitchen with a tray of scones and tea. Milly was lounging on the sofa, phone in hand.
«Milly,» Emma began, «Fancy a cuppa and a scone?»
Milly glanced up, a scowl forming.
«I’m not hungry,» she replied.
«Just have a bite,» Emma offered, placing the tray on the table, «I baked them myself.»
Reluctantly, Milly took a small bite of a scone.
«Tasty,» she muttered.
«I’m glad,» Emma smiled, «Come sit, Ill bring you tea.»
Milly shuffled to the table, looking uneasy. Only recently had the stepmother shouted at her; now Emma was offering kindness.
«Milly, I wanted to talk,» Emma said gently, «I know you dont like me being around your father.»
«And I dont have to like you,» Milly retorted, «Youre not my mother.»
«I understand,» Emma nodded, «Im not trying to replace anyone. I just want peace. Your father suffers from our fights.»
Milly stared into her mug, silent.
«I know you love your mother, and thats right,» Emma continued, «But that doesnt mean you have to hate me. I love your father too.»
«That’s a lie!» Milly shouted, «You only argue with him!»
«We argue because its hard,» Emma admitted, «It doesnt mean we dont love each other.»
She waited, hoping for a reaction. Milly stared at the tablecloths pattern, still quiet.
«Milly, Ive never wished you harm,» Emma said softly, «I just want us all to be happy. I care about you, as the daughter of the man I love.»
Milly lifted her eyes, meeting Emmas. The hostility in her gaze had faded.
«Really?» she whispered.
«Really,» Emma replied, «I could swear on it now.»
At that moment Edward stepped in, surprised to see Emma and Milly sharing a quiet tea.
«Everything alright?» he asked.
«Were just talking,» Emma replied with a smile.
The evening passed wonderfully. Milly and Emma played a game of Twister, laughing, while Edward chuckled heartily. For the first time, Milly felt no resentment toward her stepmother; she realised she could be nice, not wicked.
