“Don’t interfereyou’re not family,” the girl snapped, turning away sharply.
“Emma, have you picked your prom dress yet?” asked Claire, spreading bridal catalogues across the table. “Maybe we could go shopping together?”
Fifteen-year-old Emma glanced up from her phone, her stare cold and indifferent.
“Why do you care? I have a mum for that.”
“Of course, I just thought” Claire swallowed hard, treading on painfully familiar ground. “Maybe all three of us could go? It might be fun.”
“No need. Mum and I will handle it.”
Claire sighed, pushing the catalogues aside. Rain tapped against the window, filling the flat with a heavy silence. She checked her watchMark would be home from work soon, and the endless tightrope between husband and stepdaughter would begin anew.
“Emma, what would you like for dinner? I could make your favourite shepherds pie?”
“Doesnt matter. Im going to Mumsshe made beef stew.”
The girl stood, grabbing her coat from the hook.
“Emma, wait.” Claire stepped forward, her voice brittle. “Lets talk properly. Why do you hate me so much? What have I ever done to you?”
Emma paused at the door, slowly turning back. Her eyes burned with something far beyond teenage defiance.
“Do you seriously not know? Or are you just pretending?”
“I dont. I swear.”
“You ruined my family!” The words exploded from her. “Dad left Mum because of you! And now you act like youre so kind, so perfect!”
The air left Claires lungs. She sank onto a chair, knees weak.
“Emma, that isnt true. When I met your father, he was already living apart. Theyd been divorced for over a year”
“Liar!” Emmas voice cracked. “Mum told me everything! How you stole him, how you schemed!”
“What schemes? Emma, we worked togetherwe were just friends”
“Dont interfere. Youre nothing to me.” The door slammed.
The words hit harder than a slap. *Nothing.* Three years of marriage, three years of tryingand still, she was an outsider.
Silence swallowed the flat. Rain blurred the windows. Claires tears fell unchecked.
When Mark returned, her red-rimmed eyes betrayed her.
“What happened?” He sat beside her, his arm tentative around her shoulders.
“Emma again.” Claire wiped her nose with a tissue. “Mark, she *hates* me. Properly hates me.”
“What did she say this time?”
“That I destroyed your family. That I stole you from her mother. Called me an *outsider*.”
Mark exhaled, rubbing his temples.
“Claire, love, weve been over this. Shes just a kidshe doesnt understand”
“A kid? Mark, shes fifteen! At her age, I was working part-time to help my own mum. Your daughter acts like a spoiled princess!”
“Dont talk about her like that,” he warned, voice hardening. “The divorce broke her. Its trauma.”
“It was *four years ago*, Mark! When does it end?”
“Just give it time. Shell come aroundshell see youre not the enemy.”
Claire stood abruptly, pacing the room.
“Time? How much more time? Im human too, Mark! I have feelings! Ive tried so hard to love her”
“And what? She should love you back on command?”
“She *despises* me! And you refuse to see it!”
Mark stepped closer, frustration tightening his jaw.
“I know its hard. But Emmas my daughter. I cant abandon her.”
“But youd abandon *me*?” Claires whisper was raw.
“Thats not fairyoure an adult. You *understand*.”
“Do I? So Im just supposed to endure her cruelty because Im older?”
“Claire, dont twist this. Emma isnt cruelshes hurt.”
“Not cruel?” A bitter laugh escaped her. “Youre nothing to methats not cruel?”
“She was upset”
“And Im not?”
They stood frozen, the chasm between them widening. Claire finally understoodhe would never choose her.
“Right.” She marched to the bedroom, yanking a suitcase from the wardrobe.
“Clairewhat are you doing?”
“Staying with Sarah. Maybe longer.”
“Over *one argument*?”
She whirled around. “This isnt *one argument*, Mark. Its every day. Every single day, I feel like a stranger in my own home. And you do *nothing*.”
“What am I meant to do? Punish her for loving her mother?”
“Make her understand you *chose* me! That she has to respect that!”
“Claire”
“No. Im done apologising for loving you. For marrying you.”
She shoved essentials into the bag. Mark followed, pleading.
“Stay. Well figure this out.”
“Figure it out?” She spun to face him. “Weve been figuring it out for three years, Mark. *Nothings changed.*”
She grabbed her coat. He caught her wrist.
“Please. I love you.”
She pulled free. “Love isnt enough when theres no peace.”
The door clicked shut behind her. Rain misted her face as she hailed a cab.
Leaning against the window, she watched London blur past. Three years ago, Mark had seemed perfectkind, devoted, a loving father. Shed been ready to embrace Emma as her own.
But from day one, Emma had rejected her. Coldness turned to venom. And Markblind or unwillinghad let it happen.
Sarah answered the door, eyes widening.
“Claire? Godyoure soaked!”
“Can I stay? Maybe a few nights.”
“Of course. What happened with Mark?”
Claire collapsed onto the sofa. “Worse. I think our marriage was a mistake.”
“Dont be daft. Youre mad for each other.”
“We are. But theres a third person in this marriage.”
“Emma again?”
“Always.” Claire pressed her palms to her eyes. “Today she called me an *outsider*. And the worst part? Shes right.”
Sarah squeezed her hand. “Have you spoken to her mother? Maybe shed”
“Are you joking? Her mother *fuels* this! Tells Emma I stole him!”
“But did you?”
Claire stood abruptly. “Mark was *separated* when we met. His wife hoped theyd reconcilebut he chose me. Emma thinks if Id never existed, theyd be a family again.”
“And would they?”
Claire froze. “You think this is my fault too?”
“No! But divorce wrecks kids. Especially with a stepmum in the picture.”
“I *tried*, Sarah. Gifts, cooking her favourites, helping with homeworkand all I got was contempt!”
“Maybe she just needs more time?”
“How much? Another three years? Ten? I want a family, Sarah. But how can I bring a baby into a house where Im hated?”
Sarah sighed. “What does Mark say?”
“Be patient. Shell adjust. But shes only gotten worse.”
“Have you talked to her alone? Without Mark?”
“She wont *listen* to me.”
Marks call lit up her phone. Sarah shook her head. “Dont answer. Think first.”
But Claire already had.
“Where are you? Im worried.”
“At Sarahs. I need time.”
“How much?”
“I dont know. A day. A week. I need to decide if I can live like this.”
“What do I tell Emma?”
“The truth. That your wife wont tolerate disrespect anymore.”
“Claire”
“Dont. Not now.”
“I love you.”
“I know. But love isnt enough without peace.”
She hung up, exhaustion crashing over her.
Sarah handed her tea. “You know whats saddest? I really wanted to be her mum. Not replace her motherjust love her. She never let me.”
“Maybe shes scared.”
“Of what?”
“That loving you betrays her mum. Kids think like that.”
Claire stared into her tea. Was that it? Was Emmas hate just fear in disguise?
“But what can I do if she wont even speak to me?”
Sarah hesitated. “I dont know. But youll have to choose. Stay and accept itor walk away.”
That night, Claire lay awake on Sarahs sofa, haunted by memories. The early days with Mark, full of hope. Now, her marriage was splinteringbecause of a childs unforgiving heart.
At dawn, her phone rang. An unknown number.
“Claire? Its Emmas mother. We need to talk.”
