“He married you out of pity,” said her sister before walking out of the kitchen.
“Another call from the school about Katie,” Marina set her teacup down so sharply the tea sloshed over the edge. “Her teacher says shes stopped trying altogetherjust sits there, lifeless, in lessons.”
Lena flinched, setting aside the knife shed been using to peel potatoes. Her sister stood in the doorway, arms crossed, wearing the same expression shed had since childhoodthe one that always came right before something unpleasant.
“Maybe shes just tired? The curriculums demanding these days,” Lena said quietly, picking up another potato.
“Tired?” Marina scoffed. “Of what? James dotes on her, you tiptoe around her like shes illand whats the result? Failing marks and notes in her planner.”
Lena stayed silent. Katie *had* changed after she and James married. Shed withdrawn, gone quiet. Before, her daughter had been lively and talkative, praised by teachers, surrounded by friends. Now…
“You know what I think?” Marina pulled out a chair across from her. “Katie *knows.* Children sense dishonesty better than adults.”
“Meaning?” Lena looked up.
“That this marriage of yours is one big lie,” her sister said calmly, though her tone was edged. “You think the girl doesnt see how you and James interact? Like strangers under the same roof.”
Lenas chest tightened. The potato slipped from her fingers into the bowl.
“We get on fine.”
“Please! Im not blind. You dont even arguejust coexist. He comes home, eats, watches telly. You cook, clean, organise. Like flatmates, not spouses.”
“Not every couple rows,” Lena kept her voice steady. “Maybe were just… quiet people.”
Marina shook her head.
“Lena, stop lying to yourself. Youve seen how James looks at youor rather, *doesnt.* When you walk in, he barely glances up from his paper.”
It was true. Shed noticed long ago but pushed the thought away. James *did* seem to look straight through her. A nod in the morning, a question about dinner at night. Conversations only about choresno warmth, no smiles.
“Remember how he used to look at Olivia?” Marina pressed. “Before she died?”
Lena stiffened. Her sister rarely mentioned Jamess first wife.
“Dont.”
“I *will.* You saw them togetherhow he doted on her when she was ill. Couldnt take his eyes off her. Hands shaking when the doctor spoke. And now? If you caught flu, he wouldnt even fetch you paracetamol.”
Lena stood, moving to the window. Rain tapped against the glass, grey streaks sliding down. She remembered the day James proposedsix months after Olivias funeral. Theyd been drinking tea at the kitchen table, Katie asleep upstairs. After a long silence, hed said:
*”Lena… would you marry me? Katie needs a mother. And I… I cant manage alone.”*
No words of love. Just a practical solution to a practical problem.
“He married you out of pity,” Marina said, and left.
Lena stayed by the window, the words echoing. *Out of pity.* Maybe it was true. James had pitied hera single woman past thirty, no husband, no children. Shed pitied hima widower with a little girl. And now? A family without love, without warmth. And Katie, caught in the middle.
Her hands trembled as she returned to peeling potatoes. She thought of that evening, saying yes, believing love might grow later. That being needed was enough.
Two years had passed. Nothing changed. James remained polite, gratefulcold. Sometimes shed catch him staring at Olivias photo in the parlour, his face softening in a way it never did for her.
The front door clicked. Katie was home from school, heading straight to her roomno hello, no chat about her day.
Lena followed. The girl sat at her desk, hunched over a textbook but not readingjust staring blankly.
“Sweetheart, how was school?”
“Fine,” Katie muttered, not looking up.
“Need help with your homework?”
“No. Ill manage.”
Lena perched on the beds edge. Katie still wouldnt meet her eyes.
“Love, whats wrong? Youve stopped talking to me.”
Finally, Katie raised her headher eyes filled with a sadness too old for her years.
“Whats the point?” she whispered. “Youll leave soon anyway.”
“Why would I leave?”
“Because Dad doesnt love you,” Katie said simply, as if stating a fact. “He only loved Mum. He just… puts up with you.”
Lenas throat tightened. So the child *did* understand. Had been suffering in silence, afraid of losing someone else.
“Katie, I wont leave. I promised.”
“But youre unhappy. Ive seen you cry at night when you think no one hears.”
Lena had no answer. She *had* criednot from hurt, but from the slow realisation she was living someone elses life, playing a role that didnt fit.
That evening, after James returned from work, she waited through their usual silent supper. Katie ate quickly and vanished upstairs. James settled in his armchair, telly on low.
“James… we need to talk,” Lena finally said.
He muted the TV, frowning. “Something wrong?”
“The school rang again. Katies struggling.”
“Right. What do you suggest?”
Lena sat opposite him, hands clasped.
“Maybe its not about school. Maybe she senses somethings… not right between us.”
“Dont follow.”
“Were not a family. Were just sharing a house.”
James frowned.
“Lena, I dont see the issue. Katies fed, clothed, cared for”
“But she doesnt have happy parents,” Lena said softly. “Children feel that.”
He turned to the window.
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth. Why did you marry me?”
A long pause. The clock ticked. The fridge hummed.
“Katie needed a mother,” he said at last. “I needed someone to run the home. You cook well, keep things tidy. Katie likes you.”
“And love?”
James looked at her then, something like regret in his eyes.
“Lena, I never promised love. I told you why I needed a wife.”
He was right. He *hadnt* promised. Shed assumed it was shyness, that feelings would come. They hadnt.
“If Olivia were alive” she began.
His face changedgentle, warm.
“But shes not.”
“Answer me.”
“If Olivia were alive, Id never have married anyone,” he said simply.
There it was. The truth shed feared. Shed always be seconda stand-in, a temporary fix.
“James… what if I left?”
He blinked.
“Why? This works fine.”
“For *you.* Not for me. Or Katie.”
“Katies just being a moody teen.”
“No. Shes clever. She *knows.* And its hurting her.”
James stood, pacing.
“What do you want, Lena? For me to force myself to love you? Thats not how it works.”
“I dont want forced love. I want to be free to find someone wholl *truly* love me.”
He stopped, turned.
“And Katie?”
“She stays with you. But she needs a father who lives in the present, not the past.”
Silence. Then he sank back into his chair.
“Where will you go?”
“To Marinas, till I find work and a flat.”
“I wont file for divorce.”
“I will.”
Another pause.
“What do I tell Katie?”
“The truth. That adults make mistakes. That well always be friends, but cant live together anymore.”
James nodded.
“Alright. Maybe youre right.”
That night, Lena lay awake, terrified of starting overbut more terrified of a lifetime as a replacement.
In the morning, she knocked on Katies door before school.
“Love, I need to tell you something.”
Katie eyed her warily.
“Im moving out. Not because I dont love youbut because adults sometimes realise theyve made the wrong choice.”
Katie said nothing.
“Youll live with Dad. Ill be nearby. Well still see each otheryou can call or visit anytime.”
“And Dad?” Katie whispered.
“Hell be okay. He needs time to figure things out too.”
Suddenly, Katie hugged her.
“Lena… will you find a nice man? One who loves you properly?”
“I dont know, sweetheart. But Ill try to be happy.”
“Good. I didnt like it when you cried.”
She packed quicklyjust essentials. James saw her to the door.
“Lena,” he said awkwardly. “Thank you. For these two years. Youre a good woman. Youll find someone better.”
“And youll learn to live in the present, not the past,” she replied.
Marina hugged her without questions. “Well done. Better late than never.”
That evening, Katie called.
“Lena? Dad took Mums photo down today. Said it was time. Andhe booked me a therapist. Said I should talk about… everything.”
“Thats good, love.”
“He also said youre brave. That hes proud to have known you.”
Lena smiledproperly, for the first time in ages.
Maybe Marina was right. James *had* married her out of pity. But Lena didnt need pity anymore. She needed love. And now, at last, she had the chance to find it.
