My mother-in-law rejected my first-marriage daughter. She considered her a burden and denied her family status. One day, we had to entrust my daughter to her care. Nobody could have imagined what happened next.
For years, I thought bliss was fragile. Although attractive, fine porcelain is fragile and easily broken.
I lived cautiously, fearing a one mistake could cause everything to fall apart.
Somehow, peace returned. A deep, permanent tranquility that permeates your bones without your awareness.
I never expected to remarry after my first husband’s charismatic appeal and empty promises.
I distrusted everyone, especially myself. So I met Marcus. Calm. Steady. A man who accepted responsibility without hesitation.
Weekend pancakes and midweek homework aid were his duties. He was unlike Caleb.
As for Lily… Lily was the highlight of that disastrous marriage. She was 8 now. Bright.
Intuitive. Always singing warm, made-up melodies. Marcus adored her. He always treated her as his own.
He attended her school plays and read to her nightly. The day she named him “Dad,” he struggled to hold back tears.
Not everyone accepted Lily. Not especially Helena, Marcus’s mother.
She expressed her opinion before our wedding. “Why have you tied yourself to someone else’s child?” she said. Start over. Clear slate.”
Marcus silenced her immediately. We agreed to stay apart. We wished to avoid drama. We wished peace. Peace is always fleeting.
Marcus and I opened our laptops at the kitchen table on Thursday morning. One of his calls had terminated.
“They need both of us in Denver,” he remarked. “Tomorrow morning.”
Looked at my coffee. “What about Lily?”
Sighing, he rubbed his face. The sickness has kept Clara out. She won’t return until next week.
Standing, I was nervous. I walked around Lily’s sparkling sneakers. “My mom is traveling. Maybe Jenna?
Marcus didn’t reply. His silence revealed his thoughts.
His exhale was slow. “We could ask my mom.”
“No.” Turned around. “Definitely not.”
“She’s mellowed,” he remarked. She inquired about Lily at Christmas.
“She called her a ‘stray puppy,’ Marcus. That woman disregards her.”
“She wouldn’t hurt her.”
“You don’t know. I’m unaware. I won’t risk it.”
But I tried. I called everyone—friends, coworkers, old babysitters. None were available.
I called Jenna last.
“I wish I could,” she said. My due date is less than two weeks. “What if something happens while she’s here?”
I hung up and faced Marcus. “Either cancel the trip or leave her with Helena.” A silent man “I already regret this,” I muttered.
We left morning. Sunlight hardly reached the sky. While singing softly, Lily bounced in the back seat. She had no notion my chest hurt.
Lily leaned between chairs as we approached Helena’s house.
Are we going to the park?
“No, sweetheart,” Marcus explained gently. “You’re staying with Grandma Helena for a few days.”
Lily smiled no more. “But she doesn’t like me.”
My heart broke. Words escaped me. Just pain.
“She does,” Marcus answered pretending to smile. “She presents it differently.”
He regarded me. Only four days.”
Helena smiled thinly to us at the entrance. You’re late.
I gave Lily’s bag. “Her favorite plush bunny is in the side pocket. She has tennis practice on Friday. Helen raised eyebrows. “I never imagined providing babysitting services in retirement.”
“She’s your granddaughter,” Marcus added stiffly.
Helena remained silent. “Get going.”
Kneeled to Lily. Just four days. We’ll return soon.”
She nodded silently, hugging her bunny.
The vacation became a jumble of hotels and meetings. My body was present, but my thoughts remained on Lily.
Every morning, I contacted Helena. Every night.
“May I speak to Lily?” I requested.
“She bathes.”
“She’s tired.”
“She’s asleep.”
Excuses. Every time.
Day three left me shivering with fear. Texted, begged for photos, videos, etc.
Nothing.
“You’re overthinking,” Marcus remarked. “If something was wrong, she’d call.”
Would she? I snapped. “Or would she prove her twisted point?”
Day 4 arrived. After our last encounter, Marcus said, “See? Everything’s fine. Possibly, she will accept Lily.” My fear returned as we reached Helena’s house. She opened the door carefully.
“Where’s Lily?”
“She’s fine,” Helena said.
Marcus stepped in. “Can we enter?”
No reply. Stepped aside.
“Lily?” I shook while calling.
The residence was searched. Nothing. No bunny. No bag. No Lily.
“Where is she?” I ordered.
Helena crossed her arms. “I favored you both.”
Marcus paled. “Where’s my daughter?”
“Not your daughter. She’s your long-standing error. I offered you a fresh start.”
I charged her. “Where’s She?”
She’s safe. She attends tennis school. A good boarding program. She frequently discusses tennis, right?
Marcus erupted. “You WHAT?”
“She’s not your real child,” Helena said quietly. “Now you can have real family.”
Marcus shakily responded, “She is my child. “You were wrong.”
“I had every right,” she said coldly.
“You kidnapped her,” I murmured. “You took our daughter.”
“You need to calm your wife down,” she urged Marcus.
He glared. Don’t talk to her. Where did you take Lily?
You’ll find her.”
We did not linger. We combed through all tennis boarding schools in the state that night. Phone calls. Directories. Lists.
It hit in the morning.
Continuous driving for five hours. When we arrived, Lily was alone on a seat, cuddling her rabbit.
She fled when she spotted us.
“Mommy!” she shouted, jumping into my arms. “I thought you didn’t want me.”
“No, baby. That’s not true,” I cried. “We searched everywhere.”
“She said you were starting a real family,” Lily whispered. He didn’t need me.
Marcus knelt near us. You’re our family. We have a daughter. “We will never let you go.”
She gripped tighter.
On the way back, she curled up in the backseat. I watched the road. “We must end this,” I said.
Marcus nods Helena’s residence was our destination that night. As she opened the door, she frowned at Lily sleeping in the car.
“What now?”
“You will never see her again,” I said. “Or any of our children.”
She sneered. I have no grandchildren.”
With my hand on my stomach, I grinned. I’m pregnant.”
Her eyes shone. My son’s first!
Marcus advanced. “No. My second. The first is in automobile. You are not seeing either of them.”
Yes, I’m her grandmother!
“No,” Marcus responded. “You lost that right.”
She faced me. ‘You turned him against me.
I turned away, saying “No”. “You did that alone.”
I left. To my daughter. To my spouse. To my family, who chose me and I chose them back.
