Mum, she wont let me play with the doll! Lucy stormed into the kitchen, her little hands smearing tears across her cheeks.
Sarah shot straight up from her chair.
Emma, honestly, this is ridiculous. Grace is two years older than Lucy! Two years! And she cant let the little one play with her toys for five minutes?
Emma clenched her jaw tight. Here we go again.
Sarah, Grace loves her toys. Shes not being horrid, she just
Just what? Selfish? Sarah glared. Shes just like you, Emma. Growing up exactly like her mum! All for me, nothing for anyone else. She learnt that from you, she did! Because my brothers nothing like that. Hes kind, like everyone in our family!
The accusation stung. Emma bit back the sharp response trying to escape.
You know youre being unfair.
Unfair, am I? Sarah pointed at Lucy, who was now howling, snot and tears everywhere. My girl is miserable! And yours doesnt care. Grace couldnt care less about Lucy, its obvious!
Out the corner of her eye, Emma spotted movement by the hallway. There was Grace, clutching the doll at the centre of this storm. Emma recognised it instantly: the doll Gran had given Grace, and shed named her Daisy. That doll went everywhere with her for months. Now Graces bottom lip was trembling, her eyes flicking from her mum to her aunt, scared.
You see? Sarah jabbed a finger at Grace. No shame, no guilt. Just pure greed.
Emma took a deep breath and crouched in front of her daughter, gently cupping her face in her hands. Her little girls face was so open, so trusting. And here, she was about to hurt her, make her cry and feel betrayed.
Sweetheart, she whispered, give Lucy the doll, please.
Graces eyes grew enormous. She looked baffled and hurt. Mumno
Trust me. Emma clenched her teeth. Please, darling. Just trust me this once.
Grace stared at her for a long time, then with trembling hands, she passed Daisy over. Lucy snatched the doll at once and, as if by magic, all tears dried upshe started inspecting her loot, grinning.
Grace turned and bolted to her room. The door banged shut a second later. Emma stood watching the space where her daughter had just disappeared, feeling like shed just let her down.
At last! Sarah yelled down the hall. Thats how it should have been from the start, Gracie! No one likes a greedy girlremember that!
Emma started ushering Sarah and Lucy toward the front door. Sarah wouldnt stop chuntering on about how Emma was raising Grace all wrong, how she was out of control, how girls shouldnt be greedy or spiteful.
It was only after Sarah and Lucy finally left that Emma could breathe again. She wandered down the hallway and paused outside Graces door. She could just hear the muffled sobs through the wood.
Emma pressed her hand against the door. She closed her eyes. Beyond this door was the hardest conversation shed ever have.
Grace, can I come in? Emma knocked softly.
Silence. She waited a moment, then gently pushed the door open. Grace was curled up on her bed, tucked in a tight ball with her back to the room.
Love, I know youre cross with me, Emma sat on the bed. And youre right. But I need you to trust me, just a bit longer. Ill make it right. Mum promises.
Grace didnt move. Her little shoulders were taut. Emma stayed there a long while, waitinghoping for even the slightest shift. But Grace never turned round. Quietly, Emma left, shutting the door behind her.
She would fix it. She would make sure her daughter never felt that way again.
The whole next week, Emma was more attentive than ever, catching every look, every word Grace spoke. Gradually, Grace started having her breakfast again, answered questions instead of just shrugging. By Friday morning Grace had even laughed at her favourite cartoon, but the box of toys in the corner stayed firmly shut. There was a heaviness in her eyes that wouldnt shift.
On Saturday, Emma came in with Graces coat in hand.
Come on, sweetheart, she said, smiling like nothing was wrong. Were off to Auntie Sarahs.
Grace looked confused but took the coat without a word. She was used to doing as she was told. Emma could see her daughter didnt want to visit Sarah and Lucy, but she said nothing.
Sarah answered the door with her usual beaming grin, babbled away, and let them inside. Emma sent Grace toward the corridor.
Go on, love, play with Lucy, Emma squeezed her hand. Ill just stay here.
Grace hesitated, searching her mums face, but then made her way silently along the hall to Lucys room.
Almost an hour went by in the lounge. Sarah was off on a roll, chattering away, and Emma just nodded along, contributing a word here and there. Sarah only needed an audience, not a conversation.
My little Lucy is such an angel, Sarah sighed, all misty-eyed. Always thinks of others first, always shares. Last week, she gave her very last sweet to the boy next door, without anyone telling her. Thats the sort of girl she is.
Emma kept up a tight smile while Sarah praised Lucy for at least ten minutes straight.
Some children are just born generous, Sarah went on, admiring her nails. Others, well, you have to keep teaching them. Must be exhausting, explaining basic kindness over and over, only for it to go unheeded
Grace is a good girl, Emma said softly.
Oh, Im sure, in her own way. But she could take a leaf out of Lucys book about sharing. That business with the doll last weekwell, honestly, a seven-year-old in tears over a toy? My Lucy would never
A shriek echoed from the hallway. Both women shot up and rushed through.
They arrived in Lucys room just as Lucy and Grace were locked in a tug-of-war over a huge teddy bear. Lucy was holding on tight at one end while Grace clung to the other, her eyes screaming defiance: Not letting go!
Grace, give it back now! Sarah thundered. Give Lucy her teddy!
But Emma stepped in, standing between Sarah and the girls.
Wait. Why does she have to?
Sarah froze. She looked properly taken aback, her face going beetroot-red.
What do you mean, why? Thats Lucys bear! Its her room!
Emma didnt budge. She looked her sister-in-law steadily in the eye, triumph bubbling under her skin.
And the doll was Graces. That didnt stop you, did it?
Sarah stammered, backing off a step.
Its not the same, Emma! Lucys the younger one, she
Your daughters so generous and kind, arent you always saying? Emma cut her off. Youve been telling me for an hour about it. Well, lets see it, then. Time for her to share.
Lucys face crumpled; tears sprang like fountains.
Mummy, no! she wailed, clinging to the bear. Hes mine! I dont want to! I wont give him to Grace! Hes mine, mine, mine!
Emma watched as Sarahs outrage dissolved into confusion and worry. Her generous daughter was on the floor in the middle of a full-blown tantrum. Sarah knelt to comfort her, but Lucy only screamed louder.
You see? Emma murmured. Its never simple with your own child, is it, Sarah?
The moment Lucy let go for a second, Grace snatched the bear up, hugging the thing tight to her chest and retreating until her back pressed against Emmas legs. She stayed like that, half-hidden behind her mum.
Emma let her hand rest on Graces hair.
Were off now. Thanks for having us, but weve got to go.
Sarah didnt reply, just held on to sobbing Lucy. Emma took Graces hand and led her to the door, neither of them glancing back. No one tried to stop them or said goodbye.
Back at home, Grace flopped onto the sofa, still holding the bear close. Her face was lit up with a happiness so pure and real, Emma couldnt help but smile and hug her close. Today, Sarah had finally got what was coming to herher kind daughter had thrown a tantrum for the ages.
It would be months before they visited again, if they ever did. That didnt bother Emma in the slightest. Shed decided: call it selfish if you must, but shed never let anyone trample on her daughter again. Not for any reason. And one day, even when Emmas not around, Grace would still know how to stand her ground, say no, and look after her own heart.
