Though Gretta looked at her with wide innocent eyes, the question was loaded. “A wicked stepmother?” “Uh huh. Hank said he didn’t want no wicket stepmother, but Daddy might get one anyhow. Hank wouldn’t tell me what it was.” Gretta frowned, making her dark brows draw together. “He told me to read the fairy-tale book you bought me for Christmas, but I don’t read so good yet.” Trying to keep her voice light, Melissa said, “When a father gets remarried after his wife dies or after a divorce, his new wife is called a stepmother. She’s like a second mother to his children. In fairy tales sometimes the stepmother is mean and nasty and makes the kids miserable. That’s why she’s called a wicked stepmother. But that’s only a story, sweetie. Lots of stepmothers love their husbands’ children very much, just like they’re their own.” “Well, I don’t want a wicked stepmother either.” Gretta’s dark eyes filled with tears.
