‘Being A Stepmother: The Truth In Black And White'

Rachel Edwards’ experience as a black stepmother to white children inspired her to write a novel with a deadly ending

- Rachel Edwards

HOW do families happen? Often, just as h they have since the dawn of mankind. Others are brought together by a miraculous collision. One moment you’re a single woman, the next you’re raising children, but you’ve not given birth. Now imagine they are conspicuously ‘not yours’, that you are black and they are white.

Following one such remarkable collision, I’ve spent 15 years as a full-time stepmother. Now the kids are 20 and I’m publishing my debut novel, Darling, about the tense relationship between black British nurse Darling White and her white stepdaughter, Lola, 16. In six months, one of them is dead.

So why did I write a dark novel where the central relationship appears toxic? Was I revealing my own experiences? Or was I saying something altogether different and, to my mind, more important?

Peter and I met at work, a marketing company. He was separated, a single dad 12 years my senior, and my boss – plenty there to quash any romance. After two years at the company I left, jetting off to Cuba for a month. An incredible trip, too good for my bank balance. So much so that I needed my old job back. Peter seemed thrilled. One lunch, one unexpected touch of my hand and the penny dropped… we started dating.