Happiness is Possible
Dad is so kind, so cheerfulthe best father in the world, as far as Emily is concerned. She eagerly waits for him to return from his business trips, bringing gifts and all sorts of amusing stories.
When Dad comes home, Mum brightens up, though Granny does the opposite, scowling and refusing to visit. Emily wishes theyd just get along.
Oh, the tales Dad tells! Emily laughs until her sides ache. This time, hes brought her a big doll and a fluffy white rabbit.
“This rabbits a girl, right, Dad?”
“Yep, Em. Know what her name is?”
“Nooo.”
“Lily.”
“Lily? Like Mum?”
“Exactly. So youll always have a little Lily close by.”
Dad and Mum exchange a smile. Hes brought presents for Mum too, and she pretends to scold him for spoiling them.
“How could I not spoil you? Youre my favourite girls.”
They eat dinner together, and afterwards, Dad regales Emily with his ridiculous army stories.
“There was this soldier in my unitguess what his surname was?”
“What?” Emily asks.
“Thunderclap! Built like a tank, shoulders this wide” Dad stretches his arms”and his best mate? Surname was Mousley. Tiny as a mouse, those two inseparable.”
Then there was a bloke called Cat. So there they wereThunderclap, Mousley, and Cat, always together.
Emily laughs until she drifts off to sleep, happy and warm.
The next day, Dad takes her to the park for ice cream and rides. By evening, shes so tired she dozes on his shoulder.
But in the morning Dads gone.
Maybe hes in the shower?
Mum sits at the table, lost in thought.
“Mum, whens Dad coming out? I need to brush my teeth.”
“Sweetheart” Mum forces a smile, but her eyes glisten. “Dad had to go.”
“Work again?”
“Yes, love. Urgent work.”
Years pass. Dad visits sporadically. Granny mutters about him, saying he never greets properly, skips birthdaysalways some excuse.
“Probably married already,” she tells Mum. “Next time he shows up, check his papersor I will!”
“Mum!” Emilys mother snaps. “Enough!”
Dad keeps visiting, and Emily stays happy, though she notices Mum and Dad arguing more. Dad grows quiet when Mum whispers demandsprobably about his job. Maybe she wants him to quit.
Then, one visit, they shout.
“Lily, you dont understandI have obligations!”
“And us? What about us?”
Dad leaves that night, shoulders slumped, without staying over.
Granny rants: “I told you! Secretive, that one. Probably married. Knew it all along.”
Mum, tearful, whispers, “He begged me to keep the baby. Said hed leave if it was a boy. But he loves Emilyhe adores her!”
“Adores her? Then why isnt he here?”
Dad visits less. One day, Emily asks when hes coming.
Mum shrugs. Granny snaps, “Who needs a father like that?”
But Emily waits.
She doesnt know that in another town, another girlmaybe her agealso calls him Dad and waits for presents.
Emily hugs her white rabbit.
“Lily, you understand, dont you? Hes still the best dad.”
He never returns.
Years later, Emily spots himwalking with another woman, a girl her age, and a boy. They laugh, holding hands. A proper family.
She wants to call out, but her voice fails. He doesnt even see her.
That night, Grannys words echo: *He has another family.*
At breakfast, Emily faces Mum.
“Mum does he?”
Mum stares out the window. “Yes. Always has.”
“Then what are we?”
“We were his family too. Just not the official one.”
Emily turns away. She wants to scream, but tears come instead. “Why didnt you tell me?”
“Because you loved him,” Mum says softly. “And so did I. He loves you still. Life just got complicated.”
Emily remembers the laughter, the storiesThunderclap, Mousley, Catall real.
He *was* the best dad.
At twelve, Mum marries Uncle Bob. Hes not unkind, just indifferent.
Emily grows up, graduates, gets a flat. She buries thoughts of Daduntil he calls, years later, as if no time has passed.
“Sweetheart! Found a job? Flat sorted?”
She keeps replies short, but when he asks to meet, she hesitatesthen agrees.
In a café, he looks oldergrey at his temples, weary. But his grin is the same.
“Youre beautiful,” he says. “All grown up.”
She studies himnot just “best dad,” but the man who deceived them.
“Dad I know. About your other family.”
He sighs. “Emily I never meant to hurt you. Youll always be my daughter. But I was a cowardcouldnt lose you, couldnt leave them.”
She stays silent, torn between hugging him and running.
“Remember Thunderclap? Mousley?” she finally says. “To me, you were always the kindest, funniest. But I remember the pain too.”
“What can I do, Em? To make it right?”
She sees the fear in his eyesof losing her completely.
“Just be here,” she says. “No secrets. Just my dad.”
He nods, eyes wet.
She touches his handand forgives. Not for what he did, but because hes still the man she loves.
Years later, Emily has a daughterAnnie, bright-eyed and giggly.
Dad visits openly now. Annie shrieks with joy. “Grandads here!”
At dinner, he tells the old stories.
“Know what this soldiers name was?”
“What?” Annie asks.
“Thunderclap!” He spreads his arms wide.
Annie laughs just like Emily once did.
That night, tucking Annie in, Emily remembers the white rabbitLilyand smiles.
Life isnt what she dreamed as a child. But watching her dad and daughter laugh at the same silly tale, she knowshappiness is possible. Just not the way you expect.
