“Forgive me, love.”
“Emily, Emmy, wait Ive been waiting for you all morning. I got your address from the care home” Emily heard an unfamiliar mans voice just as she stepped out of her building.
“Who are you?!” she asked, instinctively glancing at her watch.
“Im your your dad, Emmy,” the man said hesitantly, forcing a smile.
“Youve got the wrong person. I dont haveand never hada father,” Emily replied flatly before turning away and hurrying toward her car.
Outwardly, she kept her cool. But inside, her heart pounded, and her cheeks burned so fiercely she thought she might burst into flames.
She slipped into the drivers seat, clicked her seatbelt, and turned the key in the ignition.
“Emily, Emmy, please I just wanted to talk”
The man rushed toward the car, arms outstretchedor so it seemedbut she pulled out of the parking space and was gone before he could say another word.
In the rearview mirror, she saw him standing there on the pavement, utterly lost. He looked crushed, his eyes fixed on her disappearing car.
Emily stopped at a petrol station, grabbed a coffee, and dialed her husband.
“Dave, there was some madman outside the flat When you take little George out, keep an eye on him, yeah?” She tried to sound calm, but her voice wobbled.
“What madman?” Dave asked, a hint of amusement in his tone.
“How should I know? Just some bloke!”
“Maybe an admirer?” he teased.
“Not funny. Anyway, Ive left.”
“Have a good day, dont stress! Ill have my eyes peeled for Georgie.”
“Cheers.”
Emily hung up and rushed to work, her heart out of place all day.
Truth was, she *had* no father. Biologically, suresomeone existed. But shed never met him. Shed grown up in care, no parents to speak of. Her mum was just fragments of memory from early childhoodnothing solid.
Later, the care home staff told her shed been placed there after her mums death. Shed died young from an illness, and no relatives stepped forward to take in the little girl. So off she wentfirst to a temporary home, then to long-term care.
Her childhood hadnt been *happy*. Living in care, what could you expect? But shed had it better than mostthe home was decent, the staff kind. Most kids there had been abandoned or taken from unfit parents. Few had lost their mums like Emily had.
In a way, shed always known her mum hadnt *chosen* to leave her. But she still envied the othersat least their mums were *alive*. At least they could hope, “Maybe one day shell miss me and come back.” Emily had no one to wait for. Her mum was gone, and the staff knew nothing about her dad. By adulthood, shed decided: hed left when he found out her mum was pregnant. He never wanted her.
“Emily, why so glum today?” her coworker Katie asked during lunch.
“Just tired, I reckon,” she lied with a weak smile.
Truth was, she couldnt stop thinking about that morning. Logically, that man *could* be her father. But why show up *now*? The thoughts swarmed like wasps, refusing to settle. Still, by days end, shed pulled herself together. “Ive lived just fine without a fatherwhy should I care about some stranger now? Even if he *is* my biological dad, weve got no bond. My *real* family is Dave and four-year-old Georgie. The rest? Doesnt matter.”
With that, she drove home, certain the old man would be long gone. Life would go back to normal.
She was wrong.
“Im back,” she called from the hallway.
“Finally! We were starting to wonder,” Dave answered from the kitchen.
“How was your first day off? Georgie not worn you out yet? Maybe we shouldnt have pulled him from nursery for the month?”
“Nah, we had a blast. Watching cartoons now. Em that man from this morning? He *is* your dad,” Dave said carefully.
“Dave, not *now*.”
“But he explained”
“I dont care what he told you! Whyd you even *talk* to him? Even if he *is* my dad, I dont *need* him. Where was he when I was in care? Drop itIm done talking about this!”
That night, sleep wouldnt comenot even with pills. Next morning, she made breakfast, woke Dave, and left for work.
And there he was again.
“Emily, *wait*! Just five minutes! I didnt *know* about youI swear!”
“If you dont stop harassing me, Ill call the police!” She jumped in her car and sped off, leaving him standing there, watching her go.
All day, thoughts of her parents gnawed at her. She couldnt focus. That evening, she heard male voices as she walked in. Dave and *him*, sitting at the kitchen table.
“Dave, have you lost your *mind*?!” she hissed, careful not to scare Georgie.
“Em, just hear him out. WilliamMr. Thompsonhe didnt *know* you existed. You always say everyone deserves forgiveness.”
Tears spilled down her cheeks.
“Emmy, dont cry. I truly had no idea. My mumyour granonly told me on her deathbed that I had a daughter. I loved your mum, Sarah, and she loved me. But life it wasnt simple. I failed you. Let me explain.”
No escaping now. Emily sat beside Dave as William began.
“We met by chance. Sarah worked in a shop near where I lived with my parents. We fell for each other fast. Then I got called upmilitary service. We planned to marry when I got back. But when she told my mum she was pregnant Mum turned her away. Said we didnt need a no-family bride. Then she *lied*told me Sarah had married someone else. Young and stupid, I believed her. After my service, I never went back. Only before Mum died did she confess Sarah had a daughter. *You*.”
Emily wept as he spoke.
“Dont cry, love. Ive no excuses, but Im beggingforgive me. Dont shut me out. I found out you grew up in care. I found Sarahs grave After my parents died, I thought I was alone. Now Ive got a daughter. A grandson. I lived up north, but Im moving back. Buying a flat here. My parents old house? Its yours. By rights, it shouldve always been yours.”
That evening, William left.
“What now?” Dave asked.
“I dunno, Dave. Honestly.”
“He said hes heading back north tomorrow to sort the flat. Maybe we see him off at the station?”
“Maybe. Well see.”
Next morning, Dave, Emily, and little George stood on the platform. Emily spotted William first. Their eyes metand for the first time, she smiled at him. He slowed, smiling back.
Minutes later, William held George in his arms.
“Ill be back for good in a month. Well sort the house paperwork then.”
“Plenty of time,” Emily said softly.
“Forgive me, love,” William murmured again.
She cried. He hugged herand for the first time, she felt it. Real, parental love. Safety. Peace.
“Id best go,” William said sadly.
“Come back soon.”
“I will. Lived alone too long. Thought Id die that way. Now? I want to live forevergot a family to love.”
As they drove home, Emily whispered, “Thanks, Dave.”
“What for?”
“If not for you Id never have heard him out.”
“Youre the one who always says everyone deserves forgiveness.”
“Everyone,” she agreed, smiling.
A month later, William returned for good. Emily forgave him. She accepted the housewhere William became a frequent guest.
