**The Surprise**
«Fancy grabbing a pint at the pub? Wind down after work?» Jonathan asked as the office emptied for the day.
«Sorry, got to head home. Look.» Edward pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and flipped it open.
«Blimey, youre really doing it?» Jonathan raised an eyebrow, eyeing the ring. «Never thought youd settle down.» He clapped Edward on the back.
«Been with Sophie four years nowtime to make it official. Shes got no idea. Its a surprise. If I dont ask her now…»
«You never will,» Jonathan finished. «Still having second thoughts? Come off it, mate. Shes stunning. Bit jealous, to be honest.»
«Right, Id best be off.» Edward tucked the box away. «Promised Sophie Id be back early.» He hurried toward the lift.
On the drive home, he stopped at a florist and picked up a bouquet of deep red rosesSophies favourite. He laid them on the passenger seat, rehearsing his words at every red light. *»Darling Sophie, youve waited so long… Sophie, I love you, marry me.»* No, it all sounded wrong.
Parking outside his flat, he grabbed the flowers and headed for the door. Just as his fingers brushed the handle, his phone rang.
«Eddie, love…» His mothers voice trembled.
Instantly, he knew. «Whats happened, Mum?»
«Im alright. Its… its Emily. Shes gone, love.»
«Christ…» His grip slackened, the door unopened.
Emily. Dead. The girl hed known since primary school. «How?»
«Hit by a car. Died instantly. Driver didnt stop. Funerals tomorrow. Youll come, wont? She loved you…» His mother stifled a sob. «Lilys all alone now. Someones got to step insocial servicesll take her otherwise.»
«Ill be there,» Edward promised.
«Please, son…»
*Emilys gone.* The words hammered in his skull.
He hadnt loved her the way shed loved him. She deserved better.
Dazed, he barely registered climbing the stairs. He blinkedsuddenly standing in his flats hallway, the roses limp in his hand. Where to put them? The news had hollowed him out. Proposing now felt obscene.
«Special occasion?» Sophie emerged from the kitchen, the rich scent of dinner swirling behind her. Normally, it wouldve made his stomach growl. Now, it just felt wrong.
She waited, expectant. But Edward hesitated, numb.
«Does there need to be a reason?» He forced a smile, handing her the bouquet and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
Sophies eyes dipped, hiding her disappointment. She vanished into the kitchen; the sound of water running soon followed.
When Edward entered, the roses stood in a vase, the table set. He sat, though he had no appetite.
«Not hungry?» Sophie asked.
«Not really. Mum phoned. Emily died. Funerals tomorrow.»
«Emily…?»
«My ex-wife,» he clarified. «Ive got to go. Sort things out for Lily. Our daughter.»
«Waityou never mentioned a daughter. How old is she?»
«Twelve, I think.»
«So youre bringing her here? To *live* with us?»
«I dont know. Emilys got no one. Her parents died when she was in school. And Mum… shes got her health problems. Look, I need to pack.»
«Youre actually going to the funeral?» Sophies voice sharpened.
«On the last train tonight. Already cleared it with work.»
«Youve been divorced *years*. She mustve moved on»
«Not now, Soph.» He pocketed the ring box. «Ill leave the car. Use it if you need.»
«So *this* is the surprise?» She pushed back from the table.
«No. Ill explain when Im back.» His fingers closed around the velvet.
***
The train rattled through the night, sleep impossible. Memories flickered behind his eyelids.
Theyd been childhood friendssame nursery, same secondary school. Skinny, fair-haired Emily, always wrapped in scarves, forever catching colds.
When her parents died in Year 11, her gran lasted three months before her heart gave out. Edwards parents took Emily in.
*»Pre-made bride for you,»* his dad had joked. Edward had bristled.
Then, one night, his parents away, something shifted. He barely remembered how it happened. But Emily fell pregnant. *»Do the right thing,»* his parents insisted.
Hed loved her like a sister. Marriage felt like play-acting. When Lily was born, he felt nothing. The truth curdled in his guthe didnt love Emily. Didnt want this life. After scraping through his first year at uni, he transferred to London and left.
*»No son of mine abandons his child,»* his father had spat. *»You walk out, youre dead to me.»*
Twelve years passed. No visits. Not even for his fathers funeral.
Mum sent photosLily growing, eerily like Emily. Hed stare, numb.
Now, he was going back.
***
Mum wept as she hugged him. Lily stood apart, wary.
«Sweetheart, this is your dad,» Mum coaxed.
Lily scoffed, spun on her heel, and vanished into *his* old bedroom.
The funeral was a closed casket. Like Emily had never existed. Lily didnt cry, just glared at the floor.
He tried talking to her. She ignored him.
Later, eavesdropping:
«cant keep you, love. Social services wont allow it. Just go to London with your dad for now. You can come back»
«Why? He doesnt want me. Might as well go to care.»
«Dont say that! Youve no idea what its like»
«Where was *he* all these years?»
A door slammed.
Yet, she boarded the train with him.
«Who do you live with?» Lily asked abruptly.
«Grandma tell you? Yeah, theres someone. Was planning to propose.» He patted his pocket. «Youll like her.» The lie tasted sour.
But the flat was empty. Sophies thingsgone. Just keys on the side table.
«Your rooms there,» Edward said, retreating to the shower.
When he emerged, Lily was making tea, buttering toast. No tantrums. No gloating.
Days passed quietly. He enrolled her in school, bought her new clothes. Took her ice-skating in Hyde Park. Slowly, the frost thawed.
Then work sent him to Shanghai.
«Ask Sarah to watch her,» Jonathan suggested. «Shes smitten with you.»
Sarahthe junior designer who blushed whenever he walked byagreed eagerly. Within days, she and Lily were laughing together.
The trip passed in a blur. He called daily. Lily still handed the phone to Sarah.
Returning, he spotted them from the taxiwaiting by the door, side by side. His chest tightened. No one had ever welcomed him home.
Lily stepped forward. He hugged her awkwardly. She didnt pull away.
Sarah lingered, smiling. He wanted to hug her too.
Gifts were exchanged. Dinner was made. For the first time in years, the flat felt alive.
As Sarah left, Lily suddenly called, *»Dad»*
His breath caught.
She nudged him toward the hall. «Its late. Ask her to stay.»
That night, Edward lay awake. Life had upended itself. Lilywarming to him. Sarahkind, easy. Nothing like the strained silences with Sophie.
What if this was love? Not fireworks, but something steady.
For the first time, the future didnt terrify him.
