Hey love, listen up so the whole mess started when this mystery woman turned up at the door, and suddenly Im being called a daughter. Oh my God, I rolled my eyes, what do you even want?
I asked, Is Dad home?
She said, No, hes off on a work trip. She slammed the door in my face, but I caught a male voice from deeper in the flat: Liam, whos that?
My mum and I only share the freckles and the eyes. Im Lily small, skinny, shy and a bit impressionable. Mum Margaret is a bit rounder, slower on the uptake, very meticulous and serious. She raised me on her own and adored me.
Your dad isnt at fault, Mum told me gently. He just fell in love with someone else. Well manage without him. I wanted to know everything about him, but Mums calm, firm tone cooled my curiosity. If he wanted to talk, hed have. No point whining.
Mum worked hard to keep us afloat. At first she baked cakes and pastries for orders at home, then she opened a tiny bakery on Oldham Road. I never tried to help her with that I was off at an art studio, took music lessons for a while, did swimming lessons, just trying everything.
When I told Mum I wanted to be a nursery teacher, she just smiled sweetly the perfect job for a girl like me. And the bread and butter? Well, shed earn that herself.
Id just started my first job after college when tragedy struck Mum died from a serious illness.
The young doctor looked puzzled. Did anyone notice she was unwell?
I I asked, but Mum said she was just tired, I stammered, then broke down.
My old friend Matthew tried to console me, he said philosophically. You cant bring Aunt Margaret back. She wouldnt want you to suffer, so she kept quiet.
Matthew and I have been friends since primary school the only one I really had besides Mum. My dad was a lone, workobsessed bloke, so we spent a lot of time together. Maybe thats why Matthew was the quiet, homebody type, more into computers than parties.
I should have seen it coming! I should have pushed Mum to get treatment, I sobbed.
Then I found out the bakery and the flat were entirely in my name.
I didnt know, I told Matthew, a bit flustered. The bakery manager mentioned a letter.
He laughed. You mustve signed something.
I did, I admitted after a moment. Mum asked, I signed, didnt ask any questions.
Looks like Aunt Margaret was prepping for something, Matthew sighed. Dont cry. What does the letter say?
We read it together. In it, Margaret wrote she loved me dearly and didnt want to hurt me, but things turned out this way. She also gave me Dads name and address: Find him. Hes a good man and will help you if you need it.
Turns out my dad, Edward James, lives on the other side of Manchester. We planned to go together, but Matthews grandma passed away in Liverpool, so he had to leave for a week.
Wait for me, he said before heading off. Well go together.
I nodded, but didnt wait.
The door opened to a young, stylish woman with a sleek bob.
What do you want? she asked, eyeing me sharply.
Is Edward James here? Im his daughter, I blurted.
Oh dear, she scoffed. Some lover showed up two months ago, now theres a daughter what do you want?
Is Dad home?
No, hes away on a job assignment, she snapped, shutting the door. I heard a voice from inside: Liam, whos that?
Choking back tears, I trudged home. It was clear she didnt want me meeting my father. I thought maybe I should ambush him on the street how humiliating!
The next day, Lydia the woman whod been my stepmom for a while called and set up a meeting.
Your mum left your number, she said cheerfully. She came by once, wanted to see my husband, but he was never home.
A handsome bloke in jeans and a cozy sweater stepped forward. Hello, daughter, he said, smiling. Youre a beauty. A pity were meeting like this.
I stared at him, stunned I never expected Dad to be so young.
Alex! Lydia laughed, nudging her husband. Dont embarrass Lily.
For about an hour, the newly reunited dad and stepmum peppered me with questions about my life. I spilled everything Mum, the bakery, my job. My dad gently patted my head, and I burst into tears, then declared happily that we were now a family.
Both Alex and Lydia nodded, assuring me that everything was real.
How do you cope, love? Lydia asked sympathetically. Running a business isnt for everyone.
I dont run it, I waved it off. Theres an admin she seems to have it under control. I have no idea what goes on.
Dont worry, Dad warned, frowning. Youll get robbed if youre not careful.
What should I do? I asked, scared.
Now youve got us we wont let anyone hurt you.
I beamed.
The very next day I signed a power of attorney so Dad could manage the bakery. I waited patiently for Matthew, who was still a week away, to share the good news: Shes not alone anymore! Shes got a family thatll look after her!
I didnt call Matthew right away I didnt want him to start complaining that Id kept him waiting.
When Matthew finally walked through my flats door, I practically gushed, spilling everything.
Dad already fired the admin hes cleaning up. She was stealing, can you believe it?
Matthew looked uneasy.
Hes brilliant! I said, ignoring his reaction. Ill introduce you properly.
Hed be back from his assignment in three days, we thought, and wed all meet.
But three days turned into a week, then two, and Alex never showed up. His phone was dead.
At first, Lydia didnt answer calls or texts, then her line went offline.
Matthew and I tried the flat together, but nobody opened the door.
Probably Alex is on another assignment, and Lydia is off gallivanting somewhere, the unfriendly neighbor muttered, slamming the door.
It cant be that they just vanished, I whispered, voice shaking. We should call hospitals, the morgue the police!
Hold your tears, Matthew sighed. Lets not jump to police yet. Ill see what I can find out.
For three days I tried reaching Dad and Lydia to no avail. Then Matthew showed up, saying, Weve got a meeting in an hour, got to go. He wouldnt say who he was meeting or why. Youll find out soon enough.
We drove to Alexs address. A short, stout man with a bald patch opened the door.
Ah, youre the ones, he said, barely looking up. Come in.
He led us to a kitchen where a halfempty bottle of whisky and some nibbles sat on the table.
Did you tell her? he asked Matthew.
Matthew shook his head.
No, Im not up for that.
I listened, stunned, as the truth unfolded. Lydia was actually Edwards second wife theyd married about five years ago. Alex was just a nickname; on his ID he was listed as Alexander. Hed been home when I first showed up, probably checking out the bakery and flat. Theyd staged the whole thing, realizing I was naive and using me for their own ends.
Didnt you try to find out about your dad before? Matthew pressed.
I just shook my head.
That was the plan, Alex said, turning to me. The flat stays with you, right?
Yes Dad said theyd sell it and buy a house for all of us
Its possible you could lose the flat, Matthew added. Somethings gone wrong for them. Maybe they sold the bakery and ran.
Your dads a decent bloke, the real Edward said unexpectedly. He figured things out, came to see me, talked. If only youd listened to him
I never went to the police, even though Matthew kept urging me he blamed me for the mess. I kept talking to my dad, who turned out to be a hardworking, normal guy, just a bit tipsy that night because his wife had fled.
On his advice, I started looking at a new friend, thinking maybe Id soon have a husband of my own.
So thats where I am now sorting the bakery, figuring out whos really on my side, and hoping the next chapter brings a proper family. Talk soon, okay?
