Shell have to sleep in the spare bedroom, his wife said, eyeing the little girl. You have a daughter now. Shes seven.
Davids phone nearly slipped from his hand. Lauras voice, after eight silent years, crackled through the speaker.
Laura? Is it really you?
Yes. We need to meetright now.
But a daughter? What are you talking about?
Come to the café on Oxford Street. In an hour. Ill explain everything.
The ringtone echoed through the openplan office, striking David like a bolt of lightning. A daughter? From Laura? They had broken up eight years ago.
He called home, telling Emily hed be late at work. The house answered with Emilys usual grumble about dinner, and James glued to his computerfifteen, obsessed with video games.
At the café Laura sat by the window, gaunt, dark circles under her eyes, a thin scarf wrapped around her hair.
Hello, David, she said.
Hi what whats happened to you? he whispered.
Cancer. Stage four. Ive got twomaybe threemonths left.
David sank into the opposite chair, a lump forming in his throat.
God, Laura
Dont waste your tears on me. I didnt call you because of pity. I have a daughter. Sophie. Your daughter.
My my what? We were careful, werent we?
It doesnt always work the way we plan. I didnt find out I was pregnant until a month after we split. Youd already moved back with Emily.
Why didnt you tell me?
Why would I? You chose a family, your son. I didnt want to shatter that.
David fell silent, replaying that yearEmilys endless complaints, the money she asked for, the new things she wanted. Then Lauralighthearted, carefree, demanding nothing but love.
Three months of bliss. Then Emily gave him an ultimatum: Either you come home, or youll never see your son again. James was seven then, sobbing, begging his father to return.
David went back. He never visited Laura again, ending things over a call, saying it was over.
Show me a picture, he demanded.
Laura produced her phone. On the screen was a little girl with light hair, grey eyesDavids eyes.
My God shes a spitting image of me as a child.
Yes. And your stubbornness, too.
Where is she now?
At home, staying with a neighbour. David, Im dying. I have no relatives. If you dont acknowledge paternity, Sophie will be sent to a childrens home.
Of course Ill. Which childrens home? Shes my child!
What about my wife? My son?
Ill sort it out.
Think carefully, David. This isnt a game. Shell lose her mother, be traumatised, scared. Your family might reject her.
Its my daughter. No arguments.
Lauras eyes filled with silent tears.
Thank you. I was terrified youd walk away.
When can I see Sophie?
Now, if you want, but you should prepare and warn your family first.
That night David called a family meeting. Emily sat stonecold. James stared at his phone.
I have a daughter. From another woman. Shes seven.
Silence stretched, then an explosion.
What? You cheated on me?
Eight years ago, when we were on the brink of divorce.
We werent on the brink! You ran off to a prostitute!
Emily, calm down. Laura is dying. The child will have no one.
So what? Thats our problem?
Its my daughter!
Fake daughter! I wont let her into the house!
James looked up, confused.
Dad, why do we need her?
Shes your sister.
Shes no sister! Shes a stranger!
David stared at his wife and sonstrangers in his own home. How had they become this?
Ill take Sophie, with or without your consent.
Chooseus or her!
Emily, are you serious?
Absolutely. Its either family or your bastard.
Dont you dare call my child that!
You can call her what you like, as long as shes in my house!
Its my house too.
It wont be long.
A week later Laura was admitted to hospice. David arrived to collect Sophie.
The little girl stood in the hallway with a tiny suitcase, thin, pale, eyes too big for her face.
Good afternoon. Are you my dad?
Yes, love. Im your dad.
Mum said youd pick me up.
Ill take you home. Youll live with me now.
What about mum? Is she getting better?
David crouched, his voice low.
Sophie, mum is very ill. She might not recover.
Will she die?
Possibly.
She nodded, eyes steady, no tears. She seemed to understand.
I packed a few things. Mum said youd buy me new ones.
Ill buy anything you want.
At home Emily met them in the entryway.
This is your what, a new family member?
Emily, shes my child!
Fine, let her know her place straight away. Shell sleep in the spare bedroom.
In the spare bedroom? Have you lost your mind?
Where else? Theres no spare room.
In the guest room.
My office!
Now the childrens room.
Sophie pressed herself against the wall, fear flashing in her eyes.
Dad, maybe I should go to a childrens home?
No childrens home! Youre mine, youll stay here.
Emily hissed, Well see about that.
The first week was a nightmare. Emily ignored Sophie, James called her the stinker, and she ate after everyone else, sleeping on a foldout couch because Emily refused to buy a proper bed.
Why spend money? She might never settle.
David tried to shield his daughter, but work swallowed whole days, and at home a war raged.
Laura died a month later. David took Sophie to the funeral. She stood by the grave, lips bitten, eyes dry.
Dad, is mum in heaven?
Yes, sweetheart.
Does she see me?
Of course.
Then Ill be good, so she isnt sad.
Back home things deteriorated. Emily openly tormented Sophierefusing food when David was away, forcing her to clean the whole house. James hid her things, ruined her notebooks.
David intervened. Emily, stop! Shes a child!
Foreign child! She knows her place!
Its my child!
Your son! This is your mistake!
Three months later a breaking point arrived. David came home early; cries filled the house.
He ran upstairs. In the bedroom, James was beating Sophie with a belt.
Youll learn not to touch my stuff!
I didnt touch anything! Sophie sobbed.
Youre lying, you littlebastard!
David burst in, snatched the belt, shoved James away.
What the hell are you doing, you monster?
She took my tablet!
I didnt take it! Sophie cowered in a corner, bruises blooming.
Even if she did, what right do you have to beat her?
Mum said we have to discipline!
Mum said?
David went downstairs. Emily was at the kitchen table, sipping tea.
Did you let James beat Sophie?
Discipline. Not taking what isnt yours.
Shes a sevenyearold child!
So what? Let her get used to it.
Enough. Im leaving, and Im taking Sophie.
Please, just rememberJames stays with me.
Fine, let him stay. I dont need a son who enjoys cruelty.
He packed their things in an hour. Sophie shivered on the bed.
Dad, because of me?
No, because of them. Lets go.
What about my brother?
Hes not your brother. He wont act like one.
They rented a modest twobedroom flat on the outskirts. For the first time Sophie smiled when she saw her new room.
Really mine?
Absolutely. Well set it up however you like.
Can we have pink walls?
Anything, even gold.
The divorce was messy. Emily demanded everythingsplitting the house, selling the car. Child support for James was a quarter of Davids salary.
David felt no regret. He watched Sophie blossom, her fear melting into laughter.
School was hard at firstnew, shybut a kind teacher helped her settle.
Dad, Ive made a friend!
Whos she?
Molly. She invited me to her birthday!
Great! Lets get her a present.
A year passed. James called.
Dad, can we meet?
Why?
I need to talk.
They met in a park. James had grown, his eyes still carrying sadness.
Dad, Im sorry.
For what?
For Sophie. I was wrong.
I know.
Mum said she was a stranger, that you left us because of her. I thought she was the reason you ran away.
I never abandoned you. I left the abuse.
She found a new man. He also raised me. A real nightmare.
What now?
I understand how Sophie felt. Can I see her?
Ill ask her.
Sophie hesitated, fear still lingering, but David persuaded hermaybe James had changed.
They met at a café. James brought a huge plush bear.
Sophie, Im sorry. I was an idiot.
Its okay. Everyone makes mistakes.
Youre really my sister?
Yes. By blood.
Can we meet sometimes?
Sophie glanced at her father, who nodded.
Okay, if you never hit me again.
Never, James promised.
Their meetings became regular. James looked after his sister, helped with homework, defended her at school.
When he turned eighteen, he moved in with David.
Mom, Im going, he said.
To that traitor?
To dad, and my sister.
Shes not even my sister!
She is. Youre family now. Youre a horrible person.
Emily was left alone. Her new boyfriend left her for someone younger. James stopped calling. David stopped paying alimonyhis son was grown.
In the cramped flat on the edge of town, life was tight but happy. Sophie excelled at school, James earned a university place and worked parttime.
One evening they all sat around the kitchen, tea steaming, laughter bubbling.
Dad, Sophie said softly, thanks for taking me in.
Its my thanks that I get to have you, David replied.
For what?
For being here. For showing me what truly matters.
What matters?
Love. Not money, not status. Love.
James nodded. Dads right. I learned that when Mum chose a new man over us.
Shes just unhappy, Sophie said.
Why defend her after everything? James asked.
Because bitterness destroys you. Thats what Mum taught me. A real mother.
David wrapped his arms around his daughter. Your mum was wise.
She was, but I have you, Dad, and my brother. Thats family.
True family, James added.
And that was the truth. Blood didnt always make a family; choice did. Choosing to stay together, despite everything, was what finally healed them.
