«Hello, Dad, I came for my present,» said the girl.
William and Emily were quietly having dinner when the front door swung open, and a dishevelled woman walked in. She tossed an old backpack into the corner and said, «Alright then, Dad,» spreading her arms for a hug.
William choked on his food, coughing violently. Emily glared and snapped, «Who are you? And what do you mean, ‘Dad’?»
The woman squinted. «Mind your own business, love. Im not here for youIm here for my real father. Dont tell me youve forgotten me, Dad? Its me, your little girl, Rosie. All these years, and I still couldnt rest, wondering how you werehoping you werent poorly, God forbid.» She gave a fake sniff.
William finally managed to wheeze, «Why» another cough seized him. «Why have you come?»
«For my present, Dad,» Rosie smirked. «That doll you promised me twenty years ago.»
Rosies mother had passed when she was seven. William lasted barely six months before bringing home a new wife, Emily, along with her two sons. The first thing Emily did was kick Rosie out of her room, moving her into a shared space. «The lads need it more,» William had muttered, avoiding her eyes. The boys were older and meanripping up her schoolbooks, leaving her to rewrite homework by moonlight because Emily forbade wasting electricity.
On Rosies eighth birthday, her father took her to an orphanage. «It wont be long, sweetheart. Ill fetch you soon. Weekends, Ill visitand Ill bring that big doll you liked from the shop window. Just like we saw!»
Rosie waited. He never came.
Now, she dropped into a chair and snapped, «Well then, love, serve me some soup. Starving, I amnowhere decent to sleep last night.» She laughed at her own joke. Emily silently clattered a bowl and slopped in a ladleful. Rosie shook her head. «Years gone by, and youre still stingy. More, come onwhy skimp?»
She turned to William. «Right, Dad, break out your savings. Lets toast to family reunion!» He glanced at Emily, who hissed through clenched teeth, «We dont drink.»
Rosie slapped her knee. «Knew it. But no matterunlike you, I dont show up empty-handed. Fetch my bag, love.»
Emily flushed. «Get it yourself!»
Rosie arched a brow. «Youre missing the point, love. I didnt just come for a visit. Im moving in. Remember how you shoved me out for your boys? Sent me off to strangers? Well, now its your turn. Clear outor maybe, if you behave, Ill let you stay.»
Emily spluttered, «William, are you just going to sit there? Shes mocking me!»
He shifted in his seat. «Rosie, dont be rude. Emilys the lady of the house.»
Rosie sighed. «Oh, Dad. Shes got you under her thumb, hasnt she? Dont worrywell sort her out. Find her somewhere else to live!»
Emily shrieked, «Ill call my son! Hell throw you out!»
Rosie sneered. «Tommy? Hed toss you out faster for a pint. Shame about your boys, eh? The eldest drank himself to death, didnt he? And the younger ones heading the same way.»
Emily sobbed. «Leave them alone! Look at youliving rough all these years!»
«Thanks to you,» Rosie spat. «You landed nicely, didnt you? Snatched up a widower, booted his kid out for yours. Bet you never gave me a thought. But Im back nowand Ill make your life hell. Got a man waiting for mecommon-law. Three stretches inside. Hell be here next week, and were staying. Youll be grandparents soon. Proper family reunion, eh, Dad? You did miss me?»
William nodded weakly. Rosie smirked at Emily. «See? Now make up a bedIm knackered. And when I wake, draw me a bath. Need to scrub off the road.»
Pretending to sleep, she listened as Emily whispered, «You spineless fool! Shes moving inwith a convict! Theyll rob us blindor worse! Throw her out!»
William mumbled, «Shes my daughter. You made me give her up onceI wont do it again.»
Rosie almost smiled. So he had a shred of guilt left.
A rustling made her crack an eye. Emily stood over her with a pillow.
«Try it, love, and youll get nicked,» Rosie said loudly. Emily jumped.
«II brought this. For your head.»
Rosie laughed. «Cheers. Thought you were up to no good. Bath ready?»
Emily fluttered. «Your dads heating it. Hungry? I made pancakes.»
Rosie narrowed her eyes. «Bit sudden, this kindness. Trying to poison me? Wont workIve got an iron gut. Youre still a snake, love.»
For a week, Rosie made Emily jump. Finally, the woman begged, «Have mercy, girl. Im not young anymore.»
Rosies voice was ice. «Where was your mercy when you tore a little girl from her home? Ashamed? Im not. Youll pay for every tear.»
Emily dropped to her knees. «Forgive me, for Gods sake! Havent I suffered enough?»
Rosie waved her off. «Fine, get up. Youve had your scare. Live as you were. Im leaving. No present, eh, Dad?»
William fumbled, «Let me give you moneybuy whatever you want!»
Rosie shook her head. «You still dont get it. I didnt come for money. Just one wordthat you loved me. But no matter. Goodbye.»
Shouldering her bag, she walked out. No one followed, though she waited.
A car idled past the village. She climbed in and sobbed like a child. Her husband pulled her close.
«Told you it was a bad idea. Why dig up the past when youve got now? Disappointed?»
Rosie looked up, tearful. «Yeah. Thought he loved mejust slipped up once. They never even remembered me.»
He held her tighter. «Shouldve listened, love. Come onkids are asking for you. Lets go home.»
She wiped her eyes. «Missed them too. Drive fast. But firsta shower. Wash it all away. And lets stop by Mums grave. Picked flowers on the way. As for Dad… he was never there. Ive got you and the kids. Thats enough.»
She sighed. «Youre rightpast is past. But I had to try. Gods will, I suppose. The engine hummed to life, tires crunching over gravel as they left the village behind. Rosie watched the grey house shrink in the rearview mirror, its windows dark and lifeless, like eyes that had forgotten how to see. Rain began to fall, soft at first, then steady, washing the dust from the windshield. She rested her head against the glass, the rhythm of the wipers matching her slowing breath. The flowers on her lapwhite lilies, her mothers favoritefelt heavy, real. Alive. «Turn up the music,» she whispered. The kids voices filled the car, recorded laughter from a holiday last summer, bright and tangled with wind and waves. She smiled through the last of her tears. It wouldnt heal clean, not all of it, but it was hersthe love, the hurt, the letting go. And for now, that was enough.
