**The Surprise**
«Fancy a quick pint at the pub? Wind down after work?» Nicholas asked as the office emptied for the day.
«Sorry, Ive got to get home. Look.» Edward pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it.
«Blimey, youre actually doing it?» Nicholas grinned, inspecting the ring. «Never thought Id see the day.» He clapped Edward on the shoulder.
«Emily and I have been together four years. Time to make it official. Shes got no ideaits a surprise. If I dont do it now…»
«You never will,» Nicholas finished for him. «Still having doubts? Come off it, mate. Emilys a stunner. Bit jealous, honestly.»
«Right, Id better get going.» Edward tucked the box away. «Promised Emily Id be back early.» He hurried toward the lifts.
On the drive home, he stopped at a florist for a bouquet of deep red rosesEmilys favourite. He placed them on the passenger seat, rehearsing his speech at every red light. *»Darling Emily, youve waited so long… Emily, I love you, marry me.»* Nonone of it sounded right.
Parking outside their 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 something was wrong. «Whats happened, Mum?»
«Its not me. Its… its Lucy. Shes gone, love.»
«Christ…» Edwards grip slackened, the door unopened.
It didnt make sense. Lucy, who hed known since childhoodgone. «How?»
«A hit-and-run. Died at the scene. The driver vanished. Funerals tomorrow. Will you come? She loved you…» His mothers voice broke. «Grace is all alone now. Someones got to step in. Theyll put her in care if…»
«Ill be there,» Edward promised hollowly.
«Please, son…» She wept.
*Lucys gone.* The words rang in his skull.
He hadnt loved her the way shed loved him. Shed deserved better.
Dazed, he barely registered climbing the stairs. The roses felt absurd in his handswhat was he supposed to do with them now? The news had knocked the wind out of him. Proposing tonight would be obscene.
«Ooh, whats the occasion?» Emily emerged from the living room, the flat fragrant with roasting chicken. Normally, the smell wouldve made his stomach growl. Tonight, it just felt wrong.
She waited, expectant, but Edward hesitated, lost.
«Dont need a reason for flowers,» he muttered, thrusting the bouquet at her and pecking her cheek.
Emilys smile faltered as she turned away, hiding her disappointment. The sound of running water soon echoed from the kitchen.
When Edward entered, the roses stood in a vase, and Emily was setting the table. He forced himself to sit, though he had no appetite.
«Not hungry?» she asked.
«Not really. Mum called. Lucy died. Funerals tomorrow.»
«Lucy…?» Emily trailed off, waiting.
«My ex-wife,» Edward said flatly. «Got to sort things out for Grace. Our daughter.»
«Waityou never said you had a *daughter*! How old is she?»
«Twelve, I think.»
«So youre bringing her *here*?» Emilys voice rose.
«Dunno. Lucys got no familyher parents died when she was in school. And Mums got her arthritis, her blood pressure… I need to pack.»
«Youre *going*? To the funeral?» Emily stared.
«On the last train tonight. Already called work.»
«Youve been divorced for years. She mustve had someone else»
«*Not now*, Em.» He rubbed his temples. «You can use the car while Im gone.»
«So *this* is the surprise you had planned?» Emily stood abruptly.
«No. Ill tell you when Im back.» His hand closed around the box in his pocket.
***
The train ride was sleepless. Memories flickered behind his eyelids.
Theyd grown up togethersame nursery, same school. Lucy was always slight, pale-haired, neck perpetually wrapped in scarves. When her parents died in their GCSE year, her gran took her inthen passed herself three months later. Edwards parents brought Lucy home.
His dad had joked, *»Well, theres your bride sorted.»* Edward had bristled.
Then, one night, his parents away, something between them shifted. He couldnt explain itonly that Lucy got pregnant. His parents insisted they marry.
Hed cared for her, surelike a sister. But love? It wasnt the grand, sweeping thing hed imagined. Still, he married her. Lucy barely carried Grace to term. Holding his daughter for the first time, hed felt… nothing. The truth was ugly: he didnt love Lucy. Didnt *want* the child.
After scraping through his first year at uni, he transferred to London and left.
His fathers words still stung: *»No one in this family abandons their own. Walk out now, and youre dead to me.»*
He hadnt gone back. Not for holidays. Not even for his fathers funeral.
Over the years, his mother sent photos. Grace looked more like Lucy with each one. Edward studied themfelt nothing.
Now, for the first time in twelve years, he was returning. He wouldnt take Gracewhat kind of father could he be? But his fathers ghost haunted him: *»In this family, we dont abandon children. Youre no son of mine.»*
A bitter ironyhis dad had pushed for the divorce, saying Lucy deserved a real marriage.
Then came Emily. Impossible *not* to fall for her. But hed dragged his feetuntil tonight, ring in pocket, only for Lucy to rip it all away.
Or maybe there was nothing left to ruin. The passion with Emily had cooled long ago. He wasnt even sure he wanted to marryjust didnt want to lose her.
Exhausted, he finally slept.
***
His mother wept as she hugged him. Grace stood back, wary.
«Grace, love, come say helloits your dad,» his mother urged.
Grace scoffed, spun on her heel, and vanished into what had once been *his* room.
«Give her time,» his mother whispered.
The funeral was a closed casket. Surreal. Grace didnt cry, just glared at the ground, ignoring him.
Later, he overheard them:
«Im too old to keep you, love. Just go with your dad for a bitthen you can come back.»
«Why? He doesnt *want* me. Id rather a care home.»
«Dont say that! Youve no idea what its like»
«Where was *he* all these years?» A door slammed.
Yet, somehow, Grace boarded the train to London with him.
«Who do you live with?» she asked bluntly.
«Your gran tell you? Yeah, theres someone. Emily. Was going to propose.» He patted his pocket. «Youll like her.»
(The lie tasted sour.)
But the flat was empty. Emilys thingsgone. Just her keys on the side table.
Grace didnt gloat. Didnt ask questions. Just made tea and sandwiches while Edward tried Emilys number. Straight to voicemail.
The next day, they enrolled Grace in the local school, bought new clothes. She barely spokebut the morning after, she made omelettes.
«Your gran teach you?»
«And Mum.»
«Good job.»
That was it.
Edward showed her Londonfilms, rollerblading in Hyde Park. Slowly, the ice thawed.
Then work sent him to China.
Grace shrugged. «Im not a kid.»
«Yeah, but its *London*. Ill figure something out.»
«Ask Sophie from your office,» Nicholas suggested. «Shes smitten with you.»
Sophie agreed instantly. At the flat, she and Grace clickedlaughter spilling from the bedroom.
China passed in a blur. He called daily. Grace always handed the phone to Sophie.
Returning, he spotted them from the taxitwo figures by the door, almost like sisters. His chest tightened. No one had ever waited for him before.
Grace didnt pull away when he hugged her. Sophie lingered nearby, smiling. He wanted to hug her too.
«Gifts in the suitcase,» he said.
Watching them unwrap trinkets, he felt a strange joy.
«Dinner ready?»
«Obviously!» Sophie dashed to the kitchen, Grace close behind.
*Theyve bonded*, he realised.
Over supper, they peppered him with questions about China. For the first time in years, he felt… *right*.
As Sophie left, Grace suddenly said, «*Dad*ask her to stay.»
*Dad.* The word hit him like a punch.
«Sophie, its late. Stay. Ive got more stories.»
Grace yanked Sophie into her room.
That night, Edward lay awake. Graces thawing was Sophies doing. With Emily, it wouldve been war.
Sophie was… easy. Warm.
Two months ago, if someone had said hed be living with his daughter, hed have laughed.
And Sophie?
He liked knowing she slept just down the hall.
Too soon to saybut why not try?
For the first time, he wondered if *this* was what love felt like.
