Long ago, in a quiet village nestled in the English countryside, Evelyn and Thomas sat down to supper when the front door swung open. A disheveled woman strode in, tossed an old satchel into the corner, and spread her arms wide. «Well, hello there, Dad,» she said with a crooked grin.
Thomas choked on his food, coughing violently, while Evelyn stiffened. «Who on earth are you?» she demanded. «And why are you calling him ‘Dad’?»
The woman narrowed her eyes. «Mind your own business, Auntie. I ain’t here for youIm here for my dear father.» She turned to Thomas with a mocking sniff. «Dont tell me youve forgotten your own daughter? Its me, Daisy. All these years, and I couldnt rest easy, wondering how my old man was getting onhoping he wasnt poorly, God forbid.»
Thomas finally managed to rasp out, «Why… why have you come?»
Daisy smirked. «For my gift, Dad. The doll you promised me twenty years ago.»
Her mother had passed when Daisy was seven. Thomas had struggled alone for half a year before bringing home Evelynand with her, two stepbrothers. The first thing Evelyn did was move Daisy out of her room and into the shared quarters. «The lads need it more,» Thomas had mumbled, avoiding her eyes. The boys, older and rough, delighted in tearing up her schoolbooks. Night after night, shed copied her work by moonlight, tears smudging the pagesEvelyn forbade wasting lamplight.
Then, on Daisys eighth birthday, her father took her to the orphanage. «Just for a little while, love,» he’d said. «Ill come every Sunday, and Ill bring you that big doll from the shop windowthe one you fancied.»
She waited. He never came.
Now, Daisy dropped into a chair and barked, «Oi, Auntie, dish me some stew. Starving, I am.» Evelyn silently ladled a meager portion. Daisy scoffed. «Years gone by, and youve not changedstill pinching pennies, eh? More, if you please.»
She turned to Thomas. «Come on, Dad, break out your savingslets toast to family reunion.» He glanced at Evelyn, who hissed through clenched teeth, «We dont drink.»
Daisy slapped her knee. «Knew it! But no matterunlike my dear old dad, I dont turn up empty-handed. Auntie, fetch my bag.»
Evelyn flushed. «Get it yourself!»
Daisy arched a brow. «Youre missing the point, Auntie. I aint just visitingIm moving in. Fairs fair. You tossed me out once, sent me to the workhouse. Now its your turn. Clear outor behave yourself, and maybe Ill let you stay.»
Evelyn shrieked, «Thomas, are you just sitting there? Shes tormenting me!»
He shifted uncomfortably. «Now, Daisy, no need to be rude. Evelyns mistress here.»
Daisy tsked. «Oh, this is grim. Well done, Auntiegot him right under your thumb, havent you? Dont fret, Dad. Me and this one will sort things.»
Evelyn shrilled, «Ill call my son! Hell toss you out, you wretched girl!»
Daisy sneered. «Johnny? Hed sooner toss *you* out for a bottle. Shame about your boys, Auntie. The eldest drank himself to an early grave, didnt he? And the youngers not far behind.»
Evelyn wailed. «Dont you dare speak of them! Look at yourselfliving like a beggar!»
Daisys grin turned vicious. «Thanks to you. You landed nicely, didnt you? Snatched up a widower, shoved his daughter aside for your own brood. Bet you never spared me a thought. But Im back, and Ill make your life hell. Got a man waitingthree stints inside. Hell be here next week, and well fill this house with grandchildren. Proper family reunion, eh, Dad?»
Thomas nodded mutely. Daisy smirked at Evelyn. «See? Now make me a bedIm knackered. And heat the bathhouse later. Need to scrub off the grime.»
She pretended to sleep, eavesdropping as Evelyn hissed, «You spineless fool! Shell rob us blindor worse! Throw her out!»
Thomas whispered back, «Shes my daughter. You made me abandon her onceI wont do it again.»
Daisy almost smiled. So he had a shred of conscience left.
A rustle startled her. She cracked an eyeEvelyn loomed over her, clutching a pillow.
«Going to prison, Auntie?» Daisy said loudly. Evelyn jumped. «II brought you this. For comfort.»
Daisy laughed. «Cheers. For a second there, I thought the worst. Bath ready yet?»
Evelyn stammered, «Your fathers heating it. Hungry? Ive made pancakes.»
Daisy eyed her. «Bit sudden, this kindness. Trying to poison me? Wont work. Ive a stomach like iron. And I dont trust youyoure still the same snake.»
For a week, Daisy ruled the house. Finally, Evelyn begged, «Have mercy, girl. Im not a young woman anymore.»
Daisys voice turned cold. «Where was your mercy when you tore a child from her home? Too ashamed to answer? Im not. Youll pay for every tear I shed.»
Evelyn fell to her knees. «Forgive me, for Gods sake! Havent I suffered enough?»
Daisy waved her off. «Up you get. Seems youve learned a little. Live as you were. Im leaving. No gift, eh, Dad?»
Thomas blurted, «WaitIve money. Take it, buy whatever you like.»
Daisy shook her head. «You still dont understand. I didnt come for money. Just one wordthat you loved me. But I was a fool to hope. Goodbye.»
Shouldering her bag, she walked out. No one followed, though she lingered.
A car waited beyond the village. She climbed in and sobbed like a child. Her husband pulled her close. «I told you this was a bad idea. Why dig up the past when youve a good life now?»
Daisy looked up, tear-streaked. «I thought hed loved mejust made a mistake. That hed want me back. They never even *thought* of me.»
He held her tighter. «You shouldve listened, love. Come onthe kids are asking for you. Lets go home.»
Daisy wiped her face. «Ive missed them. But first, a showerwash it all away. And lets stop by Mums grave. I picked flowers on the way.» She took a shaky breath. «As for Dad… if he was never there, then he never mattered. Ive you and the children. Thats enough.»
She sighed. «Maybe you were rightsome things are best left buried. But I had to try. The car pulled away down the winding lane, gravel crunching beneath the wheels. In the rearview mirror, the cottage shrank to a speck, then vanished behind the hedge. Daisy didnt look back. The fields stretched wide and golden in the late afternoon light, and somewhere ahead, her real home waited.
