Happiness Is Possible
Emily’s dad is so kind, so cheerfulsimply the best father in the world.
She can hardly wait for him to return from his business trips, bringing not just presents but endless stories. Mum brightens whenever hes home, while Grandma only scowls and keeps her distance.
Emily wishes theyd just get along.
Oh, the tales he tells! She laughs until her sides ache.
This time, hes brought her a big doll and a plush white rabbit.
“Is the rabbit a girl, Dad?”
“Yes, love. Do you know her name?”
“Nooo.”
“Charlotte.”
“Charlotte? Like Mummy?”
“Yes, so youll always have a little Charlotte by your side.”
Dad grins, Mum flushes, murmuring he spoils them.
“How could I not? Youre my favourite girls.”
They share supper, then Dad spins more yarns.
“In the army, there was this blokeguess his last name?”
“What?” Emily leans in.
“Thunderbottom. Built like an ox”Dad spreads his arms wide”but his best mate? Tiny little Mouseley. Inseparable, they were.”
“And another ladlast name Catley. So there they were: Catley, Mouseley, and Thunderbottom, thick as thieves.”
Emily giggles herself to sleep.
The next day, they visit the parkice cream, carousel ridesuntil she dozes on his shoulder.
But come morning… Dads gone.
“Bathroom, surely?”
Mum sits at the table, distant.
“Mum, is Dad nearly done? I need to brush my teeth.”
“Sweetheart…” Mums smile wavers. “Hes had to leave.”
“For work? Urgent work?”
“Yes, my rabbit. Very urgent.”
Years pass. Dad visits sporadically. Grandma fumes.
“Not a proper hello, just grunts! Birthdays, holidaysalways work. And whys he not married, eh? Ill bet he is. Check his papers next time, Lottie!”
“Mum!” Mum snaps. “Enough.”
Yet soon, Mum and Dad whisper-shout behind closed doors.
“Lottie, you know Ive obligations”
“And what about us? Are we nothing?”
He leaves that night, shoulders hunched.
“I told you,” Grandma hisses. “Secretive, that one. Probably married. Knew it all along.”
Mum weeps. “He begged me to keep the baby. Said if it was a boy, hed leave his wife. But Emily came… He adores her, Mum!”
“Adores? Then hed live here. Whatll you tell her?”
Mum stays silent.
Dad stops visiting. When Emily asks, Grandma snaps, “Good riddance!”
But Emily waits.
She doesnt know another girl, somewhere, calls him Dad too.
Clutching her rabbit, she whispers, “Charlotte… you understand, dont you? Hes still the best.”
Then one day, she sees himholding hands with a woman, a girl her age, a boy older. A proper family.
She tries to call out. The words stick. He walks right past.
That night, Grandmas words finally sink in.
At breakfast, Emily hesitates. “Mum… does he have another family?”
Mum stares out the window. “Yes, love. Always did.”
“Then what are we?”
“We were… his family too. Just not the official one.”
Tears blur the glass. “Why didnt you tell me?”
“Because you loved him,” Mum murmurs, pulling her close. “And he loved you. Still does. Lifes just… messy.”
Emily remembers Thunderbottom, Mouseley, Catley. The gifts. The way he ruffled her hair. It was real.
He was real.
At twelve, Mum marries Uncle Geoff. He ignores Emily politely.
She graduates, finds a flat. Life moves onwork, friends, heartbreaks. She avoids thoughts of Dad; they ache.
Then, years later, he calls as if no times passed.
“Pumpkin! Hows work? The flat?”
She keeps it short. But when he asks to meet, she relents.
In a café, hes oldergrey at his temples, weary-eyed. But his grins the same.
“Youre beautiful,” he says, fiddling with his cuff. “All grown up.”
She studies himher hero, her liar.
“Dad… I know. About your other family.”
He exhales. “Em… I never wanted to hurt you. Youll always be my girl. But I was a cowardcouldnt lose you, couldnt leave them.”
Her chest tightens. Part of her wants to hug him. Part wants to run.
“You know,” she finally says, “Ill never forget how we laughed. Thunderbottom, Catleyyou were magic. But the hurts real too.”
His head drops. “What can I do, Em?”
She pauses. Hes not invincible anymore. Just a man scared of losing her.
“Just be here,” she whispers. “No secrets. Just… be my dad.”
He nods, eyes glistening.
When she touches his hand, she realises shes forgiven himnot for his mistakes, but for still being hers.
Years later, Emilys daughterAnniesqueals as Grandpa arrives.
“Daddy, Daddy! Look whos here!”
He kneels, hugging her tight, laughing that same old laugh.
That evening, he tells Annie about Thunderbottom. She cackles just like Emily once did.
Watching them, Emilys heart swells.
He wasnt perfect. But now hes herehonestly, fully.
Tucking Annie in, Emily remembers her rabbit, Charlotte.
Life wasnt the fairy tale shed dreamed. But as her dad and daughter giggle over the same silly story, she knows: happiness is possible. Just not always how you expect.
