“Hello, Dad, Ive come for my present.”
William and Margaret were quietly eating dinner when the front door swung open, and an unkempt woman walked in. She carelessly tossed an old backpack into the corner and spread her arms.
“Well, hello there, old man,” she said, grinning.
William choked on his food and coughed violently. Margarets face twisted in anger.
“Who are you? And whats this old man nonsense?”
The woman squinted. “Mind your own business, love. I didnt come for youI came for my dear father. Dad, dont tell me youve forgotten me? Its me, your little girl, Rosie. All these years, and I just couldnt settle until I saw how my old man was doinghope youre not poorly, God forbid.” She sniffed theatrically.
William finally managed to speak. “Why” He coughed again. “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, Margaretalong with her two sons. The first thing Margaret did was kick Rosie out of her room and shove her into the shared one. “The boys need it more,” William had mumbled, avoiding her eyes. The lads were older and meanconstantly tearing up Rosies schoolbooks. Shed stay up late, rewriting her homework by moonlight because Margaret forbade wasting electricity.
Then, on Rosies eighth birthday, her father took her to an orphanage. “Its just for a little while, love. Ill visit every weekendand Ill bring you that big doll from the shop window!”
Rosie waited. He never came.
Now, she plopped herself at the table. “Oi, Auntie, dish me some soup. Im starvingnowhere to sleep either.” She laughed at her own joke.
Margaret silently slapped a ladleful into a bowl. Rosie shook her head. “Years go by, and youre still cheap. Give me morestop being stingy.”
She turned to William. “Come on, Dad, break out your savings. Lets toast to our reunion!”
William glanced at Margaret. “We dont drink,” she hissed.
Rosie smacked her knee. “Figures. But unlike you, I dont show up empty-handed. Auntie, fetch my bag.”
“Get it yourself!” Margaret snapped.
Rosie raised a brow. “Youre missing the point, love. Im not just visitingIm moving in. You kicked me out once, sent me to that miserable home. Fairs fair. You can pack your bagsor stay if you behave.”
Margarets voice rose. “William, are you just going to sit there? Shes mocking me!”
He shifted uncomfortably. “Rosie, dont be rude. Margarets the lady of the house.”
Rosie sighed. “Oh, this is bad. Well done, Auntiegot him wrapped around your finger. Dont worry, Dad. Well sort this out. Maybe send her packing too!”
Margaret shrieked, “Ill call my son! Hell throw you out!”
Rosie smirked. “Johnny? Hed toss you out first for a pint. Shame about your boys, eh? The eldest drank himself to death, didnt he? Younger ones heading the same way.”
Margaret burst into sobs. “Dont you dare speak of them! Look at youliving like a tramp!”
“Thanks to you,” Rosie spat. “You landed nicely, didnt you? Found a widower, shoved his kid aside for your own. Bet you never gave me a thought. But Im backand Ill make your life hell. My blokes got three stints insidehell be here next week. Well fill this house with grandkids. Proper family reunion, eh, Dad?”
William nodded silently.
Rosie smirked at Margaret. “See? Now make up a bedIm tired. And heat the bath after. I need a scrub.”
Later, pretending to sleep, Rosie listened as Margaret whispered, “You spineless fool! Shes moving in with some convict! Theyll rob us blindor worse! Throw her out!”
William muttered, “Shes my daughter. You made me abandon her onceI wont do it again.”
Rosie almost smiled. So he did have a shred of conscience.
A rustling made her crack an eye. Margaret loomed over her, clutching a pillow.
“Youll go to prison, Auntie,” Rosie said loudly.
Margaret jumped. “II brought this for you. For comfort.”
Rosie laughed. “Cheers. For a second, I thought you meant harm. Bath ready?”
Margaret scurried. “Your dads heating it. Hungry? I made pancakes.”
Rosie eyed her. “Bit sudden, this kindness. Trying to poison me? Wont work. Stomach like iron, me. Youre still a snake.”
For a week, Rosie worked Margaret ragged. Finally, the woman begged, “Have mercy, girl. Im not young anymore.”
Rosie glared. “Where was your mercy when you tore a child from her home? Too ashamed to answer? Well, Im not. Youll pay for every tear.”
Margaret fell to her knees. “Forgive mefor Gods sake! Lifes punished me enough!”
Rosie waved her off. “Fine, get up. Looks like it stung a bit. Live as you wereIm leaving. No present, eh, Dad?”
William jumped up. “WaitIll give you money! Buy whatever you want!”
Rosie shook her head. “You still dont get it. I didnt come for money. Just one word of love. But fine. Goodbye.”
Shouldering her bag, she left. No one followedthough shed hoped.
A car waited beyond the village. She climbed in and sobbed like a child. Her husband pulled her close.
“Told you this was a bad idea. Why dig up the past when youve got the present? Disappointed?”
Rosie looked up. “Yeah. Thought he still loved mejust slipped up once. They never even remembered me.”
He hugged her tighter. “Shouldve listened, love. Lets go homethe kids miss you.”
Rosie wiped her tears. “I miss them too. Lets hurry. But firsta shower. Wash it all away. And lets stop by Mums grave. I picked flowers. As for Dad? Never had him, dont need him. Ive got you and the kids.”
She sighed. “You were rightpast should stay past. But I had to try. No regrets. Gods will, I suppose.”
Some wounds never healbut love, when given freely, can soothe even the deepest scars.
