Julias father was the best in the worldkind, cheerful, and full of laughter. She always waited eagerly for his return from business trips, not just for the gifts but for the stories he brought with him.
When he came home, her mothers face would light up, though Grandma would huff and stay away. Julia wished theyd get along.
Oh, how her father could make her laugh! His tales were so funny her sides would ache. This time, he brought her a big doll and a white plush rabbit.
“This rabbits a girl, right, Dad?”
“Yes, love. Do you know her name?”
“No!”
“Lizzy.”
“Lizzy? Like Mum?”
“Yes, so youll always have a little Lizzy close by.”
Her parents smiled at each other. He brought her mother presents too, making her blush and scold him for spoiling them.
“How could I not? Youre my favourite girls in the world.”
They had supper together, and afterward, he told Julia more stories.
“There was a soldier in my regimenthis surname was Thunderton! Built like an ox, shoulders this wide,” he stretched his arms, “strong as anything. His best mate? A little fellow named Mousleytiny as a mouse. And another lad, Catton. Picture itThunderton, Mousley, and Catton, all thick as thieves!”
Julia laughed until she was breathless, then drifted off to sleep, happy.
The next day, they went to the park, ate ice cream, rode the carousel. She was so tired she fell asleep on his shoulder.
But in the morninghe was gone.
“Mum, wheres Dad? I need to brush my teeth!”
Her mother smiled, though her eyes shone with tears. “Darling he had to leave.”
“For work?”
“Yes, love. Urgent work.”
Years passed. He visited when he could. Grandma never had a good word for him.
“Never stays long, never celebrates holidays with you. Always work,” she muttered. “Wont marry your mother, either. Secretive, he is. Bet hes already got a wife somewhere else. Next time he comes, check his papers!”
“Mum!” Julias mother snapped. “Stop it!”
As Julia grew, she noticed the whispers between her parents, the sadness in her fathers eyes when her mother pressed him about somethinglikely his work.
Then the arguments started.
“Lizzy, pleaseI have obligations. I cant just walk away!”
“But you can walk away from us?”
One night, he kissed Julia goodbye, shoulders slumped, and left without staying over.
Grandma ranted. “I told you, Lizzy! Knew he was hiding something. Knees, was it? Begging you to keep the baby? Promised hed leave if it was a boy? And then Julia came”
“He loves her, Mum!”
“Loves her? Then why doesnt he live with you?”
Her mother said nothing, just wept.
Later, he visited, and they shut themselves away for hours. Afterward, things seemed normalbut there was tension. He stopped coming as often.
One day, Julia asked when hed return. Grandma scoffed, “Who needs a father like that?”
But Julia still waited.
She didnt know that, in another town, another girlmaybe her agealso called him Dad and waited for gifts.
Hugging her rabbit, she whispered, “Lizzy, youre a girl too you understand, dont you? Hes still the best.”
Then, one day, she saw him. Walking with another woman, a girl her age, and a boy about as old as the years hed been gone. They looked like a proper family.
She wanted to call outbut couldnt. He never saw her.
That night, Grandmas words finally made sense.
The next morning, she asked her mother, “Does he have another family?”
Her mother stared out the window. “Yes. He always did.”
“Then what are we?”
“We were his family too. Just not the proper one.”
Julia turned away, tears pricking her eyes. “Why didnt you tell me?”
“Because you loved him,” her mother said softly. “And so did I. And he loved you. Still does. Life just got complicated.”
She remembered his stories, his laughter, the way he ruffled her hair. It had all been real.
When Julia was twelve, her mother married Uncle Bob. He wasnt unkindjust indifferent, as if Julia didnt exist.
She grew up, went to university, got a job, rented a flat. Life moved on. Then, one day, he calledas if no time had passed.
“Love! How are you? Found work? Got a place?”
She kept her answers short. But when he asked to meet, she agreed.
At the café, he looked oldergrey at the temples, tired eyes. But his smile was the same.
“Youre beautiful,” he said, adjusting his sleeve. “All grown up.”
She studied himnot just her “best dad,” but the man whod lied.
“Dad I know. About your other family.”
He sighed. “Julia Im sorry. I never wanted you to hurt. Youll always be my daughter. But I was a cowardcouldnt lose you, couldnt leave them.”
She said nothing, her heart twisting. Part of her wanted to hug him; part wanted to run.
“You know,” she finally said, “Ill never forget how we laughed. Your stories about Thunderton and Mousley. To me, you were always the kindest, funniest man. But I remember the pain too.”
He bowed his head. “What can I do, Julia? How do I make it right?”
She looked at himolder, weaker, afraid of losing her for good.
“Just be here. No secrets, no promises. Be my dadas you are.”
He nodded, eyes wet.
She reached out, touching his hand. And in that moment, she forgave himnot for what hed done, but for still being the man she loved, flaws and all.
Years later, Julia had a daughterAnnie, a little girl with bright eyes and golden curls.
One day, her father visitedno secrets now. Annie shrieked with joy.
“Grandads here!”
He knelt, hugging her tight, laughing that same old laugh.
That evening, he told Annie the old stories.
“In my regiment, there was a soldierhis name was Thunderton!”
Annie giggled, just as Julia once had.
Later, tucking her in, Julia thought of her white rabbit, Lizzy. Life hadnt turned out as shed dreamed.
But watching her father and daughter laugh together, she knewhappiness was still possible. Just not in the way you expected.
