Happiness Is Possible
Julias father was such a good man, so cheerful and kindthe very best dad in the world. She could hardly wait for him to return from his business trips, bringing gifts and endless stories.
When he came home, her mother brightened, but her grandmother only grew cross and refused to visit. Julia wished so dearly that Gran and Dad would get along.
Oh, the tales he toldso funny they made her sides ache from laughter. This time, he brought her a large doll and a soft white rabbit.
“Is the rabbit a girl, Dad?”
“Yes, Julia. Do you know her name?”
“No!”
“Lizzy.”
“Like Mummy?”
“Just so youll always have a little Lizzy by your side.”
Her parents exchanged smiles. He always brought gifts for her mother too, who would blush and scold him for spoiling them.
“How could I not? Youre my favourite girls.”
They dined together, and afterward, he spun more of his stories.
“There was a soldier in my regimentguess what his surname was?”
“What?” Julia gasped.
“Thunderclap! Broad as a barn, shoulders like this,” he stretched his arms wide, “strong as an ox. And his best mate? Mouseleytiny as a mouse. Inseparable, they were. Then there was another chap named Catton. ImagineCatton, Mouseley, and Thunderclap, always together!”
Julia laughed until exhaustion carried her to sleep.
The next day, they visited the park, ate ice cream, and rode the carousel until she dozed against his shoulder.
But in the morninghe was gone.
“Has Dad gone to wash up?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.
Her mother sat at the table, pensive.
“Darling,” she said softly, though her eyes glistened, “Dad had to leave.”
“Work again?”
“Yes, love. Urgent work.”
As Julia grew, her father visited sporadically. Gran refused to hear his name.
“Never a proper greeting, just a grunt! No birthdays, no holidaysalways work, work! Why hasnt he married, eh? Im no foolhes got another family, hasnt he? Lizzy, next time he comes, check his papers”
“Mum, stop!” her mother snapped.
When he did visit, Julia was overjoyedbut her parents began arguing, voices sharp. He grew sombre when her mother whispered demandsabout his work, Julia assumed. Perhaps she wanted him to leave that job.
Then came louder rows.
“Lizzy, you must understandI have obligations”
“And what of us? What of *us*?”
Her father kissed Julia goodbye, shoulders slumped, and left without staying the night.
Gran berated her mother. “I *told* you! Knew he was hiding something! Kneeling, begging you to keep the childsaid if it were a boy, hed leave straight off. Then Julia came, and”
“He *loves* her, Mum!”
“Loves her? Then why doesnt he *live* with you?”
Her mother wept in silence.
Later, her parents shut themselves away for a long talk. Afterward, things seemed normaljokes, storiesbut tension lingered. Her mother sighed often, sending Julia to bed early.
Weeks passed without him. When Julia asked after him, her mother shrugged. Gran snapped, “What goods a father like that?”
But Julia still waited.
She didnt know that in another town, another girlperhaps her own agecalled the same man *Dad* and awaited his gifts.
Clutching her rabbit, she whispered, “You understand, Lizzy, dont you? Hes still the best.”
He never returned.
Then, one day, she saw himwalking with another woman, a girl her age, and a boy as old as the years hed been absent. Laughing, holding handsa proper family.
She tried to call out, but the words stuck. He never noticed her.
That night, Grans words echoed: *He has another family.*
At last, she understood.
The next morning, she faced her mother. “Mum does he have another family?”
Her mother gazed out the window. “Yes, darling. Always has.”
“Then what are we?”
“We were his family too. Just not the proper one.”
Julia turned away, tears spilling. “Why didnt you tell me?”
“Because you loved him,” her mother whispered, embracing her. “And so did I. And he loved youstill does. Life just turns out complicated.”
Julia remembered the storiesThunderclap and Mouseley, the gifts, his warm hand on her head. It had all been real.
He *had* been the best.
At twelve, her mother married Uncle Barrya man who ignored Julia as if she werent there.
Years passed. She graduated, found work, rented a flat. Life moved onfriends, worries, heartbreaks. She pushed thoughts of her father aside; memories hurt too much.
Then, one day, he calledas if no time had passed.
“Darling! How are you? Found a job? A flat?”
She answered curtly, keeping distanceuntil he asked to meet.
They sat in a quiet café. Hed agedgrey at his temples, weariness in his eyesbut his smile was the same.
“Youre beautiful,” he said, adjusting his sleeve awkwardly. “All grown up.”
She studied himher beloved father, and the man whod deceived them.
“Dad I know. About your other family.”
He sighed. “Julia forgive me. I never meant to hurt you. Youll always be my daughter. But I was a cowardtrying to keep you both.”
She said nothing, torn between hugging him and fleeing.
“You know,” she finally murmured, “I cant forget how we laughed. Thunderclap, Catton, Mouseley. You were always so kind. But I remember the pain, too.”
His head bowed. “What can I do, Julia?”
“Just be here. No secrets, no promises. Be my dadas you are.”
He nodded, tears in his eyes.
She reached out, touching his handand in that moment, forgave him. Not for what hed done, but for still being the man she loved, flaws and all.
Years later, Julia had a daughterlittle Annie, fair-haired and bright-eyed.
Her father visited openly now, no more secrets. Annie squealed with joy. “Grandads here!”
He knelt, hugging her, laughing that same old laugh.
That evening, he told Annie the old stories.
“There was a soldier in my regimentguess his name?”
“What?” Annie gasped.
“Thunderclap!” He spread his arms wide.
Annie giggled just as Julia once hadand her heart swelled.
Her father hadnt been perfect. But now he was here, honestly, and Annie knew her grandad without shadows.
Tucking her in that night, Julia remembered her white rabbit, Lizzythe one hed brought so long ago. She smiled.
Life had turned out harder than childhood dreams. But watching her father and daughter laugh at the same old tale, she knewhappiness was still possible. Just not in the way shed once imagined.
