**Surprise**
“Fancy a quick drink at the pub? Just a pint and a chat?” James asked as the workday ended.
“Sorry, Ive got to head home. Look.” Edward pulled a small box from his pocket and opened it.
“Blimey, youve actually gone and done it?” James examined the ring. “Never thought youd settle down.” He clapped his friend on the back.
“Lucy and I have been together four yearstime to make it official. Shes got no idea. If I dont propose now…”
“You never will,” James finished for him. “Still second-guessing? Come off it, Lucys a catch. Im a bit jealous, truth be told.”
“Right, Id best be off.” Edward slipped the box back into his coat. “Promised Lucy Id be home early,” he said, hurrying toward the lift.
On the way, he stopped at a florist and bought a bouquet of red rosesLucys favourite. He placed them on the passenger seat, rehearsing his proposal at every traffic light. *”Darling Lucy, youve waited so long… Lucy, I love you, marry me.”* No, none of it sounded right.
Parking outside his flat, he grabbed the roses and headed for the door. Just as his hand touched the handle, his phone rang.
“Eddie, love…” His mums voice told him something was wrong.
“Whats happened?”
“Im alright, but… its Sarah. Shes gone, love.”
“Good Lord…” Edwards grip slackened on the door.
It didnt make sense. Sarahthe girl hed known since childhoodwas gone. “How?”
“A hit-and-run. Died instantly. The drivers still at large. Funerals tomorrow. Will you come? She loved you…” His mum stifled a sob. “Emilys all alone now. Weve got to sort this… Im scared theyll take her into care.”
“Ill do my best to be there,” Edward promised.
“Please, son…”
*”Sarahs gone.”* The words echoed in his head. He hadnt loved her the way shed loved him. She deserved better.
Dazed, he barely registered climbing the stairs or unlocking the door. The roses felt absurd now. Where to put them? The news had knocked him sideways. Proposing tonight would be unthinkable.
“Special occasion?” Lucy asked, stepping out of the kitchen. The flat smelled of roasting beefusually, his stomach wouldve rumbled, but now the scent felt out of place.
“Just because.” Shaking himself, he handed her the bouquet and pecked her cheek.
Lucy lowered her eyes, hiding her disappointment, then vanished into the kitchen. Soon, the sound of running water filled the flat.
When Edward followed, the roses stood in a vase, and Lucy was setting the table. He forced himself to sit, though he had no appetite.
“Not hungry?” she asked.
“Not really. Mum rang. Sarah died. Funerals tomorrow.”
“Sarah…?” Lucy trailed off, waiting.
“My ex-wife,” Edward clarified. “Ive got to gosort things out for Emily. Our daughter.”
“Wait, you never said you had a *daughter*. How old is she?”
“Twelve, I think.”
“So youre bringing her *here*?”
“I dont know. Sarah had no oneher parents died when she was still in school. And Mums got her health problems. Sorry, I need to pack.”
“Youre *actually* going to the funeral?” Lucys voice was sharp.
“Yes, on the night train. Ive already called work.”
“Youve been divorced for years. She mustve had someone else”
“Lucy, *not now*. Ill leave the caruse it if you need.”
“So *this* is the surprise you planned?” She pushed back her chair.
“No. Ill explain when Im back.” Edward clenched the ring box in his pocket.
The train ride was sleepless. He lay awake, remembering.
***
Theyd been friends since childhoodsame nursery, same secondary school. Petite, fair-haired Sarah was always poorly, her neck perpetually wrapped in a scarf.
When her parents died in a crash during their A-level year, her gran passed soon after. Edwards parents took Sarah in. His dad joked shed make a fine wife. Edward bristled at the idea.
Then, during a weekend alone while his parents were away, something shifted. He barely recalled how it happenedjust that Sarah fell pregnant. His parents insisted they marry.
Hed loved her as a friend, a sister. Wasnt *real* love supposed to be grander? But he married her. Sarah barely carried Emily to term. Holding his daughter for the first time, he felt nothing. The truth was bitter: he didnt love Sarah, didnt care for Emily. He wasnt ready. After barely scraping through his first uni year, he transferred to London and left.
His dad had said, *”No one in this family abandons their children. If you walk out, youre no son of mine.”* Sarah and Emily stayed.
Twelve years passed. He never visited, never called, except for his mums occasional updates. When his dad died, he didnt attend the funeral.
Then Lucy came along. Impossible *not* to fall for her. Yet hed stalled, never proposinguntil now. And just as hed bought the ring, Sarah had died, as if spiteful from beyond the grave.
But if he was honest, there was little left to ruin. The passion had cooled; they stayed together out of habit. He wasnt even sure he *wanted* to marryjust that Lucy did, and he feared losing her.
Exhausted, Edward finally slept.
His mum wept as she hugged him at the station. Emily stood apart, eyeing him warily.
“Em, love, come say helloits your dad,” his mum urged.
The girl scoffed, spun on her heel, and vanished into what had once been *his* childhood bedroom.
“Give her time,” his mum whispered.
The closed casket made it feel unreallike Sarah had never existed. Emily didnt cry, just glared at the floor, ignoring him.
He tried talking to her. She answered in silence. Once, he overheard her arguing with his mum.
“Nana, youre too old to keep me. Theyll say no. At least let me stay with *him* in Londonjust till you sort it.”
“Why? He doesnt want me. May as well go straight to care.”
“Dont be daft! Not with your dad *alive*. Youve no idea what cares like”
“Where was he *before*? Im not going.”
A door slammed.
Yet she boarded the train to London. Halfway, she asked, “Who do you live with?”
“Nana tell you? Yeah, theres someone. Ill propose when were back. Youll like her.” He wasnt sure he believed it.
The flat was empty. Lucys things were gone. Her keys lay on the console.
“Your rooms theresettle in,” Edward said, retreating to the loo. Lucys number went straight to voicemail. *Blocked, probably.*
When he emerged, Emily was making sandwiches, tea steeping beside her. Grateful she wasnt hysterical or smug, he ate in silence.
Next day, they enrolled her at the local school, then shopped for new clothes. Conversation was scant, but by morning, shed cooked scrambled eggs.
“Nana teach you?”
“Mum did.”
“Nice one.”
That was that.
He showed her Londoncinema trips, rollerblading in Hyde Park. Slowly, the ice thawed.
Then work sent him to China. Refusing wouldve killed his career. But Emily?
“Im not a kid,” she said.
“Yeah, but this is *London*. Ill figure something out.”
“Ask Sophie from work. She fancies youshell say yes,” James suggested.
Edward had noticed the junior colleagues blushes.
James was right. Sophie agreed eagerly. At their flat, she and Emily hit it off, laughter drifting down the hall.
He left for China lighter-hearted. Fatherhood still unnerved himhe was used to solitude. But he hadnt expected to *miss* Emily. He called daily. Sophie always took the phone after Emilys curt replies. She hadnt forgiven him yet.
Returning, he rang ahead. From the taxi, he spotted them by the buildingalike as sisters. His heart leapt. No one had ever welcomed him home before.
Emily approached as he stepped out. He hugged her awkwardly; she didnt pull away. Sophie lingered, smiling. He wanted to hug her too.
“Come on upIve got presents.”
Unwrapping gifts, he revelled in their delight more than they did.
“Anything to eat?”
“Course!” Sophie dashed to the kitchen, Emily close behind. The clatter of plates followed.
*Theyve bonded*, he thought.
Dinner was livelythey grilled him about China. For the first time in years, he felt content.
As Sophie prepared to leave, Emily drawled, *”Daaad…”* nodding toward the door.
*Dad.* Had he heard right?
Edward followed Sophie out. “Stay. Its late, and Ive more stories.”
Emily tugged Sophie into her room.
That night, Edward lay awake. So much had changed. Emily had softenedthanks to Sophie. She was easy company. Lucy wouldve clashed with Emily.
Two months ago, if someone had said hed be living with his daughter, hed have laughed. And Sophie… He liked knowing she slept just beyond the wall. Too soon to say, but why not try? She fancied him. And him? He searched his feelings. Just… *nice.* Maybe that was love.
