Emily and her friend were strolling through the park when they suddenly spotted a man and a woman embracing. He whispered something into her ear, and the woman smiled happily. Emily stared at them, wide-eyed, unable to look away.
“Emily, whats wrong? Emily!” her friend exclaimed.
“Nothing. Lets go,” Emily said abruptly.
The girls said their goodbyes, and Emily walked home, her mind racing. It couldnt be true!
“Dad, how could you? How could you do this to Mum?” She couldnt believe what shed seen.
Earlier, Emily and her friend Liz had left their classes. Not wanting to go home just yet, Emily suggested, “Liz, lets take a walk in the park!”
“Alright, while its still light!” Liz agreed.
The park wasnt exactly on their way, but why not?
As they walked along the path, they watched envious glances trailing after happy couples. No one paid them any mind. Turning onto a quieter lane, they saw the couple againthe man whispering, the woman smiling. Though his back was turned, he clearly wasnt young.
Liz barely glanced at them until she noticed Emily frozen, staring.
“Emily, whats wrong? Emily!”
“Its just Never mind. Lets go,” Emily muttered, hurrying ahead.
They left the park in silence. Emily barely spoke, lost in thought. The girls parted ways, and Emily walked home, her head lowered. She couldnt shake the imageher father, whispering to another woman.
“Dad, how could you? I always thought you were perfect. And now this? I wouldnt have believed it if I hadnt seen it myself!”
She arrived home late.
“Sit down for dinner!” her mother snapped. “You and your father are never here.”
“Just a minute, Ill wash my hands,” Emily replied awkwardly.
She lingered in the bathroom. When she came out, her father still wasnt home. She ate quietly and retreated to her room, opening her laptop but unable to focus. The scene in the park replayed in her mind.
“Is this really my dad? Is deceit just normal for adults? Whats missing in his life? Would he really leave Mum and me for her?” An idea struck her.
“Does his mistress even know I exist? Shell never take him from me.”
The front door opened.
“Sorry, love! Long day,” her father called.
“Your long days used to be just at months end,” her mother shot back, another argument brewing. “Now theyre every day.”
“Joan, not now!”
As usual, he went to kiss Emily goodnight, but she pushed him away.
“Go, before your dinner gets cold!”
“Sweetheart, whats wrong?”
“Nothing. But what about you?”
Her father studied her, hesitated, then left for the kitchen.
Emily stayed in her room all evening, plotting how to win her father back. She fell asleep with the plan in mind and woke to her parents’ voices.
“David, where are you going?”
“Work. Its urgent.”
“Its Saturday. You could spend time with your family.”
“I wont be long. Back by lunch, and well do something.”
Emily emerged, pretending shed just woken up.
“Where are you off to?” her mother asked.
“Mum, Ive got classes. Im already late.”
“Honestly,” her mother sighed. “Always busy.”
Emily darted into the bathroom, then rushed to get ready, finding her father in the hallway. He smiled.
“Let me walk you to class.”
“Emily, at least have some tea!” her mother called from the kitchen.
“Go ahead, Ill wait,” her father said warmly, as if sensing her unease.
Emily gulped her tea and hurried out. “Come on, Dad!”
They walked in silence until he spoke.
“Are you upset with me?”
“No, Dad. Must be my teenage phase,” she paused, steeling herself. “I love you, Dad.”
“I love you too, sweetheart.”
“More than anything?”
He tensed, eyeing her suspiciously, but nodded. “More than anything.”
They walked on, smiling but avoiding each others gaze.
“Thats my stop. See you at lunchyou promised wed spend the day together.”
Emily headed to her classes, then doubled back, hiding behind bushes. She trailed her father, praying hed go to workbut he took a different route.
They walked a long way, her father never glancing back. Finally, he stopped outside a building, phoned someone, and a woman appeared minutes later.
Emily gasped. “Shes beautiful. Is she really worth more than Mum and me?”
The woman kissed her father, and they walked arm in arm to a secluded bench. Emily watched, heart sinking as they talked, then kissed.
When they returned, her father left, and the woman disappeared inside. Emily waited, then spotted her taking out the rubbish.
“Hi,” Emily blocked her path.
“Hi? Can I help you?”
“If you see David again, youll regret it.”
“Who are you?”
“His daughter. Call him. Tell him its over.”
The woman dialed. Emily heard her fathers voice.
“Diana, whats wrong?”
“David, we cant see each other anymore.”
“Why?”
“You have a family. Im leaving after uni anyway.”
“Diana, if thats what you”
“It is. Goodbye.”
“Alright. Goodbye.”
When Emily got home, her parents were chatting over lunch.
“Why so cheerful?” her mother grumbled.
“Hungry?”
“Starving!”
“Sweetheart, why so happy?” her father asked.
“Dad, do you love me?”
“Of course.”
“And Mum?”
A pause. Then firmly: “Yes. I love your mother.”
“Good. Because I love you both.”
Her fathers smile was genuine. “And I love you too.”
