**Echoes of Secrets: A Family Drama in the Big City**
William Pearson and his wife, Margaret, traveled to Manchester to visit their daughter. Even before they reached the entrance of Emily’s building, William noticed how tense Margaret was.
“Meg, what’s wrong?” he asked, studying her face.
“Nothing, really. We haven’t seen Emily in so long, it’s just hitting me now,” Margaret tried to smile, but her voice trembled.
They climbed the stairs to Emily’s flat. William pressed the doorbell firmly. No answer.
“Strange, is she not home?” he muttered, glancing at Margaret before ringing again.
The lock clicked, the door creaked open, and William froze, stunned by what he saw.
***
Her father stood there, crimson with anger, his face burning. Margaret grabbed his arm, pleading,
“Will, calm down, please! You know what the doctor said about your blood pressure! Let’s just talk to Emily properly!”
But William jerked his arm free, his voice low and dangerous. Emily, standing in the doorway, felt a chill run down her spine—her father had never looked at her like this before.
“Let go, Meg! Enough of this! You should’ve been watching our daughter, not me!”
“Will, darling, please!” Margaret’s eyes darted between her husband and daughter, desperate to defuse the tension.
Six months ago, William had suffered a hypertensive crisis. The doctors had warned him to avoid stress. Yet yesterday, he’d suddenly announced,
“Pack a bag, Meg. I can’t sit still anymore. Three months of excuses, and she hasn’t visited once. Something’s not right. You’re her mother—why haven’t you said anything?”
Margaret *had* stayed silent. Not because she didn’t know, but because she knew too much. She and Emily had hidden the truth from William, hoping to fix things before telling him. They thought he’d be angry, but by then, everything would be settled. Now—what could she say? What could she do?
“She’s just tired, studying, working part-time. She promised she’d visit soon. You know how she gets,” Margaret babbled, but William was already pulling on his coat.
He snatched his wallet, keys, phone, and even took Margaret’s mobile.
“Don’t you dare warn her! Am I her father or not? I saw how she kept fussing in front of the mirror last summer—fixing her hair, tucking it behind her ear. And who for? She wouldn’t say! There’s something wrong. We’re going to see her.”
On the train, Margaret tried to speak, then gave up.
“You’re rushing things. Emily wanted to tell you herself once everything was sorted. She didn’t want to worry you because of your health.”
“Meg, enough about my health! I’m her father—I *need* to know what’s going on with my daughter! I’ve got a bad feeling about this!” William snapped.
“Fine, ring the bell,” Margaret sighed, squeezing his hand.
The door didn’t open right away. Emily must’ve checked the peephole and hesitated. But she couldn’t leave her parents standing outside.
“I *knew* it! Emily, who is he? Whose baby is it? Why did you hide this from us?” William’s voice shook with hurt and fury.
He stumbled out onto the landing and slumped onto the steps, clutching his chest.
“Dad, why are you sitting there? Come back inside!” Emily, her small bump visible, looked lost and helpless.
His little girl, his pride—she’d left for university, got in on a scholarship, and now… What now? William swallowed the lump in his throat. If he didn’t protect her, who would? He had to find this lad, talk to him, *do* something!
“Dad, I was going to tell you later, once it was all sorted. But now… He’s in hospital after a car crash!” Emily burst into tears like a child.
William stood, brushed off his trousers, and suddenly calmed. So what if she was having a baby? They were all alive. They’d manage—they’d been through worse.
Emily had been a miracle, born late to him and Margaret when they’d given up hope. She’d been the smallest in her class but so serious—never misbehaved, read during breaks, got top marks. She’d gone to uni, worked part-time, shared a flat with friends. Last summer, they’d all visited the countryside—everything had seemed fine…
“Meg, did you know? You knew and didn’t tell me?” he asked, instantly regretting his sharp tone.
Margaret lowered her eyes.
“Will, you were ill—they said we had to be careful…”
“Alright, I get it. Let’s go inside, Emily. Start from the beginning.”
Emily explained how she’d met Daniel. He worked at the same company where she had a part-time job. He’d helped her, then they started dating. Daniel said he wanted her by his side forever, to be his wife. But he confessed—he’d been married. They’d tied the knot right after school because their mothers, old friends, had pushed for it. With Lily, his ex, it had been more like family, but just friendship. They’d divorced when Lily fell for someone else, but paperwork dragged on. Then Lily announced she was pregnant and wanted him back—the other bloke had left her.
“And you believe him? That the baby isn’t his?” William asked sternly.
“Yes, Dad. Daniel doesn’t lie. He was always with me while she was in another city. He went to talk to her, and that’s when the crash happened. But he’ll recover—I *know* he’ll come back!”
“Alright, don’t upset yourself. Give me his name, the town, his number.”
“Dad, no!”
“I won’t do anything, especially if he’s in hospital. I just want to talk. He *is* the father of my grandchild, isn’t he? Might even be my son-in-law one day.”
William wiped Emily’s tears and smiled.
“Remember our little song? *‘Hush now, Emily, don’t you cry—Daddy’s here, strong and spry!’*”
“I remember, Dad,” Emily smiled through her tears. “Here’s Daniel’s number. Thank you!”
“I’m coming with you,” Margaret said at once.
“Fine, but I’ll speak to the lad alone. What if he’s lying? Or just a cad? I need to sort this. You’ll be on call, Meg.”
Daniel *was* in hospital, in a small town near Manchester. He’d only just been moved from intensive care. William flashed his old warrant card at the desk.
“Major William Pearson, retired. Can I speak to Daniel Hartley? Room five? Won’t take long. His wife there? Doesn’t matter—I won’t be in the way.”
In the room, a pretty woman sat beside Daniel. William didn’t falter.
“Hello. You Daniel Hartley? I’m Emily’s father. Ring any bells?”
Despite his weakness, Daniel brightened.
“Mr. Pearson? This is Lily, my childhood friend and ex-wife. She’s been giving me grief—fell for some bloke who led her on, then decided I was the better option. I drove up to sort it out and ended up in this mess. Lucky to be alive! I promised Emily it’d all work out—she trusts me!”
“And this baby your ex claims is yours? Think I don’t know better?” William smirked.
“Lily made it up to get me there. There *is* no baby. We filed for divorce online last week. I love Emily, Mr. Pearson, and I want to marry her. We’re having a child. Will you give me your blessing?” Daniel tried to sit up.
“He really does only love Emily—this is my fault,” Lily cut in.
“Bloody hell, you lot are a mess!” William shook his head. “What were you thinking?”
“I’ll prove I’m good enough for her. I’ll make it right as soon as I’m back on my feet!” Daniel said firmly.
“We’ll see. If not, we’ll raise the child ourselves—and I’ll deal with you when you’re healed,” William said, turning to leave.
“Thank you, Mr. Pearson!” Daniel called after him. “I *will* prove myself!”
Daniel kept his word. Before the birth, he and Emily married. From the hospital, he carried out his wife and newborn daughter as a proper husband and father.
“Your dad’s going to be a brilliant grandad. We should give him a grandson next,” Daniel whispered to Emily, taking the bundle from the nurse. “He believed in me—I won’t let him down. All that matters is we’re together.”
William approached, hand outstretched.
“Well then, son-in-law—congratulations on your daughter!”
“And you on your granddaughter, Mr. Pearson! Thank you—for Emily,”Thank you for everything,” Daniel said, shaking William’s hand warmly as Emily smiled through happy tears.
