Okay, so Daisy found out her dad was having an affair completely by accident. She’d bunked off school that day to go with her mate to a tattoo place. Didn’t fancy going to the shopping centre in her uniform, so she popped home to change. Just as she was pulling on her jeans, she heard a key turn in the lock. She froze, wobbling on one leg with the other stuck, convinced it was burglars – until she heard her dad’s voice. Sounded like he was on the phone.
“I’ll grab the kit and leave straight away,” he was saying. “Can’t exactly say I was at training if my gym bag’s under the bed.”
She’d got it wrong though – it wasn’t a call, he was recording a voice note. Because a couple of minutes later, she heard a woman’s voice:
“Darling, I’ve missed you so much, hurry up! I made your favourite biscuits, they’ll go cold! Kisses!”
The meaning took a while to sink in. First, she recognised the voice: it was Auntie Kate, her dad’s colleague and actually a sister to her mum’s best friend. Daisy used to like her – Auntie Kate wasn’t like other boring adults, pretending she knew how to live right. She loved a laugh and listened to actual music, not the dreary old stuff Daisy’s parents liked. Only then did Daisy wonder *why* Auntie Kate was sending him voice notes… and the words hit home.
Just then, the key turned again, and the flat went quiet. Daisy sank onto her bed, replaying Auntie Kate’s words. No mistake, her dad was seeing another woman. What now? Tell her mum? Or not? How act around Dad, or Auntie Kate?
Undecided, she dashed off to meet her friend who’d sent five texts already. They’d been buzzing about this for a month, choosing designs, and her mate had perfected forging her mum’s signature. But Daisy felt totally flat.
“Daiz, what’s up?” her mate kept on. “You in a mood? Changed your mind about a tattoo? Easy-peasy, I’ll forge Mum’s sig!”
God, she wished she could share this shocking news, spread the weight, but couldn’t even tell her best mate. So Daisy pretended it *was* about the tattoo.
The next fortnight was rubbish. She couldn’t concentrate on lessons, dodged hanging out, avoided her mum, and was downright rude to her dad. What to do? One day she nearly told Mum, but Mum started shouting about a fail on her Chemistry mock, and they had a massive row. That evening, Mum came to her room with a chocolate éclair – Daisy’s favourite – and said:
“Sorry, love, for shouting. Not good parenting, I know. Just so worried about your GCSEs! Want the best for you…”
“Mum, honestly, I’ll pass! Is that éclair for me?”
“Course it is. Friends? Can’t stand it when we fight!”
Daisy took the éclair, kissed her mum’s cheek, and swore to herself – she’d never hurt her mum like that. If a silly row upset her this much, imagine how Dad’s betrayal would break her? Daisy had to keep it hidden, no matter what.
So Daisy accidentally became her dad’s accomplice: covering for his “late work”, reminding him about birthdays and Mum’s errands, distracting Mum if his phone rang. All while ignoring his requests, being rude, and barely stopping herself from shouting everything she thought about him.
Then, things sort of settled. Dad started coming home on time, Daisy passed her GCSEs and moved into Year Eleven, and the whole nightmare faded. Plus, she met Matt – two years older, studying Law at uni, played guitar. Evenings out with the gang slowly became just him and her walking together. That night, chatting by the fountain, time flew. She was late. Praying her parents hadn’t noticed, she crept to her room on tiptoes.
*Phew, got away with it*, she thought.
“Daisy?”
No, she hadn’t…
Mum peeked in. “You’re back late.”
Braced for a proper telling-off, Daisy was surprised Mum didn’t even seem to expect an answer.
“Sorry, lost track hanging out. Mum… you okay?”
Even in the lamplight, Daisy saw Mum’s eyes were red, like she’d been crying.
“Fine. Tell me, did you or Dad buy anything at the jewellers? Just wondered…”
Some instinct told her to stall. “Jewellers?”
“Saw a receipt for earrings and thought…”
“Oh, right! Sorry, forgot to say – I asked Dad for cash for Maisie’s birthday present. She just got her ears pierced, wanted something nice. Too pricey? Sorry, Mum.”
Mum’s face instantly lit up. “Don’t be silly! You’re such a star, remembering important dates! Just like your dad!”
Lying felt awful. Next day, Daisy decided – end this! Talking to Dad terrified her. But confronting Auntie Kate… she could maybe handle that. Didn’t know what to say but figured she’d wing it.
Dad and Auntie Kate worked at the news office – he wrote articles, she was editor-in-chief. Years ago Dad took Daisy in sometimes, so getting there was easy.
She needed timing when Dad was out. Got lucky when he mentioned over breakfast he was interviewing a factory manager. Daisy didn’t hesitate – bunked off after first period, got her mate Maisie to cover, hopped a bus. Reception waved her through without question. Upstairs, she knocked on the door marked “Editor-in-Chief”.
“Come in!” Auntie Kate’s voice called.
Daisy pushed it open.
“Daisy? What are you doing here? Dad’s at an interview…”
Hiding shaking knees, Daisy walked to the chair opposite the desk and sat. The fierce speech she’d rehearsed vanished. All she managed was:
“Dad bought you those earrings, right?”
Little hoop earrings with sparkling clear crystals shone in Auntie Kate’s ears.
“What?”
If Daisy hadn’t heard the voice note, she might’ve thought she’d blundered – Auntie Kate looked genuinely confused.
“I know everything,” Daisy snapped. “Mum found the jeweller’s receipt. Aren’t you ashamed?”
Something else flashed across Auntie Kate’s face – anger, Daisy thought.
“You’re saying your dad bought jewellery?”
Daisy remembered – Mum definitely said earrings.
“Earrings. Don’t pretend you weren’t involved.”
Auntie Kate was silent a long time. Then she said, “Go home, sweetheart. Best not get tangled in this.”
That tone unnerved Daisy. It was all messier than she’d thought. On the bus home, she realised Auntie Kate would tell Dad, he’d demand explanations, and Mum *still* couldn’t know.
That night, Daisy pretended a headache and went to bed early – Dad was late again, probably explaining to Auntie Kate. She heard him come in, but neither then nor next morning did he mention anything. He acted normal *with her*, but seemed distant otherwise – scowling, answering Mum weirdly.
A week later, he packed a bag and moved in with Lucy, an intern. Turned out, *she* got the earrings, and Auntie Kate had sacked her rival. Daisy overhe
She traced the fresh ink spelling “Love is Blind” on her forearm, deleting Mitya’s number with a final tap, utterly convinced she’d sealed her heart off for good, yet already dreading the unexpected ways life might challenge that vow.
