Keep away from me! I never promised to marry you! In fact, I dont even know whose child this is!
And maybe, well, maybe shes not mine at all?
So, off you go, and I suppose Ill be on my way, said Victor, who was working in their village temporarily, leaving a bewildered Valentina in shock.
She stood there, unable to believe her eyes or ears. Was this the same Victor who had declared his love for her so many times, who had always treated her like a queen?
Was this the Victor who had called her darling Val and promised her the moon and the stars? Now, standing before her, was a strangerconfused, resentful, totally different.
Val cried for a week, waving Victor goodbye for good. But as she was already thirty-five, not the most striking woman, and knew her chances for happiness were slim, she decided to become a mother on her own.
Eventually Val gave birth to a noisy little girl and named her Emily. Emily grew into a quiet, easygoing child who never gave her mother any trouble.
It was as if she understoodno matter how much you shout or cry, it wouldnt make a difference. Val treated her daughter decently enough, bought her food, clothes, and the odd toy.
But Emily rarely felt the warmth of a hug, a stroke on the head, or a walk together. These never happened. Emily often reached out for her mother, but Val brushed her away. There was always somethingwork, chores, tiredness, or a headache. Somehow, that instinct just never took root.
When Emily was seven, the unexpected happenedVal met a man. Not only that, she soon invited him to live with her! The whole village was buzzing with gossip. That Val, she really is careless.
Hes not local, hes got no steady job, no one knows where hes even living! Might be a scoundrel people grumbled.
Val worked at the village shop, and hed been hired on occasion to unload lorries full of supplies. Thats how their romance began.
Before long, Val asked her new man, whose name was Alan, to move in with them. All the neighbours disapproved:
Shes brought home some unknown fellow! Has she even thought about her little girl? they gossiped. Barely says a word, probably hiding something!
But Val ignored them all. Deep down she felt this might well be her last chance at happiness.
It wasnt long before peoples opinions about Alan, who seemed so reserved, began to change.
Vals old cottage had fallen into disrepair without a man about the place. Alan, their new lodger, started by fixing up the porch, then patched up the leaking roof, and mended the sagged fence.
Every day he tackled some chore, and the house transformed before their very eyes. People noticed Alan was good with his hands, so they started asking for help, and hed reply:
If youre elderly or struggling, Ill help for nothing. If not, pay in cash or with some groceries.
Hed take payment in pounds from some, but was just as happy to accept preserves, meat, eggs, or milk from others. Val had a vegetable patch but no livestockbefore Alans arrival, Emily hadnt often seen fresh cream or milk at home. Now the fridge was stocked with both, along with other treats.
Alan truly was a dab hand at everything, and Val, never a beauty, began to change around him; she seemed brighter, kinder, even softened a little. She started to be warmer towards Emily. Shed smile, and there youd see dimples in her cheeks.
Emily, meanwhile, was settling into school. One afternoon, she sat on the doorstep, watching Uncle Alan work, amazed how things seemed to come alive in his hands, then set off to play with a friend nearby.
She stayed later than usual, and when she finally came home at dusk, she was stunnedright in the centre of the garden stood a swing! Swaying slightly in the evening breeze, calling out to her.
For me?! Uncle Alan! Did you make this for me? Swings?!! Emily could hardly believe her eyes.
For you, Emily, of course for you! Go give them a try! laughed Alan, who was usually so reserved.
Emily leapt onto the seat and pumped herself back and forth, the wind whistling past her earsthere was not a happier child in all of England.
Val left for work at dawn most days, so eventually Alan took over the cooking. Hed make breakfast, lunch, and his pies and baked dishes were legendary.
It was Alan who taught Emily how to cook and how to lay a table properly. So many hidden talents in that quiet, silent man!
When autumn turned to winter and the days grew short, Alan made a point of walking Emily to and from school. Hed carry her schoolbag and tell her stories from his own life.
He told her about caring for his sick mother, about selling his flat to help her, and how his own brother tricked him out of their home.
He taught Emily to fish. In summer, theyd set out at sunrise along the riverbank and wait patiently for a bite, teaching her how to be patient.
Later that summer, Alan bought Emily her first bike and patiently taught her to ride, soothing her grazed knees with antiseptic whenever she fell.
Alan, shes going to break her neck! Val worried.
Shell be fine. She needs to learn how to fall and get back up again, Alan replied firmly.
One Christmas, Alan gifted her her very first pair of real ice skates. That evening, he and Emily set the table for a festive supper.
When midnight arrived, they toasted each other with sparkling lemonade, laughed, and enjoyed a delicious meal. In the morning, Val and Alan woke to Emilys joyful screams.
Skates! Hooray! Ive got my very own skates! White and new! Thank you, thank you! she yelled, finding the fabulous gift under the Christmas tree. She clutched them to her chest, happy tears streaming down her cheeks.
Later that day, Alan took Emily to skate on the frozen river, clearing snow from the ice as she carefully helped. He taught her as she clung to his hand, until at last she gained her balanceand soon she was racing across the ice without a single fall, shrieking with happiness.
As they left the river, Emily threw her arms around him and cried, Thank you for everything! Thank you, Dad
Now it was Alans turn to cry, though he wiped away his tears before she could see. Pure joy.
The years went by. Emily grew up and went off to university in the city. Life threw problems her way, as it does for everyone. But Alan was always there for her.
He attended her graduation. Hed travel to the city, bags of groceries in hand, making sure his Emily never went hungry.
He walked her down the aisle at her wedding. He stood by her husband waiting anxiously outside the maternity ward. He babysat his grandchildren, loving them as much as any grandfather could.
In time, Alan passed away, as we all must. At the funeral, Emily, now called Mary by friends, stood beside her mother in deep mourning. As she threw a handful of earth on his grave, she sighed:
Goodbye, Dad You were the best father in the world. Ill never forget you
And she didnt remember him as just Uncle Alan, nor as a stepdad, but as her FATHERbecause sometimes a true dad isnt the one who gives you life, but the one who raises you, who shares your joy and pain, whos there, always.
Such is this touching story of life. Thank you for your thoughts and support! Be sure to follow for more inspiring stories.
