No One Expected Him: A Tale of Absent Fathers, Uncle Nick’s Steadfast Care, and a Family’s Search for Happiness Amid Disrupted Homecomings

Author Mitsuko NagasakiReading 7 minViews 2

Not Expected

Our dad left for work somewhere and disappeared completely when I was in Year Five and my sister was just starting Year One. Before that, hed just vanished for months at a time, drifting from city to city, always coming back with pockets full of cash and bags of presents. He and mum never marriedhe was very much his own man, always restless. Mum put up with it, though, because she adored him, completely and utterly.

Come home soon, Stephen, shed beg.

Oh, dont get teary. Wait for me, Ill have presents, hed reply, giving her a quick kiss before vanishing again.

When he was away, it was Dads brother Uncle Colin who watched over us. I think he liked Mumthough he never said anything and never showed it. But we could always rely on him.

Hows things, Theresa? Uncle Colin would ask, popping his head round to check up. How are the little ones?

Yaaay, Uncle Colins here! Id yell and race over for a hug.

Good to see you, Daniel, hed say, squeezing me briefly.

Honestly, I sometimes wished he was my real father. On weekends, Uncle Colin took us out for walks while Mum had a break. Sometimes she joined in, but more often shed stay home and contemplate her endlessly complicated life.

As I got older, Uncle Colin brought a climbing frame home and installed it in our hallway. By then, Dad hadnt been home in half a year. I helped him bolt everything together while my sister, Sophie, watched with her arms folded, studying how deftly he fitted the bar, the rope, and the rings.

Uncle Colin, why arent you married? Youre handy enoughany woman would snap you up for those golden hands, Sophie commented, her childish wisdom echoing things shed overheard from Mum and her friends.

No ones caught my eye, Sophie. If someone does, Ill marry them.

And you dont want kids of your own? Sophie spread her arms dramatically.

Colin paused his work and answered seriously, You two are plenty for now. What, trying to get rid of me already? squinting playfully at her.

Me? Never, she replied, eyes wide and innocent. Youre always welcome here.

That night, I said to her, Why were you teasing him? He might take offence and stop visiting.

But Dad brings presents Sophie said, dreamy-eyed. Hell be back soon, I bet.

Youre so daft. You’re bought off by gifts. Do you know how much this kit he brought cost?

I dont care about that. I want dresses, dolls. Im not a monkey to swing about on your climbing frame.

But this time, Sophie waited for Dad in vain. He didnt come back. One day, Uncle Colin appeared and closed himself off in the kitchen with Mum. He explained something to her while Mum wept bitterly.

Come on, Theresa, dont cry. Im not leaving. You know what hes likealways chasing whatevers easier and sweeter.

Mum wailed loudly, then sobbed for ages.

Uncle Colin still came round, helping, fixing, taking us for walks. Eventually, he plucked up the courage to tell Mum how he felt. I shamelessly eavesdropped.

Colin, you dont need me! Youre such a good man. You deserve real happiness.

Well, I know what I need, he stubbornly replied.

What if Stephen comes back?

Colin said nothing.

Ill still wait for him. I love him, Colin! I cant help it. If you really want someone like mea woman with half a heart.

I crept away from the door, furious. Mum, what on earth are you doing? Waiting for a man like him? Ridiculous.

Life went on. Sophie, all her fathers daughter, fawned over whoever put food on the table. Could I blame her? Deep down, she knew better than to hope for presents and Dads return. Uncle Colin did everything for us, working hard for our growing family. Mum had a son, Bradley, with him. Colins joy knew no bounds. They finally married, and life steadied itself.

I finished school, passing all my exams, lined up to attend university with a scholarship. Mum glowed with pride.

Therell be a scholar in our family now, eh Colin?

Weve done alright, love. Not exactly thick as mince! he replied, grinning.

Oh, stop it! Im no scientist, Id blush, waving her off. Pour me some of that champagne, please. Just a taste.

As if you never tried before, Sophie scoffed, and I glared at her theatrically.

Bradley was clambering around, intent on getting onto the table and knocking everything off. Colin grabbed him and set him on his lap.

Alright, lad, behave. Youre not a baby anymore!

Bradley immediately snatched up a spoon, pressed it to his nose, and went cross-eyed to make us all laugh. The room erupted in laughter.

Is that the doorbell? Sophie perked up.

Mum answered and staggered backwards. Standing at the door was our father.

Silence. He looked around, then said, Well? Carry on with your party.

No one spoke. Bradley wriggled free from Colin and wandered toward the strange man. Dad ignored him, while Mum scooped up Bradley, holding him close like a shield. Uncle Colin stood, unsteady.

Where are you going? Mum said, voice trembling.

I need some air, he replied, quietly pushing past his brother.

I got up to follow him. Sophie was right behind me.

Look, love, Ive brought you those stylish new outfits, Dad called.

To my surprise, Sophie didnt even look at him. She hurried after me and whispered in the hall,

Ill go after Uncle Colin, Dan. You listen in, see what happens.

But

Oh, come on, Dan! Youre a master eavesdropper!

Well, she wasnt wrong. I crouched in the corridor, torn by the thought that Mum had finally waited for her great love. What would happen to our family now?

Theresa, whats this? Youve married Colin? Dad sneered.

Mum was silent.

Oh, come on, its all in the past. Who hasnt sinned? Enough now, Im home!

There was a scuffle, the sound of a slapped cheek, and Bradleys frightened cry.

You should leave, Stephen. Just go away

Theresa, come on.

Thats it! Leave. No ones been waiting for you.

Youre lying. I can see it in your eyes. Eyes never lie.

I said what I said, Mum replied flatly.

Dad exited a moment later and spotted me lurking in the hallway.

“Eavesdropping? Hmmm Youll go far.”

I couldnt care less what he thought. I walked into the room expecting Mum in tears, but she was busy consoling Bradley and setting the table, looking like a multitasking Julius Caesar.

Well, he nearly ruined our party, didnt he? Mum smiled, crookedly. Where are they, then?

Bradley had already forgotten the argument, content fussing with a chair now that all was calm.

I stepped outside. Sophie and Uncle Colin sat together across the road at the park. She clung to his arm and rested her head on his shoulder, as if afraid letting go might make him vanish. I approached and watched them for a moment. Id wanted to say this for ages. Walking round the bench, I looked at Colins anxious face.

Dad, dont just sit here. Lets go home. Mums calling.

Colins hands trembled. Sophie covered them gently with her small palms, lifting her head to look him in the eyes:

Come on, Dad. Lets go.

We went home. After all, we had a celebration. Id finished school.

John and Mary John never wanted to leave his village for the city. He loved the open fields, the river, the woods, and his neighbours. He decided to start his own farm, raising pigs for meat, hoping to grow his business if luck was on his side. He dreamed of building a big house; he already had a car, modest and old, and had invested his grandmother’s house money into the business. But he had another cherished dream: to marry Mary and make her the lady of his big house. They were already dating, and Mary knew John’s business wasn’t thriving, and his house was only just being built. Mary was a beauty. She never planned to achieve anything on her own. “Why was I given beauty, if not to be taken care of by my husband? I just need to find someone who’ll take care of everything for me. My beauty is worth a lot,” she’d say to her girlfriends. “John’s building a house and already has a car,” said her friend Lucy. “He just needs time; it might take him a while to get going.” “But I want everything right away,” Mary would pout. “Who knows when John will ever make it big. He doesn’t have the money.” John loved Mary but knew her feelings weren’t quite what he hoped for. Still, he believed she’d love him with time. Everything might have gone well—if not for the arrival of Tim. Tim had come to the village with a friend, visiting his grandmother on holiday. He looked down on the local girls and was openly bored at the village club, until the beautiful Mary appeared. At first, Mary ignored the outsider—but once she learned he was from a wealthy family and his father a well-known city official, she quickly shifted her attention to him. Tim was older, experienced with women, smooth-talking, and handsome. He often brought Mary lavish bouquets—flowers she knew weren’t sold in the village—so he must have had them delivered, which she appreciated. John saw her accepting Tim’s flowers and got upset. “Don’t take his flowers, are you trying to make me angry?” he pleaded, but she only laughed. “They’re just flowers! What’s the big deal?” John even confronted Tim: “Don’t give Mary your flowers, she’s my girl, and I have plans for her!” Tim brushed him off, and a fight broke out—fortunately John’s friends broke it up. After that, things were off between John and Mary. She avoided him, and he felt hurt. She also understood Tim was only in the village for a month before returning to the city. “I have to come up with something—grab Tim’s attention and go to the city with him. There’s no future for me here—I’d better act quickly,” she thought. It didn’t take much to lure Tim home. Her parents were off to town to the market. Mary timed things so her parents would catch them together. Her father, strict and stubborn, found them both: she in her dressing gown, Tim scrambling to pull on his trousers. “What’s going on here?” her father demanded. Mary lowered her eyes, Tim shuffled awkwardly. “I see,” her father said. “Right, Tim—you need to marry our daughter now, or you’ll be in trouble. Come in here, let’s talk.” What was said, no one knows, but the next day, the young couple went into town to register their marriage, her father driving them, her mother packing them for their move to the city. The village buzzed with the news. John was devastated, but tried not to show it. Tim cursed himself. “Why did I even come here? Why did I fall for the village beauty’s charms? She’s not as naive as she seemed—she trapped me!” But Mary longed for city life, happiness, luxury. “That’s fine—I’ll love him so much, have his babies, he’ll be glad it worked out, just hope his parents accept me…” But to her surprise, Tim’s parents were delighted that he’d brought home such a pretty, down-to-earth country bride. They were tired of all the fancy city girls who only cared about money. Mary would feed and care for their son—she obviously knew how to keep a home. “Come in, Mary, make yourself at home,” his mother Anna greeted her warmly, and his father, Michael, smiled kindly. Mary wanted to be a good housewife. Their flat was big and comfortable. Tim even realised that Mary wasn’t as manipulative as he first thought. “Yes, she played it well with the marriage—caught me good—but she does seem to believe we’ll be happy,” Tim mused, though he didn’t believe it himself. Tim made plans to party after the wedding—he had plenty of lady friends in town. But one evening at dinner, Mary dropped a bombshell: “I’m pregnant—we’re going to have a baby!” “Congratulations, Mary, we’ve been longing for grandchildren!” Anna beamed. Tim realised there was no point arguing—the baby was happening. Soon came the wedding. Tim’s parents gave them a furnished flat. Mary noticed Tim wasn’t thrilled to be a father. “He’ll come around when the baby arrives—he’ll realise what happiness it is,” she thought, little knowing the kind of man Tim really was. After the wedding, Tim started staying out late. “My job means lots of trips away,” he’d say, and she believed him, not knowing what he really did. She never complained to his parents about his absences or the nights he didn’t come home, just waited and cooked nice meals for his return, keeping the house tidy—though she missed her village, friends, and parents, and, strangely, found herself thinking more and more about John. Now she began to doubt she’d made the right choice. When she asked if her husband loved her, he dodged the question. Anna saw her daughter-in-law was downcast and realised her own son wasn’t much of a husband. The birth of their son was a joyous event for the family—even Tim was momentarily moved, but it didn’t last. The crying, the sleepless nights, nappies irritated him; Mary, worn out, could no longer make delicious meals or keep up with everything. Tim wanted to escape. He soon discovered many of his old flames now shunned him. “Who wants a married man?” He never told anyone about his wife. She had no education—just a village girl. “What could I do with her when our son gets older? The thought of my wife working as a cleaner or at a market stalls would ruin the family’s reputation. Guess I’ll just have to support them alone. Alimony would be cheaper.” Tim now had a permanent mistress—Katie, with her own flat, well-off, no interest in kids. That suited him; with her he could relax, party, travel out of town. “Katie, if you only knew how that chaos at home gets to me. I don’t love my wife, and the baby’s a pain too. Sure, Mary’s beautiful, but she’s just a country girl—nothing in common, I’m sick of it all. How am I supposed to go out with her, she’s never seen anything beyond her cows and her village.” Mary realised her dream of family life with Tim was slipping away—and suspected he had someone else. He’d come home smelling of another woman’s perfume, lipstick marks on his clothes. Tim was constantly irritable, ignored their son, snapped at her, even raised his hand. They lived in the village now, already expecting another baby. Mary called her mother, complaining, but got: “We never forced you to marry Tim—you made that choice. We thought you’d marry John. You chose your own path, now deal with it. When you’ve had enough, come home—for good.” Mary was crushed. She even checked Tim’s phone while he slept. The things she read between him and Katie left her speechless. She told her mother-in-law, who said: “If you’re thinking of divorce—remember, we’ll fight for custody. My husband has influence. Whatever his faults, Tim is the father, has good earnings, a flat. He can give the child a lot—what can you provide, without education or a job?” Her son had a fever, teething, and Tim, sick of the crying, got messages from Katie, who was waiting. He replied he’d come when the child settled and Mary fell asleep. Katie wrote: “Just give them the sleeping pills I gave you, they’ll be out in no time.” Tim left his phone on the table while in the shower. Mary saw Katie’s message—and was horrified. “What if he really does drug us? What if he poisons us…” While Tim was in the shower, Mary called John and told him everything. “I’ll come get you and take you home.” “His parents want to take my son away.” “Don’t worry, it’s just threats. Try to calm down, and get your son to sleep. Let your husband leave, and then call me—I’ll be nearby.” Mary rocked her baby until he finally slept beside her. She pretended to be asleep. She heard her husband look in, then leave the house. Quickly, she packed a few things, called John—who arrived promptly and drove her to his home. Tim came home the next evening and found Mary and the baby gone. He called his parents. “No, son, Mary hasn’t been here. Has she really run away? I’m calling the police,” Anna fretted. “Mum, don’t. Don’t call. I’m actually relieved she left. I’m tired of her and the baby. Let her live as she wants—please, Mum.” He talked her round in the end. Time passed. John and Mary married after her divorce. They lived in a big house, and soon were expecting another child. At last, Mary realised that John was her happiness.