Kate had just set breakfast on the table when the doorbell rang. Josh was outside walking their daughter Emily through the garden, so she went to answer. A delivery man stood on the porch holding a medium-sized box. “Package for you,” he said, handing her the clipboard to sign. Kate assumed it was one of Josh’s usual surprises—he loved thoughtful gifts, especially with their anniversary just days away.
She carried the box into the kitchen, cut through the tape, and opened it. Inside lay a beautifully embroidered pillow, soft cream fabric stitched with intricate patterns, perfect for their living room. Beneath it was a note: Happy Anniversary, Josh and Kate! – Taylor.
Kate froze. Taylor was Josh’s father—the man who had abandoned his family decades ago, leaving a trail of resentment and pain.
Just then, Josh entered with Emily balanced on his shoulders. “What’s this?” he asked, setting their daughter in her high chair.
Kate hesitated. “It’s… a gift,” she said carefully. “From your father.”
Josh’s face darkened. He snatched the note and read it. Taylor’s presence had always been complicated—an absence marked by selfish choices, gambling, and broken promises. “A father is supposed to choose his family,” Josh had once told Kate. “Mine chose himself.”
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