Just as Kate was putting breakfast on the table, the doorbell rang. Josh was outside strolling his daughter Emily around the garden, so she picked up the phone. A delivery man stood on the doorstep with a box that was about the size of a medium-sized box. “Here’s your package,” he said, giving her the clipboard to sign. She thought it was something Josh had purchased because he loved surprising her with little gifts, especially since their wedding anniversary was only a few days away.
She took the package to the kitchen, cut through the heavy tape, and opened it. Inside was a gorgeous pillow with exquisite motifs sewn into silky cream cotton. It was just the right item for their living area. Taylor wrote on a note below it, “Happy Anniversary, Josh and Kate!”
Kate
stopped moving. Taylor was Josh’s father, the man who had left his life years ago and left a path of anger behind.
At that moment, Josh strolled in with Emily on his shoulders. He said, “What’s this?” as he put his daughter in her high chair. Kate was unsure. “It’s a gift,” she added cautiously. “From your father.”
Josh’s face got darker. He grabbed the note and looked it over. His relationship with Taylor was hard to understand and almost nonexistent. Josh’s father left him and his mother when he was just seven years old to be with another lady. Taylor hadn’t just left the family emotionally; he had also been involved in gambling, dishonest money schemes, and other things that a child shouldn’t have been around. Josh’s childhood ended the day he left. He informed Kate at dinner years later, “A father is supposed to choose his family, Kate.” But mine picked himself.
Taylor
had tried to come back a few times, like before their wedding when he reached out through family. Josh had said no. He had said, “I don’t want him there.” “He’s going to mess everything up.” Since he owes someone money, someone will come to the ceremony. Taylor tried again after Emily was born, intending to be a loving grandfather. Josh shut it down right away. “I don’t want him to be near her. Kate, don’t argue with me about this. He’s not good news.
Kate believed Josh was just being suspicious because he always was when he picked up the pillow and put it to his ear. But his eyes were big with fear. “Kate, we can’t keep this.” He ran to the back door and threw the pillow into the garden. “It’s ticking!”
Kate blinked her eyes. “What do you mean by ticking?” They rushed outdoors. The cushion was lying there among the flowers, making a soft, rhythmic sound. She bent down and put her ear against it. Josh didn’t think it was possible, but there definitely was a ticking inside.
Josh said, “Record everything,” with a tense jaw. He tore the cushion open, and a little box with a timer inside fell out. Kate’s heart raced. “What is that?”
Josh didn’t say anything. He picked up his phone and called his dad. Taylor answered the phone with a smile, as if he had been waiting for it. “Kate!” Did you get the package I sent? I wanted to do something nice for you.
Kate’s voice shook as she said, “There’s a box inside.” ” It’s making a noise. What is it?
Taylor laughed gently. “Don’t worry. It’s merely a timer; it should unlock on your anniversary. ” It’s not dangerous.”
Josh took the phone away from Kate. Dad, what’s in the box? Is that against the law? Are you trying to get us involved in your problems again? His voice broke because he was so angry.
“Please, Josh,” Taylor pleaded, his voice suddenly tired. “It’s just a present.” I don’t want to hurt you.
Josh hung up after a long gap. Kate touched his arm lightly. “Let’s open it together,” she said in a low voice.
Josh nodded, but only because he didn’t want to. Kate started recording again on her phone. He opened the package with a pry bar. There was a check inside. Not a card, not a gift, but a cheque for $100,000.
Josh looked at it like it was about to catch fire. He mumbled, “What kind of game is this?” “This money can’t be clean.”
Taylor called again before they could talk about it more. Kate responded. His voice was quieter now, like it was about to break. He said, “I’m dying.” “I know I was a bad dad.” I messed up a lot, too numerous to list. But that money is for you and Emily. To help her learn. You can keep it even if Josh doesn’t want it. You don’t have to tell anyone it came from me.
Kate took a deep breath. She looked at Josh, whose expression was full of rage, perplexity, and sadness. He had been telling himself for years that the best way to keep his family safe was to cut off contact with his father. But there was something about Taylor’s voice that made it hard to ignore.
He took the phone. “Stop playing games if you’re serious,” he urged. “We’ll get together.” Once. And you will tell me the truth.”
They arranged to meet at a park where Josh and Kate often took Emily. Josh was nervous and couldn’t keep his hands still that day. Taylor showed up looking nothing like the man Josh recalled. He appeared weak, with slumped shoulders and thinning hair. He went slowly toward them, his eyes full of sadness.
“I’m so sorry,” Taylor murmured as he sat down. “I let you and your mother down. I let my selfishness wreck everything. But I don’t have much time left, and I don’t want to leave without trying to fix it.
Josh’s jaw tightened. He felt years of fury building up in him, but he also felt something else: a strong desire for closure. “It’s not easy, Dad,” he finally said. “But maybe… we can give it a shot. For Emily. So she realizes that her grandfather was more than just a shadow.
Kate took out the picnic basket she had brought with her since she could feel how heavy the moment was. Emily got sandwiches, fruit, and juice boxes. It gave them something to think about other than the years of anger. Emily crawled across the blanket, laughing, and Taylor cried as he watched her.
Josh held Kate’s hand tightly when they left the park that afternoon. He wasn’t precisely smiling, but something inside him had calmed down. He murmured softly, “Maybe it’s good that pillow showed up.”
Not yet, it wasn’t forgiveness. But that was a beginning.