’Does he really not remember anything?’ Sophie’s fingers tightened slightly. ’How am I supposed to tell him that Lily is actually his daughter?’
She had asked herself that question countless times.
Dan didn’t know. He had no idea that the little girl he had grown so fond of was actually his own child.
Years ago, before Lily was born, she and Dan had been close. They had spent a lot of time together, and one night, after both of them had drunk far more than they should have, things had happened between them.
Neither of them had been in the right state of mind to properly remember everything that had occurred that night.
She discovered she was pregnant some time later.
Since then, she had carried the truth with her. She wasn’t married, nor had she ever been close to or involved with another man besides Dan. Yet, despite carrying the secret for all these years, she had never found the courage to tell him that Lily was his daughter.
Part of her had been afraid of how he would react.
Another part simply hadn’t known how to begin that conversation.
And somehow, the longer she waited, the harder it became.
The irony was that Dan had already grown attached to Lily without knowing the truth.
He played with her, bought her treats, listened to her endless stories, and allowed her to drag him into whatever childish adventure she happened to invent that day.
Yet whenever he spoke to her mother, his manner was noticeably more reserved.
With Lily, he was warm and playful. With her, he was polite, cautious, and slightly distant, after all after having being quite close with her in the past, he didn’t want to be overly friendly with a woman who has a child for another man.
She had noticed that reserved tone countless times.
Maybe, she thought, that was because some part of him sensed something he couldn’t explain.
Or perhaps she was simply imagining things because she desperately wanted him to know the truth.
"Mum?"
Her thoughts were interrupted by Lily’s voice.
She looked down and found her daughter staring up at her. There was a small crease of concern between the girl’s eyebrows.
"Uncle Dan will be okay, right?"
Sophie momentarily glanced toward Dan’s house. For a moment, she imagined walking over there with the first-aid supplies and finally telling him everything. She imagined the surprise on his face, the questions that would inevitably follow, and the difficult conversation that would finally force the truth into the open.
But she pushed the thought aside. ’Not tonight.’
She looked back at Lily and gave her a reassuring smile.
"Yes, Lily. He’ll be okay."
Lily nodded with complete confidence.
"Because he’s strong." Her mother smiled faintly.
"Yes. He’s strong." Lily nodded, remembering Dan’s lean muscles. Apparently satisfied with the answer, Lily immediately returned her attention to the bag of sweets in her arms.
She pulled out one of the candies and examined it with obvious excitement, completely unaware of the secret her mother had carried for the past three years.
Her mother watched her quietly. There was still so much she needed to tell Dan.
She needed to tell him about Lily. She needed to explain what had happened years ago and why she had remained silent for so long. She needed to accept whatever consequences came from finally revealing the truth.
But she couldn’t bring herself to do it tonight.
For now, Dan was injured, exhausted, and probably needed nothing more than a peaceful evening. The last thing she wanted was to place something so complicated on his shoulders when he was already dealing with enough.
She opened the door to her house and gently guided Lily inside, already thinking about the first-aid kit she had stored away.
Inside his own house, completely unaware of the truth waiting just next door, Dan closed the door behind himself and finally allowed his tired shoulders to relax. He had no idea that the little girl who had made his terrible day feel bearable was actually his daughter.
For now, he simply prepared himself for a quiet night, believing that the worst part of his day was already behind him.
He had no idea that his life was about to become much more complicated.
....
Meanwhile, Sophie picked up the small first-aid box from the cabinet beside the kitchen and gave it a quick glance to make sure everything she needed was inside.
As a skilled and certified nurse, keeping a properly stocked first-aid kit at home had become second nature to her. Bandages, antiseptic wipes, gauze, medical tape, pain relievers, and several other basic supplies were neatly arranged inside, ready for situations exactly like this.
She closed the box and tucked it carefully under her arm before turning toward the door. She had only taken a few steps when she heard the unmistakable sound of little feet moving across the floor behind her.
"Mum."
Sophie stopped and turned around.
Lily stood in the middle of the living room with a piece of candy in her mouth, her cheeks slightly puffed as she happily sucked on it. She was still clutching the small bag of treats Dan had bought her, holding it protectively against her chest as though it contained something far more valuable than a few sweets.
Sophie couldn’t help smiling at the sight.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
Lily walked over to her mother, looking up with bright, expectant eyes.
"Mum, I want to come with you to Uncle’s place."
Sophie looked down at her daughter for a moment. There was hardly any surprise in her expression. She had already expected Lily to want to follow her. Ever since Dan had returned, the little girl had barely been able to take her attention away from him.
"You want to come with Mummy?" Sophie asked, pretending to consider the request seriously.
Lily nodded immediately, the candy still resting between her lips.
"Yes."
Sophie smiled and gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from Lily’s face.
"Yes, Lily. You can come with Mummy."
The little girl’s eyes immediately brightened.
"Yay!"
She quickly took the candy from her mouth long enough to grin at her mother before putting it back between her lips.
Sophie laughed softly. "At least finish that one before you take another."
Lily nodded obediently, although the mischievous sparkle in her eyes suggested that she had no intention of making any promises beyond that.
Sophie reached down and took her daughter’s free hand. With the first-aid box tucked securely beneath her other arm, the two of them walked toward the front door together.
Lily’s small hand fit comfortably inside Sophie’s, and as they stepped outside, the cool evening air greeted them.
The neighborhood had grown noticeably quieter now that most people had returned home from work. The fading sunlight cast a soft glow across the houses, while the occasional sound of conversation drifted through the peaceful street.
Lily walked beside her mother with small, energetic steps, occasionally swinging their joined hands as they made their way toward Dan’s house.
Sophie glanced down at her. "You know, Uncle Dan is probably very tired."
Lily nodded seriously. "I’ll be quiet."
Sophie raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Lily thought about it for a moment. "...Maybe."
Sophie couldn’t help laughing.
Lily giggled around the candy in her mouth before leaning slightly closer to her mother as they continued walking.
After a few seconds, she looked ahead toward Dan’s house.
"Is Uncle Dan still hurting?".
Sophie followed her daughter’s gaze. "Yes. He’s hurting bad, that’s why Mummy is going to help him."
Lily nodded. "I’ll help too."
Sophie smiled warmly. "Of course you will."
The answer seemed to satisfy Lily. She squeezed her mother’s hand a little tighter and continued walking beside her, her little face filled with quiet anticipation.
To anyone watching them from a distance, they were simply a mother and daughter taking a short evening walk to check on a neighbor.
But for Sophie, the moment carried a warmth she couldn’t quite put into words.
Dan had spent years unknowingly becoming part of Lily’s world, and somehow, without realizing it, he had also become part of hers.
Tonight, she was simply going to treat his injuries. Nothing more. At least, that was what Sophie told herself as they reached the front of Dan’s house.