Kate was always wary of the unexpected. Her life with Josh was a constant flow of familiar routines and predictable surprises.
But there was something disturbing about the package that arrived at their door that morning. The wind seemed to grow stronger as he approached the door, and a feeling of suspicion formed at the edges of his mind. Not only was it a mystery insert, it was a wonderful moment for her baby—a tick box on the day of their third wedding anniversary A strange combination of events made her think whether it was really just one of Josh’s guessing gestures, or was so something more sinister at play?
Little did he know that this bag would haunt the ghosts of the past, force Josh to confront a long-buried truth, and cause them both to grapple with a choice that could redefine their future.
Naturally, I just assumed the bag was from her when I took it to the kitchen.
Until I broke the thick tape with scissors. When I opened the gift, I saw an ornate apple with an inscription protruding from the bottom. It would be an ideal addition to our interior decor.
Josh and Kate, Happy Anniversary! – It’s Taylor.
I basked in the warmth of the gesture for a moment. But, afterward, I reminded myself that Josh would never be able to accept this offer.
“Hey, what’s this?” Josh said as he walked back into the kitchen with Emily on his shoulder. “Did we order anything?”
“Well, it’s a gift,” I noted slowly.
“Your father’s.
Josh took the letter from me and examined it with his eyes.
I wonder about his next move.
Josh had a very close relationship with his father. Josh’s mother and Taylor were abandoned when Josh was young.
When it came down to it, Taylor had chosen the female caregiver over the caregiver.
Josh never fully recovered from it at the age of seven. One evening we went out to dinner and he told me all about it.
“Kate, Dad was meant to choose you. However, he moved on and left us to start a new life with his mistress. How could this not continue.”
I understood his point of view. He just wanted his father to help him and his mother, of course.
However, Taylor had other plans.
“He said my mom was too hard on him and he should be happy. Even though he worked, he continued to work illegally on the side. Then he packed up and left.”
“what do you mean?” I asked, surprised that Josh had experienced something similar at such a young age.
“Money, to play with. Taking his glass of whiskey, my husband added, “Gambling, all of it.”
That ended the headlines. Josh didn’t contact her for another year, until before we got married.
Knowing from other family members, Taylor felt our wedding would be an ideal opportunity to repair and mend their relationship.
However, Josh agreed.
“Kate, I don’t want her here on our special day. No one will benefit. And if anything, I’ll ruin everything by meeting her.”
“And you don’t think you’ll regret it?” I asked questions as I stuffed the envelopes with wedding invitations.
“Nothing,” Josh said, picking up an envelope. “For all we know, someone could come and crash the ceremony because he owes them money.”
It was the end of it. The topic is closed.
As the pillows were placed on the bed, Josh knew the journey to remission would be long and arduous. But then, surrounded by his family, he felt a peace he hadn’t known for years. Not erasing the past, but rather, allowing yourself to heal and opening the door to a future where love, not anger, guides your choices.
For the first time, Josh felt he could face whatever came next—not as a man defined by his father’s mistakes, but as someone determined to break the cycle and create a better, brighter legacy for his family.