Thomas, who wouldn’t forgive
– That’s it, William! I’m giving you a week to move out of my flat! – James stirred the food aggressively in the pan, causing the spoon to clatter against the ceramic surface.
– Dad, please, must we do this now? – Emily interceded, eyes wide with concern, but James’s glare silenced her before she could finish.
– You’d do well to stay quiet, Emily. I’m speaking to your husband. – He turned to Thomas, who sat stiffly at the kitchen table. – When will the £20,000 be repaid? I’ve waited three years long enough.
Thomas lifted his gaze, meeting the sharp, unyielding eyes of his father-in-law. He’d endured those eyes all these years, and now, with his hands trembling slightly, he tried to hold his composure.
– James, I keep explaining… The company folded, we were all made redundant. I’ve been attending interviews every day, but the offers are low-paying, at best.
– Your misfortunes don’t concern me, – James snapped. – You promised a month. Three have passed. I’m not in charity.
Emily, seated beside her husband, squeezed his hand under the table. That small act of solidarity steadied Thomas. He inhaled deeply, and tried once more:
– I’ll pay it back, I swear. Just a little more time. And what’s more, where will Emily and I go?
– That’s your problem, – James declared, turning off the stove with a clatter. – I lent you money on a pension that took me decades to build. This flat is mine. I bought it with savings, not for freeloaders like you.
– Dad! – Emily stood abruptly, her voice breaking as tears welled. – How can you say such a thing? Thomas isn’t lazy. He worked overtime until the company closed!
– That doesn’t matter now. Rent money gone unpaid? Then out you go. You think I didn’t live in council flats and barracks in my youth? Everything I have, I earned, and people like you only know how to ask for handouts!
James slammed the door so hard it rattled in its frame. A framed photo of Thomas and Emily’s wedding on the bookshelf fell, shattering the glass that split the smiling couple in half.
Thomas silently lifted the photo and placed it face down.
– Tom, I’ll reason with him once he cools down, – Emily whispered, scraping glass fragments from the floor.
– No need. He’s right. I took the money and haven’t paid it back.
– But not by your fault! No one knew the company would go bankrupt!
Thomas shook his head and retreated to his room. The arguments were pointless. James was a man who never forgave financial mistakes.
Thomas had met Emily at a work function. She worked as a bookkeeper at a firm across town, her wit and warmth instantly hooking him. They married within six months, and he moved into the flat James had bought for his daughter with a lifetime of savings. James, a retired naval officer, thrived on rigid principles: duty, honour, and repayment. Disregarding these was unforgivable.
In the early days, James treated Thomas reasonably. He’d seen the man’s diligence, his refusal to drink, his determination to provide for Emily. But it all changed when Thomas borrowed the £20,000 to launch a side venture.
– I know your father, – Emily said that night, her toned pressed against his. – He’s old-school. For him, a promise is a life-or-death matter.
– I get it, – Thomas replied, staring at the ceiling. – But he won’t even listen. He thinks I’ve wasted or gambled the money.
– He’s afraid you’ll abandon me. He raised me alone after grief took my mother. He’s always feared I might marry a good-for-nothing.
– And I proved him right, – Thomas sighed bitterly.
– Don’t talk nonsense. – She kissed his cheek. – I’ve got savings, my steady wage. We’ll manage.
Thomas hugged her, yet the guilt gnawed at him. He couldn’t let her shoulder the burden. That would be the final blow to James’s trust, the ultimate proof of his failure. He’d find a way on his own.
The next day, perusing job listings, Thomas stumbled on an ad from an old colleague, Andrew. Their ex-boss had recruited both before the company’s collapse. Now, Andrew sought a partner for a print shop venture. Thomas couldn’t resist.
– Hello, old chap! – Andrew clapped his back heartily over coffee in Manchester’s city centre. – Glad to hear from you.
– I’m the one to thank. What’s the deal?
– Remember the last print job for the university? – Andrew leaned in, lowering his voice. – I bought part of the equipment at the liquidation. Got a few clients, but I need someone with your expertise.
Thomas’s eyes lit up.
– You’re offering a percentage of orders at first, then a proper salary?
– Not a guarantee, but what choice do we have?
Thomas agreed instantly.
That night, he shared the news with Emily.
– You’re taking his offer? – She embraced him joyously, but hesitated. – But he’s reliable? After the company fell…
– I trust him. No other options exist.
James entered the kitchen, opening the fridge.
– Dad, Tom got a job! – Emily tried to interject, but he cut her off:
– Paid back the money yet? No? Then no good news.
– James, – Thomas pleaded. – I’ll start repaying in months.
– You’ve said this before. Promises. Yet here we are, three years later. A week to pack. I meant it.
James took a bottle of milk and vanished. Thomas clenched his fists.
– Relax, – Emily whispered, sensing his tension. – Work hard, repay him, and he’ll come around. You know how he is.
– I do. But three years under his scorn? It’s too much.
The print shop wasn’t easy. Jobs were sparse, payments delayed, and costs piled up—transport, supplies, rent. After a month, Thomas realized he’d earned a third of his debt.
– Don’t worry, – Andrew reassured. – Soon the workload’ll grow.
But James waited no longer. One evening, upon Thomas returning late, he confronted him in the hall.
– William. Your week expired weeks ago, and you’re still here. Tomorrow, I’ll call the council to enforce the matter.
– I’ve found a flat, we’ll leave by the weekend. – It was a lie, but Thomas could endure James’s cruelty no longer.
– Good. You’ve grown complacent, living off another man’s generosity.
Emily overheard their exchange and rushed to him.
– Tom! No flat? How will we do it?
– We’ll survive, – he resolved. – No more shame.
That night, they discussed renting a flat on the outskirts, Emily’s wages stretching just enough. James’s cruelty had pushed them to desperation.
– I’ll plead with him, – Emily insisted. – Explain we’ll pay, just give us time.
– No, – Thomas said firmly. – I’ll fix this myself.
The next night, Thomas stayed late at work. Andrew handed him a big order, a windfall. As they printed the last batch, his phone buzzed. A neighbor’s voice:
– Mr. William! Hurry! Something’s wrong with James! The ambulance is here!
Thomas sprinted home, heart pounding.
In the flat, paramedics worked frantically. Emily, tearstreaked, clutched the doorframe.
– Heart attack… – she whispered. – He collapsed in the hallway. If I hadn’t come home early…
James was rushed to ICU.
Thomas juggle work and hospital visits. Andrew gave him an advance, enough for James’s medication. Three days later, his condition stabilized, and Thomas finally spoke to him.
James, weak in the hospital bed, raised a single gaunt hand.
– You’ve finally come. To gloat over an old man’s fate?
– James, don’t. – Thomas brought a fruit basket. – I’ll repay the debt. Here’s the first part.
He handed over a bill. James glanced at it but didn’t reach for it.
– This is from Andrew. Things are improving, and I’ll pay more soon.
– What if it all falls apart again? – James’s voice was quieter now, low with weariness.
– I’ll work nights. Anything. I’ll pay every penny. You think I’m crooked?
James was silent, then sighed.
– Emily’s always told me you’re a decent man. That you work hard, try to help her. I just… I’ve spent my life earning this flat. A legacy for my daughter.
– I understand. I’m grateful for everything you’ve done. I’ll never let her down.
James grunted.
– We’ll see. By the way, where are you staying? Emily claims a friend’s couch, but I’m no fool.
Thomas hesitated but admitted bluntly:
– Nowhere. I sleep at the shop. Emily stays with a colleague. We can’t afford rent.
James frowned.
– Is this how you provide for her? She’s bouncing between strangers while you…
– While I earn to pay you back! – Thomas snapped. – You forced us out!
Silence hung between them. Then, to his shock, James reached for the bill and handed it back.
– Take it. Rent a proper flat first. The debt can wait.
– But…
– No ‘buts.’ I won’t have my daughter sleeping in other people’s homes. End of discussion.
Thomas took the money, stunned.
– And if you ever fail Emily again, – James added sharply, – that heart attack will feel like a walk in the park compared to what I’ll do. Understood?
Thomas smiled faintly. The old commodore, even in bed, couldn’t soften his bark.
– Understood, sir.
When James recovered, he insisted they return to the flat. Thomas resisted at first but yielded to Emily’s joy.
The print shop flourished. Within months, Thomas began repaying in instalments. One day, after a payment, James surprised him:
– Listen. Why not drop your Andrew? Let’s open a shop together. I’ve a contact with a warehouse. An affordable lease.
– You’d… want to start a business with me?
– What’s the difference? – James grumbled. – I’m retired, bored. I’ll handle the accounts. You can’t keep a ledger to save your life.
Their partnership was rocky at first—James’s rigid ways clashed with Thomas’s flexible style. Yet, slowly, they learned to respect each other. James saw Thomas’s customer skills; Thomas admired his sharp business sense.
One night, after closing the shop, James said,
– I was wrong about you. You’re a good man, Tom. Emily’s lucky.
Thomas nearly dropped his keys.
– And I’m the lucky one to have a father-in-law like you—though it took me a while to see it.
James patted his shoulder.
– Shellfish old fool that I am. You still owe me £20,000.
– Always will, – Thomas grinned. – But I know what you learned after that heart attack: sometimes, forgiveness is the hardest—and most vital—act.
They walked to their car, an old man and a young entrepreneur. So very different—but now bound by more than survival. For true family isn’t revealed in moments of joy, but in adversity. And the man who refused to forgive could become the most steadfast ally when love for a daughter was at stake.