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Tim never particularly liked Father’s Day. It was just a reminder that even if he had a father, he didn’t have a good father. His father never should have been a parent.
And then he met Lucy, and she constantly reminded him that he was not his dad. She told him this even before they had the kids.
He believed it.
But there was always that seed of doubt that told him he was just like his father. He vowed to never be like that. He might be his father’s son, but the only thing he shared with Tom Bradford was his last name. Just because he was blood didn’t make any difference to Tim.
Ava was born and he realized being a dad was one of the best things that ever happened to him. And when Daisy and the twins came alone he just knew.
He was meant to be a dad. It wasn’t easy by any means—some of the scariest things had happened and yet—
He was still here standing. He didn’t mind Father’s Day anymore. Lucy always made sure they would do something for him. From his very first Father’s Day with Ava to the one last year. She always made sure he was taken care of.
Which is why he thinks it’s weird that he wakes up to silence. Usually the kids are bouncing into the room with their handmade cards and a tray of food.
They are older this year, Ava is a newly appointed teenager but still. Even with all her mood swings and sassiness she always did something. It was Ava after all, the one who looked like him but had Lucy’s heart through and through.
“Hey babe.” Lucy says coming into the room and he sits up. She is fully dressed, hair and makeup done for the day. It’s weird Lucy is up before him, she usually is on Father’s Day but she’s always still in her pajamas.
“Hi?” Tim says and he waits for her to say something else. “Where are the kids?”
“Ava is going to the mall with Peyton today.” Lucy says. “Daisy is going to the park with friends and I’m taking the twins ice skating.”
“It’s June.” Tim says and he doesn’t think Lucy would forget Father’s Day. She was weirdly good with dates. “Why ice skating?”
“I don’t know but they have been begging me for weeks.” Lucy says. She walks over to Tim and presses a kiss to his forehead. “Can you clean up the backyard? The kids want the pool set up.”
“Sure.” Tim says and he’s tempted to say: is there anything else? But he doesn’t he already feels like there’s cement in his stomach. “You are going to be gone all day? And the kids?”
“That’s the plan.” Lucy says. “I have some errands to run and it’s Sunday.”
“Right.” Tim says. He swings his legs out of bed. They forgot Father’s Day. They thought it was just another Sunday.
“Are you okay?” Lucy asks. “Do you want to come—” Tim shakes his head and she comes over to give him another kiss.
“It’s fine Luce. I have things to do.” He says. Lucy nods and squeezes his hand and then she’s gone.
Happy Father’s Day.
***
Tim doesn’t see much of the kids before they are running out the door with Lucy. He wonders if Ava and Daisy’s friends forgot about Father’s Day too. He cleans up the breakfast plates and then sighs at the quietness of the house.
This was so weird.
Maybe he did something that made them upset.
Levi had gotten in trouble at school, it was minor but it was also the third time in just as many weeks. They had grounded him so maybe—
No.
Maybe he reacted badly to something? Just like his father did. Maybe he didn’t notice something or—
He goes to sit down on the couch. He’s spiraling. He knows he’s spiraling. This was just an honest mistake.
They just forgot.
It’s upsetting him more than he thought it would. Maybe because it’s the voice in his head that is telling him that he is his father. He finally became him after so long. He finally fell into that trap and his family didn’t want anything to do with him.
He feels a little sick, he tried so hard to not be his father.
And now he was all alone on Father’s Day.
Because he did something.
And now he was alone.
***
Lucy gets a weird feeling when they pull up to the park and none of Daisy’s friends or parents are around.
“Are we early?” Daisy asks. Lucy turns to look at her. They were early but only by a few minutes.
“Not really.” Lucy says. “I’ll message their parents.” She pulls out her phone when Ava’s name lights up the screen.
Lucy frowns a little. Usually when Ava is at the mall or with Peyton she doesn’t call. She prefers to be left alone. She had dropped Ava off at Peyton’s house before coming to the park. She watched Ava go inside and figured everything was fine.
“Hi Aves.” Lucy says. “Is everything okay?”
“Mom.” Ava says and she sounds nervous. A little worried too. That’s not normal for Ava. “I think we got the dates mixed up.”
“What do you mean Aves? You were going to the mall with Peyton.” Lucy says.
“Yes but next Sunday.” Ava says. “They are going to some brunch for Father’s Day.” Lucy freezes and she almost drops the phone.
She knew something was off.
“Today is Father’s Day?” She asks. “Oh my god.”
“We forget Father’s Day?” Daisy asks and she sounds panicked too. “How?” Lucy looks back at Daisy and the twins. She knows she needs to fix this. They barely acknowledged Tim this morning.
How could she have forgotten?
“Okay,” Lucy says. “Ava stay where you are. I’m on my way to pick you up. We will make this right.”
Ava says bye and Lucy hangs up and tosses the phone aside. She has to make this right.
Tim.
She’s not sure if he has realized or not but it didn’t matter. They were going to make this right.
***
Tim, we are on our way home. I’m so sorry babe. I got all the dates mixed up. I didn’t even realize. It doesn’t matter there are no excuses. I love you. The kids love you. You better be sitting on the couch watching tv.
I love you.
***
Tim starts spiraling even more after he gets halfway through yard work. He has to stop and walk inside before he loses his mind.
He knows logically that they just forgot and it didn’t have any meaning behind it. They didn’t think he was a terrible father or husband despite what his brain was telling him.
It was a mistake.
A mix up.
But still with the father that he had. The one who thought he shaped Tim into the man he was today. The thoughts still got through.
***
Lucy picks Ava up and then they go to the store for cards and Tim’s favorite beer. Plus two new glasses with World’s greatest dad and i love my dad.
It’s ironic really and a little cheesy. Lucy’s heart still hurts at the idea of Tim sitting at home alone. Or doing whatever she asked him to do because that’s who he is. He wants to make everyone happy, he always puts everyone before himself.
Of course he does.
Ava was on her phone scrolling through trying to find a restaurant with a table for six.
“Have you found anything Aves?” Lucy asks.
“Just the most romantic restaurant in LA.” Ava says making a face. “But the menu looks good.”
“That’s where your father and I had our first date.” Lucy says. She feels Ava’s eyes on her as she turns onto their street.
“Really?”
“Is there a table for six available?” Lucy asks. Ava nods. “Okay we will go there. It has some meaning.”
Lucy pulls into the driveway next to Tim’s truck. She’s not even sure how she is going to explain this.
They forgot Father’s Day and left Tim home alone.
Lovely.
***
Tim hears the door open and Lucy’s voice but it’s quiet and he doesn’t know what she is saying. And then—
“Dad!” Ava calls and his oldest daughter appears. She looks worried. “Happy Father’s Day.” Tim freezes as Daisy, the twins and Lucy appear.
“We are sorry we forgot dad.” June says stepping forward and giving him a card.
“Really sorry.” Levi says and he gives Tim a card too. Lucy stands behind them and gives Tim a sad smile.
“I’m sorry too babe.” Lucy says. “I don’t know—I don’t know how I forgot.” Tim just looks at them and there is still a voice in the back of his mind telling him he’s like his father.
They purposely forgot and abandoned him on purpose.
But of course that wasn’t true, it was a mistake. A mix up.
“Dad?” Daisy says and she steps closer to him. She has a soft look in her eyes that reminds him of Lucy. “Are you okay?”
Tim blinks at her, and he was okay. He really didn’t think this would affect him this bad. He didn’t even celebrate Father’s Day until Ava was born.
“I’m okay.” He reassures Daisy who looks relieved. “I just thought I did something—”
“No.” Lucy says quickly and he has a feeling she knows where his head is at. “No you didn’t do anything Tim. This is on us.”
All the kids nod, and Tim can’t help but smile a little. He wasn’t his father, he has a beautiful family. He has an amazing wife who loves him after everything they have been through.
“We have a surprise for you!” June says and Tim looks at Lucy.
“We are taking you to dinner.” Lucy says. “And the kids have some presents for you.” Ava steps forward now with two bags. Tim takes them and then looks around. His heart is filled with so much gratitude and love.
“You didn’t have to do this.” He says. “But thank you.” Lucy gives him a knowing look. He opens the presents finding his favorite beer, and two glasses with world’s greatest dad.
“Of course babe.” Lucy says. “You deserve all of this.” Ava moves forward first, then Levi, Daisy and June. Lucy joins them a few seconds later.
“Happy Father’s Day dad.” Ava says and Tim realizes in that moment that it really can’t get bigger than this.
“Hey Tim.” Lucy says and he hums softly.
“Yeah?”
“Happy Father’s Day.”