Emily thought purchasing her dream car would be a straightforward and exciting step, but her father’s odd reluctance made her question everything. Little did she know that his secret reason would lead her into a situation she could hardly have imagined.
After years of striving through internships, part-time jobs, and a disastrous summer selling overpriced skincare products, Emily had finally made it. She landed a real job with a steady paycheck, benefits—everything needed to start adult life. And the first thing on her to-do list? Buy a car.
But this wasn’t just any car. It was the car. The one she dreamed about during her lunch breaks, pretending to drive it instead of biting into yet another salad. Sleek, shiny, built to last—she could almost see the envy in her friends’ eyes as they spotted it in her driveway—at least that’s what she told herself.
This car was special not just for its leather seats or its tech that outdid her apartment’s. This car had a family history. Her father, Tom, had always raved about this model ever since she could remember cars. “That’s the one, Emily,” he’d affirm every time they spotted one on the road. “Solid, reliable. If I were to buy a car today, that would be it.
So, it had to be this car. It wasn’t just about her. It was… well, it was complicated.
When Emily called her dad to share the big news, she expected him to share her excitement. She could almost hear his voice in her head, “Good choice, Emily! You’ve always had an eye for the right stuff.” But when he picked up the phone, his reaction was… different than she expected.
“Do you really want that one?” His usually confident voice wavered as if he was suddenly unsure of everything. It wasn’t like him and it threw Emily off.
“Yes, Dad,” she replied, trying to inject some of her excitement into the conversation. “It’s the one you’ve always loved. The reliable and solid one, remember?”
He hesitated. A long pause that tightened her stomach a bit. “I don’t know, Emily. Maybe you should reconsider. These models… they have issues.”
Emily blinked. “Issues? Since when? You’ve been praising this car for years.”
“For me, of course,” he said distantly. “But for you… maybe something more affordable. Used, even.”
Used? He had to be joking, right? After everything she had been through, climbing out of tough times to land a real job, she deserved this. The new car smell and all.
“Dad, I’m not going to waste my money on something silly,” she said, trying to remain calm. “It’s a great car. I’ve done my research.”
He sighed, and it felt like he was miles away. “Think about it, Em. There’s no rush.”
That’s when things became urgent. But she wasn’t going to tell him that. So she muttered something like, “Yes, of course, I’ll think about it,” and hung up. She stared at her phone, his words echoing in her head. Since when was her dad so against the only car he had always praised?
In the weeks that followed, she kept bringing it up, trying to push him to regain the enthusiasm she was expecting. Each time, he found a new reason to reject the idea. “Wait a bit longer,” he’d say. “It’s not the right time.”
Emily felt torn. On one hand, this was her chance to do something big, for herself—at least, that’s what she believed. On the other, her father’s strange behavior made her question everything. Why was he so worried?
Eventually, she had enough. One Saturday, she got up early, put on her favorite jeans, and went to the dealership. No more hesitations. It was happening.
Upon arrival, the car was even more perfect in person. The paint sparkled in the sun, the interior was spotless, and the engine purred like a happy cat. She took a deep breath, letting the satisfaction wash over her. This was it. The car her dad had always admired, the one she was finally going to buy. This was meant to be.
But when it came time to handle the paperwork, the salesman, Mark, explained there was a slight issue with the payment. Emily’s credit report showed less available credit than expected and there was a $30,000 loan in her name that was 90 days overdue.
Shocked, Emily had no idea about any loan. This led her to investigate, and she discovered the loan had been taken out through an old joint account she had with her father when she was a teenager—an account she hadn’t touched in years. The only explanation was that her father had taken out this loan without her knowledge.
Confronting her father over the phone, he admitted to taking out the loan to buy a boat he thought they could afford. He didn’t want to worry her. This betrayal, using her credit without her consent, led Emily to a difficult decision—she ended up reporting her father for identity theft. It was a painful choice, but she felt it was necessary to protect her future.
This narrative explores themes of trust, betrayal, and the complexities of family relationships. Emily’s journey from excitement about a new car to dealing with her father’s betrayal shows a deep personal trial, one that changes her relationship with her father forever.
Kathie Lee Gifford Celebrates Birthday of Grandson Named after Her Late Husband — He Looks ‘So Much like His Grandpa’
Kathie Lee Gifford recently celebrated her grandson’s birthday.
Gifford’s grandson once dressed up as his late grandfather.
Gifford’s son and his partner are in a happy relationship.
Kathie Lee Gifford is best known as a co-host on “Today” on NBC. She has been a staple on the network for many years, and fans have become acquainted with her family as she often talks and posts about them.
Most recently, Gifford shared the news that her grandson had celebrated his birthday. Fans and friends alike took to the comments section of her post to wish the young man a happy birthday and express how much they loved the family.
Gifford shared a photo of her grandson strapped into his car seat, beaming at the camera, and wished him a happy birthday before saying::
“So grateful to God for the gift of Frankie.”
Gifford’s grandson is named after her late husband, Frank Gifford, who passed away in 2015. Many fans mentioned they could see Frankie’s grandfather in the child, while others thought he looked more like his father, Cody.
Other fans wished little Frankie a happy birthday, while others talked about how cute the tot was. Some people thought Frankie looked like his mom, but most saw a strong resemblance to his father and grandfather.
One fan said that he was clearly doing his namesake justice and they knew Frank would have been proud. Another called him his “father’s twin” while others called him “adorable.” An adoring commenter said Frankie was “like his Grandpa and daddy.”
Frankie Dressed Up As “Big Frank”
In keeping with the sentiment that little Frankie looks so much like his late grandfather, Gifford’s daughter-in-law, Erika, shared a sweet comparison photo of the pair in January this year. The first photo showed Frank Gifford as a young man, and the following picture showed Frankie dressed in an almost identical outfit.
Erika called Frank Gifford “Big Frank” and her son “Little Frankie” before saying they were proud of Frank’s previous NFL team, the New York Giants. Frank holds a football in the first photo, while in the second, Frankie chews on a plush toy version. Fans were charmed by the pictures.
Some once again commented on how alike the pair were, while other fans thought the comparison photos were “the cutest.” Gifford herself commented on the snaps saying how adorable the comparison was.
Fans mentioned that Frank, Cody, and baby Frankie all looked very much alike. Some fans thought that Frank would have loved to meet his grandson and said they were three generations of lookalikes in the family.
Others simply said baby Frankie looked “so much like his Grandpa” as others again talked about how proud Frank would have been of the tiny tot.
Who Is Gifford’s Daughter-In-Law and Her Son’s Long-Term Love?
Gifford shares a close relationship with Cody’s wife, Erika, and when he proposed in 2019, Gifford shared her joy that her son had found the love of his life and was set to tie the knot with her.
Shortly after the proposal, Gifford took to Instagram to share a photo of her son and then-soon-to-be daughter-in-law kissing as Erika held up a bejeweled left hand. Many people sent messages of congratulations on the post.
Cody’s sister, Cassidy, also shared the news of her brother’s engagement on Instagram, saying how happy she was for the pair and that she was excited to welcome Erika into the family as her sister.
Fans commented on the engagement posts and said Frank would have been proud of his son. A year later, Cody and Erika caused mass excitement again on their September wedding day.
Gifford again used Instagram as her news platform, sharing that her son and daughter-in-law exchanged vows on Labor Day weekend. She featured a photo of the bride and groom walking and holding hands as they gazed into one another’s eyes. The caption read:
“God gave us a glorious day to celebrate this glorious couple. So grateful.”
Before Erika and Cody got engaged, they had been together since 2013, and Gifford was more than ready to welcome Erika into the family officially. Erika shared that although 2020 had been a challenging year for many, their wedding was a silver lining in a dark cloud.
Erika shared that only their closest family and friends had been in attendance, and they had taken all the necessary precautions to make it “the most blessed and perfect day of [their] lives.” However, the wedding had its share of hiccups.
Erika had a personalized veil, but the word “the” was misspelled as “The.” She joked it was to be expected from a year like 2020. Gifford commented that it was a testament to their love that they didn’t let slight inconveniences ruin the day.
Cody and Erika welcomed their son into the world two years after they tied the knot. When naming his son, Cody knew he wanted to honor his father and name his baby after him.
Cody and Erika named their son Frank Michael Gifford, and when Gifford found out, she admitted:
“I was surprised Cody named him after his dad because Cody knew what it was like to grow up in the shadow of a great man. But I guess he’s never gotten over, really, and he never will, the loss of his dad at an early age, and he was his hero, and he still is.”
Gifford shared that when she got the news that her son was expecting a baby, she told him that his father would be so happy with all the positive things happening in their lives and that he was smiling down on them.
Little Frankie’s name does not only honor his late grandfather but also a family member on Erika’s side. Frankie’s middle name, Michael, is a tribute to Erika’s uncle, who passed shortly before the little tike was born.
Frankie was born three weeks premature, but he and his mother were healthy following the birth, and he has now grown into a bouncing, happy, and healthy one-year-old who is adored by his family and his grandmother’s fans worldwide.
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