I have known my best friend for about 25 years. She is like a sister to me.
About 20 years ago, she was helping me move out of my family home and I gave some stuff away to her. One of these things was an unusual statue that my dad used to have displayed in a shop he owned some 10 years before that. It ended up in my room and so I just thought of it as mine, and gave it to my friend - although, looking back, I totally should have asked my dad first. But I was a selfish teenager and not particularly on good terms with my dad at the time.
When I gave it to her, I told her if she ever wanted to get rid of it, to let me know first as I'd take it. She has kept and cherished it all this time, and as it's so unusual people often comment on it and she gives them the back story.
Last weekend I stayed her house, and sent a photo of it to my dad saying "remember this guy?". I'm sure I've mentioned it at some point during all these years but he seemed genuinely surprised.
He then asked if he could have it back! He feels it's a part of his history. His sister has a matching one, and he says every time he sees it he feels like asking if he can take it home.
I apologised to my dad but said I couldn't, because I'd given it to my friend (I think she's had it longer than he did!). He said he understood, but said he would pay a good price for it.
I feel terrible about the whole thing, and my friend is upset too. She really doesn't want to give it up as it is a part of her home but now feels obliged to. I think especially as my dad has had a serious illness recently which has made him a bit more sentimental than usual.
I know I could probably make her give it back and make my dad happy (especially if he gets ill again and his time here is limited) but I feel that the rightful owner is my friend. AIBU in letting her keep it?