When Amy spotted her father on the beach with a much younger woman, she couldn’t believe her eyes because he was supposed to be on a business trip in New York. But the truth her mother revealed after seeing the photo left Amy in shock.
The sun was shining brightly and the waves were gently crashing against the shore. The smell of salt water filled the air as people laughed and played all around. I was excited to finally have a break from school.
A sunny beach | Source: Pexels
My best friend, Lisa, and I had decided to spend the weekend at the beach. It was nice to be away from classes and exams, just enjoying the sand between our toes.
“Let’s find a good spot before it gets too crowded,” Lisa said, scanning the area with her hand shielding her eyes.
I nodded as I looked around. That’s when I saw him. My heart skipped a beat. “No way,” I muttered under my breath.
“What?” Lisa asked, looking confused.
“That’s my dad,” I muttered, pointing at a familiar figure by the water.
Lisa narrowed her eyes. “Are you sure? I thought he was on a business trip to New York.”
“Yeah, that’s what he told me,” I said, my stomach twisting. “He said he’d be gone all week.”
But there he was, my dad, in casual shorts and a t-shirt. And he wasn’t alone. A young woman was with him. She was laughing at something he was saying, her blond hair glistening in the sunlight. She looked much younger than him, younger than me even.
Growing up, I was always close to my dad. He taught me how to ride a bike, helped me with my math homework, and never missed a single one of my soccer games.
My parents had a good relationship, or so I thought. They argued sometimes, but they always made up.
I remember one time, when I was about twelve, they had a huge fight. I thought they were going to break up. Mom stayed with Aunt Karen for a week. Dad was silent and sad the whole time. I was so scared, but when she came back, everything seemed fine again. They hugged and laughed, and I thought everything would always be fine after that.
When I went away to college, I missed them both, but I kept in touch all the time. Dad and I talked almost every day. That’s why seeing him here, with someone who wasn’t my mom, was so shocking. It felt like my world was spinning.
“Maybe it’s not what you think,” Lisa said carefully, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I shook my head, unable to take my eyes off them. “But why didn’t he tell me he was coming here? And who is this girl?”
“I don’t know, maybe for work?” Lisa suggested, but even she didn’t look convinced.
I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone. “I’ll call Mom.”
Lisa’s eyes widened. “Are you sure?” I mean, don’t you want to know what’s going on first?”
I hesitated, but then I dialed Mom’s number. My hands were shaking.
“Hey, sweetie,” Mom’s voice came through. “What’s up?”
“Hey, Mom,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Where is Dad right now?”
“New York, of course,” she replied. “Why?”
“No reason,” I lied, my heart pounding in my chest. “Just checking.”
We hung up and I looked at my phone, my mind racing. If he was supposed to be in New York, what was he doing here with another woman?
Without thinking, I snapped a picture of them. My dad was smiling, his arm around the girl’s shoulders. I sent the picture to Mom with a simple message: “Dad?” »
I held my breath, staring at the screen, waiting for her response. It felt like forever, but it was really only a few minutes.
My phone rang. It was Mom calling.
I answered it immediately. “Mom?”
Her voice was calm, almost too calm. “Honey, I know who she is.”
“What about you?” I asked, confused and still angry. “Who is she? Why is Dad with her?”
There was a long silence on the other end of the line. Then she said something that left me completely speechless.
“She’s not your dad’s girlfriend,” she said softly. “She’s his daughter.”
“What?” I almost screamed. I looked back at my dad, feeling more confused than ever.
“She’s his daughter, but she’s not mine,” Mom continued. “I’m so sorry we never told you.”
I stood there, frozen, as my mother’s words echoed in my mind. “His daughter,” she’d said. I could barely breathe.
“How… how could you keep this from me?” I whispered, tears in my eyes.
“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” Mom’s voice cracked. “Your dad and I… we thought it was best if you didn’t know.”
I couldn’t listen anymore. I hung up and looked out at the beach, my dad laughing with his other daughter. My half-sister. How could he do this to me? To us?
I felt a wave of anger wash over me. Without thinking, I crossed the sand toward my dad.
“Dad!” ” I shouted, my voice shaking with rage.
He turned around, his smile fading when he saw the look on my face. “Honey, what are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?” I yelled. “What are you doing here? And who is she?”
He glanced at the young woman next to him, then back at me. “I can explain…”
“Explain what?” I interrupted, my voice rising. “That you’ve lied to me my whole life? That you have another daughter and never told me?”
His face paled. “I… I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“And you didn’t know how to tell me?” I repeated, my voice full of disbelief. “You’ve had twenty years to figure it out!” »
The young woman looked uncomfortable, looking at both of us. “Maybe I should go…”
“No, wait,” my father said, then turned to me. “Please, listen to me.”
“Alright,” I said, crossing my arms, trying to hold back my tears. “Explain it to me.”
He took a deep breath. “After you were born, your mother and I went through a very difficult time. We argued a lot, and one night, I… I made a terrible mistake. I… cheated on her. I thought it was over between us. But a few weeks later, we made up, and I thought that part of my life was behind me.”
He looked down, ashamed. “Then I found out that woman was pregnant. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to lose you, or your mother. So I did the only thing I could think of: I took care of her financially, and I saw her when I could, but I stayed with you and your mother because you were my family.”
“What about her?” I asked, pointing to my half-sister. “What about your other daughter?”
“I tried to be there for her, too,” he said softly. “But I didn’t know how to be a father to her without losing you. I know I hurt you both, and I’m so sorry.”
I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned and walked away, my feet sinking into the sand as tears streamed down my face. I didn’t know where I was going, but I needed to get away, to think.
I thought about what my mother had said. How she had forgiven him, even after all that. Could I do the same? Did I want this?
I imagined my father, the way he always looked at me, like I was his whole world. He had made a huge mistake, but he had also been there for me, for us. And my half-sister? She hadn’t asked for any of this either.
Slowly, I began to understand. My father had been afraid, afraid of losing me. Maybe he hadn’t handled it well, but he was still my father. If my mother could find it in her heart to forgive him, maybe I could too.
I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone. I called him, my hands shaking.
“Dad?” I said when he answered.
“Yes, honey?” His voice was full of worry.
“I’m still really angry with you,” I said, my voice breaking. “But… I understand.” I understand why you didn’t tell me.”
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I love you more than anything.”
“I know,” I said, wiping my eyes. “Maybe we can start over. I’d like to meet her, properly.”
There was a silence on the other end of the line, and then he said, “I’d like to too.”
“Okay,” I said quietly. “Let’s go have dinner.”
As the sun set, we sat at a small table in the same spot where we’d met earlier, sharing a quiet, awkward meal. Jenna, my stepsister, broke the silence first. “My name’s Jenna. It’s weird for both of us, huh?”
I nodded, smiling hesitantly. “Yeah, I do. My name’s Amy.” »
Dad added, his voice full of hope. “She’s studying marine biology.”
We talked more easily then—about college, our favorite shows, and Dad’s quirks. I saw her smile, and it seemed genuine.
I reached out and squeezed Dad’s hand. “Everything’ll be okay.”
Jenna smiled. “Maybe next time we can go swimming?”
“Only if you save me from the sharks,” I joked, and we all laughed, starting to feel like family.