A man with a disabled daughter had no luck in love until something unexpected happened, and everyone in his small town found out. All his old girlfriends showed up at his house, begging for a chance, and he didn’t know what to do.
When my girlfriend Lucia and I got pregnant, we didn’t know what to expect, but we were excited. However, due to some difficulties during childbirth and other medical terms that I never really understood, our precious daughter, Marla, became paralyzed. This took a toll on my girlfriend, who also suffered from postpartum depression.
Eventually, Lucia left, and I was left to raise our little girl alone. I haven’t regretted it for a second. She is the light of my life, intelligent, curious, and courageous. I am a proud father, and my mother, Rosetta, loves her too. She watched her every day while I went to work. I wasn’t the most successful man in the world, but I was doing well in our small Virginia town.
Since my daughter was bright, I wanted her to start learning things, and one of my mother’s friends recommended their niece, Patricia, for tutoring sessions every afternoon. She was a teacher at the local preschool and needed a little extra money, so the arrangement worked out perfectly.
I could have raised an eyebrow. “What are you all doing here?” I asked, puzzled.
She was lovely to Marla and my mother, and my life seemed great. Until I met Ella, and fell in love at first sight.
I hadn’t considered dating after Lucia left. It was too painful to think of the mother of my child abandoning us, so I pushed that part of me aside. But Ella changed everything. She was beautiful, sweet, and so attractive.
We started dating, and our chemistry was off the charts. I also told her I had a daughter, and she seemed thrilled to meet her. It was a huge relief. But it shouldn’t have been.
One day, we planned a family outing to the zoo. It was a safe, neutral place where Ella could spend time with Marla. Something casual.
Apparently, I should have mentioned to Ella that Marla was disabled before that day, because Ella’s eyes widened as soon as I arrived with my daughter. She faked a smile, playing along all day until I got a call from her later.
“I’m sorry. I was already hesitant to date a guy with a daughter, but I can’t do this,” Ella confessed immediately.
“Andrew! It’s so nice to see you!” ” she greeted me as if she hadn’t disappeared from my life and broken my heart.
But before I could ask her what she was doing there, I saw two cars pull up on my street. Out of one of them came Oona. She looked at Ella and frowned. But then I saw Jannette get out of the other vehicle. My eyebrows could have fallen off my head.
“What are you all doing here?” I asked them, puzzled.
“I wanted to talk to you,” Oona answered first.
And Jannette and Ella echoed, “Me too.”
I thought this situation couldn’t get any weirder until Vanna, Maureen, and Kyra showed up as well.
“Am I being had? What’s going on?” I asked, outraged by the situation. The women looked at each other with deep frowns and confusion, but none of them said anything.
Luckily, I saw my mother’s car approaching as well. She was bringing Marla, and coincidentally, Patricia was with them too. My daughter’s teacher came out, helped my mother into her chair, and walked behind them with wide eyes.
My mother looked at each woman as she wheeled my daughter’s wheelchair into the house. There was something in her eyes that I couldn’t explain. Like she was sizing them up for something. She stopped at my front door and addressed Patricia. “Patty, honey. Take Marla inside and close the door.”
“Mom, I don’t know what they’re doing here. Everyone just got here and I’m still trying to figure out why,” I began, shaking my head and looking at the girls in confusion.
“Oh, Andrew. I love you, but sometimes men are stupid,” she said, patting my shoulder condescendingly. “Ladies. You should be ashamed of yourselves.”
There was shuffling and heads bowed. Ella said, “I just wanted to talk to Andrew because we broke up so horribly.”
“Really? That’s convenient,” my mother said sarcastically. “I know why you’re all here now. Get out! Now, you harpies!” You found out about my son’s money and now you want to give him and my granddaughter a chance, right?”
I had no idea what was going on. I thought my mother was crazy to say something like that, but when I turned my head and looked at the faces of the women I had been with, I knew it was true. My lips tightened and I nodded.
“Leave,” I said quietly. “I don’t want to talk to any of you. Leave now.”
Some of them tried to protest, but my mother shushed them, threatening to call the police. Slowly, they all left.
I went inside and burst out laughing. I was half-bewildered, half-relieved. I couldn’t believe these women had come because I had money now. My mother laughed too, and soon Patricia and Marla joined us. Of course, my daughter didn’t know exactly what was going on, but she was just happy.
She was happy to be with the people in that room and to share in our joy. My mother went to put her to bed and I invited Patricia to sit with me on the back porch. We talked about the situation and laughed at the audacity of some people.
My mother left when Marla fell asleep and I thanked her…for absolutely everything.
But that night, Patricia stayed a little longer and I realized that the person I was looking for was right in front of me. She already loved my daughter, my mother, and me. I was too heartbroken and jaded by dating to see her that way. But I did that night.
I asked her out a few weeks later and we were married two years later. Patricia adopted Marla when my little girl was ten and we had two other children who loved their older sister dearly.
Sometimes the best things in life are already right there in front of you. You just have to open your eyes and see.
What can we learn from this story?
Some people aren’t worth your time, and you should be glad you don’t have them in your life. The women Andrew chose didn’t deserve to be in his life after they turned their backs on him when they found out about Marla. In the end, he knew he had avoided a big hurt.
Open your eyes to the wonderful people who already support and help you. Andrew didn’t realize Patricia was the perfect woman for him until his ex-girlfriends came over because of his new money.
Share this story with your friends. It might brighten their day and inspire them.