Just when I was about to start a new phase of my life with the love of my life, Steven, my father decided to destr0y everything. He shared my biggest secret in front of all the guests, and it was something I hadn’t even told Steven. What occured next was so surprising, it made my heart race and brought me to tears.
I was only 16 when I learned what the word ‘divorce’ truly meant. My dad left my mom after years of che:ating on her with a woman he met at work.
I still remember the evening my mom found out about the mistress.
“How long has this been going on, Richard?” Mom’s voice was so loud.
“Does it matter?” Dad said.
“Yes, it matters! I’m your wife! We have a daughter together!”
“Look, Sarah, I’m not happy anymore. Haven’t been for years. Linda understands me in ways you never could.”
“Linda? Your secretary? Richard, please. We can work this out. We can go to counseling. I can change—”
There was a long pause. Then Mom began crying. “What about Lisa? What about our family?”
“Lisa will be fine. Kids are tough.”
“So that’s it? Twenty years of marriage, and you’re just walking away?”
“I already have. I’m moving in with Linda next week.”
A few days later, Dad officially delivered her the divorce papers and left us.
From that day forward, I promised myself I’d never let anyone hurt my mom the way Dad did.
***
11 years later…
I was working as a developer at a well-known firm in town, and life was perfect. Mom and I had left those painful years behind us. I lived about 30 minutes away from her, in a new town, building a new life.
I was on my way home from work, waiting for the bus in the pouring rain, when I saw a handsome young man standing next to me. He introduced himself as Steven, provided me his umbrella, and cracked a silly joke about it being our “meet-cute.”
I laughed despite myself. “That’s the worst pickup line I’ve ever heard.”
“Was it a pickup line? I thought I was just being friendly.”
I still don’t understand how his terrible joke worked, but we became friends in no time.
When I introduced him to Mom, she immediately approved of him. She said he was the kind of guy I deserved, the kind of guy who’d keep me happy no matter what.
After that, we got engaged and began planning our wedding.
When it came time to finalize the guest list, Mom gently recommended that I invite my father.
“He’s your father after all,” she told me.
“He deserves to see you’re starting a new chapter of your life, sweetheart.”
“Mom, he walked out on us. He selected Linda over his own family. Why should I care if he knows about my wedding?”
“Because you’re better than he is.”
I don’t know if Mom was right, but I did invite him to my wedding.
The wedding planning went smoothly after that. Steven and I prepared everything together.
The ceremony was wonderful.
Steven’s vows made me cry happy tears.
We exchanged rings, kissed, and became husband and wife. Everyone celebrated. For a moment, everything felt perfect.
After dinner, people were laughing and dancing. I was talking to my college friends when I spotted my father standing up.
He was tapping his wine glass with a fork, trying to pay everyone’s attention.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he called out. “I’d like to make a toast.”
My stomach dropped. This wasn’t planned.
He raised his glass and said, “To my daughter, who always knew how to keep secrets.”
Then he added, “Even from me.”
He turned to Steven and said, “You’re a good man. Brave, too. Most men wouldn’t have gone through with it.”
“What do you mean?” Steven asked.
“Didn’t she tell you?” My father mocked “How typical. She kept it hidden from everyone. Even me. She had a baby at 19. A boy. Gave him up for adoption. “
The guests sh0cked, and I could feel all eyes on me.
At 19, I had no job, no home of my own, and no partner.
So, I made the hardest decision of my life and placed him with a family who desperately wanted him. Only my mom and grandma knew. Or so I thought.
Then, Steven came forward
For a frightening moment, I thought he was going to run away. I thought my father had succeeded in destr0ying my marriage before it even began.
But then he looked straight at my father and said, “She didn’t tell you because you don’t know how to keep a secret. You just proved it. I wouldn’t trust you with a shopping list, let alone something this personal.”
The room went d3ad silent.
“But just so everyone knows, I’ve known about this since the beginning. Lisa told me early in our relationship. And I never judged her for it. She made a choice out of love. And if anyone tries to ruin my wife again, especially in front of our family and friends, they’ll be answering to me.”
“Don’t worry,” he said. “You’re safe now.”
I broke down in tears. Happy tears.
That night, after we got home, I sat beside Steven and muttered, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was afraid you’d be sad for me.”
He took my hand and said, “Lisa, you don’t need to explain anything. I understand you were afraid but that doesn’t affect how I feel about you. I love you more than I ever did, and I’m sorry you had to go through what you did.”.
That day, I understood that he gave me something my father never could. He made me feel safe, loved, and whole.
