While helping my dad clean out the garage one Saturday, I stumbled upon a small, unmarked package tucked behind some old boxes. Curiosity got the better of me, and when I opened it, my heart nearly stopped. Inside was a positive pregnancy test and a handwritten note that read, “I hope you’re ready for this new chapter. Love, M.”
My mind raced. My parents had been divorced for years, and my dad hadn’t mentioned dating anyone seriously. Who was M? Was he going to be a dad again—or worse, was something shady going on? I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling, so I decided to do something I never thought I would: spy on his next date.
That Friday, he mentioned having dinner plans. I pretended to be out with friends but instead followed him to a cozy Italian restaurant across town. Hidden behind a large plant near the window, I watched as he greeted a woman with a warm hug. She was younger than I expected, probably in her early 30s, and they looked very comfortable together.
As they laughed and talked, I couldn’t take it anymore. I barged in, demanding answers. Both of them stared at me in shock before my dad finally burst out laughing. “You weren’t supposed to find that yet!” he said. Turns out, M was Maria, his long-time girlfriend I hadn’t met because he wasn’t sure how to introduce her. The pregnancy test? A prank gift from Maria’s mischievous sister, meant to tease him at a recent family gathering.
Embarrassed but relieved, I realized my dad wasn’t hiding a secret life—just trying to navigate love again. We all ended up sharing dinner that night, and Maria? She fits right in.
