A man from Stephanie’s past upends everything she believed to be true on the day she is scheduled to wed the love of her life.
She is compelled to face the distinction between the family we are born into and the ones who decide to stay as secrets come to light and allegiances are put to the test.
Growing up, I thought my father passed away when I was eight years old.
There was no cemetery or funeral, and there was no explanation at all for what had actually happened to him. All I can recall is my mother giving me a serious look before saying, “Sweetheart, Stephanie, he’s gone now. Give it up. Let Dad go.
Growing up, I thought my father had passed away.
So I did.
Teachers, neighbors, and even a schoolgirl who had recently lost her own father and wanted to exchange sadness like stickers inquired occasionally.
I said the same phrase over and over again, as if I knew what it meant: “He died.”
Karen, my mother, never displayed pictures of him in the home. There were no bedtime tales about their early years together, no framed keepsakes, and not even a date marked on the calendar to serve as a reminder of his departure.
Photographs of him were never shown in the house by my mother.
It hurt too much to think about him, she murmured.
I eventually stopped asking. After a while, I stopped questioning whether the silence was erasing him completely or shielding me from something.
She wed Dan a year later.
I eventually stopped asking.
Dan never patted my shoulder when I sobbed or filled quiet moments with anecdotes. Unlike other stepdads on TV, he didn’t try to win me over with jokes or surprise birthday presents.
However, his appearance eventually meant something.When I was twelve and still believed he was the enemy, he once stated, “I can take you to the dentist after school.”
However, his appearance eventually meant something.I whispered, not taking my eyes off the couch, “I don’t need you to.”Your mother works late. I’ve previously rescheduled our meeting.
Dan never stood up to my ire, even though I wanted him to.I said, “I don’t need you to.
When I had the flu, he ended up waiting outside the nurse’s office. The individual who, without being asked, found out how to fix the leaking kitchen faucet. And the guy who gave me $20 in passing, always acting like it was for snacks even though he knew it would go toward my prom outfit.
I didn’t know how to acknowledge that he was becoming a part of me, so I resisted him more.When I accused him of trying too hard, he once remarked, “I’m not your dad.”
I didn’t know how to acknowledge that he was becoming a part of me, so I resisted him more.No, but you behave as though you are.”
Dan nodded after pausing for a moment.Stephanie, sometimes I forget I’m not your dad. To me, you resemble a daughter.
After that talk, everything was different.To me, you resemble a daughter.
And there was no hesitancy by the time Noah made the proposal. Not out of obligation, but out of appreciation, I wanted Dan to accompany me down the aisle.
He blinked as if he didn’t fully believe what I told him.Are you sure, hon?” he inquired calmly.
Dan was the one I wanted to accompany me down the aisle.”I’m certain,” I said. “You’re the one who stayed through everything… including all my tantrums.”
I noticed a change behind his eyes as he nodded. I thought it was pride. I was unaware that it was guilt.
Like many major days, the morning of my wedding felt surreal. At the same moment, everything went too fast and too slowly. My bridesmaids lingered. My mom paced all the time.
I thought it was pride. I was unaware that it was guilt.
My phone was buzzing with a text from Noah just as I was beginning to lose my composure.Are you alright, Steffy? My love, I am so excited to see you.”
Dan didn’t say much. He repeatedly adjusted his cufflinks while standing close to the wedding suite’s window. I once asked him whether he felt anxious.
Dan hardly said anything.He remarked, “I just want to make sure I don’t mess anything up.”You won’t,” I informed him. “You never do.”
At that moment, my stepfather gave me a pretty good look and opened his mouth as if he had anything else to say. Sharp and impatient, my mom screamed his name from the hallway, and whatever he was going to say remained in that spot.You never do.
Outside, the music began. The planner informed us that we had two minutes while the guests were getting comfortable in their seats.
Dan extended his arm to me. Without thinking, I threaded my through it.
In order to catch my attention, he gently grabbed my wrist and leaned in close, making sure no one else could hear him.”Hon,” he began, “it’s time for you to know the truth. “I know this is the worst timing, but…”
Dan extended his arm to me. Without thinking, I threaded my through it.
The occasion didn’t feel appropriate for anything serious, so I laughed softly and bewildered.What is the truth?
After swallowing, Dan’s hold on my arm became a little tighter. But someone screamed before he could respond.
Suddenly, as if someone had pulled a cord from the wall, the music stopped. The floor was scuffed by chairs. After hearing a few gasps, I heard voices that didn’t sound like themselves say my name.
But someone screamed before he could respond.
I followed Dan’s gaze as he turned to face the door.
At the hall’s entrance stood a man.
I had never anticipated anything at all, yet he appeared older than I had anticipated. His face was weathered not just from age but from years of despair, and his hair was thinner.
The air in the room became heavier as his gaze met mine.
He appeared older than I had anticipated.
A sound that didn’t sound human was made by my mother.”Stephanie, don’t look at him!” she yelled as she moved in my direction.
Dan was the first to move. With his hand still on my arm, he moved his body in front of mine.Keep behind me.
The man at the door didn’t even wait for an invitation or permission.Stephanie, don’t stare at him!”If I were you, Stephanie, I would sit. You won’t like what happens next since you’ve been living a lie for fifteen years.”
I felt like a picture frame that had been knocked slightly off-center.”Who are you?” Even though I already knew the answer, I still asked.You won’t like what happens next since you’ve been living a lie for fifteen years.”
My mom didn’t answer. Dan examined the floor’s tiles. However, the man responded on their behalf.Nigel is my name. I am also your father.
Naturally, the ceremony did not take place. In quiet bewilderment, guests were hustled out. Even though I was anything but calm, Noah remained by my side the entire time, his hand warm in mine.”My dear,” he said softly, “what would you like to do?”
However, the man responded on their behalf.I said, “I want answers.” “And I want them now.”
While I sat on the bridal suite floor, still in my dress and still wearing shoes that seemed suddenly too high and ridiculous, Dan and my mother battled in the hallway.My mother growled, “You promised me.”
My mother and Dan got into a fight in the hallway.Dan answered, “She deserved the truth.” “But we didn’t even get that far.”
I didn’t know where Nigel was, and even though their voices were muffled by the wall, I could still hear the rage in Dan’s controlled burn and my mother’s muttered panic.Steffy, we don’t have to figure everything out today,” Noah remarked. “We can just leave and face this mess some other time.”
The rage was intense, yet their voices were muted by the wall.I remarked, shaking my head, “I’ll never return to this if I leave now. And I must know.”
Dan was seated at a small table across from me in the now-empty dining hall later that evening. His hands were flat on the wood as if he wanted a firm object to grip.I can’t lie anymore, but I didn’t have time to tell you previously. Not in relation to this.”Now tell me. Tell me everything.”I will never return to this. And I must know.”
My stepfather took a deep breath.Did you know him?”We attended college together,” Dan remarked with a heavy sigh. “When he was arrested, he requested me to take care of you. He didn’t… die, my love. Your mother’s version of events was that. Nigel was apprehended for business deception. He said he was acting as a stand-in for someone else.
Additionally, your mother was unwilling to wait to find out if he was speaking the truth.Your mother’s version of the story was that.She informed me that Dad had passed away.”She did,” Dan remarked. “And I… I also continued the story. From a certain perspective, the fact that your mother desired a fresh start felt like a small act of kindness for you.”I said, “You raised me.” “You let me believe that my father was dead for most of my life.”
He didn’t refute it.From a certain perspective, the fact that your mother desired a fresh start felt like a small act of kindness for you.”Dan, did he attempt to get in touch with me?Steph, he did. He sent you a letter. Every year, there were two letters: one for Christmas and one for your birthday.”Where are the letters?”
Dan cast a downward glance. And that was a response in and of itself.Dan, did he try to get in touch with me?
A week later, I ran into Nigel at a diner by the highway. I could quickly see why he picked it—it was the type of place that sold over-salted fries and scorched coffee.
There, nobody would recognize us.”You resemble your mother exactly.
There, nobody would recognize us.I slid into the booth and said, “I’ve heard that a lot.” My fists remained clenched in my lap, but my voice sounded more steady than I had anticipated.He remarked, “I never stopped thinking about you.” “I never stopped trying.”
I wanted to think he was real. I was most frightened by that part.I said, “I have a question for you. “Why at this time? Why come on the day of my wedding?
I wanted to think he was real. I was most afraid of that part.
With a sigh, he glanced down at the broken coffee cup before him.because I came across the announcement of the engagement online. My love, when I saw your name, I realized I couldn’t continue to act as though I didn’t exist. Not when you were going to begin a new life without fully understanding the circumstances of your current one.
“And arriving in that manner? Was that what you considered a major gesture?I was aware that I had to stop acting as though I didn’t exist.”No,” he replied. “Desperation was the reason. And most likely an error. But while I was still breathing, I couldn’t allow Dan be the only one to accompany you down the aisle.”I’m not sure what you anticipate from me.””I had no expectations,” he remarked softly. “Just this. Just a discussion. And only an opportunity to, well, not be a ghost.”Desperation was the cause. And most likely an error.
I gave him a single nod, but I didn’t grin or grab for his hand. There was no switch I could press to revert to the ‘father’ concept.
However, Nigel was compassionate. He was also silent. He had the appearance of someone who had been struggling to release his remorse for years. However, he was unfamiliar. He was merely a ghost in a diner seat, pleading for a hole in the wall that I had been strengthening for fifteen years.
The following morning, I discovered my mother in the kitchen, pretending nothing had occurred. Her lipstick was flawless, blueberries were in a bowl, and the kettle was boiling.
He was a stranger, though.Mom, you’ve truly surpassed yourselves this time.””Stephanie,” she replied without raising her head, “I’m not interested if you came here to blame me once more.”I come to inform you that our time together is over.
That caused her to pause.I come to inform you that our time together is over.I responded, “You have been lying to me all my life.” “You did more than just keep me safe. You deleted him. You claimed it was for my own good when you converted a man into a ghost.She narrowed her eyes and added, “I did what I had to do.””No,” I yelled. “You took the action that made your life simpler. You’ve always done so. What hurts the most, do you know? The lies aren’t the only thing. It’s because you had no desire to become a mother. You put up with me. However, you’ve never expressed gratitude for my existence in your gaze.”It’s because you’ve never desired motherhood.”It’s not equitable.”I responded, “But it’s true,” and my voice cracked. “I used to assume you were simply exhausted. that you might soften someday. But Mom, you don’t love the way others do. And I can’t wait for you to develop into someone you never would have been.”
I turned and left as she opened her mouth to reply….I can’t wait any longer for you to change into someone you never were.
I didn’t glance back this time.
In the garden of his parents, Noah and I were quietly married. Other than the fact that it was our day, nothing about it seemed ideal.
Once more, Dan led me down the aisle. His smile remained steady despite his hands shaking a little.
He put my hand in Noah’s, and his hold tightened a little.
Apart from the fact that it was our day, nothing about it seemed ideal.Hon, you’ve always had a kind heart. Don’t allow anyone to take that away from you.
And I started to think that love may be silent for the first time.
Nigel also attended the wedding. I have no idea how our connection will develop. We still occasionally communicate, but it’s cautious.My dear, you’ve always had a kind heart.
What I do know is that I believed my father had passed away for the majority of my life.
We don’t decide where to start. However, we do have a choice in who we become. I also go for tranquility.
And I don’t want the individuals who abandoned me to define who I am.
