“Eric,” she gasped. “What are you doing here?”
“I should be the one asking the questions!” Eric cried. “What is this place and who is this man?”
Marla took a deep breath.
“This is my father, Eric. He is ill. He had a stroke, so I come to help him whenever I can.”
“But why didn’t you tell me?
You said you were an orphan!” Eric asked.
“My father was in prison, I was so ashamed.” Marla whispered. “I was afraid you wouldn’t want to be with a girl like me, a girl from nowhere with a convict father…”
Eric took Marla’s hands in his. “I love you, Marla, and nothing would ever make me change my mind about you.” Marla started crying and threw her arms around Eric.
“Oh Eric, I’m so sorry…I’ve hated lying to you!” Marla said.
Then she introduced Eric to her father, who was badly affected by his stroke and had lost the power of speech.
Eric insisted on getting Marla’s father into an assisted living facility where he was properly cared for and Marla didn’t have to sneak in to visit him. A few weeks later, Marla had some wonderful news for Eric: he was going to be a father!
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