It had been three years since my husband passed in a work accident, and I was finally ready to open my heart again. Ethan came into our lives like a breath of fresh air—kind, attentive, and making my 6-year-old daughter Mia smile in ways I hadn’t seen in years. We married two months ago, and he moved into my house.
One evening, as I tucked Mia into bed, she hesitated, gripping her stuffed bunny tightly. Her big eyes searched mine before she whispered, “Mommy, new Dad asked me to keep a secret from you. Is that okay?”
Her question stopped me cold. “No, sweetheart. You can tell me anything.”
Mia bit her lip. “New Dad said I shouldn’t tell you… but yesterday, I woke up early and went looking for him. I couldn’t find him anywhere.”
A strange unease crept over me. “What happened next?”
