Tears filled my eyes as I clutched a photo of Edith, my late wife, and our daughters at the beach. \u201cI miss you, Ed,\u201d I whispered, running my fingers over her face in the picture. \u201cThe girls are growing up so fast. You\u2019d be so proud.\u201d Her vibrant smile, stolen too soon by cancer, looked back at me, a bittersweet reminder of the life we had shared.<\/p>\n
My thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock. My mother peeked in, concern etched on her face.<\/p>\n
\u201cCharlie, honey, it\u2019s been three years. You need to start living again. The girls need a mother figure.\u201d<\/p>\n
I sighed, setting the photo down. \u201cMom, we\u2019re managing. The girls are doing fine.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re getting older,\u201d she pressed, sitting beside me. \u201cYou\u2019re not getting any younger, either. What about that woman from your office? Gabriela?\u201d<\/p>\n
I rubbed my temples, trying to push away the impending headache. \u201cGaby? She\u2019s just a coworker.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA single mother, like you\u2019re a single father. Maybe it\u2019s time to think about it\u2014for the girls\u2019 sake.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her words lingered long after she left, echoing in my mind. Maybe it was time to move forward.<\/p>\n
One year later, Gaby had become a part of our lives. She entered like a whirlwind, and before I knew it, we were married. It wasn\u2019t the same as with Edith, but it was\u2026 comfortable.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
\u201cDad! Watch me!\u201d my youngest called, attempting a cartwheel in the yard.<\/p>\n
I clapped, forcing a smile. \u201cGreat job, sweetheart!\u201d<\/p>\n
Gaby sidled up beside me, linking her arm with mine. \u201cYou\u2019ve raised wonderful girls, Charlie. You\u2019ve done an amazing job.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks,\u201d I replied, suppressing the guilt that always seemed to follow compliments like that. \u201cI\u2019m trying my best.\u201d<\/p>\n
As we headed inside, something about the way she had said it nagged at me, but I shrugged it off, determined to make this new chapter work.<\/p>\n
That was until Gaby cornered me in the kitchen, her tone unusually sweet. \u201cCharlie, we need to talk about the girls\u2019 trust fund.\u201d<\/p>\n
I froze, my coffee cup halfway to my lips. \u201cWhat trust fund?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t play dumb,\u201d she snapped, dropping the pretense. \u201cI heard you talking to your financial advisor. Edith left a nice little nest egg for your daughters, didn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n
My stomach churned. I had never mentioned the fund to her. \u201cThat money\u2019s for their future, Gaby\u2014for college, starting their lives\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"