The sun was shining bright, and the waves crashed softly against the shore. The smell of saltwater filled the air as people laughed and played all around. I was excited to finally have a break from school.

My best friend, Lisa, and I had decided to spend the weekend at the beach. It felt good to be away from classes and exams, just enjoying the sand between our toes.

“Let’s find a good spot before it gets too crowded,” Lisa said, scanning the area with her hand shielding her eyes.

I nodded, looking around. That’s when I saw him. My heart skipped a beat. “No way,” I muttered under my breath.

“What?” Lisa asked, looking confused.

“That’s my dad,” I whispered, pointing toward a familiar figure near the water.

Lisa squinted. “Are you sure? I thought he was on a business trip in New York.”

“Yeah, that’s what he told me,” I said, my stomach twisting into knots. “He said he’d be gone for the whole week.”

But there he was, my dad, in casual shorts and a T-shirt. And he wasn’t alone. A young woman was with him. She was laughing at something he said, her blonde hair shining in the sun. She looked way younger than him, younger than me even.

Growing up, I had always been close to my dad. He was the one who taught me how to ride a bike, helped me with my math homework, and never missed a single one of my soccer games.

My mom and dad had a good relationship, or at least that’s what I thought. They argued sometimes, but they always made up.

I remember one time, when I was about twelve, they had a huge fight. I thought they might split up. Mom stayed with Aunt Karen for a week. Dad was quiet and sad the whole time. I was so scared, but when she came back, everything seemed fine again. They hugged and laughed, and I thought everything would always be okay after that.

When I went away to college, I missed them both, but I kept in touch all the time. Dad and I talked almost every day. That’s why seeing him here, with someone who wasn’t my mom, was so shocking. I felt like my world was spinning.

“Maybe it’s not what you think,” Lisa said carefully, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I shook my head, unable to take my eyes off them. “But why didn’t he tell me he was coming here? And who’s that girl?”

“I don’t know, maybe a work thing?” Lisa suggested, but even she didn’t sound convinced.

I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone. “I’m going to call Mom.”

Lisa’s eyes widened. “Are you sure? I mean, don’t you want to know what’s going on first?”

I hesitated but then dialed Mom’s number. My hands were shaking.

“Hey, sweetie,” Mom’s voice came through. “What’s up?”

“Hi, Mom,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Where’s Dad right now?”

“New York, of course,” she answered. “Why?”

“No reason,” I lied, my heart pounding in my chest. “Just checking.”

We hung up, and I stared at my phone, my mind racing. If he was supposed to be in New York, what was he doing here with another woman?

Without thinking, I snapped a picture of them. My dad was smiling, his arm around the girl’s shoulder. I sent the picture to Mom with a simple message: “Dad?”

I held my breath, staring at the screen, waiting for her reply. It felt like forever, but really, it was only a few minutes.

My phone buzzed. It was Mom calling me back.

I answered immediately. “Mom?”

Her voice was calm, almost too calm. “Sweetie, I know who that is.”

“You do?” I asked, confused and still angry. “Who is she? Why is Dad with her?”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Then she said something that left me completely speechless.

“That’s not your dad’s girlfriend,” she said quietly. “That’s his daughter.”

“What?” I almost shouted. I looked at my dad again, now feeling more confused than ever.

“She’s his daughter, but she’s not mine,” Mom continued. “I’m so sorry we never told you.”

I stood there, frozen, as my mom’s words echoed in my mind. “His daughter,” she had said. I could barely breathe.

“How—how could you keep this from me?” I whispered, tears welling up in my eyes.

“I’m so sorry, sweetie,” Mom’s voice cracked. “Your dad and I… we thought it was best for you not to know.”

I couldn’t listen anymore. I hung up and stared at the beach, at my dad laughing with his other daughter. My half-sister. How could he do this to me? To us?

I felt a surge of anger rush through me. Without thinking, I stormed across the sand toward my dad.

“Dad!” I shouted, my voice trembling with rage.

He turned around, his smile fading when he saw the look on my face. “Honey, what are you doing here?”

“What am I doing here?” I yelled. “What are you doing here? And who is she?”

He glanced at the young woman beside him, then back at me. “I can explain—”

“Explain what?” I cut him off, my voice rising. “That you’ve been lying to me my whole life? That you have another daughter and never told me?”

His face went pale. “I… I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“And you didn’t know how to tell me?” I repeated, my voice dripping with disbelief. “You’ve had twenty years to figure it out!”

The young woman looked uncomfortable, glancing between us. “Maybe I should go…”

“No, wait,” my dad said, then turned to me. “Please, just listen.”

“Fine,” I said, crossing my arms, trying to hold back tears. “Explain.”

He took a deep breath. “After you were born, your mom and I had a really rough time. We fought a lot, and one night, I… I made a terrible mistake. I… cheated on her. I thought we were over. But a few weeks later, we made up, and I thought that part of my life was behind me.”

He looked down, ashamed. “Then I found out that woman was pregnant. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to lose you or your mom. So, I did the only thing I could think of—I took care of her financially, and I saw her when I could, but I stayed with you and your mom because you were my family.”

“And what about her?” I asked, pointing to my half-sister. “What about your other daughter?”

“I tried to be there for her too,” he said quietly. “But I didn’t know how to be a father to her without losing you. I know I’ve hurt both of you, and I’m so sorry.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I turned and walked away, my feet sinking into the sand as tears streamed down my face. I didn’t know where I was going, but I needed to get away, to think.

I thought about what my mom had said. About how she forgave him, even after all that. Could I do the same? Did I want to?

I pictured my dad, the way he always looked at me, like I was his whole world. He had made a huge mistake, but he had also been there for me, for us. And what about my half-sister? She didn’t ask for any of this either.

Slowly, I began to understand. My dad had been scared, scared of losing me. Maybe he didn’t handle it right, but he was still my dad. If my mom could find it in her heart to forgive him, maybe I could too.

I took a deep breath and pulled out my phone. I called him, my hands shaking.

“Dad?” I said when he answered.

“Yes, honey?” His voice was filled with worry.

“I’m still really mad at you,” I said, my voice breaking. “But… I get it. I understand why you didn’t tell me.”

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I love you more than anything.”

“I know,” I said, wiping my eyes. “Maybe we can start over. I’d like to meet her, properly.”

There was silence on the other end, then he said, “I’d like that too.”

“Okay,” I said softly. “Let’s have dinner together.”

As the sun set, we sat down at a small table at the same spot we met earlier, sharing a quiet, awkward meal. Jenna, my half-sister, broke the silence first. “I’m Jenna. This is weird for both of us, huh?”

I nodded, smiling hesitantly. “Yeah, it is. I’m Amy.”

Dad chimed in, his voice hopeful. “She’s studying marine biology.”

We talked more easily then—about college, our favorite shows, and Dad’s funny quirks. I saw her smile, and it felt genuine.

I reached out and squeezed Dad’s hand. “We’ll be okay.”

Jenna grinned. “Maybe next time, we can go swimming?”

“Only if you save me from sharks,” I joked, and we all laughed, starting to feel like a family.