Panic-texting your dad the morning of Father’s Day after...

Conversation

1. Dad? Why is there a delivery photo of you with another kid?
2. What delivery photo?
3. Stop lying, it's your porch, your face, same 'World's Best Dad' mug.
4. Wait, I need to see it.
5. I screenshotted it, don't delete anything, check your phone.
6. I haven't looked at my messages yet, I'm driving.
7. You're driving? It was delivered at six twelve to your porch.
8. Okay I'm pulling over, send the photo.
9. You posted it, captioned 'Best morning with my little man'.
10. Oh god, that's from the shelter program, not what you think.
11. Shelter program? You never told me about any shelter program.
12. I didn't want to overwhelm you, it's complicated.
13. Complicated like another family? like another kid who's yours?
14. No, he's Mateo, my mentee from the community center.
15. Mentee? Since when do you mentor kids and hide it from me?
16. Since last winter, his dad went to jail and I helped.
17. You promised to help me too and didn't tell me this?
18. I know I should've told you, I wanted to protect you.
19. Then why does he have the exact same 'World's Best Dad' mug?
20. I took him shopping because he had nothing to celebrate today.
21. So you have two identical mugs on your porch this morning.
22. I bought one for him because he calls me his dad sometimes.
23. So you played dad to him and kept it secret from me?
24. I'm sorry, I should've told you — I'm trying, please don't leave.