"I could lose her," I said hoarsely. "Dad, I love her. I didn't plan this. I didn't want this."
"I know," he said gently. "And that's exactly why you can't lie. Secrets rot marriages from the inside out."
"You made a mistake," he said firmly. "A big one. But you don't get to run from it. You step up. For the child. For your wife. And you accept whatever consequences come with honesty."
I nodded, dread and resolve tangling painfully in my chest.
My dad walked over to the fridge. He pulled out two chilled beers, and handed one to me. "How far along is she?" he asked.
I handed him the envelope Gwen had given me, the paper crinkling under my sweaty palms. He opened it, scanning the contents quickly, and I saw his eyes widen in disbelief. "Two months? You were cheating on your wife?! Son, I raised you better than that!"
"Dad, it's complicated," I started. "I… I can't go into details." My hands fidgeted with the bottle, fingers tracing the condensation.
