A man with a disabled daughter had no luck in love until something unexpected happened, and everyone in their small town found out. All his past girlfriends appeared at his house, begging for a chance, and he had no idea what to do.

When my girlfriend Lucia and I got pregnant, we didn’t know what to expect but were excited. However, due to some difficulty during delivery and other medical terms I never really understood, our precious daughter, Marla, became paralyzed. It took a toll on my girlfriend, who was also dealing with post-partum depression.

Eventually, Lucia left, and I was alone raising our little girl. I have not regretted it for a second. She’s the light of my life, intelligent, curious, and a trooper.

I’m a proud father, and my mother, Rosetta, loves her too. She watched her every day while I went to work. I wasn’t the most successful man in the world, but I did alright in our small town in Virginia.

Since my daughter was brilliant, I wanted her to start learning things, and one of my mother’s friends recommended their niece, Patricia, for some tutoring sessions every afternoon. She was a teacher at the local preschool and needed some extra cash, so the arrangement worked perfectly.

My eyebrows could’ve popped off my head. “What are you all doing here?” I asked them, perplexed.
She was lovely to Marla and my mother, and my life seemed great. Until I met Ella, and I fell in love at first sight.

I had not considered dating after Lucia left. It was too painful to think of the mother of my child abandoning us, so I put that part of myself away. But Ella changed everything. She was beautiful, sweet, and so attractive.

We started dating, and our chemistry was off the charts. I also told her I had a daughter, and she seemed excited to meet her. That was a huge relief. But it shouldn’t have been.

One day, we planned a family outing at the zoo. It was a safe and neutral place where Ella would be able to spend time with Marla. Something casual.

Apparently, I should’ve mentioned that Marla was disabled to Ella prior to that day, because Ella’s eyes widened as soon as I rolled up with my daughter. She faked a grin, playing along throughout the day until I received a call from her later.

“I’m sorry. I was already hesitant about dating a man with a daughter, but I can’t do this,” Ella came clean immediately.