It all began ten years ago when I was just seven, and my world changed forever. My mother passed away, leaving just my dad and me in our big old house. The loss was overwhelming, but it brought my dad and me closer together. We became a team, leaning on each other to navigate life without her.

I tried to help my dad in any way I could, even learning to make simple meals like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or cereal for breakfast. I’d fold the laundry, matching socks with the precision of a seven-year-old. The house felt emptier without Mom, but in the evenings, Dad and I would sit on the porch, watch movies, or talk about our day. Those moments were precious to me—they made us feel like a team, like we could handle anything together.

One day, I found my dad staring at his computer, a puzzled look on his face. “What’s wrong, Dad?” I asked.

He sighed, admitting he was trying to set up a profile on a dating site but had no idea what to write. I hopped onto his lap and offered to help. “Tell them you like fishing and reading,” I suggested, adding with a grin, “And that you’re a great cook,” knowing full well that his culinary skills were limited to spaghetti and scrambled eggs.

Helping my dad navigate the world of online dating became our little game. He’d show me messages from women, and I’d help him reply, sometimes suggesting silly things just to make him laugh. Seeing him smile again after losing Mom was everything to me.

But then, one night, everything changed. I came home from a fun evening at my friend Emma’s house to find my dad snuggled up on the couch with a woman I didn’t recognize. I almost dropped my backpack in shock. Dad’s face turned bright red when he saw me, and he stuttered through an introduction. In his nervousness, he blurted out, “This is Clara, my housekeeper… the maid!”

I couldn’t believe it. Maid? Seriously, Dad? My heart sank as a mix of shock and betrayal washed over me.

The woman smiled and said, “Great! Clara, today you have to clean up the bedroom. After our night there, it needs a good tidy-up!” My jaw dropped. Clean the bedroom after their night together? I felt a wave of anger and disbelief.

I went upstairs, fuming. The bedroom was a mess, clothes strewn everywhere, and the lingering scent of the woman’s perfume made me wrinkle my nose. I didn’t want to clean, especially not after that awkward encounter. But as I sat on the bed, an idea started forming in my mind. If Dad’s new girlfriend didn’t like kids, she needed to know that I was a big part of Dad’s life. And if Dad was hiding me because of that, it wasn’t fair to either of us.

Determined to teach my dad a lesson, I marched back downstairs with a mischievous glint in my eye. “It seems that your last night together wasn’t as hot as the day before yesterday, Mr. Daniel! The day before yesterday, I had to clean up for three hours after your night! Oh, apologies for my language,” I said loudly, making sure the woman heard every word.

Her face turned bright red with anger. “I wasn’t here the day before yesterday! Who were you in the bedroom with the day before yesterday?” she shouted at my dad.

Dad’s eyes widened, and he looked like he was about to faint. “Clara, what are you talking about?” he stammered.

I feigned confusion. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you must be Jessica, right? Mr. Daniels wouldn’t stop talking about how amazing you are!”

The woman’s fury reached a boiling point. “I’m MARTHA!” she yelled, turning to Dad. “Who the hell is this Jessica?”

Dad opened and closed his mouth, unable to come up with a response. Martha’s face twisted in rage as she slapped him hard across the face, then stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her.

I stood there, watching my dad rub his cheek, his expression a blend of anger and helplessness. “Clara, why did you do that?” he asked.

I crossed my arms, feeling a sense of satisfaction. “Because, Dad, you lied about me and put me in an awkward position. If you’re going to date, be honest about it. And don’t ever introduce me as your house cleaner again. So, Mr. Daniel, is there anything else I need to clean up?”

For a moment, Dad just stared at me, then he started to chuckle. The chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh, and before long, we were both laughing so hard we could barely stand. The tension melted away, replaced by the familiar warmth of our bond.

“Really, Dad, you brought home a woman like her? She’s so annoying! And why did you lie about me?”

Dad shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. “She wasn’t very fond of kids. I guess that’s why I didn’t mention you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Dad, if someone doesn’t like kids, they’re not worth your time. You know that, right?”

“I know, Clara. I’m sorry for acting the way I did. I should’ve been honest with you and with her.”

I walked over and gave him a hug. “It’s okay, Dad. Just remember, we’re a team. No more secrets, okay?”

He hugged me back tightly. “No more secrets. I promise.”

We pulled apart, and I looked around the living room. “Now, about that cleaning…”

Dad laughed again, shaking his head. “I think we’ve had enough cleaning for one day. How about we order some pizza and watch a movie instead?”

I grinned. “That sounds perfect.”