Emily

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“Hi Dad,” Samantha said when she walked into my office and plopped herself on the edge of my desk.

“Hey Sam,” I replied. “I wasn’t expecting you. What’s up?”

“Nothin’ much. I was running some errands and realized how close I was. I thought maybe I could convince you to take me to lunch. Hey, who’s this?” she picked up the wooden frame that sat next to my phone.

Behind the picture glass was a portrait of a young lady taken outdoors. The sunlight reflected off her cheeks but her large inquisitive eyes, staring at the camera, were shaded by her auburn hair; hair that wound carelessly down over her left shoulder. She wore a coarse knit, crew neck sweater in shades of green. She sported a half smile and looked happy.

Sam grinned as she studied the photo. “I used to have a sweater just like that one,” she said. “This girl looks familiar. Do I know her? Who is she?”

I closed the open file on my desk and set it aside, “Well shit, Sam. This wasn’t how it was supposed to play out. I don’t know what was supposed to happen but it sure wasn’t this.”

“Dad?”

“Her name is Emily, she’s 15 years old. She looks familiar because she looks a lot like you.”

Sam studied the picture and spun slowly to sit in one of the chairs across the desk from me. She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips a little, “Dad?” She repeated.

“She’s your sister. Well, half sister.”

“Does Mom know?”

“Of course she does. I could never keep secrets from her. We worked this out long ago.”

Sam kept looking straight at me, obviously anticipating more.

“Emily and her mother live down south. Years ago, I had a brief affair. Emily was the result. I see her as often as possible. Emily’s a wonderful girl Sam. I think you’d like her.”