Just a few months ago, Jolene had felt lonely, wondering if she’d ever find someone to marry. Now, she was already daydreaming about her wedding with Steve. But something nagged at her—Steve hadn’t yet invited her to his place, and it felt like he was hiding something. While she feared the worst, what she discovered was far from what she expected.
Jolene and Steve strolled hand in hand down a quiet, lamp-lit street, their easy laughter drifting into the cool evening air. Though they had only been dating for two months, it felt like they’d known each other for much longer.
“You know,” Jolene teased, “I still laugh when I think about your dating app profile picture.”
Steve grinned. “Oh yeah? What was so funny about it?”
Jolene chuckled, shaking her head. “The one with that huge fish! I thought, ‘Who is this guy trying to impress with his fishing skills?’”
Steve blushed slightly but laughed along with her. “Hey, that was a proud moment! Besides, it showed I could provide—a strong, capable man bringing home the catch.”
Their shared laughter filled the air, and Steve pulled her closer, sealing the moment with a soft kiss. But just as things felt perfect, Steve gently pulled back.
“It’s getting late,” he said, glancing down the street. “Let me call you a taxi to get home.”
Jolene hesitated, confused. The night had been so perfect, and she wasn’t ready for it to end. “Or,” she ventured, keeping her tone light, “we could go to your place?”
Steve’s smile wavered, and he scratched the back of his neck. “I live nearby. I’ll just walk home,” he mumbled, not meeting her eyes.
Jolene’s heart sank. After two months of dating, Steve had yet to invite her over, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. Was he hiding something? The questions swirled in her mind as the taxi took her home that night.
The next morning, the doubts still gnawed at her. Was there another woman? Was he just not ready for a deeper commitment? She needed answers.
Determined, Jolene decided to make a surprise visit. She spent the morning baking an apple pie—partly as an excuse, partly as a peace offering in case things got awkward. If her suspicions were unfounded, at least she’d have something to break the tension.
As Jolene arrived at Steve’s house, her heart raced. The cozy, quiet exterior gave her no clues, and she felt her hands tremble as she knocked on the door. She wasn’t sure what she’d find, but she had to know the truth.
After a moment, the door creaked open, and there stood Steve, his face pale with surprise. “Jolene,” he stammered, clearly caught off guard. “What are you doing here?”
“I brought you a pie,” she said, her voice shaking slightly. But before she could say anything more, she heard voices inside the house—a woman’s voice, followed by the unmistakable sound of a child. Jolene’s heart plummeted. Was Steve hiding a family?
“Steve,” she began, her voice trembling, “are you married? Do you have kids?” The question hung in the air, heavy with the weight of her fears.
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