She had been unfaithful to her husband only once, and that was before they were married. He had called her fat and said she wouldnt fit into the wedding dress. Hurt, Inês went out with friends to a nightclub in Lisbon, drank far too much and woke up in an unfamiliar flat beside a handsome blueeyed man. The shame was unbearable. She kept the episode from Miguel, forgave his insults, and even started a diet, quitting alcohol after learning she was pregnant.
Their daughter arrived on the expected datea beautiful blueeyed babyand Miguel fell completely in love with her. For five years Inês kept telling herself everything was fine, that the childs blue eyes came from her grandfather, and that her curls werent a problem. She forced herself to forget the curlyhaired stranger whose name she could no longer recall. Yet deep down a maternal intuition whispered that the girl might not be Miguels. Perhaps thats why she tolerated his latenight outings, frequent business trips, and constant criticism of her looks and cooking. The child needed a family; she adored her father, and what man doesnt betray?
Hang in there, where else would you go? her mother would say. You know we have no spaceGrandmas bedridden, your brother brought his bride homewhere would I put all of you? I warned you not to put the house in the motherinlaws name, and now look at this!
Inês endured, but it wasnt enough. One day Miguel left, saying he had found someone else. He even wept, promising to forever be Marinas father, yet he could not fight his feelings. After the divorce, Inêss mother, who seemed to adore the granddaughter, remarked, Get a paternity test; you might be paying alimony for nothing!
Paralyzed, Inês thought she was the only one with doubtsshe wasnt.
Are you crazy? Miguel shouted. Marina is my daughter; even a blind man could see that.
Maybe her grandmother was right, because a year after the split Inês ended up in the hospital with appendicitis and saw a familiar face. Her doubts vanished when she met those same blue eyes behind a white mask.
Excuse me, have we met before? the surgeon asked.
Inês shook her head desperately, hoping he didnt remember. He did; the next day, during a visit, he teased, I hope you dont run away as fast as last time.
Flushed scarlet, Inês left the hospital as soon as she could. What she didnt expect was that during her stay, Tomás would make her want to stay. She never mentioned the child, only that she had a girl, giving no clue about his paternity.
Tomás understood everything the moment he saw the girl. Nervous, he bought a doll and bombarded Inês with questions to learn how to act.
Listen, he began, when we were kids my mother fell in love with another man, but my sister never accepted him and eventually sent him away. I dont want that to happen again; I want to be a second father to your daughter.
His words left Inês devastated. When he finally looked at the child, he froze for a few seconds, then stared bewildered at Inêshe got it, too.
Whats the difference? Inês thought. Sooner or later Ill have to tell him.
Having learned from her previous marriage, Inês braced for accusations and yelling. But when they were alone, Tomás embraced her and whispered, What a wonderful miracle!
At first Marina seemed to accept Tomás. Yet when Inês gently asked if she was okay with him moving in, the girl burst into tears, pleading, I thought Daddy would come back! Let Tomás live somewhere else. Inês convinced her, but Tomás was upset.
Shes my daughter! You have to tell them! he insisted.
Miguel couldnt handle it, and Marina wouldnt either. To her, hes the father; to Miguel, shes his only child. His new wife cant have kids, thats what his mother told me.
Resentful, Tomás watched Marina throw tantrums while Inês tried to keep peace in this odd household. They set rules: Inês took the girl to see her father, avoiding a meeting of the two men; she never left Marina alone with Tomás, as they fought; even on Womens Day she prepared cards to prevent Marina from saying something that might hurt Tomás and reveal the truth.
Soon Inês became pregnant again and was terrified. She feared the second child would look exactly like Marina, that Miguel would discover everything, that Marina would get jealous and lash out at Tomás, and that Tomás would use her maternity leave to spill the secret.
They agreed that Marinas grandmother would look after her during the birth. The grandmother accepted, even with two grandchildren already at home. Then the situation changed: a day before Inês went into labor, her mother was hospitalized with gallstones. The stepfather refused to take another child, and the brother and his wife were working all day. Inês decided to take her daughter to Miguel, but he was traveling, and leaving her with the motherinlaw was not an option.
I cant even care for my own daughter? Tomás complained.
The delivery was difficult: a cesarean followed by a prolonged hospital stay because the newborn developed jaundice. At home it felt like a time bomb. Tomás kept saying everything was fine, yet the girl wouldnt speak to her, leaving Inês anxious. He must have told her everything, she thought.
Neighbors urged her to confess, insisting the truth always surfaces and she would have to pay for her lies. Spurred on, she called Miguel.
I need to tell you something, she said.
What? he asked.
A long pause as she gathered courage.
Its about Marina
What about Marina? Inês felt uneasy, though she intended to reveal everything.
Shes the daughter of your friend. Ive known that for a long time.
He told you?
Ive known it forever. When she was one year old, I took a test. Before my military service they told me I couldnt have children. I kept it secret, hoping for a miracle that seemed to happen, then doubts crept in. My mother too So I confirmed.
How Inês could not grasp why he had kept the secret so long.
What could I do? he retorted. The girl is innocent! Dont tell her anything! I kept it all this time just so I wouldnt be left childless.
It was a day of celebration. When she was discharged, Inês was distracted, watching her daughter and husband act oddly, exchanging glances in silence.
How did you manage without me? she asked, nervous as the baby slept and Marina began to draw.
Everythings great! You always overprotected us; we got it together without you.
Did you tell her?
No, of course not! You were the one who forbade it.
I forbade it. So why is she so serious?
Tomás grinned mischievously.
Ask her.
Inês went to Marinas room. The girl was absorbed, tongue out, coloring something with a red pencil. Inês leaned in and saw a drawing of three adults and two children.
Who are they? she asked.
Isnt it obvious? You, Daddy, Tomás, and us with Vítor.
Its nice.
Mom, do you think a person can have two dads?
Thats how it is, he answered.
Well sometimes, yes, she replied cautiously.
So can I call Tomás dad too? Hes cool. We built a LEGO castle and went to see fish. The seller was funny, an old man with a cap, and he asked what my dad did for work. I didnt know if he wanted to know about Tomás, so I said hes a doctor. Its cool to have a doctor dad. I asked him, but I wanted to confirm with you.
A lump rose in Inêss throat. She realized the trap shed set for herself. Miguel had forgiven her, and Tomás would forgive as well. If Marina ever learned the truth, she would have to choose: reveal everything or live in fear of the revelation. She hugged her daughter and said,
Sure, you can call him dad. I think Tomás will be happy if you do. But dont tell your real dad
She Cheated on Her Husband Just Once Before the Wedding: He Called Her Fat and Said She Wouldn’t Fit into Her Wedding Dress.
