The new house smelled of fresh paint, and Georgia moved around the kitchen like a queen just moving into a palace. Paul, the mayor, sat at the table with a smile so perfect you wanted to wipe it off with a wet cloth. Austin played with his plastic sword, talking about how he was going to fight a dragon, and I sat nearby, feeling like I was in some lame play I didn't want to be in.Paul looked at me in that political way of his. "Ginny, Mom said you were doing great in school." "Did she also tell you how many other guys she had before she met you?" I blurted out before I could stop myself.Austin stopped swinging his sword, and Georgia gave me a look that literally said: shut up before you regret it. But I couldn't anymore. In my pocket was a photo I'd found in her desk drawer—an old portrait of my mom with some guy I'd never seen before. On the back was the inscription: "Forever yours, G."

I took it out and placed it on the table.

"Can someone explain who he is?" I asked.

Paul glanced at the photo, his face losing that ever-present smile. Georgia paled, and Austin just stared open-mouthed. But before anyone answered, I heard a familiar voice behind me.

"I see the photo still exists," said Zein, my dad, standing in the doorway.

Georgia spun around as if scalded.

"What are you doing here?" she hissed.

"I came for my daughter. And to finally tell the truth," Zein replied calmly, though anger was evident in his eyes.