After Jake’s wife decided to travel the world and leave her family, he became the only one taking care of their two young daughters, Emma, who is 4, and Lily, who is 5.
This single dad has dealt with many difficulties in juggling his work, parenting, and home tasks. Still, he understands how crucial it is to be a strong support for his daughters and works hard to keep them happy and healthy.
“Emma, Lily, time to get up!” he would wake his girls up softly every morning.
That particular morning didn’t start any differently, except for the huge surprise that awaited them in the kitchen.
Emma and Lily were slow to wake up, but when they finally did, they chose their favorite dresses, and Jake helped them get ready. The three of them then went downstairs to have breakfast before going to daycare. Jake planned to make his usual oatmeal with milk, but when he got to the kitchen, he was surprised. On the table, he found three plates of warm pancakes topped with jam and fruit.
“Girls, did you see this?” he asked, puzzled.
Lily’s eyes widened. “Wow, pancakes! Did you make them, Daddy?”
“No, I didn’t. Maybe Aunt Sarah came by earlier,” he said while picking up his phone to call his sister and ask if she was the one who made breakfast.
Jake was surprised when Sarah said she hadn’t come by that morning and asked why he was curious. He thought it wasn’t important and continued to check the front door and windows, seeing no signs of forced entry.
“Is it safe to eat, Daddy?” Emma asked, and Jake said yet, although hesitantly.
Confused, he couldn’t stop thinking about who had given them the pancakes. But since they were running late, he chose to take the girls to daycare before heading to work.
When they got home that evening, he and the girls found another surprise waiting for them. The lawn, which Jake hadn’t mowed, looked perfectly cut. “This is getting odd,” Jake said quietly as he checked the house again, but everything seemed normal.
The following morning, he decided to find the answer to the question that had kept him awake all night. So, he got up around 6 am and hid in the kitchen. To his surprise, he saw a woman coming in through the window.
She put on some old, worn clothes and started washing the dishes right away. After a while, she took out a piece of cheese from her bag and began making pancakes again.
Jake stepped out from his hiding spot and said, “Wait! I promise I’m not here to hurt you. You made those pancakes, right? Please tell me why you did that. You don’t have to be scared of me; I’m the girls’ father and I would never hurt a woman, especially someone who has been so kind to me.”
The mysterious woman then stopped and turned her face towards Jake. She did look familiar, but he couldn’t recall where he had seen her before.
“We’ve met before, haven’t we?” he asked in confusion.
She nodded in agreement, but before she could say anything, the girls shouted, “Daddy, daddy.” Jake then asked the woman to sit at the dinner table to meet Emma and Lily, and she agreed.
“Ladies, there’s a surprise guest waiting for us downstairs,” he said. The girls followed him to the kitchen, curious to find out who it was. The woman was by the window, ready to leave quickly.
“Please, don’t leave,” Jake said gently. “I just want to talk and thank you.”
“Who is she, Daddy?” Lily asked.
“Shall we discover this together?” he responded. He then turned to the woman and said, “Please take a seat. Would you like some coffee?”
“My name is Jack,” she began, “and these are my daughters, Emma and Lily. You have been assisting us, and I would like to understand your reasons for doing so.”
The woman then explained that Jake helped her some two months ago when she was at a very bad place.
“Helped you? How?” Jake was curious to understand.
I was lying on the side of the road, feeling weak and lost. Many people walked by, but you stopped to help. You took me to a charity hospital, where they treated my severe dehydration that could have killed me. When I woke up, you were gone, but I convinced the parking attendant to give me your car’s license plate number. With that, I found your address and decided to thank you.
Jake suddenly realized. “I remember now. You were in terrible shape. I couldn’t just leave you there.”
The woman, identifying herself as Clare, stated, “Your generosity rescued me. My former husband deceived me, transporting me from Britain to America, seizing all my possessions, and abandoning me on the streets. I was left with nothing and no one to rely on.”
Emma and Lily listened intently, their small faces filled with concern. “That’s so sad,” Emma murmured softly.
“But why are you here?” Jake couldn’t help but wonder.
Your help gave me the strength to keep going. I went to the embassy and shared my story with them. They helped me get new documents and connected me with a lawyer for my son. I found a job as a postal worker. Still, I wanted to thank you. Seeing you tired when you got home each day, I decided to help you with small chores.
Moved by her narrative, Jake remarked, “Claire, I value your intentions, but it is unacceptable for you to enter our home uninvited. It poses a safety risk and caused me considerable alarm.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I just wanted to help,” Claire answered, looking ashamed.
In order to cheer her up, the girls thanked her for the pancakes and noted they were really tasty.
Jake took a deep breath and felt relieved when he found out who made the pancakes. He said, “Claire, let’s change our approach. No more sneaking around, okay? How about you join us for breakfast sometimes? It would help us get to know each other better.”
Claire was happy to accept the generous offer.
She later shared her life stories and expressed her wish to reconnect with her son. When Jake heard this, he agreed to help her achieve that goal. As time went on, they formed a close relationship, starting a new chapter for both their families filled with hope and mutual support.
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