“She died during a bus crash. She was pregnant at the time too. I couldn’t even go to the funeral because her mother hated me. It was crazy… I tried to move on and never did. To this day, I still love and miss her,” Richard responded, removing his glasses and moving towards his chair.

“Sir, I’m sorry to intrude like this, and thank you for telling me. But this woman… she looks so much like my mother. It’s insane,” Caroline revealed. “What do you mean?” “Well, my mother, Helen, looks exactly like this woman. Obviously, she’s older now, but the resemblance is uncanny.”

“I’m 98% sure this is her,” she continued, facing Richard but gesturing toward the photograph. “Helen? Your mother’s name is Helen? Where did you grow up?” “Philadelphia,” she answered. Her eyes widened as she realized this man might be her father.

Richard covered his mouth with his hands. “This is not possible…” he whispered. “Can I have your mother’s phone number?” “Sure,” she said and gave it to him. “Can you stay here while I call her?” he requested, and Caroline agreed.

Richard dialed from his office phone, and her mother’s voice answered after a few rings. “Hello? Is it you, Caroline?” Richard looked at Caroline for a second but decided to speak up first. “Is this Helen Geller?” “Yes. Who am I speaking to?” Helen asked.

“Helen, it’s Richard.” “Richard Morris? What do you want after all these years?” Helen asked, her voice hardening for some reason. Caroline and Richard started at each other in confusion, but he continued. “What do you mean after all these years? I thought you were dead!”

“What?” Richard explained how he had lost his future wife and unborn baby, and how Helen’s mother didn’t allow him at the funeral or tell him anything afterward. But Helen had no idea what he was talking about and told him what she knew.

“My mother told me that you called and decided you wanted nothing to do with me. So I raised my daughter on my own,” Helen revealed, and Caroline was shocked by this turn of events. “That’s not… Helen, I would never abandon you. I never moved on. I mourned you.”

“I’ve been in pain thinking about you and our kid for almost two decades,” Richard continued. Helen was quiet. “I can’t believe Mom would do this. But well, that was her way. I don’t know what to do now,” Helen finally stated. “Wait. How did you find out I was still alive?”

“Mom, I’m here,” Caroline chimed in at last. She hurriedly explained what happened and reassured her mother that she was fine in New York. “I can’t believe this is happening. I can’t even ask my mother why she would do something so cruel. She died years ago.”

“But anyway, when are you coming back home, Caroline?” Helen asked, in a firmer voice. “I’m not coming back until I make it on Broadway. And now, well… now I have another reason to stay here,” Caroline continued, looking at Richard with a tiny smile.

“Fine, but I’m coming up to New York soon,” Helen said and hung up. Richard and Caroline started at each other in silence for a few moments before either of them spoke up. “So, I guess you’re my dad,” she chirped. He laughed, and that’s how they broke the ice.