The “mess” really started ten years ago when I was just seven.

After Mom passed away, it was just me and Dad in our big old house. I missed her every day, but I knew Dad needed me, so I tried to be strong.

I became pretty good at making simple meals like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Sometimes, I’d pour cereal and milk for breakfast or help Dad with the laundry by folding clothes and matching socks. I wanted to help him as much as I could.

The house felt emptier without Mom, and I knew Dad felt it, too.

But the loneliness also brought Dad and me together, and we became best friends. We would spend evenings talking about our day, watching movies, or just sitting on the porch.

I really loved those moments. They made me feel close to him like we were a team. He would tell me stories about Mom, and I’d share my school adventures with him. Those talks helped us both heal a little each day.

One day, I found Dad staring at his computer with a puzzled look. “What’s wrong, Dad?” I asked.

He sighed, “I’m trying to set up a profile on this dating site, Clara, but I have no idea what to write.”

I giggled. “Let me help you, Dad!” I said. I hopped onto his lap and looked at the screen. “Tell them you like fishing and reading.”

He laughed. “You think that’s a good idea?”

“Yeah! And say you’re a great cook,” I added with a grin, knowing he could only make spaghetti and scrambled eggs.

Dad took my advice, and it became our little game. He’d show me messages from women, and I’d help him reply. Sometimes, I’d make silly suggestions just to see him laugh. “Tell her you can cook a mean peanut butter sandwich,” I’d say, and we’d both crack up. It felt good to see him smile again.

Even though life without Mom was hard, Dad and I found ways to make it better. We leaned on each other and grew closer every day. Helping him navigate the dating world was just one of the ways I showed him I cared. I wanted him to be happy, and he wanted the same for me.

We were a team, and together, we could handle anything. But one night, that changed.

I had just come back from a fun night at my friend Emma’s house. As I walked into our living room, I was stunned to see Dad and a woman I didn’t recognize. They were snuggled up on the couch, and Dad was whispering something in her ear. I almost dropped my backpack in shock.

Dad’s face turned bright red when he saw me. He jumped up, looking like a deer caught in headlights. “Uh, Clara! Hi! Um, this is, uh…” He was stuttering so much that I almost felt sorry for him.

“Who is this, Daniel?” the woman asked, breaking the awkward silence.

In his nervousness, Dad blurted out, “This is Clara, my housekeeper… the maid!”

My eyes widened in surprise. Maid? Seriously, Dad? I felt a mix of shock and betrayal.

“Oh, is she?” the woman said with a big smile. “Great! Clara, today you have to clean up the bedroom. After our night there, it needs a good tidy-up!”

My jaw dropped to the floor. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Clean the bedroom after their night together?

I glanced at Dad, and he looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up.

“Da–I mean, Mr. Daniels, the bedroom?” I asked, trying to control my anger.

“Yes…” he sighed sadly. “That’s all for today.”

“Sure thing, Mr. Daniel,” I finally said, trying to keep a straight face.

I grabbed a nearby dust cloth and went upstairs, glaring at both of them. This wasn’t like Dad at all, and I couldn’t believe he introduced me as the house cleaner.

Entering the bedroom, I saw it was a complete mess.

Clothes were strewn everywhere, and the bed was unmade. The lingering scent of the woman’s perfume filled the air, making me wrinkle my nose. I didn’t want to clean the place, especially not after that awkward situation.

I sat there, thinking about what to do. I needed to teach Dad a lesson for putting me in such an awkward position.

If his new girlfriend didn’t like kids, she needed to know that I was a big part of Dad’s life. And if Dad was hiding me because of that, it wasn’t fair to either of us. Why would Dad be with someone who couldn’t accept me?

Then it hit me. I had to confront Dad in a way that would expose his dishonesty without making things worse. I needed to be smart about this. It had to be something he couldn’t wriggle out of.

I sat on the bed, the mess around me mirroring the whirlwind of thoughts in my head. Soon, an idea popped into my mind.

This “house cleaner” was about to clean up Dad’s mess in a way he’d never forget!

Walking back into the living room, I saw Dad and the woman chatting, completely unaware of what was coming.

With a mischievous glint in my eye, I said loudly, “It seems that your last night together was not as hot as the day before yesterday, Mr. Daniel! The day before yesterday, I had to clean up for three hours after your night! Oh, apologies for my language.”

The woman’s face turned bright red with anger. “I wasn’t here the day before yesterday! Who were you in the bedroom with the day before yesterday?” she shouted at Dad.

Dad’s eyes widened, and he looked like he was about to faint. “Clara, what are you talking about?” he stammered.

I feigned confusion, tilting my head. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you must be Jessica, right? Mr. Daniels wouldn’t stop talking about how amazing you are!”

The woman’s fury reached a boiling point. “I’m MARTHA!” she shouted, turning to Dad. “Who the hell is this Jessica?”

Dad opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water, unable to come up with a response. Martha’s face twisted in rage as she slapped him hard across the face, the sound echoing through the room. She stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind her.

I stood there, watching Dad rub his cheek. He finally looked at me, his expression a blend of anger and helplessness. “Clara, why did you do that?”

I crossed my arms, feeling a sense of satisfaction. “Because, Dad, you lied about me and put me in an awkward position. If you’re going to date, be honest about it. And don’t ever introduce me as your house cleaner again. So, Mr. Daniel, is there anything else I need to clean up?” I asked, a mischievous grin spreading across my face.

For a moment, Dad just stared at me, then he started to chuckle.

The chuckle turned into a full-blown laugh, and before long, we were both laughing so hard we could barely stand. The tension melted away, replaced by the familiar warmth of our bond.

“Really, Dad, you brought home a woman like her? She’s so annoying! And why did you lie about me?”

Dad shrugged, looking a bit sheepish. “She wasn’t very fond of kids. I guess that’s why I didn’t mention you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Dad, if someone doesn’t like kids, they’re not worth your time. You know that, right?”

“I know, Clara. I’m sorry for acting the way I did. I should’ve been honest with you and with her.”

I walked over and gave him a hug. “It’s okay, Dad. Just remember, we’re a team. No more secrets, okay?”

He hugged me back tightly. “No more secrets. I promise.”

We pulled apart, and I looked around the living room. “Now, about that cleaning…”

Dad laughed again, shaking his head. “I think we’ve had enough cleaning for one day. How about we order some pizza and watch a movie instead?”

I grinned. “That sounds perfect.”

What would you have done?