Meeting David, who could keep up with her unusual train of thought, felt natural for Penelope. He was a teacher and one of the most charming men she’d ever met. As they were having a long and important talk about books, ranging from classics to science fiction, he unexpectedly asked her about her favorite restaurant.
Penelope laughed. There was this luxurious restaurant that offered food that tasted like it came straight from heaven, and she would go there everytime she reached a specific life milestone. The ideal setting for celebrations and a prospective first date.
But the place was quite expensive, and she didn’t want to bring it up, but she did anyway. However, she then recommended a fantastic Mexican restaurant that served “over 300 tequilas and tacos with handmade tortillas that are to die for.” Furthermore, it was cost-effective.
However, David identified that the two go to the fancy restaurant Penelope had mentioned in the first place.
The evening was fabulous. It was more than she ever expected from a date with someone she had only seen once.
They ordered appetizers—those heavenly little bites she loved—and yes, the cocktails were as mesmerizing as ever.
Dish after dish arrived at their table, and they laughed all night. However, when it came time to pay the bill, something awkward occurred. Penelope volunteered to share it because it was more than $600; she pulled some money from her purse, and her credit card landed on the table by accident. David was fast to pick it up, but he didn’t return it right away; instead, he took the time to scrutinize it, which confused Penelope.
What’s more, David examined every minute detail before putting it down. He then murmured something like, “You should be careful with this.”
Penelope felt as if her private had been violated at that time. She couldn’t help but wonder why he was staring at her credit card for so long.
Aside from the nice evening, it struck her as a red sign, so she blocked his phone number in case he texted or called her.
When she told a friend on hers about the incident, the friend felt Penelope was little too harsh towards David. She, however, decided not to think about it any longer, and leave things as they were.
Just a few days later, Penelope experienced the shock of her life when she saw David at her door. There he was, awkward and apologetic, looking like he needed to say something important.
“Penelope, I’m so sorry,” he began. “I needed to make sure it was really you, Penelope Smith.”
Penelope, listening in confusion, heard something that changed her life forever. “I’m your half-brother,” David said, barely above a whisper.
Penelope was frozen in place as she tried to understand what he said. How could that cute boy from the library, whom she had a great date with, be her half-brother?
The claim was too large to rely solely on confidence, so Penelope requested a DNA test. When the findings came in, they showed that David was speaking the truth. He was her half-brother, but how was this possible?
It came out that the person who raised her was not her real father, but rather David’s father. Previously, her mother and his father had an affair.
Although this revelation had the potential to unravel many things, Penelope chose to address her mother about it on her own time and terms.
She and David developed a deep brother-sister relationship.
