Clara and her widowed Dad share a tight bond, but his latest dating move stirs things up. When her Dad calls her the housekeeper to impress his new girlfriend, Clara feels hurt and mad. Determined to teach her Dad a tough lesson, Clara decides to show this “house cleaner” can tidy up more than just rooms.
The “mess” really started ten years ago when I was just seven.
After Mom was gone, 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 got 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 laundry by folding clothes and pairing socks. I wanted to help him as much as I could.
The house felt lonelier without Mom, and I knew Dad felt it, too.
But the loneliness also brought Dad and me closer, and we became best friends. We spent evenings chatting about our day, watching movies, or just sitting on the porch.
I loved those moments. They made me feel close to him, like we were a team. He’d share stories about Mom, and I’d tell him about my school adventures. Those talks helped us heal a bit each day.
One day, I saw Dad staring at his computer with a confused look. “What’s wrong, Dad?” I asked.
He sighed, “I’m trying to make a profile on this dating site, Clara, but I don’t know what to say.”
I giggled. “Let me help, Dad!” I said. I climbed onto his lap and looked at the screen. “Say you like fishing and reading.”
He laughed. “You think that’ll work?”
“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 make him laugh. “Tell her you make awesome peanut butter sandwiches,” I’d say, and we’d both crack up. It felt good to see him smile again.
Even though life without Mom was tough, Dad and I found ways to make it better. We leaned on each other and grew closer every day. Helping him with the dating world was one way I showed 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 shocked to see Dad and a woman I didn’t know. They were cozy on the couch, and Dad was whispering something to her. I nearly dropped my backpack in surprise.
Dad’s face turned bright red when he saw me. He jumped up, looking nervous. “Uh, Clara! Hi! Um, this is, uh…” He was stumbling over his words so much I almost felt bad for him.
“Who’s this, Daniel?” the woman asked, breaking the awkward silence.
In his panic, Dad blurted out, “This is Clara, my housekeeper… the maid!”
My eyes widened in shock. Maid? Really, Dad? I felt a mix of hurt and anger.
“Oh, nice!” the woman said with a big smile. “Clara, can you tidy up the bedroom today? It’s a bit messy after our time there.”
My jaw dropped. I couldn’t believe this was happening. Clean the bedroom after their time together?
I looked at Dad, and he seemed like he wanted to disappear.
“Da–I mean, Mr. Daniels, the bedroom?” I asked, trying to hold back my anger.
“Yes…” he sighed, looking sad. “That’s all for today.”
“Okay, Mr. Daniels,” I said, keeping a straight face.
I grabbed a dust cloth and went upstairs, glaring at them both. This wasn’t like Dad at all, and I couldn’t believe he called me the house cleaner.
Entering the bedroom, I saw it was a total mess.
Clothes were scattered everywhere, and the bed was unmade. The woman’s perfume lingered in the air, making me wrinkle my nose. I didn’t want to clean it, especially not after that awkward moment.
I sat there, thinking about what to do. I needed to teach Dad a lesson for putting me in this spot.
If his new girlfriend didn’t like kids, she needed to know 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 date someone who couldn’t accept me?
Then it hit me. I had to confront Dad in a way that would show his lie without making things worse. I needed to be clever about it. It had to be something he couldn’t dodge.
I sat on the bed, the mess around me matching the storm in my head. Soon, an idea came to me.
This “house cleaner” was about to fix Dad’s mess in a way he’d never forget!
Walking back into the living room, I saw Dad and the woman talking, unaware of what was coming.
With a playful glint in my eye, I said loudly, “Looks like your night wasn’t as wild as the day before yesterday, Mr. Daniels! That day, I had to clean for hours after your time! Oh, sorry for my words.”
The woman’s face turned red with anger. “I wasn’t here the day before yesterday! Who were you with then?” she yelled at Dad.
Dad’s eyes widened, and he looked like he might pass out. “Clara, what are you saying?” he stammered.
I acted confused, tilting my head. “Sorry, ma’am, you must be Jessica, right? Mr. Daniels kept talking about how great you are!”
The woman’s anger exploded. “I’m MARTHA!” she shouted, turning to Dad. “Who the heck is this Jessica?”
Dad opened and closed his mouth, unable to find words. Martha’s face twisted in fury as she slapped him hard, the sound ringing through the room. She stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
I stood there, watching Dad rub his cheek. He looked at me, a mix of frustration and helplessness. “Clara, why did you do that?”
I crossed my arms, feeling satisfied. “Because, Dad, you lied about me and put me in a tough spot. If you’re going to date, be honest. And don’t ever call me your house cleaner again. So, Mr. Daniels, anything else to clean up?” I asked with a cheeky grin.
For a moment, Dad just stared, then he started to chuckle.
The chuckle grew into a big laugh, and soon we were both laughing so hard we could barely stand. The tension faded, replaced by the 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 sheepish. “She didn’t seem to like 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 how I acted. I should’ve been honest with you and her.”
I walked over and hugged him. “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, shaking his head. “I think we’ve had enough cleaning for today. How about we order pizza and watch a movie instead?”
I grinned. “That sounds perfect.”
