Nobody knew that what seemed like an ordinary morning would soon turn into a day full of unexpected questions. Larry was determined to give Brooke a fresh start, but one phone call would make him question everything.
After a long and exhausting night, Brooke was finally sleeping peacefully in her room. She had no idea that her father had already made an important decision about her future.
The morning sunlight slowly entered through the bedroom window. Everything was quiet until Larry gently opened the door and walked inside.
He approached Brooke’s bed and noticed that she was still sleeping. Larry smiled slightly before speaking.
“Brooke, wake up. It’s time to get ready.”
Brooke moved slightly under the blanket but didn’t immediately open her eyes.
“Dad, just five more minutes. I’m really tired.”
Larry chuckled.
“No more sleeping. Today is an important day, and I don’t want us to waste any time.”
Brooke slowly opened her eyes and looked at him.
“What important day? Did something happen?”
Larry pulled a chair closer to her bed.
“Yes, something good happened. I’ve decided that we’re going to get you admitted into college today.”
Brooke immediately sat up. She stared at her father, trying to understand whether he was serious.
“Wait! You’re taking me to college today? Are you serious?”
“Of course I’m serious. I want you to have a better future. You’ve been through enough, and now it’s time to focus on yourself.”
Brooke’s face slowly brightened with happiness. She never expected Larry to take such a big step for her.
“Dad, I don’t even know what to say. Thank you so much.”
“You don’t have to thank me. You’re my daughter, and I want to see you succeed. Education is important, Brooke. I want you to have opportunities that nobody can take away from you.”
Brooke nodded emotionally. For the first time in a while, she felt that someone was genuinely thinking about her future.
However, Larry had no idea that the happiness of this morning would soon be interrupted by an unexpected visitor from the past.
After Larry left the bedroom, Brooke quickly got out of bed and walked toward her wardrobe. She opened it and started looking for something appropriate to wear.
She wanted to make a good first impression at her new college. While choosing her clothes, Brooke kept smiling.
She imagined meeting new people, attending classes, making friends, and finally having something positive to focus on.
A few minutes later, she finished getting dressed and checked her appearance in the mirror. She picked up her bag, placed her necessary belongings inside, and grabbed her phone.
Before leaving the room, she looked around one more time.
“Hopefully, this is the beginning of something better.”
She walked downstairs and found Larry waiting near the entrance. He was already holding the car keys.
“Are you ready?”
“Yes, Dad. Let’s go!”
Larry looked at her outfit and smiled.
“You look nice. I hope you’re ready to take your education seriously.”
“I promise I’ll do my best.”
They both walked toward the front door. Brooke was excited to leave, but she suddenly noticed something.
“Dad, I’ll drive today. You can relax.”
She reached for the car keys, but Larry quickly moved them away.
“Not so fast. You’re not driving today.”
“Why not? I know how to drive.”
“I know you can drive, but today I’m taking you myself. I want to make sure everything goes smoothly.”
Brooke laughed.
“Okay, Dad. Whatever you say.”
Larry opened the passenger-side door for her. Brooke got inside, and Larry walked around to the driver’s seat. Soon, they were on their way to the college.
The road was relatively quiet. Larry kept his eyes on the road while Brooke looked outside the window.
After a few minutes, Larry decided to talk about her future.
“Brooke, I want you to understand something. Going to college isn’t just about getting a degree. It’s about learning how to stand on your own feet.”
Brooke turned toward him.
“I understand, Dad. I really want to make something of myself.”
“That’s what I want to hear. Don’t let anyone distract you from your goals. People will always have opinions about your life, but you have to decide what you want.”
Brooke smiled.
“I won’t let anyone stop me. I want to make you proud.”
“You already make me proud. Just keep working hard.”
There was a short silence. Brooke started thinking about everything that had happened in her life.
She knew that her relationship with certain people had not always been easy. There had been arguments, disappointments, and situations that had left her emotionally exhausted.
But today felt different. She finally had a chance to move forward.
“Dad, do you really think college will help me change my life?”
“Absolutely. It will give you a chance to discover what you’re capable of. And remember, I’ll support you whenever you need me.”
“Thank you, Dad. This means more to me than you realize.”
Larry nodded. He was happy that Brooke was finally thinking about her future instead of the problems surrounding her.
However, his peaceful mood wouldn’t last much longer.
After driving for some time, Larry finally reached the college. He parked the car near the entrance.
Brooke looked through the window and noticed several students walking around the campus. Some were entering the main building, while others were standing outside talking with their friends.
She became a little nervous.
“Dad, look at this place. There are so many students!”
“That’s normal. You’ll get used to it. Come on, let’s go inside and speak with the admission office.”
Brooke opened the passenger door and stepped outside. Larry locked the car and joined her.
They started walking toward the main entrance. Brooke looked around with excitement, trying to take everything in.
She imagined herself studying there and building a completely new life.
But just before they reached the admission office, Brooke suddenly stopped.
“Dad, wait a second.”
“What happened?”
Brooke looked down at her shoes. One of her shoelaces had come undone.
“My shoelace is untied. Can you hold my phone for a second?”
She handed her phone to Larry and bent down to tie her shoes. Larry accepted the phone and stood beside her.
He looked around while waiting for Brooke to finish. Everything seemed perfectly normal.
Then suddenly…
THE PHONE STARTED RINGING.
Larry looked down at the screen. His expression changed when he noticed the name displayed.
It was Isaiah.
Larry stared at the screen for a moment. He wasn’t expecting Isaiah to contact Brooke, especially not at this particular time.
The phone continued ringing. Larry hesitated. Then he finally answered.
“Hello?”
There was a brief pause. Then Isaiah’s voice came through the phone.
“Larry? Is that you?”
“Yes, this is Larry. Why are you calling?”
Isaiah sounded nervous. He seemed to be struggling to find the right words.
“Larry, I really need to talk to you. It’s important.”
Larry looked toward Brooke, who was still tying her shoes.
“What’s going on? Why are you calling Brooke’s phone?”
Isaiah took a deep breath.
“I know this might sound strange, but I need your help. Can you meet me somewhere?”
Larry’s expression became more serious.
“Meet you? For what?”
Isaiah paused again.
“I need some money, Larry. I’m dealing with a serious situation, and I don’t know who else to ask.”
Larry couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He pulled the phone slightly away from his ear and looked at the screen again.
“Hold on. You’re calling me asking for money? Why? What’s happening?”
Isaiah sounded desperate.
“Please, Larry. I don’t have much time. I just need you to meet me. I’ll explain everything when we see each other.”
“Isaiah, you’re not making any sense. First, you call Brooke’s phone, and now you’re asking me for money without explaining anything.”
“I understand, but please listen to me. I’m not calling you for no reason. I really need your help.”
Larry became increasingly suspicious. He remembered that there had already been strange developments involving Isaiah, Faith, and Mariah.
The pregnancy reports had created confusion, and nobody seemed to have the complete truth.
Now Isaiah was suddenly asking for money. Larry couldn’t help wondering whether these situations were connected.
“Look, I don’t have time for this right now. I’m busy.”
“Larry, please! Just give me a chance to explain. I promise there’s a reason I’m asking you.”
“Not now, Isaiah.”
And before Isaiah could say anything else, Larry ended the call.
He stood silently, holding Brooke’s phone. His face showed that something was bothering him.
He had come to the college to help Brooke begin a new chapter in her life. But now he was thinking about Isaiah’s strange request.
Brooke finally finished tying her shoelaces and stood up. She noticed that Larry was staring at her phone.
His expression was different.
“Dad? What happened?”
Larry quickly looked at her.
“Nothing. Everything is fine.”
Brooke reached out for her phone. Larry handed it back.
“Who was calling?”
Larry tried to avoid the question.
“Just someone who wanted to talk to me.”
Brooke looked at the screen. She noticed Isaiah’s name in the recent call notification.
Her expression changed slightly.
“Isaiah called me?”
Larry nodded.
“Yes, he did.”
“What did he want? Was something wrong?”
Larry forced a small smile.
“He wanted to discuss something, but it’s nothing you need to worry about.”
Brooke studied her father’s face. She could tell he wasn’t telling her everything.
“Dad, are you sure? You look worried.”
Larry put his hands in his pockets.
“Brooke, listen. We’re here for your college admission. I don’t want anything to distract us today. We’ll deal with everything else later.”
Brooke remained quiet for a moment. She didn’t want to argue with him.
“Okay, Dad. If you say everything is fine, I’ll trust you.”
“Good. Now let’s go. We have an admission to complete.”
They started walking toward the admission office. But Brooke continued thinking about the unexpected call.
Why had Isaiah contacted her? And why had her father suddenly become so uncomfortable?
Inside the admission office, Larry and Brooke were welcomed by a staff member. The office was busy, with students and parents waiting for their turn.
A staff member approached them.
“Good morning. How can I help you?”
Larry stepped forward.
“Good morning. We’re here to complete the admission process for my daughter.”
The officer smiled.
“That’s wonderful. Does she already have her documents?”
Brooke opened her bag and took out the necessary paperwork.
“Yes. I brought everything I was asked to bring.”
The officer examined the documents.
“Everything looks good so far. We just need to verify a few details.”
Larry looked relieved.
“That’s great. Please let us know if anything else is required.”
The officer began checking the paperwork. Meanwhile, Brooke looked around the office.
She was finally taking the first step toward the future she had always wanted.
Larry stood beside her, feeling proud. But every few moments, his mind returned to Isaiah.
He couldn’t forget the desperation in Isaiah’s voice.
Why was he asking for money? Was he in trouble? Or was he trying to cover up something that had happened between him and Mariah?
Larry remembered the confusion surrounding the pregnancy reports. He knew that Brooke might also have heard some details about the situation.
But he didn’t want to bring those problems into her important day.
Just then, his phone vibrated. Larry pulled it out of his pocket. He looked at the scre