“I don’t want your filthy van to ruin my dress. “Please don’t come, Dad.” When her father offered to drive her to her graduation ceremony, Sabrina became irate. However, Pete couldn’t pass up such a significant occasion in his daughter’s life. Nevertheless, he went to the location and took a seat in the parent-only area. The host declared, “Next, we call Miss Sabrina Parker!” into the room. As soon as Sabrina got her diploma, Pete hurried to his feet, grabbed his phone, and began filming. Despite his pride, Sabrina’s expression changed to one of rage upon seeing him. The host went on, “Mr. Parker, could you please join us on stage?” which surprised her. Watching her father approach the podium left Sabrina speechless and unaware of what was going on.
18 years old As a coal miner’s daughter, Sabrina thought her father’s work wasn’t “respectable.” As a result, she refrained from interacting with him, telling him any secrets, or even allowing him to handle her possessions.
Despite raising her alone from the moment of her birth, his daughter somehow hated him because he didn’t have a fancy car.
Sabrina heard the front door open one evening while she was speaking with a friend on the phone. It was Pete, her father. She didn’t want him to know that the day of her graduation ceremony was approaching, so she quickly ended the conversation. She reflected that her classmates would tease her if they saw him with her.
With two packages in his hands, Pete smiled as he entered the house. He placed the packages on the table and informed Sabrina that he had a gift for her.
Pete has supported his daughter ever since she lost her mother. He always respected her privacy and understood her.
Although Sabrina was grateful for the gifts, she always thought her father was unworthy of her attention due to the blackened face and hands from the coal. She even forbade him from touching her belongings.
She opened one of the packages eagerly to see what was inside and discovered a stunning dress. She smiled broadly at this, but it quickly vanished when she saw that her dad’s suit was in the other package.
Frustrated, Sabrina bit her lip. She plucked up the courage to tell her father that she didn’t want him there.
Pete was stunned beyond belief. He was unaware that his daughter thought so little of him.
“What did you say?” he inquired bewilderedly.
“Dad, the fathers of my friends come from well-known families. They all appear to be celebrities and are wealthy. I hope you understand, dad, that I don’t want you standing there looking like a mess. Anyone can tell you are a coal miner just by looking at your filthy hands and face, regardless of how well you dress. They shouldn’t make fun of me. Don’t attend my graduation, please.
Pete wasn’t angry with his daughter, but he was devastated. He was aware that she didn’t hate him; rather, she hated his job, and that was okay because she was too young to fully comprehend the consequences of what she was saying.
Pete offered to drive Sabrina to the event on her special day, but she declined. She then forced him to swear that he would not attend her graduation. Pete nodded, but his mind was elsewhere. He changed into his new suit and followed Sabrina out of the house.
After arriving, he sat in the parents’ section and cheered the graduates as they went up on stage.
Pete pulled out his phone and began filming Sabrina as soon as the presenter called her name. She was walking straight and grinning broadly because she was so proud of herself. However, her attitude changed as soon as she saw her father. She didn’t even give him a smile.
All she could think about was how she wanted the ceremony to end quickly so she could face him. However, the presenter asked Pete to come on stage when she called his name.
I appreciate it, Mr. Lauren. Good evening, gentlemen and ladies! When he took the mic, Pete said. “Will you please give us the slideshow?”
When the projector began playing a slideshow of pictures of Pete and Sabrina, everyone was in disbelief. Before she developed into the young lady she was, there were pictures of her when she was still very young.
“I cherish my daughter.” I’m very proud of you, Sabrina. If your mother were present today, I hope she would be just as proud. You can see for yourself, Emma, if you happen to be here! No other father on the planet could be more proud than me now, despite your warning that I couldn’t raise my daughter by myself. Congratulations, Sabrina.We succeeded!
Sabrina was moved by her father’s deed. She joined her father on stage, hugged him, and began to cry with happiness. “I really appreciate it, dad! “I apologize,” she said.
As the evening came to an end and they were heading home, Pete made the decision that it was time to tell his daughter the truth. He waited for her to reach the age of eighteen, when she would be mature enough to face reality.
He gathered his courage and turned to Sabrina, telling her that her mother was still alive. She lived in the same town and was still alive.
Sabrina nearly passed out. She found it incomprehensible that her father would deceive her for so long about something like that.
Pete, who was crying, explained that her mother had never desired her. She intended to abandon Sabrina and place her for adoption after becoming pregnant. She admitted that Pete wasn’t even the baby’s biological father when he told her not to, but he was still allowed to take her and raise her if he wanted to, provided he continued to believe that her mother had passed away.
Before divorcing her mother, Pete made the decision to adopt Sabrina as his own because he couldn’t allow her to go into foster care or be adopted by total strangers.
“You couldn’t be someone else’s child in my eyes. You are everything to me now, and you were my world,” Pete sobbed.
“You’re not my biological father?” Wanting to confirm what Pete had said, Sabrina asked again.
“I may not be your biological father, honey, but that doesn’t lessen my love for you. Don’t remember what I just said. No matter what happens, you will always be my daughter.
Sabrina couldn’t stop apologizing for calling him “dirty.” She was thankful he didn’t give up on her knowing she wasn’t his biological child.
That was the first and only time Pete and Sabrina talked about her mother. They decided to leave the past where it belonged. But from that moment on, Sabrina was never again ashamed of her dad. On the contrary, she couldn’t be prouder Pete was the man who raised her. She was happy to call him dad.