Then She Found Me

April Epner, a 39-year-old devoted Brooklyn elementary school teacher, embarks on an unexpected voyage of self-discovery and emotional upheaval after a series of life-changing events hit her all at once. After her husband Ben’s abrupt departure leaves her in a state of shock, she faces another jolt the very next day with the passing of her difficult adoptive mother, Trudy. Amidst all this chaos, she receives a shocking phone call from Alan, representing Bernice Graves, a colorful host of a local talk show, who reveals that she is April’s biological mother.

At first, April is caught between intrigue and skepticism regarding Bernice’s assertion that she was fathered by the legendary Steve McQueen. Along the way, she begins to develop a connection with Frank, the divorced father of one of her students, through lengthy phone conversations. Their relationship takes a turn when they share a memorable first date at a party hosted by Bernice at her apartment, stirring feelings that April thought were lost.

However, the plot thickens when April discovers she is pregnant—an unexpected gift from a fleeting encounter with Ben on the kitchen floor just hours before his departure. While initially filled with joy at the thought of becoming a mother, a dream she has cherished for years, her happiness is soon clouded by Ben’s sudden return, Frank’s swift retreat after learning about the impulsive moment at the gynecologist, and Bernice’s relentless attempts to establish a connection.

As if things weren’t complicated enough, April learns that Bernice had misled her about the adoption process; she had raised her for a full year before handing her over at the insistence of her parents, not just three days after giving birth as she initially claimed. Faced with these betrayals, both from people she thought she could trust and the God she has faithfully worshipped, April’s world begins to crumble.

Through this emotional struggle, she ultimately finds comfort in her strong faith and learns the art of forgiveness for those who have wronged her, including Bernice. Reconciliation comes with a twist; Bernice must “buy” a baby for her. Further trials lie ahead, as Frank also expresses his willingness to forgive when April reaches out to apologize for her past actions.

This path to redemption is not without its challenges. When April endures a miscarriage of the baby that Bernice had provided for her, she decides to pursue adoption, eventually discovering a renewed sense of purpose and joy as a mother to a different child.

Last Updated: November 22, 2024 at 10:46