It Might Have Been

"It Might Have Been" is a romantic novel about the effects of an arranged marriage. Beginning in the Ukraine at the start of the last century, two teenagers Rita and Daniel are in love. Daniel has no money, so her father marries her off to a wealthy merchant Mikal. All migrate to America where Mikal opens a successful lighting store whereas Daniel becomes a doctor. Rita and Daniel run into each other, and...still in love...they begin an affair. She already has a son, Nathan. Rita and Daniel consider the boy's age, and they know that Nathan is actually Daniel's son. Mikal finds out about the affair, but they all know that the boy should never know who his real father is. Meanwhile Mikal's store loses money. Mikal is then older and tries to move a heavy crate by himself. The crate falls and traps him underneath. Nathan is there. Daniel has enough strength to tell the teenage Nathan to get the doctor. As Mikal dies, he tells Daniel "Be good to them." Eventually, Daniel does marry Rita, but the truth of Nathan's parentage is something they keep secret for the rest of their lives.