Julie and the almost perfect guy

Based on a true story: My friend “Julie” has been dating this guy for a couple months. Things are going well. They have fun together and talk on the phone for hours every night…love is in the air. He seems to be a genuinely nice guy, which is rare in her experience. Julie starts to see some potential in this one and alerts her friends and family that she has met a “special” guy. Some of Julie’s friends come in town and the two make arrangements to have a small introduction get-together. On Friday, Julie calls her guy to confirm. He tells her that he’s going to meet her friends on Saturday and cook for her on Sunday. She’s swooning.

Saturday morning she texts him as usual and doesn’t get a reply. She’s thinks its odd but doesn’t worry. Later in the day she calls him; it rings but no one answers. Now she’s a little concerned, especially since her friends are here and he isn’t. The day comes and goes and he has not answered. She remembers that his father was sick and assumes the worst has happened. She thinks, “Maybe he had to drive back to Detroit to be with his family. He may not be in the right frame of mind to call.”

Another day goes by and the uncertainty is eating at her. By this time several texts, calls and e-mail attempts have been made. Dozens of possible scenarios are ravaging her brain. She ponders, “Was this an elaborate scheme to get into my panties? Is he in the hospital? Who does this?”

After day three of silence, she starts doing a little internet sleuthing. She cross-references friends and family on Facebook to see if any one has mentioned anything about him i.e. “please pray for _____ his father is really sick.” She finds nothing of the sort. She does see a female on his family member’s page with the same last name. She clicks on her page and discovers engagement pictures. She doesn’t jump to any conclusions but she also doesn’t stop her search. She then Google’s the girl’s first name combined with his first and last name. A photographer’s page populates in the search. She clicks.

As she gazes on the photographer’s portfolio she is experiencing a whirlwind of emotions. A week ago she saw a picture in his cell phone of him in a tuxedo and he told her that was a picture of him at his brother’s wedding. Well unless he has a twin brother with the same name, it was his wedding. The photo is dated July of last year, 10 months ago. Just as her search concludes with this shocker her phone rings. It’s a text from hit that reads “I’m okay, but my dad just died.”

Julie’s angry and concerned but more angry. She wonders if this is a lie too or is it a true event that exposed his lies. She feels duped. She continues to internet sleuth to find if his father’s passing is a lie too. She calls her mom and a small circle of friends for advice. What should she do?

Does she confront him in person, over the phone, or in some written form (text or email)? Does she find out if his father really died before bringing this up? Or does she just walk away from the situation as if it didn’t happen?