“When would’ve been the right time?” I asked. “After I taught her to ride a bike? After the bedtime stories and the nightmares? Or maybe at her next birthday party, when you both would’ve toasted to ‘family’?”
No one answered.
Adam stood, palms out like he was pleading.
“Look, man, I just wanted to be there for her.”
“For your daughter?” I asked. “Interesting. You mean the one I’ve been raising for five years? The one who has my name? My eyes? My routines?”
“I didn’t want to ruin everything,” Jess said, tears finally falling. “I was scared. You loved her so much, and I didn’t know how to take that away.”
“You already did,” I said. “You just didn’t admit it.”
I stood and pushed my chair back. My heart pounded in my chest, but I kept my voice even.
“You both have ten minutes. Get your things. Get out of my house.”
Jess gasped.
“You can’t just—”
“I can. And I am.”
Lily’s lip quivered.
“Daddy?”
I knelt beside her and took her hands.
“Sweetheart, listen to me. I love you. I’m not going anywhere. You’ll always have me, no matter what.”
She nodded slowly, crawling into my arms.
“Okay.”
I kissed her forehead and turned to Adam and Jessica.
“You heard me. Ten minutes.”
They left in stunned silence. Adam muttered something about being sorry. Jessica couldn’t meet my eyes. I didn’t watch them leave. I just held Lily.
The next day, I filed for divorce.
Jessica didn’t contest it. There was nothing to say.
Adam tried to call, text, and email. I blocked him everywhere.
We started paternity testing a few days later, but the truth is, I don’t care about the results. Whether or not she’s biologically mine doesn’t change a thing. She’s my daughter. I’ve raised her, held her through fevers, danced with her in the kitchen. I’ve wiped her tears, her nose, her face. She’s mine.
Last night, Lily crawled into bed beside me.
“Daddy?” she whispered.
“Yeah, baby?”
“I don’t want to play that game again.”
I pulled her close.
“Me neither. I’m sorry, my baby, you’ll never have to again.”
She looked up at me, her eyes wide and honest.
“Are you still my real daddy?”
I didn’t hesitate.
“I always have been. I always will be.”
She nodded and rested her head on my chest.
That was all she needed to hear.
This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.
The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.
