From her vantage point, Hadley watched the interaction unfold, a tender smile softening her features as something profound squeezed her heart.

“Oh!” Eric exclaimed with theatrical surprise. “You really are Joy! I’ve found you beneath all this mud!”

“Yes!” Joy confirmed through a cascade of infectious giggles, pride beaming through the dirt on her face.

With Joy balanced securely in one arm, Eric’s gaze shifted to Hadley, something unreadable flickering in his eyes as he gave Joy’s tiny hand a gentle, meaningful squeeze.

“Joy,” he asked softly, his voice suddenly serious despite his mud-spattered appearance. “Would it bother you if your mom and I got married?”

Hadley froze completely, her lungs seizing mid-breath as though time itself had suspended around them.

His straightforward question to Joy blindsided Hadley almost with the force of a physical blow, catching her utterly defenseless and unprepared.

Sooner or later, Joy had to know.

Hadley watched her daughter, both nervous and hopeful.

“Are you and Mommy… getting married?” Joy’s voice was soft, uncertain. She didn’t fully understand what marriage meant, but the question hung in the air.

Eric nodded. “Yes.”

He lowered his voice, searching for the simplest way to explain it. “It means your mom, you, and I become a family. We’ll live together… and never be apart.”

Joy blinked, her wide eyes staring up at him. She didn’t speak right away, but then her lips began to pout. ? f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?.net

Was she upset?

Hadley’s heart sank. She gave Eric a quick glance. “Maybe we should—”

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“Mommy,” Joy turned to her instead. “Are you really going to marry Eric?”

Hadley’s breath caught. Her heart thudded painfully as she met her daughter’s eyes.

“Yes,” she said softly.

“Eric.” Joy looked up at Eric again. “So… if you marry Mommy, does that mean you’re gonna be my daddy?”

Both Eric and Hadley froze at the girl’s words.

Neither had expected it—not like this, not so soon.

They glanced at each other, startled, their hearts pounding.

“Yes,” Eric swallowed. His voice dropped to a near-whisper. “Joy, if you’d let me… I’d really like to be your daddy. To take care of you and Mommy. Would that be okay?”

Joy turned to her mom again. Hadley gave her a gentle smile. Then she nodded. “I’d like that!”

Joy lit up and threw herself into Eric’s arms.

Emotion surged in his chest. He bent down and kissed the top of her head.

“Thank you, Joy.”

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