“You’re welcome!” Joy beamed.
She then hugged him tight, her little voice brushing his ear. “Can I… can I call you Daddy now?”
Eric’s heart skipped. His throat tightened. “Of course,” he whispered.
Joy giggled, thrilled, and nestled against his shoulder. In a small, shy voice, she whispered, “Daddy.”
She barely said it above a breath, but both Eric and Hadley heard. They looked at each other—eyes bright, shimmering with tears.
“Yes, my little angel,” Eric replied, his voice thick with emotion.
“Daddy!” Joy said again, louder this time.
Eric laughed softly. “Yes. Daddy’s right here!”
“Mommy!” Joy turned toward her mother, face glowing. “I have a dad now!”
Hadley froze for a beat. Then she looked at her daughter’s radiant smile. Her heart ached with something warm and fragile. She nodded, blinking fast. “Yes, you do.” She wouldn’t cry—not in front of Joy.
She knew how deeply her daughter had longed for a father. And now, that wish had finally come true.
“Let’s go!”
She felt a sudden weight in her hand.
Looking down, she saw Eric had taken it.
With one arm around Joy and the other holding Hadley’s hand, he looked at the little girl in his arms.
“You’re a mess. Let’s get you cleaned up first. Then we’ll have a proper dinner.”
“Okay!” Joy giggled, pressing her cheek close to his ear. She whispered, “Daddy, Joy is so happy!”
ｍ?ｅ ｕｄｔｅｓ ｎ ｌ?ｖｌ.
“Yeah?” Eric murmured back, matching her quiet tone. “Daddy’s really happy too.” They whispered back and forth, voices too low to hear, and giggled together from time to time.
Hadley raised an eyebrow. “What are you two whispering about?”
“Nothing!”
“Nothing at all!”
They answered together.
“Oh, really?” Hadley crossed her arms, pretending to frown. “Now you’re keeping secrets from me?”
“Mommy, hug!” Joy quickly launched herself into Hadley’s arms. “Mommy, give Joy a bath!”
“No!” Eric pulled her back gently. “You need to get out of those muddy clothes first. Don’t go messing up your mommy.”
They were his two favorite people. His little princess could roll in the mud to her heart’s content. The other—she was his queen. And she deserved to stay elegant. Always.
“Okay.” Joy didn’t seem the least bit upset. She grinned. “I’ll be a good girl and do what Daddy says!”
“That’s my girl.”
.
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