People think that the man who leaves a baby on his doorstep is the child’s father, and the scandal ruins his wife, his reputation, and the life he thought was safe.
Daniel Mercer had been working on an oil pipeline in Alaska for about a year when he was going through one of the hardest times of his life. The pay was good, the labor was hard, and being alone was scary. However, after a full year of being away, he was finally on his way back to his wife. It took him a long time to come back.
Daniel and Marissa met for the first time when they were both in high school. She could make a room brighter with her laugh, but he was quiet and loved fixing cars. A lot of people thought it was unsafe for them to get married when they were nineteen. Daniel, on the other hand, has never thought that getting married so young was a bad idea. He loved her with all his heart, and deciding to marry her was the easiest thing he had ever done.
He often joked about being old-fashioned, but the truth was much simpler: Marissa was the only woman he had ever been with, and he had never wanted to be with anyone else. He never thought that she may have questions about his allegiance because he had never given her any reason to do so.
Daniel was so excited the whole time that his heart raced as his jet landed that night. After getting his bags, he went out into the arrivals area and looked through the crowd for Marissa’s smile, which he knew well. The truth is that she wasn’t there.
He thought that it was probable that she had put off leaving work until late. She was a nurse, so it wasn’t unusual for her to have to deal with unanticipated medical problems. He took out his phone and wrote her a short text that said, “Just landed.” I’m already on my way home. Can’t wait to see you.
There was no answer.
He pushed the fear aside and called an Uber. During the ride, he imagined the look on Marissa’s face when he walked through the door. But when he got to their small suburban house and climbed up on the front porch, he felt like something was amiss. The lights were on inside, but the house was quiet.
He called “Marissa?” as he was going in and put his bags down.
There is no answer.
He went into the living room, which was empty. After that, they walked toward the kitchen, where the soft light from the ceiling light spilled over the floor. He couldn’t move while he was standing in the doorway.
There was a bassinet on the kitchen table. Inside, there was a very young baby that woke up and waved its little arms.
Daniel’s jaw dropped in surprise. He walked slowly toward us, as if he was afraid to breathe. The baby looked just as astonished to see Daniel, as shown by the wide, curious eyes that gazed up at him.
There were two notes on the table next to the bassinet. His stomach was in a knot.
The first message was written in a way that the author didn’t know how to read: “You had your fun; now take care of your child.”
The second note was written here with Marissa’s beautiful handwriting. He was so scared that his hands were shaking when he opened it.
I found this baby resting on our porch with the letter attached to it the day before yesterday. While you were abroad, I constantly thought you were cheating on me, but I decided to let it go because I was busy with my own things. But leaving me with the child of another woman is too much. I have filed for divorce. You are not someone I want to see again.
I just wanted to let you know that I didn’t leave until I saw you walking up the driveway. Don’t worry about me. You are now responsible for the baby. Daniel, have fun with your life; I’m sure I’ll have fun with mine.
Daniel fell into a chair and tried to keep the letter from sliding out of his hands. He felt like it was giving way in his chest. Are you getting divorced? Are you trying to flirt? She thought he had cheated? He hadn’t done it. Never once. He had never even thought of gazing at another lady that way.
In addition, this baby, this stranger, was not his.
A soft cooing sound broke through his fog. The baby waved with a tiny hand. Daniel’s gesture of extending his finger was nearly wholly unforeseen. The baby wrapped their tiny fist around it so tightly that it was a magnificent show of strength.
Daniel’s voice broke as he responded, “Well,” in a low whisper. “I guess it’s just the two of us now.” I don’t know what to do with you, which makes things worse.
After a while, the baby’s face turned red and got wrinkled. A smell verified Daniel’s worst fear. “Oh God,” he whispered as he looked around.
There was a big backpack next to the table that was full of baby stuff. He found bottles, diapers, and wipes while he was going through it. He took out his phone and looked up how to change a diaper. That’s when a video sprang up on YouTube of a happy woman detailing the surgery on a doll that wasn’t moving.
It looked like an easy job till Daniel tried it. This baby, on the other hand, kicked and thrashed, making the job a chaotic nightmare that was hard to finish. But after a while of fumbling, wiping, and mumbling in a rush, he was able to do it. At that point, he realized that the baby was a girl.
Daniel was quite helpful to her. Honestly, I don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to dating girls. But I can teach you how to ride a bike at some point in the future.
He decided to keep her that night.
He held her in his arms and fed her formula from the backpack he had brought with him. “You need a name. Let’s say we take Lily? What do you think of that? The baby made a soft cooing sound, as if it were saying yes.
From that day on, Daniel was a father for the first time. He not only signed Lily up for daycare, but he also changed his life to fit hers. She cried, laughed, threw fits, and wrapped herself around his heart completely. She did all of these things. Daniel didn’t celebrate her birthday on the day she was born; he did it on the day she came to his table.
Two years later, on Lily’s second birthday, Daniel’s life was turned upside down again.
He heard someone knock on his door. When he opened the door, he saw a tall woman with bleach-blonde hair and features that had been changed by surgery. Her arms made a cross.
She told me, “I’ve come for my baby.”
He opened and closed his eyes. “It’s “Your what?”
“Me and my son. I haven’t seen her in two years. I’m sorry for that; I was drunk, my sweetheart lives on the other block, and I got confused. You know what’s going on.
Daniel’s blood started to boil. Sorry, but I don’t know how that works. I have never left a child on the doorstep of a stranger before.
This woman had a frown on her face. When Burt stopped answering my calls about a week later, I realized I had left her there. But now I need her back.
“Do you need her?” “Why on earth?” Daniel said in a cold voice.
She grinned and a smirk crept to her lips. Burt has just signed a contract to play in Major League Baseball. I’m sure I’ll get a part of the millions of dollars he’s about to make.
Daniel slammed the door in her face. He knew, though, that the process was far from over.
The papers were sent after a week. Cherish Vegas was the name of the woman who was trying to stop Lily’s adoption via her petition. Daniel was constantly being watched because of the sudden rush of legal letters, surprise visits from social workers, and ongoing surveillance. Cherish didn’t give up.
The date of the court hearing finally came. Daniel kissed Lily on the forehead right before he surrendered her to the social worker. He said, “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart,” even though his stomach was churning.
Cherish cried in a spectacular way in court. “When I was younger, I made a lot of mistakes, but I love my child. I just left her with Mr. Mercer because I wasn’t ready. I cry about it every day.
The judge raised an eyebrow a little. When you say you “left her with Mr. Mercer,” do you mean you left her on his porch?
She was proud and blushed. Okay, yes. But I’m still her mom!
The judge turned her attention to the tall athlete who was sitting next to her. His blue eyes were like Lily’s. “Sir, are you the son of the father?”
Burt stood there for a long time. I guess that’s true.
“Are you ready to take full responsibility for this child right now?” the court asked the defendant.
Cherish yelled, “Of course he is, Judge!” right before he could answer. He just signed a contract worth three million dollars!
The judge’s face become more serious. “Now we’re talking about money,” she said. After that, she gazed down at Cherish. “Miss Vegas, could you please tell us more about the name you chose for your daughter?”
Chloe blinked. Who are you? It makes sense that she will take her father’s last name since he will be giving her money.
Daniel was up. “Your Honor, can I say something?”
The judge told Mr. Mercer, “Go ahead.”
Daniel’s voice was shaking, but his phrases stayed steady. Her name is Lily Mercer. I have been her mother since the day I found out she was. I fed her, changed her diaper, and held her all night long while she was unwell. She calls me Daddy. Also, I love her more than I love life itself.
At that same moment, Lily realized that Daniel was in the courtroom. She stretched out her arms toward him. She screamed, “Daddy!”
The judge smiled a little. I think the most important voice has already been heard on this topic. She hit the gavel. Mr. Mercer still has power over both custody and adoption. The case is done.
Daniel felt so relieved that he almost passed out. He picked her up and hugged her close while she giggled and gripped onto his shirt.
That night, he and Lily were in the yard catching lightning bugs in a jar. She pointed to the glowing bugs in the garden and said, “Stars!”
Daniel kissed her hair softly. “Lily, you are the brightest star in my crown.” All the time”
Daniel became more and more sure that Lily was his daughter as the night went on, no matter what happened when she came into his life. Always!
