In her heart, she vowed, “I will live and teach that stubborn goat a bitter lesson.”
A few days later, Faith underwent the surgery. During her recovery, Leo visited daily, morning and evening, bringing fresh fruits, soup, home-cooked meals from the best restaurants.
Every time he showed up, Daisy would look up with mock irritation.
“What are you doing here again? You’re always here. Do you live here?” she asked one morning.
Leo smiled. “I just came to say hi to you and your mom.”
Daisy folded her arms. “Do you know my mommy? Are you my daddy? Why are you always bringing food? Are you my mommy’s boyfriend?”
Leo laughed nervously. “What do you think?”
Daisy blinked. “Well, if you’re my mommy’s boyfriend, you don’t look too bad. You dress nice and you smell better than Mr. Emma, our neighbor. I can accept you.” She paused and grinned. “But only if you keep bringing food.”
Leo laughed so hard that even the nurse outside smiled.
Eventually, one afternoon, Leo approached Faith in the private ward where she was staying for her recovery.
“Please,” he said quietly. “I know I hurt you deeply. I know what I did can never be erased, but let me be part of my daughter’s life. She deserves to know the truth—that her father is alive, that I regret everything.”
Faith stared at him coldly. “You’re lucky you’re even allowed near her.”
He nodded, ashamed. “Do whatever you want with me, but don’t shut me out of her life.”
A few days later, Faith called Daisy.
“Baby,” she said gently, “I have something to tell you.”
Daisy sat upright. “What is it, Mommy? Are you hurt? Is something wrong? Are you dying? Please don’t die on me,” she said, her eyes wide and teary.
Faith laughed weakly. “No, I’m not dying. Not yet. I still have a stubborn goat to teach a bitter lesson.”
Daisy chuckled.
“That man who’s been visiting us… he’s your daddy.”
Daisy’s eyes widened. “My what?”
“Your father.”
Faith explained as simply as she could how something happened years ago—grown-up stuff—and they had gone their separate ways. He was back now and he wanted to be part of her life.
“So I’m asking you: do you want him to be part of your life?”
Daisy tilted her head. “Is he a nice man? Did he hurt you? Is he the stubborn goat we need to teach a bitter lesson?”
Faith smiled. “Baby, that’s between your father and I to sort out adult stuff.”
Daisy sighed and looked away. “My classmates always laughed at me for not having a daddy. I used to make up stories. I told them my daddy was a superhero, but deep down I wanted one. I want him to be part of our life. I want him to take care of you when you’re sick. But if he’s a bad man, I don’t want him. We’ll drive him away.”
Faith chuckled through her tears. “Oh, Daisy, you deserve to have a daddy. So, here’s what we’ll do. We give him a three-month probation period. If he misbehaves, we drive him away.”
Daisy grinned. “Agreed. Three months probation. We start counting now.”
Daisy exhaled dramatically. “Then we’ll give him a chance. A small chance. Probation period. Three months. If he behaves well, we keep him. If not, we send him away.”
“Simple deal,” Faith said, smiling.
“But Mommy,” Daisy whispered, “I really like him. He seems nice.”
Faith hugged her tight. “Then maybe God has brought him back at the right time.”
That night, Leo entered the hospital room and Daisy folded her arms like a boss.
“We’ve decided,” she declared like a politician.
Leo blinked. “You have?”
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