The next morning, Sophie is bouncing off the walls.
“Is Daddy coming today?
Is Daddy coming today?”
“I don’t know, baby.”
“He said he would!”
I sigh.
“He said he would try.”
But he does come.
He shows up at noon with a bouquet of wildflowers and a stuffed bear for Sophie.
He looks nervous.
He looks hopeful.
He looks like the boy I fell in love with.
“I brought flowers,” he says, handing them to me.
“I remember you like wildflowers.”
I take them.
“Thank you.”
“Daddy!” Sophie runs out of the house and throws herself into his arms.
He catches her and spins her around.
She laughs, a bright, beautiful laugh, and my heart aches.
I watch him push her on the swings, read her stories, make her laugh.
He’s good with her.
He’s patient.
He’s kind.
He’s the father she deserves.
But I can’t forget.
I can’t forget the way he left.
I can’t forget the way he denied her.
I can’t forget the way he broke my heart.
I call Mrs.
Patterson.
“He’s here.
He met her.”
“How do you feel?”
“I don’t know.” I pause.
“I don’t know anything anymore.”
Mrs.
Patterson is quiet for a moment.
But you don’t have to push him away either.
Just…
take it one day at a time.”
“One day at a time.”
“That’s all any of us can do.”
That night, after Alexander leaves, Sophie hugs me.
“Mommy, I like having a daddy.”
I smile.
“I’m glad, baby.”
“Does he like having me?”
I kneel down and look her in the eyes.
“He loves having you, Sophie.
More than anything.”
“Good.” She nods, satisfied.
“Because I love him too.”
I watch her run off to play, and I realize, with a start, that I’m not the only one who’s falling for Alexander Albert.
My daughter is too.