“What can I do?”

I adjusted Sophie in my arms.

“Start by being the father you promised to be. Show up when you say you will.”

He nodded slowly.

Then he kissed Sophie’s head.

“Goodnight, baby girl.”

Three weeks later, I returned to work.

That morning, I dropped Sophie at Little Sprouts daycare at 7:45.

Her teacher, Miss Teresa, smiled warmly.

“We’ve got her, Mama. You go have a good day.”

I handed Sophie over.

Then I walked out.

I made it to the parking lot before I started crying.

I sat in my car for ten minutes.

Then I wiped my face, fixed my makeup, and drove to the office.

When I walked through the door, there was a banner hanging above my desk.

**WELCOME BACK, MADELINE!**

One of the letters was backward.

Renee grinned.

“Josh made it.”

“I can tell.”

My coworkers had brought donuts.

Someone had framed a photograph of Sophie and placed it on my desk.