For several seconds, he stares at me with wide eyes that mirror my own, processing information that reshapes everything he thought he knew about his family. Then his face breaks into the biggest smile I’ve ever seen.
“Really? You’re really my daddy?” He doesn’t wait for confirmation before throwing himself into my arms with force that makes me grunt from my injury but also fills me with pure happiness.
“Really.” I hold him carefully, breathing in the scent of his shampoo and feeling his small body shake with excitement against my chest. “I’m so sorry it took me this long to find you.”
“It’s okay.” His voice is muffled against my shoulder. “You’re here now, and that’s what matters.”
The simple forgiveness and acceptance in his words bring tears to my eyes. This is my son, and he’s welcoming me into his life with the generous heart Danielle has nurtured in him.
“There’s something else we need to tell you.” Danielle’s voice draws Leo’s attention back to her. “Something that’s going to make our family even bigger.”
Leo sits back to look at both of us with renewed curiosity. “What? Are we getting a puppy?” He looks like he might explode from happiness at the thought.
“Perhaps soon, but you’re going to be a big brother.” I watch his face carefully for any sign of concern or jealousy. “Mama is having a baby.”
“A baby?” His eyes go wide with wonder. “Like, a real baby that will live here with us?”
“A real baby who will be your little sister.” She places his hand on her stomach, where the slight curve is becoming more noticeable. “She’s growing inside me right now, and she’ll be born in a few months.”
Leo presses his palm against her belly with gentle reverence. “Can she hear me if I talk to her?”
“She might be able to.” Danielle’s eyes glisten with tears as she watches our son meet his sister for the first time. “Do you want to say something to her?”
He leans down close to her stomach and speaks in the careful whisper he uses when sharing important secrets. “Hi, baby sister. I’m Leo, and I’m going to teach you about dinosaurs and space and how to build really good pillow forts. Daddy’s here now, so we’re going to be a real family. And we’ll get a puppy.” He whispers the last part, like it’s a sibling conspiracy.
The word ‘Daddy’ sends warmth through my entire body. Hearing it from Leo’s lips makes everything official in ways that DNA tests and legal documents never could.
“What do you think about having a baby sister?” I ask when he sits back up.
“I think it’s the best thing ever.” His enthusiasm is infectious and complete. “Will she be able to play dinosaurs with me?”
“When she gets bigger, I’m sure she’ll love playing dinosaurs with her big brother.” Danielle wipes tears from her cheeks with the back of her hand. “First, she has to grow big enough to be born, and then big enough to walk and talk.”
He scowls. “How long does that take?”
“The baby will be born in about five months, and then it takes about a year before she can walk around on her own.” I pull him back into a hug that includes Danielle. “You can help take care of her from the very beginning, so she knows who you are and loves you from the start.”
“I want to help with everything.” Leo’s voice carries absolute determination. “I want to be the best big brother ever.”
“You already are.” I kiss the top of his head and meet Danielle’s gaze over his curls. “You’re going to be amazing at it.”
We spend the next hour answering Leo’s endless questions about babies and families and what it means to be a daddy. His curiosity is boundless, ranging from practical concerns about where the baby will sleep to philosophical questions about whether she’ll like the same dinosaurs he does.
Carmen appears in the doorway with lunch trays, having given us privacy for the family conversation but obviously understanding Leo’s energy requires regular feeding. “How did it go?” she asks quietly.
“Perfect,” says Danielle softly.
Leo bounds off the bed to hug her legs. “Carmen, guess what? Mr. Radmir is my daddy, and I’m going to have a baby sister.”
“That’s wonderful news.” Carmen’s smile is genuine and warm as she returns his hug. “I’m so happy for all of you.”
While Leo chatters to Carmen about his new family status, I catch Danielle’s hand and bring it to my lips. “Thank you,” I whisper against her palm.
“For what?”
“For raising him to be the kind of child who can accept huge changes with pure joy, for giving me the chance to be his father, and for trusting me enough to build this with me.”
“Thank you for choosing us.” She leans over to kiss me softly. “For walking away from everything else to make this possible.”
