Kyle Greenbecker had spent a year working on an oil pipeline in Alaska, but he was finally on his way home to reunite with his beautiful wife. He and Lisa had met in high school, and Kyle had never regretted marrying her at nineteen.
He might have been old-fashioned, but Kyle took pride in the fact that Lisa was the only woman he had ever been with. He didn’t need or want anyone else. It had never crossed his mind that Lisa could one day doubt his loyalty—and with good reason.
When his plane landed, Kyle grabbed his bags and exited with the other passengers, scanning the crowd for Lisa’s familiar face. But she wasn’t there to pick him up.
She’s probably stuck at work, he thought. He sent her a quick text, letting her know he was on his way home, but received no reply. He took an Uber, and an hour later, he was stepping up to his front door.
The living room lights were on, but Lisa was nowhere in sight. As he walked into the kitchen, he stopped abruptly, stunned. A bassinet sat on the kitchen table, and inside, a tiny arm wiggled.
He stepped closer. There was a baby lying in a cradle on his kitchen table! The infant gazed up at him with wide, curious eyes, and Kyle stared back, just as bewildered.
Then he noticed a folded note next to the bassinet. He picked it up and unfolded it. The first piece of paper, written in an unfamiliar hand, read:
“You had your fun—now take responsibility for your child.”
But it was the second note, written in Lisa’s elegant handwriting, that shook him to his core:
“Kyle,
Yesterday, I found this baby on our doorstep with the note attached. I’ve always suspected you were cheating on me during your work trips, but I never held it against you. After all, I had my fair share of fun while you were away. But raising someone else’s child? That’s too much.
I’ve filed for divorce, and I sincerely hope never to see you again.
P.S. Don’t worry about the baby—I only left once I saw you walking up the driveway. Enjoy your life, Kyle. I certainly intend to enjoy mine.”
Kyle sank into a chair, burying his face in his hands. He couldn’t believe this was happening. That baby wasn’t his. He had never cheated on Lisa—never!
A soft gurgle made him lift his head. The baby waved a tiny hand in the air, and when Kyle reached out, the child gripped his finger with surprising strength.
“Well, kid,” Kyle murmured, “I guess it’s just the two of us now, and I have no idea what to do with you.”
The baby cooed and gurgled again. Then her face scrunched up, turning red.
“Oh, no,” Kyle muttered. “What’s happening?” The sudden smell gave him an answer.
It was diaper time. But did he even have a diaper?
Beside the table was a large backpack filled with unfamiliar baby supplies. Digging through it, he found diapers, wipes, and other baby essentials.
Kyle quickly Googled how to change a diaper and watched a YouTube tutorial featuring a woman demonstrating on a doll. He followed her steps carefully, but reality proved much messier. The doll hadn’t kicked, squirmed, or planted its tiny heels in the disaster area of the dirty diaper!
As he cleaned up the baby, Kyle realized she was a girl—and he knew nothing about raising one.
“I won’t be much help with dating advice,” he told her solemnly, “but I can teach you how to ride a bike.”
At that moment, he knew—he was keeping this baby.
He cradled her in his arms and whispered, “You need me, and I think I need you too. So, what do you say, little one?”
After another YouTube tutorial, Kyle managed to prepare a bottle and fed her as she nestled in his arms.
“You need a name, you know? How about… Celeste? Or Lily…?”
If anyone had told Kyle he would adapt so quickly to fatherhood, he wouldn’t have believed them. Lily had her difficult moments and tantrums, but somehow, things worked out.
He officially declared Lily as his child and enrolled her in daycare. For him, her birthday was the day he found her.
But on Lily’s second birthday, Kyle’s world came crashing down.
A woman knocked on his door.
“I’m here for my baby,” she announced.
Kyle stared at her. She was tall, blonde, and thin, with obviously enhanced assets courtesy of a plastic surgeon.
“Your what?” he asked.
“My baby,” she said, snapping her fingers. “I left her here two years ago. Sorry, I was kinda high and got lost looking for my boyfriend’s place nearby. You know how it is!”
“No,” Kyle said icily. “I don’t know how it is because I’ve never abandoned a child on someone’s doorstep.” He stepped forward. “If I were you, I’d leave now before I call the police.”
The woman smirked. “Listen, I realized I made a mistake a week later when Burt wouldn’t answer my calls. But now, I need that baby.”
Kyle’s stomach twisted. “Why do you need her?”
“Burt just signed a Major League contract,” she said smugly. “And thanks to that baby, I’m about to cash in millions.”
Kyle slammed the door in her face, but he had a feeling this wasn’t over. And he was right.
A week later, he was summoned to family court. A Ms. Cherish Vegas was challenging his adoption of Lily.
Suddenly, Kyle was swamped with legal notices, unannounced social service visits, and interrogations of his friends and coworkers. Cherish was determined to get her hands on that money.
The court hearing finally arrived. Kyle nervously handed Lily over to a social worker for the duration of the proceedings.
Cherish was there, of course, along with a tall man with Lily’s striking blue eyes—Burt.
Cherish put on a tearful performance, telling the judge how much she loved her baby and regretted giving her up.
The judge reviewed the papers. “By ‘giving her up,’ you mean leaving her on Mr. Greenbecker’s porch, correct, Ms. Vegas?”
Cherish flushed. “Well, I’m still her mom! No one can deny that!”
The judge turned to Burt. “Sir, are you the father?”
Burt hesitated. “I guess I must be…”
The judge narrowed his eyes. “Are you ready and willing to assume parental responsibility?”
Cherish interrupted. “Of course, he is! He just signed a three-million-dollar contract—”
“Ah,” the judge interjected. “Now we’re getting to the truth. Tell me, Ms. Vegas, what name did you give your daughter?”
“Her name?” Cherish blinked. “Well, she’ll take her daddy’s name since he’ll be paying child support!”
Kyle stood. “Your Honor, may I address the court?”
“Go ahead, Mr. Greenbecker.”
Kyle took a deep breath. “My daughter’s name is Lily. And she already has her father’s name—mine. From the moment she came into my life, I loved her, and she loves me.”
At that moment, Lily, who had been playing with the social worker’s necklace, noticed Kyle standing.
“Daddy!” she cried, reaching for him.
The judge smiled. “Well, ladies and gentlemen, it seems the most important voice in this matter has spoken.”
He banged his gavel. “All custody claims by Ms. Vegas are dismissed. Kyle Greenbecker retains full custody and adoption rights over Lily Greenbecker.”
That night, Kyle and Lily celebrated by chasing fireflies in the yard.
“Stars!” Lily giggled, reaching for the glowing insects.
But for Kyle, the brightest star was his little girl.
