At my daughter's third birthday pool party, she pointed at my stepmom's stomach and said, "Daddy's in there" — I laughed until I saw WHAT she was actually pointing at.

Toby came down the stairs slowly when he heard his father's voice. He stood on the porch, holding his favorite wooden toy car, looking at Glen with a mix of longing and fear.

""Hey, buddy,"" Glen said softly, dropping to one knee on the lawn. He held out his arms, but he didn't push. He waited.

Toby took a cautious step forward, then another. ""Daddy... are you still our daddy?""

The question broke Glen's heart into a thousand pieces. ""Always, Toby. Nothing in this world could ever change that. I made a very bad mistake, and I hurt Mommy, but I will always, always be your daddy.""

Toby ran into Glen's arms, throwing his small arms around his father's neck. Glen held him tightly, burying his face in Toby's hair, whispering endless apologies.

Sarah watched from the porch, her hand over her heart. She knew that despite her own pain, Toby needed his father. Healing for her son had to come first, even if her own journey was going to take much longer.

Later that afternoon, as Glen and Toby walked along the lake shore skipping stones, Toby looked up at his dad. ""Daddy, why did that lady have your name?""

Glen stopped, looking down at his son with complete honesty. ""Because, Toby, sometimes grown-ups make terrible choices when they are lost. That lady thought having my name would bring happiness, but it only brought sadness. I shouldn't have let her close to our family.""