Kyle Greenbecker had spent a year working on an oil pipeline in Alaska, and now, at long last, he was on his way home. The thought of reuniting with his wife, Lisa, filled him with anticipation. They had been together since high school, and he had never regretted marrying her at nineteen.
He had always been old-fashioned, taking pride in the fact that Lisa was the only woman he had ever been with. Faithfulness was never a question for him, and he had never imagined that she might one day doubt his loyalty.
When his plane landed, he quickly grabbed his bags and scanned the crowd for Lisa’s familiar face, but she wasn’t there. He figured she was stuck at work and sent her a quick message to let her know he was heading home. No reply came. Shrugging off the unease, he hailed an Uber, and an hour later, he stood at his front door.
The living room lights were on, but the house was silent. As he stepped into the kitchen, he froze. Sitting on the table was a bassinet, and inside, a tiny arm wiggled.
His breath caught as he stepped closer. A baby lay there, wrapped snugly in a soft gray blanket, its wide eyes staring up at him with innocent curiosity. His confusion deepened when he noticed two folded notes beside the bassinet.
He picked up the first note, written in an unfamiliar hand.
“You had your fun—now take responsibility for your child.”
His hands trembled as he reached for the second note, recognizing Lisa’s elegant handwriting.
“Kyle,
Yesterday, I found this baby on our doorstep with that note attached. I’ve always suspected you were unfaithful during your work trips, but I never confronted 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, his face buried in his hands. This couldn’t be real. He had never cheated on Lisa, not once. Yet here he was, abandoned along with a baby he had never seen before.
A small gurgle pulled his attention back to the child. She waved a tiny hand, and as he reached out, her fingers wrapped around his with surprising strength.
“Well, kid,” he murmured, staring at her tiny face, “I guess it’s just the two of us now, and I have no idea what to do with you.”
The baby cooed softly before her face scrunched up, turning red. A second later, a foul smell filled the air.
“Oh no,” Kyle muttered, realization dawning. “Diaper time.”
He spotted a large backpack near the table, filled with unfamiliar baby supplies. Digging through it, he found diapers and wipes. Quickly searching online, he pulled up a video tutorial on how to change a diaper. The woman in the video made it look easy, but reality proved much messier. Unlike the doll in the demonstration, this baby kicked, squirmed, and created an even bigger mess.
By the time he was done, he was exhausted, but the baby seemed content.
“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, something shifted inside him. He wasn’t just caring for a baby; he was making a decision. He was keeping her.
Cradling her in his arms, he whispered, “You need me, and I think I need you too. So, what do you say, little one?”
After watching another video tutorial, he managed to prepare a bottle and fed her as she nestled against him.
“You need a name,” he mused. “How about… Celeste? Or Lily?”
Life changed quickly. What started as complete chaos gradually became routine. He learned to function on little sleep, handled tantrums, and celebrated small victories. He legally declared Lily as his child and enrolled her in daycare. For him, her birthday was the day she entered his life.
Two years passed in the blink of an eye, filled with laughter, scraped knees, and bedtime stories. But on Lily’s second birthday, everything changed.
A woman knocked on his door, standing tall with an air of confidence. Blonde, slim, and wearing clothes that screamed wealth, she smirked as he opened the door.
“I’m here for my baby,” she announced.
Kyle’s stomach dropped. “Your what?”
“My baby,” she repeated, tapping her manicured nails against the doorframe. “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.”
Kyle’s jaw tightened. “No, I don’t know how it is, because I would never abandon a child.”
She flipped her hair. “Listen, I realized I made a mistake a week later when Burt wouldn’t answer my calls. But now, I need that baby.”
A deep sense of unease crept into Kyle’s chest. “Why now?”
She smirked. “Burt just signed a Major League contract. And thanks to that baby, I’m about to cash in millions.”
Kyle slammed the door in her face, but he knew this wasn’t over. A week later, legal documents arrived. She was challenging his adoption of Lily.
Court hearings followed. Kyle faced unannounced social service visits, constant questioning, and legal battles. The woman, whose name was Cherish Vegas, was determined to get custody.
The final hearing arrived. Kyle handed Lily over to a social worker for the duration of the session, his stomach churning. Across the courtroom sat Cherish, her smug expression unwavering, and beside her was a tall man with Lily’s striking blue eyes—Burt.
Cherish turned on the waterworks, telling the judge how much she regretted giving up her baby.
The judge remained unimpressed. “By ‘giving her up,’ you mean abandoning her on Mr. Greenbecker’s porch, correct?”
Cherish’s face reddened. “I’m still her mother! No one can deny that!”
The judge turned to Burt. “Sir, are you the father?”
Burt hesitated before muttering, “I guess I must be.”
The judge narrowed his eyes. “Are you ready and willing to assume parental responsibility?”
Before he could respond, Cherish interjected, “Of course, he is! He just signed a three-million-dollar contract—”
The judge sighed. “Ah. Now we see the real motivation. Ms. Vegas, what name did you give your daughter at birth?”
Cherish blinked, caught off guard. “Her name? Well, she’ll take her daddy’s name since he’ll be paying child support.”
Kyle stood. “Your Honor, may I address the court?”
“Proceed.”
Kyle took a steady 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.”
Just then, Lily, who had been playing with the social worker’s necklace, noticed Kyle standing.
“Daddy!” she called, reaching out.
The judge smiled. “It seems the most important voice in this matter has spoken.”
He banged the gavel. “All custody claims by Ms. Vegas are dismissed. Mr. Greenbecker retains full custody and adoption rights over Lily.”
That night, Kyle and Lily celebrated by chasing fireflies in the yard.
“Stars!” Lily giggled, reaching for the glowing insects.
But to Kyle, the brightest light was the little girl who had changed his life forever.