As if by instinct, Janey sprinted toward Mitchel, joyfully shouting, “Daddy |"

Her voice was warm and soft, ringing with utter sincerity.

Mitchel knelt down, gently studying Janey's Little face. Remembering the five years he'd missed, his heart throbbed with pain. His daughter had never laid eyes on him since the day she was born until recently...

"Daddy, why is your face like that?" Janey, with her tiny, plump hand, tenderly touched Mitchel's swollen cheek, her curiosity evident.

Janey's gentle tone brought tears to Mitchel's eyes. Tears began to stream down his face, warm and quick. He had so much he wished to say, but all he could do was embrace Janey with all his might.

“Daddy, are you hurt?" Janey, resting her small chin on his shoulder and mimicking Raegan, gently patted his back, her voice filled with childish concern. "My patting will make it all better."

Mitchel's throat choked up, his voice hoarse. "I'm not hurt, sweetheart. Daddy's just overwhelmed with happiness seeing you."

“Why haven't you come to see me if you're so happy?"

Tears welled up in his eyes again, and Mitchel replied gently, "I was to blame before, but I promise, from this moment on, I'll always be here for you and your mommy, alright?"

Janey, suddenly upset, raised her voice. "No!"

Janey pushed Mitchel away, refusing to lean on him with a stubbornness. "You're a bad daddy, a lying daddy! You said we'd go to the amusement park together last time, but then you chose to spend time with your fiancée instead."

Janey's words were a bit jumbled, but her message was clear. Fuming, she continued, "If you have a wife already, why are you coming to see my mommy? You're acting terribly!"

Mitchel was caught off guard, surprised that Janey knew the term “terribly.” Her manner of speaking reminded him so much of Raegan.

A smile broke through his surprise. “Janey, you got it all wrong.

I've already cleared it up with your mommy. I've only ever been married to one person, and that's your mommy."

Janey's eyes lit up. "For real?"

Mitchel pulled her into a hug, standing up. “Absolutely. It's the truth."

"So, you're my real daddy?"

“Yes, I'm your real daddy, now and always." Mitchel was a man of few words, yet as he looked into his daughter's lovely face, he felt a surge of words he wanted to say.

The five years he missed out on being with Janey made him want to give Janey the world as a way to make up for lost time.