Winning Back His Ex's Wife's Broken Heart by Hayley

Richard

pov.

I couldn't stop smiling. Even the next morning, as I stumbled into the kitchen half-awake and with Sarah's cheery "Good morning!" ringing in my ears, the grin stayed plastered on my face. "A girl," I muttered, grabbing the coffee pot. The words still felt unreal. A little girl who would someday wrap me around her tiny finger before I even saw it coming. "We're having a girl." Sarah sat at the table, humming as she flipped through a baby catalog, her plate of toast forgotten.

Every so often, she'd point to a random page and say something like, "Do you like this crib better?" or "What do you think of lavender walls?"

I nodded along, still more focused on my coffee than cribs. Truthfully, she could pick anything, and I'd agree.

How could I argue with someone who already seemed to know what this kid needed? I just hoped I could measure up to that.

"You're quiet this morning," Sarah said, looking up from her catalog.

"Just thinking," I replied.

"About what?"

I hesitated, swirling the coffee in my mug. "You ever feel like... like you've got this gigantic responsibility coming at you, and no matter how much you prepare, it still feels overwhelming?" She tilted her head, studying me. "You're talking about the baby?"

"Yeah," I admitted, running a hand through my hair. "I mean, don't get me wrong-I'm excited. But I keep wondering... what if I mess up? What if I'm not a good dad?"

Sarah reached across the table and placed her hand over mine. "You're going to be an amazing dad," she said firmly.

"I see it every day-in the way you take care of me, the way you're already planning for her. She's lucky to have you, and so am I."

it quickly.

with a soft

Sarah was on a call with her mom, I decided to tackle the nursery. I figured it was about time

closet-boxes of baby clothes, unopened toys, and a stack of books about parenting that I hadn't touched yet. Alright, time to make this place look like it belongs

unpacking some of the clothes. Tiny socks, onesies,

and I couldn't help but imagine our daughter wearing

laugh? What kind of person would she grow up

onesie with "Daddy's Little Girl" embroidered on it and chuckled. "Well, you've got me pegged already, kiddo," I

to yourself now?" Sarah's voice startled me, and I turned to see her leaning against

stepped into the room, her

this.

I mean, how do you say no to someone

and started folding them into neat stacks. "It's funny, isn't it? We're planning so much for someone we haven't even met

we make now is part of building this life for her. Even the little things, like this nursery." She paused, looking around the room. "It's starting

of baby things, the faint smell of paint still lingering in the air from when we'd repainted the walls last week. "It is. And a

this ride doesn't end after two

said, resting her hand on her bump. "This one's for

after we'd wrangled the nursery into some semblance of order, I surprised Sarah with a simple dinner-nothing fancy, just spaghetti and garlic bread, but I figured she deserved a break from cooking. "This

should practice pulling my weight," I replied. "Can't have you

do realize you're the one who built that crib, right? And

growing a human," I said, gesturing at her

trying not to smile. "Fine,