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

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

center of the room, but the rest of the space looked like a storage closet-boxes of baby clothes, unopened toys, and a

by unpacking some of the clothes. Tiny socks, onesies, and little hats spilled out

couldn't help but imagine our

smile? My laugh? What kind of person would

up a tiny pink onesie with "Daddy's Little Girl" embroidered on it and chuckled. "Well, you've got me pegged

turned to see her leaning against

into the room, her grin softening into something warmer as she

this. And you're going

laughed, though I suspected she was absolutely right. "Probably. I mean, how do you say no to someone who's this tiny?" I gestured at the little

pile of clothes and started folding them into neat stacks. "It's funny, isn't it? We're planning so much

picking up a pair of socks. "But I think that's what makes it special. It's like... every decision we make now is part of building this life for her. Even

"It is. And a

after two minutes," I

hand on her bump.

into some semblance of order, I surprised Sarah with a simple dinner-nothing fancy, just spaghetti and garlic bread,

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

do realize you're the one who built that crib, right? And put together the stroller? And dealt with the mountain

who's, you know, growing a human," I said, gesturing at

I could tell she was trying not to smile. "Fine, you win. But only because you made garlic bread." We both