Chapter 8 - The Father She Chose to Call Nate
Maisie learned the truth six weeks later, with help from a child psychologist. We did not tell her Nathaniel was suddenly “Dad.” We explained that Daniel had raised her when she was little, but Nathaniel was the person whose biology helped create her. She listened seriously.
“So Nate is my birth dad?”
“Yes.”
“And Daddy Daniel is also my daddy?”
“If you want him to be.”
She thought.
“Can people have two?”
“Yes.”
“Even if one did bad things?”
“Yes.”
She frowned.
“That’s complicated.”
Nathaniel said, “You get used to it.”
She looked at him.
“I’m calling you Nate.”
“Perfect.”
Three months later, she accidentally said “Dad” while asking him to pass syrup.
Everyone froze.
Maisie groaned.
“Don’t make it weird.”
Nathaniel nearly cried into pancakes.
Daniel pleaded guilty to financial crimes, fraud, and obstruction while receiving consideration for prior cooperation and current assistance against Voss. He also agreed to repay what he could through seized assets.
He requested supervised visits with Maisie.
I struggled.
Nathaniel surprised me.
“She loved him before any of us knew the truth.”
“You think I should allow it?”
“I think you should ask what is safe for her, not what hurts us.”
That was when I started falling in love with him.
Not restaurant.
Not rescue.
Not powerful man protecting us.
May you like
That sentence.
Because he chose Maisie’s emotional truth over his own pride.
