Chapter 3 - The First VisitationFriday arrived.
Daniel entered the visitation center carrying two small stuffed animals.
He had spent an hour choosing them.
One was a blue elephant.
The other was a pink rabbit.
When Claire arrived, she barely looked at him.
The twins were bundled tightly against her.
Daniel smiled nervously.
"Hi."
Claire nodded.
The supervisor approached.
"You have one hour."
Daniel sat on the floor.
Claire handed him Noah first.
His son stared at him.
Daniel's eyes filled with tears.
"Hey, buddy."
Noah made a tiny sound.
Daniel laughed.
"I know."
He looked at Claire.
"He has your eyes."
Claire looked away.
Lily began crying.
Daniel panicked.
"What do I do?"
Claire watched him struggle.
"Hold her upright."
He adjusted his position.
The crying continued.
"Pat her back."
He did.
Slowly, Lily quieted.
Daniel looked amazed.
"She stopped."
Claire almost smiled.
"She's tired."
Daniel nodded.
For the next hour, he did nothing except hold his children.
No phone.
No distractions.
No friends.
No vacation.
Just two tiny babies.
When the hour ended, Daniel didn't want to leave.
He kissed Noah's forehead.
Then Lily's.
"I'll see you Monday."
Outside, he sat in his car and cried.
He finally understood what he had thrown away.
Meanwhile, Claire returned to Marianne's house.
"How did it go?"
"He held them."
"Did he act like a jerk?"
"No."
Marianne looked surprised.
"Really?"
"He was nervous."
Claire sat down.
"He didn't know what to do."
"Maybe that's a good thing."
Claire shook her head.
"I don't know."
"You don't have to know yet."
Claire looked at the sleeping twins.
"I'm not taking him back."
Marianne nodded.
"Good."
"But..."
"What?"
"I don't want to hate him."
"You don't have to."
Claire sighed.
"I want the children to have a father."
"Then let him earn that role."
Claire nodded.
That night, Daniel made a decision.
He canceled every unnecessary expense.
He stopped going out with his friends.
He began therapy.
He joined a parenting class.
And every evening, he wrote down everything he learned about his children.
Their feeding times.
Their sleeping patterns.
Their favorite lullabies.
Their medical needs.
For the first time, he was learning how to be a father.
Not because Claire demanded it.
Because he finally wanted to be one.
But then something happened that changed everything.
Daniel received a call from his employer.
"Daniel, we need to discuss your position."
"What about it?"
"Your company board is concerned."
"Why?"
"Because your father has requested an emergency meeting."
Daniel froze.
"My father?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
The answer came quietly.
"Because he says your behavior has placed the family business at risk."
Daniel's stomach tightened.
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His father had never interfered with his marriage.
Until now.
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