Even months ahead of time, I was buzzing with anticipation for Father’s Day. It would be my first one as a dad, and I wanted it to be perfect. But I never expected that Hailey’s brother would interfere in such a way that I’d be forced to carry out my plans alone.
That morning, I was beaming as I packed the picnic basket. The sunlight streamed into the kitchen, casting a soft glow on the chilled strawberry lemonade—Hailey’s favorite. I’d gone out of my way to prepare everything just right. It was going to be a simple, meaningful day with Hailey and our seven-month-old son, Max—just like how we spent her first Mother’s Day.
That day, I had surprised her with breakfast in bed, a delicate gold bracelet with Max’s initials, and an afternoon stroll through the botanical gardens. She’d cried tears of joy. I wanted Father’s Day to feel just as special.
I planned a low-key picnic. I’d packed sandwiches, soft fruits for Max, her favorite lemon-blueberry muffins, and a cozy blanket. I even went out early to buy adorable matching sun hats for her and Max. I could already picture her snapping cheerful photos in the sun.
But when I returned home, the vibe was off.
Hailey wasn’t just getting ready—she was preparing to leave.
Confused, I asked, “What’s going on?”
She explained casually, “Derek called. He asked if we could watch Mia while he took his girlfriend out for dessert.”
I was stunned. “So… we’re canceling our plans?”
“I told him we had something planned, but he insisted. Just a couple of hours,” she said, avoiding eye contact.
I tried to stay calm. “Hailey, it’s my first Father’s Day.”
“I know. But he’s had a rough week.”
I scoffed. “And what about me? What do I get?”
She fired back, “Are you seriously jealous of a toddler?”
“No, I’m upset that your brother gets to take over our day and you let him.”
“You’re overreacting.”
But I knew Derek’s behavior too well. From the beginning, he’d looked down on me. My job as a plumber was a running joke to him. He made snide remarks, excluded me from photos and family plans, and dismissed any effort I made to be involved.
Hailey had a long history of saying yes to Derek’s last-minute requests—free babysitting, moving help, money. He once dumped Mia on us without asking. He used her kindness as a convenience, and he never respected me.
Looking down at the picnic basket, and then at Max smiling in his bouncer, I made a decision.
“Forget it,” I said. “I’ll take Max. You can go help your brother.”
“Wait, you’re seriously leaving?” she asked as I picked up Max’s carrier.
“I planned this day for us,” I said. “Clearly, I was the only one who cared.”
She didn’t stop me.
At the park, the sun was bright. I spread out the blanket, and Max wriggled happily. I put his little hat on and smiled. “Stylish, buddy.”
As I fed him bananas, he looked up at me and said, “Dada.”
I froze.
“Did you just—?”
He giggled and said it again: “Dada!”
My heart burst. I laughed, stunned, and quickly grabbed my phone to record. It was his first word. On Father’s Day.
But as the joy set in, so did the ache. Hailey wasn’t there. She’d missed it.
Still, I soaked in the moment. Max had this magical way of making everything feel okay.
By evening, we came home. Hailey was lying on the couch, looking worn out. Probably tired from juggling both Max and Mia.
She looked up. “You’re back early.”
“Guess dessert didn’t last long,” I said.
She didn’t respond.
“I filmed something,” I said, pulling out my phone. “You should see it.”
As Max’s tiny voice repeated “Dada,” I saw her expression crumble. Her hand covered her mouth. “Oh my God.”
“Yeah,” I said quietly. “You missed it.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.”
“You weren’t there,” I replied.
She looked devastated. “I never thought I’d miss something like this.”
“No. You just went along with what Derek wanted.”
Later that night, I overheard her on the phone, clearly upset.
“Derek, be honest. Where were you? Don’t lie to me… I called the patisserie. They said you were never there. So where did you go?”
A pause. Then her voice cracked. “You used me. Again.”
She hung up and sat on the couch in silence.
“You okay?” I asked.
She nodded. “Derek’s been cheating on Molly. He used babysitting as an excuse to meet the other woman.”
The room went quiet.
“I hurt you,” she said softly. “I see it now. I should’ve been with you. I should’ve said no to him.”
I didn’t reply.
“I want to fix this,” she said. “I want to set boundaries. Derek can’t come first anymore.”
She shared something I’d never heard before: “Our parents weren’t really around growing up. I practically raised Derek. It’s always felt like I owed him. Saying no never came easy… until now.”
The next day, she surprised me with a framed photo from the video—Max, smiling mid-“Dada.” Below it, she’d written:
“Your first Father’s Day – the day our son spoke his first word, and I finally saw clearly.”
I smiled.
“You didn’t have to,” I said.
“I wanted to,” she whispered. “You deserved better. And I’ll spend every day making it up to you. Happy Father’s Day, my love.”