And there were countless small moments when he felt certain he was failing her.
But he kept going.
He attended school performances.
He learned which cereals she liked.
He memorized her favorite bedtime stories.
He made pancakes shaped like hearts, even when they came out looking like potatoes.
He showed up.
For three years, his daughter was the center of his world.
Then he met the woman who would become his second wife.
She was beautiful, confident, and attentive.
She worked as an office administrator for a medical supply company. She had an eight-year-old son from a previous relationship, though he was only six when the two adults first began dating.
She understood the demands of parenthood.
She spoke warmly about family.
She seemed to appreciate how seriously the father took his responsibilities.
At first, she was particularly kind to his daughter.
She helped the girl choose dresses for school events.
She brushed her hair.
She attended birthday parties.
She baked cupcakes for classroom celebrations.
And once, when the little girl began crying because she couldn't remember her mother's voice clearly, the woman sat beside her and helped her watch an old family video.
The father had stood outside the bedroom listening.
He remembered thinking that perhaps his daughter would finally have another caring adult woman in her life.
Not a replacement for her mother.
Nothing could replace her mother.
But someone who would love her.
Someone who would help make the house feel full again.
He proposed after a year of dating.
They married in a small ceremony surrounded by relatives and close friends.
The children carried flowers down the aisle.
His daughter wore a pale blue dress.
The boy wore a little navy suit and looked extremely proud of his polished shoes.
For a while, life seemed beautiful.
The children played together.
Family dinners became louder.
The house filled with laughter.
The father felt hopeful in a way he hadn't for years.
And slowly, almost invisibly, things began to change.
At first, the differences were small.
His daughter stopped choosing the television program after dinner.