My 7-Year-Old Pointed at My Groom and Said, ‘I Don’t Want a New Dad’—Then I Saw It (2 of 4)

When we got engaged, Lily shyly asked, “Can I call you Daddy now? I’ll still love my first Daddy in heaven.” He knelt, hugged her, and said, “I’d be honored.” From then on, he was Daddy.

We had to delay the wedding after Daniel’s beloved Aunt passed, but when our day finally arrived, it felt like a reward for surviving the storms. The ballroom glowed in gold light, white roses lined every table, and Lily twirled in her tulle dress, laughing with my nephew.

Then came the tug on my gown.

“Mom,” Lily whispered urgently, “look at Daddy’s arm. I don’t want a new Daddy.”

Confused, I asked what she meant.

“There’s lipstick. Dark red. He put his jacket on really fast when he saw me looking. That’s cheating, right?”

My smile froze. Across the room, Daniel was chatting with colleagues, perfectly composed.

I kissed her forehead. “You did the right thing telling me.”

In the bridal suite, I asked him to take off his jacket. He hesitated, then complied. There it was—a perfect lipstick kiss on his sleeve. Deep, unmistakable red.

“Where did this come from?”

“It’s nothing—maybe my mom,” he said quickly.