The Unexpected Father: The Story of Kyle Greenbecker and His Fight for Love and Fatherhood.

Kyle Greenbecker had spent a year working on an oil pipeline in Alaska, but he was finally heading home, eager to reunite with his beautiful wife. He and Lisa had met in high school, and since getting married at nineteen, Kyle had never once regretted his decision.

He might have been old-fashioned, but Kyle took pride in the fact that Lisa was the only woman he had ever been with. He had never wanted or needed anyone else. The thought that Lisa might ever doubt him had never crossed his mind—and for good reason.

When his plane landed, he picked up his luggage and scanned the crowd for Lisa’s familiar face. But she wasn’t there. He assumed she’d been delayed at work by an emergency. He sent her a quick text saying he was on his way, but she didn’t respond. He called an Uber and, an hour later, was walking up to his front door.

The lights were on, but Lisa wasn’t home. He stepped into the kitchen and froze. Sitting on the kitchen table was a baby bassinet. Kyle saw a tiny arm move.

He took a step closer and went pale… there was a baby in a crib on his kitchen table! The child looked up at him with that startled, wide-eyed expression only newborns have—and Kyle stared back, equally stunned.

Next to the crib was a folded piece of paper. He picked it up and opened it. Inside was another sheet of paper, written in a handwriting he didn’t recognize:
“You had your fun. Now take responsibility for your child.”

Then came the second note, written in Lisa’s elegant handwriting:
“Kyle, I found this baby on our doorstep yesterday with that note attached. I always suspected you were cheating on your business trips, and honestly, I didn’t hold it against you. I had my own flings while you were gone. But leaving me with someone else’s baby? That’s too much. I’ve filed for divorce. I sincerely hope to never see you again.”

“P.S. Don’t worry about the baby. I left when I saw you walking up the drive. Enjoy your life, Kyle. I certainly intend to enjoy mine.”

Kyle collapsed into a chair and buried his face in his hands. This couldn’t be happening. That baby wasn’t his. He had never cheated on Lisa.

A soft coo made him lift his head. The baby waved a tiny hand in the air. Kyle extended his finger—and to his surprise, the baby grabbed it tightly.

— “Well, little one… looks like it’s just you and me now. And I have no idea what I’m doing.”

The baby cooed again, then furrowed its brow and turned bright red.
— “Oh no… what now?” Kyle sniffed the air and got his answer.

It was diaper time.

But were there any diapers?

Next to the table on the floor was a large backpack stuffed with all kinds of items—including diapers. He Googled “how to change a diaper” and watched a YouTube tutorial. A woman demonstrated using a doll. Kyle tried following along, but the doll didn’t kick or wriggle like this very real baby did. Eventually, he cleaned her up—and that’s when he realized the baby was a girl. And he knew absolutely nothing about girls.

— “I won’t give you dating advice,” he said seriously. “But I can teach you to ride a bike.”

In that moment, Kyle knew: he was keeping this baby.

He lifted the now-clean baby in his arms.
— “You need me… and I guess I need you, too. What do you say, sweetheart?”

He consulted YouTube again to learn how to prepare formula and cradled the baby to feed her.

— “You need a name. How about Celeste? Or Lily… yeah, I like Lily.”

If someone had told Kyle he’d adapt to fatherhood so quickly, he would’ve laughed. But Lily had a way of making it work. She had tantrums and tough days—but somehow, they got through it together.

He registered her as his daughter and enrolled her in daycare. For him, her birthday was the day he found her. But everything changed on Lily’s second birthday.

A woman knocked at his door.
— “I’m here for my baby,” she said.

Kyle blinked. She was tall, blonde, slim, and obviously had cosmetic surgery.

— “Your what?” he asked.

— “My baby! I left her here two years ago. I was high, my boyfriend lives next door, I got confused… you know how it is.”

— “No, I don’t,” Kyle said coldly. “I’ve never abandoned a baby on anyone’s doorstep. Leave, or I’ll call the police.”

— “Look,” she snapped. “I realized I messed up like a week later, when Burt wouldn’t answer my calls. But now I need that baby.”

— “You need her? For what?”

— “Burt just signed a major league baseball contract. That baby’s my ticket to a chunk of his millions.”

Kyle slammed the door on her. But he had a sinking feeling that it wasn’t over. He was right. A week later, he received a court summons—Cherish Vegas was challenging Lily’s adoption.

Suddenly, Kyle was hit with court orders, surprise home visits from social workers, and even his friends and coworkers were questioned. Cherish was determined to get her hands on that money.

Finally, the hearing came. Kyle handed Lily to the social worker and entered the courtroom. Cherish was there—with a tall man who had Lily’s blue eyes. That had to be Burt.

Cherish cried and sobbed, telling the judge she was young and wild when she left Lily, but she regretted it deeply and wanted her daughter back.

The judge flipped through the files.
— “When you say you left her in Kyle’s care… you mean on his porch, correct, Miss Vegas?”

Cherish blushed.
— “Well… I’m still her mom! No one can deny that!”

The judge turned to Burt.
— “Are you the father?”

— “I guess so…” he replied.

— “Are you willing and capable of assuming responsibility for this child?”

Before he could answer, Cherish jumped in:
— “Of course he is! He just signed a three-million-dollar contract!”

— “Ah, finally some honesty,” said the judge. “Tell me, Miss Vegas, what’s your daughter’s name?”

Kyle stood up.
— “Your Honor, may I speak?”

— “Yes, Mr. Greenbecker. Go ahead.”

— “Her name is Lily. She carries my last name. Since the moment she came into my life, I’ve loved her. And she loves me.”

At that moment, Lily, who had been playing with the social worker’s necklace, spotted Kyle standing.
— “Daddy!” she cried, reaching out.

The judge smiled.
— “Well, I believe the most important voice in this case has spoken.”

“I hereby deny all claims to custody from Miss Cherish Vegas and confirm the legal adoption of Lily Greenbecker by Kyle Greenbecker.”

That night, Kyle and Lily celebrated by catching fireflies in the yard.
— “Stars!” Lily squealed.

But to Kyle, the brightest star in the sky… was the little girl he now called his daughter.