She buried her head in his chest. "If I can convince Joshua to call you Daddy now, can you let me go?"

"No."

"Why?"

"No reason."

Gale bit her lip. "Actually, Joshua accepts you. If he truly dislikes someone, he won't bother or even say a word. He talked to you, and that meant he acknowledged you."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Trust me, I know my son. He doesn't dislike you."

"Then why won't he call me Daddy?"

Gale answered without hesitation, "Pride. You haven't called him son or showed that you