"Hullo there," he said, leaning down to scoop the child up and smiling despite himself. He could definitely see the resemble even if that just made his heart lurch painfully in his chest.

"I've missed you too," he said, since it seemed like the thing that would make him feel better. "I apologize for not being here when you arrived. That wasn't very nice of me."

He still didn't look at Kate. Not yet.