The unexpected results of raising a child

It was a late night for Daniel Haven, he was really questioning his decision of becoming a secretary each time they had these late-night parties with business partners, the mingling and drinking really wasn't something he was fond of but he did enjoy his work regardless of everything else.

As he walked into his living room his eyes automatically shot towards the clock hanging on the wall, he let out a small huff as he hung his keys before glancing towards the clock again.

"12:40 am"  he muttered under his breath, he was silently thankful that the party had a big meal because he was too exhausted to care - he passed the bathroom mindlessly slowly taking off his tie and jacket, losing the top button of his shirt in the process.

When he reached his room he just fell on his bed, not even getting into it properly and it only took a few seconds for him to fall asleep.

His peaceful sleep soon disappeared when he heard a knock and soon followed by a baby crying loudly - from a previous incident he knew his neighbor's son was quite the escape artist and often couldn't get back into their apartment after getting out so just to be sure nothing happens to the young boy he decided to drag his exhausted body from his bed to the front door.

Though when he opened the door he didn't see his neighbor's son; he was met with a basket at his feet with a bundle of crying blankets - he furrowed his brows a little and crouched down to inspect the blankets - he found a small baby inside the basket, it seemed no older than a few weeks - a month at most - it left him confused, he had been gay for most of his life... he couldn't miraculously be a father.

He took the baby out of the basket hoping it would help soothe the child a little, when he lifted the baby out of the basket that's when he spotted a note that was at the bottom of the basket along with a file with a bunch of papers in it.

"Dear Danny.

It's me, Abigail, I know we haven't met in quite a while but I need your help.

I would like you to meet Andrea, she is my daughter and your niece... she is only a month old, I am sorry for jumping all this on you especially since I cut contact with everyone but could you please take in Andy.

I know its a lot to ask, I haven't been a good sister to you at all but I got pregnant by accident and I haven't told our parents, I live in the dorms at my university so I can't keep her, I have no other options, I don't want to give her to complete strangers either.

I work part-time and I will send money to you every month to help with her expenses, I beg of you, please.

Love your little sister Abigail" 

Daniel stood there a little speechless, he was the oldest of six children, his family was blended, most of his siblings were either half or step-siblings and in Abigail's case - she was his step-sister - they never got along growing up, they always blamed their age gap, Daniel was already sixteen when Abigail was only nine.

The age difference made it harder for them to really get along and once Daniel was old enough he left for university and was lucky enough to find a job right out of university, but because of how busy he was with work he never had time to head back home to see everyone again - so he never expected the next time he would hear from one of his sisters, it would be when they just leave their baby on his doorstep.

He placed the baby back in the basket and brought her inside his apartment hoping that it would make the crying softer so it wouldn't bother his neighbours.

Once he got inside he was a little lost, he didn't know what he was supposed to do, sure he looked after his younger siblings on more than one occasion but still, he was never alone when he did, he wasn't sure how to look after his niece at all, he only had one hope left, his only friend, but also his boss - Carter Abbot - he ran to his room, almost falling over his suit jacket he left in the hallway when he got home and grabbed his phone.

Once he dialled Carter's number it took quite a while, Daniel was sure that his friend wouldn't answer at this point, they both had late nights - a small click on the line and not long after there was a groggy voice on the other side of the line.

"Hello?" Carter asked, confused and clearly still half asleep.

"C-carter, I need your help" Daniel spoke quickly, stumbling over his words, the panic in his voice immediately woke Carter who sat up in bed almost like a spring jumping back in place.

"What's wrong Dan?" Carter asked, in a worried tone, it wasn't often that Daniel would call him for anything aside from work even with them being friends they mainly talked about work and nothing else.

"My sister left her baby on my doorstep" Daniel said as he walked into his living room with the baby still crying, he didn't know what to do, his sister didn't give anything with the baby, he had nothing to look after the baby, plus he had no idea what to do at all.

"I'm sorry what? I think I'm still half asleep, I am sure you said she left a baby" Carter said while laughing, not believing the words his secretary just spouted.

"No... you heard it correctly, she left her baby - her one month old on my doorstep and ran away only leaving a note asking me to raise her" Daniel said, still wondering if maybe this was all just an overly realistic dream and he would wake up and everything would change.

"Okay... did she give you anything for the baby?" Carter asked, while staring at the wall in utter shock.

"No, just her birth certificate and health records" Daniel said as he shook his head, almost as if Carter could see his distress.

"Okay... give me a bit of time and I will be there with a few things, for the time being try to get her to calm down, she may be crying because things are unfamiliar" Carter told Daniel and hung up before Daniel could say anything.

Daniel just stared at his phone before slipping it back in his pocket, he looked over to the baby basket and went over to it and picked up the baby again.

"It's nice to meet you Andrea... I am your uncle Daniel, most people call me Danny, it's nice to meet you" he said introducing himself to the baby and then shortly after shaking his head a bit... What was he doing? 

He spent time trying to get her to calm down, he walked around with her, singing to her and even laying with her on his chest and eventually or maybe to his luck, she fell asleep.