Phil's POV
We finished the show and it was so perfect. I loved not hiding my daughter from the world, and everyone seemed to love her.

Dan smiled at me as I held my daughter who was giggling happily.
"Phil, are we taking her to our meet and greet?" Dan asked.
"I mean I don't see why not. Plus everyone wants to meet her." I smiled.

I never felt happier.

We walked to the meet and greet with Eriana, and I could hear the fans cheers. We entered the meet and greet and people started piling in. Most people loved Eriana and even made her laugh.

Then there was one lady.
"So is this the little bundle?" She asked. This lady who is about 35 with her 15 year old daughter, glared at Eriana.
"Yeah. She's my angel." I replied. I made it very clear her looks of judgement didn't mean anything.
"So who let an idiot like you have a child? " this lady asked in a defensive tone.
"Mom stop it!" The 15 year old asked.
"Sweetie these are bad influences." She said not looking at us.

Dan stood awkwardly and to be fair, the plain cruel comments from this lady was enough to render me speechless.

"Sir there is no way this child is yours. Now where is the real parents." She asked.
"Get out." I replied.

She stood in shock, like she was surprised I didn't appreciate these comments.
"Excuse me?" She asked.
"You must leave. We will take a photo with your daughter, but you are not welcome here." I said.

No one gets to say that about my daughter.

"Fine I don't want to be around you and if you want to do the right thing you'd return this angel to the people who deserve it. Her real parents. "

She stormed out and I felt tears in her eyes. Dan wrapped his arms around me and my daughter. The 15 year old stood there embarrassed.

"I'm so sorry about my mother. She's very traditional. That's why she doesn't know anything about my sexuality or me. I'm really sorry. Phil your daughter is beautiful a d you are doing a great job." She said.

I smiled at her with tears in his eyes.
"She's not the first person to not accept or love her. " I  said. I wiped my eyes and Dan grabbed Eriana from my arms as I went to hug this young girl.
"I'm so sorry. You must be dealing with a lot. I know you are going to raise a great child. " She whispered in my ear.

It felt nice to hear that.  Dan says it to me all the time. How I'm a great dad. It's nice to hear it from someone new. It held new meaning. I couldn't explain it.
"Thank you." I replied as tears fell from my eyes.

This was a lot.

Dan held the camera as we took the photo for her.
"Thank you so much. Don't worry, people will come around. Your daughter will find people who love her. " She said as she left.

I waved goodbye to her as she was dragged out by her mom who I hated.
The guard looked at me.
"Ready for the next person?" She asked.
"Give me a minute." I said as I finished drying my tears.

"Phil, don't listen to her mother, your daughter is in the hands of an amazing person." He said as he pulled me in for a hug.

"I know.  It just hard to hear people say that about my daughter. " I replied.

We stepped apart as the next person was sent in and I had to bite my tongue.

I kept the image in my mind of that 15 year old girl.

All I want is to feel like I'm doing a good job at something that doesn't come with a rule book.

...