Shit happens doesn't mean he never Love his daughter. This is half baked story there is more to his not being in the child's life until now e.g he never wanted the pregnancy, the woman never listened to him about the pregnancy. It actually will take him time to accept the fact that he is a father. The deed has been done. No one else, I mean no one can take the place of a biological father. No matter what. If I was the mother I will give him the chance to take his place in the kids life. Writing from personal experience.
I disagree with you, even if he never wanted the pregnancy that doesn't make him abandoned his child for 7 good years, why is he celebrating her now?
Don't ever say no one can take the place of a biological father, getting a woman pregnant dose not make you a father, a real daddy is someone who brought up and cared for the child, nor bi by blood, it happened every day.. I have seen a woman who was abandoned with 8 months pregnancy, another man took her in and marry her with her unborn child.. So that child belong to that good man not some idiot