I always pictured the reason for Ron's picking up Haleigh and subsequently being late because Misty had been off on her "I'll show him!" drug binge for three days and not being sure if he was goin to have childcare for Haleigh and little man. I kindof viewed it like this.
Ron is not superdad by any of our standards. I quite frankly think he had custody of the kids more out of spite against Crystal than anything else. Misty has been gone aftere a big blow up. TN doesn;t feel like watching the grandkids and Misty is tracked down, probably by Mommy fix it TN. Misty and Ron are convinced by TN to patch things up at least enough to get Misty enough to watch the kids that night. Ron, not sure he is willing to forgive Misty for her absence, partying without him, screwing around, whatever . . . Doesn't get to work on time but instead picks up Haleigh and sets eyes upon Misty so he can posture for her and check out if she is suitably contrite.
Ron stays late and puts in overtime why? because he was late getting to work and needing his paycheck not to reflect that, makes up the time at the end of his shift.
Do those things make him a great dad or decent person? Absofreekinlutely not. Until LE gives me reason to disbelieve Ron as not present when whatever happened happened, I gotta believe he wasn't.