One Simple Step (Journey #3)

Now I needed to figure out on the short ride over to her new place, with her new boyfriend, what exactly I was going to say to her.

“Hi, Nick.” Kara answered the door, stepping back to let me in, and I was amazed at how much her stomach had grown since the last time I had seen her. My hand brushed against her belly as she led me to the living room of the small ranch house that was in a pretty decent neighborhood. I was amazed at the thought that my kid was in there, and I was also amazed at how big of a bitch Kara was for just giving the baby up like this.

“Here.” She handed me a beer as she sat down on the love seat across from me, and I saw her fiddling with her hands like she was nervous.

“Something wrong?” I asked, after taking a long pull from the bottle. I had a feeling I was going to need it to get through this little talk.

“Um...” Her eyes darted towards the wide front window, and then back to mine. “Jared doesn’t know you’re here,” she answered quietly. “And I don’t think he would be very happy to find out that you were when he wasn’t around.”

I shrugged my shoulders, not really caring what the guy thought. He sounded like an asshole to me already, anyway. I mean, what kind of guy makes his girlfriend give up her baby? Kara did have a choice, obviously, but if he was so in love with her, then why couldn’t he just accept her the way she was? “This could’ve waited, I guess. Do you want me to come back when he’s here?” Not that I really wanted to. I had a feeling we really wouldn’t get along.

“No.” She waved me off, sat up straighter, and I could tell she was back into the Kara mode that I knew. Tough, in control, and not letting anyone tell her what to do. Why was this Jared so different?

“Let’s get this over with. So, you decided not to sign the papers.” She rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms tightly over her chest. “What are you going to then, Nick? Raise a baby on your own? How do you really think that’s going to work out? You know nothing about taking care of a little girl.”

“A girl?” I repeated, and I couldn’t help the grin that spread over my face. It felt much more real to know that there was a baby girl in Kara’s stomach.

I mean, obviously I would’ve been just as happy to have a little guy that I could play sports with, and do all the manly guy things you could think of, but a girl—Daddy’s little girl. I sucked in a breath and sat up a little straighter, hoping that it would boost my confidence a bit, but honestly, it was probably the scariest thing I’d ever have to face in my life.

“I’m gonna figure it out, Kara. I’m not going to abandon my baby and let her be raised by strangers. Her dad will be in her life, forever and always. I think I can handle it.”

“Well...” She paused, swiping at her eye and I swear I saw a tear rolling down her cheek. I didn’t know that was even possible. “Okay, then, Nick. If this is what you want, I’ll sign whatever papers I need to sign after she’s born.” I watched her rub her hand over the swell of her belly, and it worried me.

“Why can’t you just sign those papers now, Kara? That way everything’s all set, and we don’t need to worry about anything. I’m sure you’re not gonna want to deal with all that after—”

“Don’t even mention childbirth,” she groaned. “And we’re doing this my way. I’m the one who’s carrying this baby around for nine whole months, having to deal with all of the hormones, the weight gain, and the general uncomfortableness. I’m the one who says when the papers will be taken care of.”

I shifted in my seat, rolling my eyes at the fact that she was using the baby that she didn’t even want as a weapon. It still baffled me that she could just give up her child, but I could tell that it was wearing on her and it made all sorts of different scenarios run through my head.

What if after having the baby, she decided that she wanted to keep her? What then? Would we have to co-parent? Would I really have to deal with Kara for at least the next eighteen years? Would she fight me for custody?

I wasn’t normally a traditional guy, but I had been raised by both of my parents, together. It really was better for the child in my opinion, but I don’t think I could handle being with Kara just for the sake of the baby. Or could I?

I shook my head to try to clear my thoughts as I stood up, shoving my hands into my pockets. “Fine, Kara. Whatever you want. Call me if you need anything, or if anything happens with the baby. When are you due by the way?”

“Babies come when they want, Nick.” She pushed me towards the front door, like she was in a hurry for me to get out of there. “But I’m five months along, so a few more months and the baby will be here. I think you have a lot to get ready in the meantime. Have you told your little girlfriend yet?” She gave me a knowing smile as I opened the door, and I shrugged my shoulders in response.

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