Page 41 of Pumpkin
“And I commend you for that. Most men would demand a paternity test or deny the child until proof was right in front of their face.” When Pumpkin winced, Demo’s eyes narrowed. “What?”
“I did demand a paternity test,” Pumpkin admitted. “But only because I watched a lot of reality TV while in the hospital and that show,Paternity Court, was on a lot. Along with reruns ofJudge Judy. Anyway, they said paternity tests are the best and fastest way to get a father added to the birth certificate.”
“Well, in my experience, most women view paternity tests as their man doubting their fidelity.”
Pumpkin couldn’t stop the snort that escaped him. “You haven’t seen my daughter. Trust me, proving paternity isn’t about doubting she’s mine. She looksjustlike my mom.”
Demo nodded slowly. “Okay, I’m just going to come out and say this. Then you can blow up at me and we’ll move on. You’re being an ass.”
Pumpkin’s back stiffened. “What?Me?I’m not the one who hid a pregnancy and a child for six years!”
“Oh, I agree with you there, but you also need to consider things from her perspective. You said you had to convince her at the restaurant last night that you weren’t some drunken womanizer. You said it took a while too. If she really only remembered as little as you do from the night you were together six years ago, why would she have such a strong opinion about you? She was just as drunk and it wasn’t like you’d slept with multiple women that night.” Demo paused, “Right?”
Pumpkin’s eyes narrowed. “Right.”
“Then clearly, she had more information than you do about her. Where did she get it from?”
Pumpkin shook his head. “She probably just assumed that I seduced women like I did her every night?—”
“Man, stop. You said it yourself. You thought her assumption about you was unprecedented because she was the one who left you, not the other way around. Sothink. What would make her think that about you?”
Pumpkin scratched the back of his head. “What does it matter! I need to get my daughter?—”
“Stop! I get that you’ve had a shock, man,” Demo said sternly, “but that is why we need to hash this out now. You’ve already dug yourself a hole. I’m just trying to make sure you don’t end up lying in it. Now, come on, what would make her think you’re some womanizing sleaze with a drinking problem?”
His head was starting to throb. “I don’t know, man! I am not in the mood for this bullshit right now?—”
“She saw you again!” Demo shouted over his loud voice. “She had to have seen you again to draw that conclusion!”
Pumpkin shook his head. “No, I would have remembered.”
“Unless she saw you, but you didn’t see her. And let’s face it, man, we had some pretty wild nights those seven years the club Honeys were around. Not to mention the hang arounds,” Demo added offhandedly.
Pumpkin paused.HadDosia come back and seen him with another woman? “I don’t care if I was in the middle of an orgy. She still should have told me.”
Demo shrugged. “Can’t say one way or another on that one, only that obviously, she didn’t feel the same way.”
“I don’t care! I grew up without a father! I won’t leave that fate to my daughter!” Pumpkin’s legs twitched. Fuck, the urge to pace was strong, but at this rate, he was more likely to fall than to pace. “I have a right to be pissed!”
Demo nodded. “You do. But that doesn’t give you the right to be an ass about it.” Pumpkin started to defend himself, but Demo kept talking. “How you grew up sucked, man. But you’re letting your fear about becoming your father override your common sense right now. So you’re going to sit there, shut up, andlisten to me.”
Pumpkin clamped his mouth shut, more surprised than anything. Demo was only assertive when he had to be. The man had faced down bombs for a living. He was wicked smart and had never lacked a pair of balls, but he never felt the need to flaunt his authority. So when he did, it meant something.
“For two years, Paige lived with the daily fear that Richard would return and take away her boys. She was a single mom struggling to put food on her table, to keep the heat on in that fucking monstrosity of a house. That fear that you’re going to lose your kids to an unfair system is something a lot of single parents struggle with. Especially when there is a social class difference between them. You don’t havethat with SJ. You will never have to worry that one day Cheryl will decide to return and try to take him away from you.
“So I ambegging you, Pumpkin. Take a step back and think about this fromherperspective for just a moment. That little girl’s future depends on it. Don’t get lawyers involved. Not unless all other options have been tried and failed.Talk to Dosia. Get her side of the story. Ask to meet your daughter rather than bulldozing your way into her life.
“You’re a stranger to her, Pumpkin. And the last thing you want is to make her fear you, to become her childhood monster whotook heraway from her mother.”
Pumpkin stiffened. “I’d never!” From what little he’d seen of JJ, she was a happy, content little girl. She clearly loved her mother and her family. Hell, she’d told Pumpkin more about her life than Dosia had. She’d just stood there, frozen in fear as JJ talked?—
Well, fuck. His shoulders slumped. Demo’s words explained Dosia’s fear. Pumpkin grabbed the back of his neck, lacing his fingers under his hairline. “Jesus. Iaman ass.”
Demo clapped him on the shoulder. “Yeah.”
Pumpkin snorted. His friend hadn’t even tried to defend him. Hell, the man hadn’t even met Dosia and he’d championed her better than Pumpkin had. Christ, he’d fucked up. He’d fucked up so bad. “What do I do?” He hadn’t felt so helpless in his life, not even when he had all four limbs in casts and had to shit in a bedpan. “How do I fix this?”
“Well, first thing’s first, you need to figure out a way to apologize. Ask to meet her in a neutral location. Let her know that it is not your intention to take your daughter away from her. The two of you need to talk, to hear each other’s side. And above all, come to an understanding that benefitsyour daughter, not you. It might be hard and you’ll need to exercise patience, because you’re a stranger, Pumpkin. She doesn’t know you from Adam and she might not accept you in her life right away.”
