But Why Daddy?

Chapter 2

By: Lizzie

©Lizzie 2002-2004

“If it’s mine like you say it is, no one else is going to raise it but me!” JC said rubbing his temples and taking a deep breath, “Just give me time to think about some stuff…”

            “I understand, I’m staying at the Marriott,” she handed him a piece of paper with her room number and the address to the hotel on it and walked out. JC followed her and then slammed the door behind her.

            “God…” he walked back to the living room.

Cynthia came back and sat on the sofa; “You wanna talk about it?”

“No! No I don’t want to talk about it. I don’t want to talk about anything damn it!” he snapped, “Why does everyone ask me that?!”

“Jesus, maybe it’s because we care!” she said

“Yeah right…” JC said sitting in the chair, “Everyone claims to care for me but it’s a load of shit!”

“I can’t talk to you like this!” she said “Your food is done, and I have stuff to do!” she got up and walked to the hall closet grabbed her jacket and purse and slammed the door.

A couple of hours went by and JC calmed down. He was still sitting in his living room and he realized that Cynthia hadn’t come back yet. In fact no one bothered to call and see how he was doing. He was just about to call and apologize to Cynthia when the phone rang.

“Cynthia?” he asked when he picked up the receiver

“Umm guess again.” Liz said

“Oh Liz, has Cynthia been by there or called you?”

“Yeah she called and said you blew up at her after Paula left…when did Paula come back into town?” Liz asked

“I don’t know, but 2 hours ago she came by…and…and she’s pregnant.” He yelled the last part, “She said that it was mine and that she never cheated on me…but I can’t believer her.”

“So you yelled at Cyn because of that?”

“No, I had all these pent up emotions in me and I left them go after Paula left. Cynthia was just being nice and I snapped at her.” Josh said, “But what’s worse is that I told Paula that I would keep the baby. I can’t raise a baby by myself and work on my music too.”

“You’ll manage Josh, and you won’t be alone either.” Liz said, “You have me, Cynthia, the other girls and your mom.”

Josh cringed at the mention of family, “As soon as I tell them, you’re the first I’ve told.”

“Then call and tell them,” Liz said, “But first you need to make up with Cyn. She’s been there for you through everything and I don’t want you to ruin your friendship over Paula.”

“Thanks Liz, and if…if Cyn calls you again can you tell her to call me?”

“I’ll do that.” Liz said.

They hung up the phone and JC went to eat the food that was made for him that was already cold. Once he ate, he cleaned the dishes and went to the living room, picking up the cordless phone on the way. He sat down on the sofa and dialed Cynthia’s cell number.

“Empress Cynthia can’t come to the phone right now so do it after the beep.” JC waited for the beep and began to speak.

“Cyn, I’m so sorry for snapping at you like I did earlier. I don’t know what to do...I…I need your help with this. Call me or come back to the house.” He clicked off the phone and slumped into the sofa pulling his knees into his chest and wrapping his arms around his legs.

Cynthia stood in the entrance of the living room and watched JC as he rocked himself back and forth. She walked up to him and wrapped her arms around him, “If you really meant what you said just know then I’ll be here for you no matter what, but you gotta let me in every once and a while to know what you’re thinking. Don’t push me away.”

JC leaned into her embrace and just nodded. “I meant every word that I said, I can’t do this alone and I’m going to need all the help I can get.”

“Then I’ll be here for you,” she smiled kissing his cheek, “Now you have to call your parents and then your lawyers and then Paula…now let’s get to work.” They smiled at each other before JC picked up the phone again to call his parents.

JC nervously tapped his finger on his leg waiting for someone at his parents to pick up the phone. He was praying that Tyler or Heather would but when he heard his mother’s voice he knew there was no turning back.

“Josh, what a pleasant surprise, how is everything going?” His mother, Karen asked in a sweet voice when she picked up the phone.

He smiled to Cynthia before he began to talk, “Well, mom, I’m calling to tell you that…well that you’re going to be a grandmother.” He waited for some kind of reaction from her.

“Oh I’m so happy that you and Paula got back together.” She said, “When is the baby due and when is the wedding?”

“Umm mom that’s not all.” He said running his hand through his hair

“Oh?” she asked

“Paula and I aren’t together…in fact she just came by today after being gone for 6 months and she told me that she was pregnant with my child and that she doesn’t want to be with me.”

Karen frowned and rubbed her temples, “Well Josh have you thought about what you are going to do about this?”

“I’m going to take responsibility for the child, I already told Paula that I would.” he said

“How did she react to that?” Karen asked

“She was going to give the baby up for adoption and I said that I didn’t want my child being raised by someone other than me.” He said, “I know that it’s a lot for me to take on, and I have my career and the rest of my life a head of me but this is something that I have to do.”

“Josh, honey, I’m proud of you for wanting to responsibility for this.” Karen said, “If you ever need anything I’m only a call away.”

Josh creased his brow, “Mom, did you hear me right? I said that I was going to take care of the baby…and that Paula and I were over.”

“Yes I heard you.” She said, “You’re an adult and all I can do is support you and be there for you in whatever you need.”

Josh smiled again, “Thanks Mom, I love you.”

“I love you too son, now I’m sure you have a lot of stuff to do.” She said, “Tell me how everything goes.”

“I will mom, bye”

“Bye Josh.” They hung up the phone and he had the grin plaster on his face.

“I take it things went well with her?” Cynthia asked with a slight smile

“Yes they did. She said that she would be there for me if I needed her,” Josh said, “And believe me, I am going to need all the help I can get…I’ve never done this before.”

“But you’ll do a good job, and you won’t be alone either.”

Go to Chapter 3