But Why Daddy?

Chapter 22

By: Lizzie

©Lizzie 2002-2004

            Josh walked back to the waiting room where the group was waiting for him. Liz called Lance and he called their other friends and they were all waiting for Josh to return. When he walked into the room the first person he saw was Cynthia. She stood up, walked to him and smiled, “How did it go?”

            Josh shrugged his shoulders, “Considering I hate needles, I’m surprised I didn’t drop at the sight of the one the nurse used.”

            Cynthia laughed, “Needles aren’t that bad, Josh.” she said. She led him to a chair away from the rest of the group and they sat down, “So what did they do?”

“They took two tubes of blood and I got a q-tip rubbed in the inside of my cheek.” He said, “I now know the meaning of cotton mouth.”

Cynthia rolled her eyes, “Don’t even get me started on cotton mouth.”

This time Josh laughed and when he stopped he glanced out the waiting room and into Paula’s room, “Have they said anything about Paula or the baby?”

“Paula’s back in a room. Her lawyer came and her parents are on their way.” Cynthia said, “And the nurses would like to know what the baby’s name is.”

“I haven’t even thought about that.” Josh said, “I guess Paula and I should talk about that.”

“Liz wants to talk with you and Paula.” Cynthia added.

“I don’t want to do anymore talking right now.” Josh said, “I just want to see my baby and try to get some sleep.”

Cynthia nodded her head, “I understand. I’ll go tell Liz.” she stood up and walked back to the group while Josh walked back out of the waiting room and headed to the nursery.

Karen looked up when Cynthia joined them, “Where did Josh go?”

“To see the baby.” She said, “Then he’s going to try and get some sleep.”

“Sleep, where?” Lance asked, “Not a free room here.”

“I didn’t even ask him. He’ll probably get a room at a motel or something.”

“Ohh, not a good idea.” Josh’s publicist, Cathy Moriarty, said, “I better go find a hotel or something that he can stay in.”

“If you wait a couple minutes, Liz will be back and she can tell you some good places.” Lance suggested.

“Okay, I’ll do that.” Cathy said, “But until then, I’m going to see how Josh is doing.” she stood up, walked out of the waiting room and headed for the nursery.

+*+

            Around three a.m. a man in a black suit and carrying a burgundy briefcase walked into the police station where Randy was. He lightly tapped on the front desk and waited for an officer to appear.

            “Help you?” an officer said walking to the desk

            “I’m Marcus McAllister. Randy Johnson sent for me.”

            “Are you his lawyer?” the officer asked

            “I wasn’t aware that he needed one.” Marcus said, “I was just told to meet him here.”

            “Well, he’s in a cell and the only one who can see him right now is his lawyer.”

            “Then I’m his lawyer.” He said.

            The officer gave Marcus a look, “Right this way Mr. McAllister.” he said stepping from behind the desk and walking to where the cells were. “Heads up, Johnson. You have a visitor.”

            Randy sat up from his lying position on the bench and looked at Marcus, “You got here fast.”

            “I was already in town.” Marcus said walking to the bars, “When your mother calls at two thirty saying I need to meet you here, I was worried.” he looked Randy over, “By the looks of things, you look like you could talk to someone.”

            Randy sighed, “I’m in a big mess, Marcus.”

            Marcus looked at the officer, “Is there a room my client and I can talk privately?”

            The officer nodded his head, unlocked the cell then turned and walked to an interrogation room, “In here.” Randy and Marcus walked into the room and sat in the chairs around the table. The officer closed the door and walked back to the front desk.

            “How did you end up here?” Marcus asked

            “It’s a long story and has to do with Josh, Paula and the baby.” Randy said

            “Well, start from the beginning.” Marcus said pulling out a pad of paper and pen.

            Randy rubbed a hand through his hair and sighed, “Remember when mom called and told you that Paula was pregnant?” Marcus nodded his head and wrote something on his pad, “Well, seems that she was with someone while she was with me and now she doesn’t know who the father of her baby is.”

            Marcus dropped his pen and looked at Randy, “So she cheated on you?”

            “Well, technically, she cheated on Josh with me.” Randy said

            “How long has this been going on?”

            “Years.”

            “And when did you find out?”

            “At the beginning of this week, I guess.”

            “Paternity test?” Marcus asked

            “Did it a couple hours ago.”

            “We should know tomorrow then.” he said, “Now how did you end up here?”

            “Paula’s parents got her a lawyer and she signed over custody of the baby to Josh.” Randy said, “She told him that he was the father and that she didn’t want to keep the baby.”

            “Does he know that Paula cheated on him?”

            “He found out about the same time I did.” Randy said, “But she’s been living with him for the last month.”

            Marcus nodded his head and wrote something else down, “Now back to how you ended up here.”

            “Well, Liz, my cousin, gave me some papers to sign a couple days ago.” he said, “I didn’t sign them because I thought that I could convince Paula to change her mind about the papers she signed. I called and asked her to come away with me for the weekend so that we could talk.” Marcus nodded his head, “Earlier today, err last night, she told me she wasn’t going to change her mind. I got mad, hit her and she fell…on her stomach. The police came, arrested me and took Paula to the hospital.”

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