Part 15 (1/2)
”He's Karrie's father,” she answered, turning my world upside down.
”What are you doing here, Tucker?” I asked tightly. I hadn't seen him since the day I'd told him I was pregnant. I'd worked very hard to ensure that I didn't see him.
”I'm here to pick up Judd for practice,” he answered. The expression on his face would have been hysterical if his words didn't make me want to cry.
”He's the buddy you were talking about?” I asked, turning to Judd for the first time since I'd answered the door.
Judd looked dumbfounded. He looked from me to Tucker and back again.
”Waita” Judd began. ”What?”
”This is the girl you've been seeing?” Tucker asked Judd, a bewildered look on his face. ”You never said she had a kid.”
”It never came up,” Judd said dryly. He turned back to me. ”Tuck is the one-night stand at the frat house?”
Judd looked back at Tucker, his movements stiff.
”You never said that you had a kid,” Judd countered.
”I don't,” Tucker responded plainly.
I wanted to punch him in the throat.
Judd was studying Tucker curiously, his mouth open, but no words were coming out. I'd really hoped we'd never get to this point where Judd and Tucker met.
I was shocked and disheartened to find out that not only did they know each other, but that they were friends.
I couldn't believe that Judd was friends with someone like Tucker.
”She has your hair,” Judd said calmly, still studying Tucker. ”And your eyes.”
Tucker shook his head, as if doing so would erase the fact that he'd fathered a child. The movement seemed to snap Judd out of his reverie.
”What do you mean, you don't?” Judd asked, his voice starting to rise. ”You just admitted that you had s.e.x with Sam and she had a kid, didn't you? I mean, you sure as s.h.i.+t haven't denied it.”
”I told Samantha when she told me about the pregnancy that I wanted nothing to do with the child. I'm not even on the birth certificate,” Tucker explained wearily.
”So you've never met Karrie? Never seen her? And you don't want to?” Judd asked incredulously.
”That's right,” Tucker responded.
”I don't understand,” Judd said.
”What I don't understand is how you can be friends with him,” I broke in, turning to face Judd.
”Mommy?” Karrie's little voice came from the living room.
”Go,” I said sternly to Tucker. ”I don't want her to see you.”
Tucker nodded and turned to go, grabbing on to Judd's arm as he did. Judd shook Tucker's arm off, looking at him angrily.
”We have to get to practice, Judd. The coach is expecting the entire team.”
I looked at Judd and said, ”You need to go too.”
Judd looked at me, the anger still on his face, but I thought I saw hurt flash in his eyes.
”We need to talk about this,” he said.
”I know,” I a.s.sured him. ”But I need to be alone for a while to think.”
Judd sighed deeply looking from Tucker to me one last time before saying, ”I'll be back later.”
He stalked off down the stairs and got in Tucker's car. I shut the door quickly, leaning my head against it as the tears began to pour down my face.
”Mommy,” Karrie said again, coming up and wrapping her arms around my legs.
I crouched down on my knees and hugged her to me, crying softly. I tried to control my sobs so as not to scare her, and I held her close and ran my hand over her hair.
”I love you, Karrie. Never forget that. I will do my best to be everything that you need and to always make sure you know that you are loved and wanted.”
Karrie patted my back softly with her little hand, trying to console me as only a two-year-old can.
I wiped my tears before pulling back and did my best to smile at my beautiful baby as I ran my hands over her curls and cupped her chin. I leaned in and kissed her softly on the mouth.
Karrie smiled at me and asked, ”Dowa?”
I laughed and said, ”Yes, you can watch Dora.”
I put on the DVD and walked into the kitchen. I grabbed my cell phone and shot a quick text out to James and Molly simply stating, ”I need you.”
I busied myself with the breakfast dishes while I waited. Regret filled me thinking about how perfect things had been when I woke up this morning. When I'd walked into the kitchen and saw Judd and Karrie making breakfast, my heart had melted.
”Sam,” Molly shouted from the front of the house.
”Kitchen,” I responded.
I heard Molly say h.e.l.lo to Karrie and I turned to wait for her to come in the kitchen.
Her curly hair was everywhere, and her face looked frantic. It was obvious by her pink sweat pants and teal tank top that she'd thrown on whatever was available. Her flip-flops slapped against the tile as she rushed in.
”Are you okay?” she asked, walking right up to me and looking me up and down as if expecting to see an injury.
”Hey, nugget. Where's your mommy?” James asked as she entered the house.
Molly grimaced. ”James is here?” she asked in a voice so low I barely heard her words.
James rounded the corner clad in black jeans with chains, combat boots, and a cute bustier style top. Her hair was streaked with hot pink.
”Everything okay, Sam?” James asked, flicking her eyes over Molly. ”Must be serious to put out a distress call to me and Little Orphan Annie.”