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“Don’t exaggerate, Ben. He wasn’t going to hit you. Luke’s not like that.”
“How do you know? You know him for a couple of hours six years ago.” Ben’s tone is a sneer. “And the only things you exchanged were names and bodily fluids.”
Carly smacks his arm hard.
“Shut up, Ben. You’re not helping.”
“What? It’s true, isn’t it? He has no right to come back and demand anything, especially anything to do with Amy.” Ben shakes his head. “I won’t let it happen.”
I glare at him.
“That’s not up to you to make, Ben.”
“I’m Amy’s godfather.”
“But you’re not her parent! That’s me! And that means it’s just me who needs to make the final decision.”
Ben scowls. He doesn’t look happy with what I’ve just said. I ignore him, focusing on Carly. At least she has a sensible head on her shoulders right now; mine is all over the place.
“He wants a DNA test, and when that comes back, he wants to be in her life. I honestly don’t know what to do.”
“You think he shouldn’t be in Amy’s life?” Carly asks.
“I…I don’t know.”
“Why not? Surely, Amy deserves to know who her dad is.”
I understand that, but it doesn’t make me feel any better. I run my hands through my hair, wincing as my fingers get caught in a tangle.
“I think it’s because I didn’t tell him when I found out I was pregnant. I didn’t know how to get hold of him, but also I was scared that he would do something that would take my child away from me.”
“I see.” Carly’s expression says that she does. “You think he would end up taking Amy away because he has all the money and you don’t. Either then or now, you would end up losing.”
“Does that sound stupid?” I wince. “Given what happened with Dad and Megan coming out of nowhere, I was scared that things would turn out badly.”
Ben snorts rudely.
“Well, this is what happens when you have unprotected sex with a guy you don’t know.”
“Shut up, Ben!” Carly snaps at him. “You’re not helping.”
“Can you blame me? We’ve raised Amy between us, and then suddenly the guy turns up expecting to have access to her? I’ve been the one Amy calls ‘Papa’. I don’t want that to change.”
I sigh.
“I know it’s not something you’re comfortable with, Ben…”
“I may not be the biological father, but I’m as much her parent as you are, Amy. I don’t want that guy around her.” Ben stands up. “But I know you’re not going to listen to me. You never seem to listen to me when I need you to.”
“Ben…”
But Ben storms out of the room. Carly looks pained as she rubs her hands over her face.
“Let me talk to him. I’ll get him to calm down.”
“Are you sure? It’s a lot to throw on the two of you.”
“We’ve been in this together the last six years. It’s only fair that I help out.” Carly looks at her watch. “Anyway, you need to get going. Weren’t you going to take Amy to the park to meet your grandma shortly?”
