Page 32 of Surprise Baby for Mr. Fischer
“Thanks, and I work incredibly hard to be one, but what does that have to do with you?”
“I can’t do it. What if I screw this kid up like my parents did to me?” My fingers throbbed as I squeezed the phone tighter.
There was a pause before he sighed. “What if you don’t? Linc, you’re not screwed up. You’ve got baggage. So does everyone. You’re a good man, and you’re great with my kids. They love you. I think you’re overthinking this.”
“I don’t know how to do this.” Pain and sadness wove together into a ball and lodged in my throat.
“Linc, your parents were selfish assholes. Your uncle did a far better job raising you than your parents ever did. He’s the example you need to consider.” He sighed. “And let me tell you, no one knows what the hell they’re doing when they become parents. We learn by trial and error and hope for the best.”
“I hear you.” And I did, but I still felt conflicted. I sighed. “I told Harper I needed time to think.”
“Don’t take too long. If you think this girl is legit, and all she wants is for you to be there for the kid—”
“She is.”
“Then be there for her. You wait too long, and someone else will decide to take your place. Some other guy will raise your kid. Then you won’t have a shot at all.”
My stomach churned at the thought of another guy being with Harper. Another man being a father to my child.
“You know I’ll stick by you no matter what, but I’m going to be brutally honest here. If you walk away from them, the day will come when you’ll regret it. Don’t let the bad decisions your parents made affect the rest of your life. You had a shitty childhood, but their deaths gave you a chance at a better life with your Uncle Theo. Don’t forget that.”
Max was right. My parents hadn’t known how to love anyone other than themselves. I wasn’t planned. My existence had disrupted their lifestyle, and they hadn’t wanted to change. Not for me. Not for anyone.
I talked with him for a few more minutes before we hung up. His words stayed with me well through the night as I laid on the couch, frozen in thought. Was I still letting my parents ruin my life? I’d been so afraid of repeating their mistakes I’d sworn off having children.
It wasn’t my first choice to become a father, but now that I knew about this baby, I couldn’t just walk away.
CHAPTER TEN
Harper
The chimes by the frontdoor echoed to the back of the shop where I was rearranging our section of antique tea sets. After placing the last teacup on its corresponding saucer, I hurried up front with a smile on my face, which faded when I saw who it was.
“Whitney, what are you doing here?” Whitney never came to Bits and Bobs. She was always far too busy to drive all the way here from her apartment in Providence. Which was ridiculous. Most people drove further than the forty-five minutes it took her to drive here to get to most places in their state. Warwick—only forty minutes away—was the furthest she’d go unless she was heading to the beach.
“What? I can’t justdrop inand say hi to my bestie?” She leaned on the counter behind her and gave me her most charming smile.
