Page 119 of Fierce-Baker

“Tell us then,” her mother said.

“His name was Shane Rogan. He lived in Atlanta and worked there and here in Charlotte for his uncle, splitting his time. We dated for about two months, but I only saw him every two weeks.”

“So one of those long distance things?” her mother asked.

“Yes. We talked on and off while he was gone. I never suspected anything and I should have. I found out that he was married and had two kids.”

Her father’s face flooded crimson. “Married but separated? Or married and cheating on his wife?”

Her foot was shaking on the floor, her knee bobbing with it. “Cheating on his wife. The night I found out—when I found his second phone and she was trying to call him—I ended it right then. I stormed out, he came after me, I told him what I thought, felt, and what he could go do with himself.”

“Good for you,” her mother said, nodding her head.

“Then a few weeks later I found out I was pregnant. We’d been protecting ourselves, but maybe the condom leaked or broke. I don’t know. It doesn’t even matter now.”

“It doesn’t,” Baker said. “That’s all in the past.”

“So what changed?” her mother asked. “Not that I’m not thrilled to know who the person is and I know I’ll have a lot more questions.”

“He showed up at the school yesterday. He said he’d been trying to find me, but I’d moved and I’d blocked his number.”

“What the hell does he want?” her father asked.

She reached for Baker’s hand and held it, felt his reassuring squeeze, giving her the courage to continue.

“Well, he and his wife split, he said things were messy and I didn’t ask nor care. He’s in Charlotte now working until they cool off. He just thought we’d pick up where we left off.”

“Asshole,” her mother said.

“That’s one of the more polite names I’d call him,” Baker said.

“I told him exactly what I thought of him and the situation with his wife back then and now. I told him I was in a relationship too. I don’t think he’s going to go away. He’s not the type. He’ll want to check out Baker to see if he still has a shot.”

Her father looked at her boyfriend. “And your thoughts on this?”

“I’m just waiting. Maybe even itching for it,” he said.

“No fights,” she said. “I don’t want that. But the thing is, I’m not sure I can hide Micah’s existence now. I always knewthe time would come when Shane would have to be told. I don’t know how he’s going to react. I want nothing from him and I’m going to be very clear about that. I’d actually prefer not to get anything.”

“Tasha, he has a child. He should support that child,” her mother said.

“I don’t need his support, financially or his presence in Micah’s life. But I don’t know how he is going to feel about it. And he has paternal rights. I called an attorney yesterday when I got home. I’m meeting with her after work on Monday to find out what I can about this situation.”

“You’re at least being smart about this,” her mother said.

“I don’t need the sarcasm, Mom.”

“What could you have been thinking dating a married man?” her mother asked.

“She just told you she didn’t know he was married,” Baker said.

“How could she not know just based on the little she’d said? If you’d told us about him back then, Tasha, I would have raised those questions.”

“That’s right,” she said, throwing her hand up. “Because you always doubted everyone I ever dated. The one person you liked was James and he was boring as all hell. I didn’t want to settle down with him, but you pushed and pushed like it was my fault I let him get away.”

And having this conversation in front of Baker wasn’t making anything better.

“I don’t doubt everyone you date,” her mother argued. “Did I have opinions? Sure, I did, and I do. I doubt nothing about Baker and I’m not just saying that because he’s sitting here.”