Chapter 2: Face-to-face
"Drop the attitude, Peter."
"Me drop the attitude? You're the one that arrived in town without a word and now you're hiding my daughter from me!"
"Hiding? You've got to be –"
"I have rights, you know."
"Seriously? You need to brush up on your history, mate."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Jamie is four years old and today is the first time you have ever laid eyes on her. Whose fault is that?"
"You know I wanted to."
"When she was born, where were you?"
"You know how things were between us back then."
"And the next four years?"
"You hated me."
"You really think I would've kept her from you? That I would've denied her a father because of my feelings? Is that really what you think of me?"
"Of course not, I just…"
"Wanted an easy life."
"Wanted to sort myself out. So I could be a good father to her. And to Simon."
"Are you sorted then? I'm guessing yes since you're busy starting a new family."
"You know about that?"
"Of course."
Carla laughed nervously.
"Look at us. Can't even go five minutes without arguing. How we ever thought we'd be able to parent a child together."
Peter reached out and touched her arm gently.
"We would, I know we would."
Carla shrugged off his touch.
"Don't."
"Sorry… You visiting your family for Christmas then?"
"No. I'm here to see you. We're here to see you."
"Me?"
"Like you said, you are her father."
"So why did you rush her off before?"
"I need to prepare her first. I'm not gonna just dump a father on her without warning."
"Does she know about me? Who I am?"
"No."
Peter's face was a picture of disappointment.
"Right."
"What was I supposed to tell her, Peter? Here, darling, this is a picture of your father, he doesn't want anything to do with you."
"Okay. I guess that's fair. Why now?"
"Umm… She's, ummm, I dunno, she's getting to that age where she's starting to ask questions. And if there's a chance that you and her could have a relationship, a real relationship, then I wanna make that happen for her."
"Thank you. Thank you so much. You have no idea what this means –"
"But Peter, this is only gonna happen if you're committed to maintaining that relationship. I don't want her getting attached to you and then, when we go back home, you never calling her again, never seeing her. You have to be in it for the long haul."
"I am. I promise I am."
"Listen, Peter, you need to go away and have a good think about what you want. Whether you really want to be her dad."
"I don't need to think –"
"And talk to Toyah about it. I need to know she's supportive before… before I get Jamie's hopes up."
"She'll be fine."
"Good. Then you won't mind if I meet her? Just to put my mind at rest, ya know."
"Fine. Come to the pub later and we'll sit down and talk, all three of us."
Carla smiled her assent before turning towards Victoria Court where her daughter was waiting for her.
"Carla."
Carla turned around to face Peter.
"It's good to see you."