Braun took a deep breath and put on his best smile for the kid standing next to him. His 12 year old daughter Ronja. He had known all along that he had a child but he had never met her until recently. He had paid child support while the mother lived in Canada and took care of Ronja. Now they had moved back to USA, Ronja's mother had reached out asking if Braun would want to be a part of his daughter's life.
There was a problem though. His girlfriend Nishi. She didn't want children - her own or someone else's. He knew that from the first date where she put all the cards on the table since it was a dealbreaker. So he lied to her and said he agreed. And he did. He wasn't interested in having anymore children. He just lied about actually having one. He had lied for three years when Ronja's mother suddenly called.
"Here we are," he said.
"She doesn't know I'm coming, does she?" She asked.
"What makes you say that?" He asked.
"I can tell you're nervous. More nervous than when you picked me up. You shouldn't do that to people, Braun," she said.
"Damn, you're smart for your age," he chuckled.
"Yeah, I get that from mom," she said.
"And quick with the comebacks as well," he said. "It's gonna be fine. You'll see. Once she gets to know you, she'll love you like her own."
He opened the door and they both stepped inside. He heard footsteps and took another deep breath. Nishi entered with her hands in her long, deep red hair. She was braiding it but stopped when she noticed them both. She let go of her hair while her big, brown eyes turned even bigger.
"Nishi, this is Ronja," Braun said. "My daughter."
Nishi stared at the girl next to Braun. Braun couldn't run from being the father. Ronja had his eyes and several of his face features. Her big, brown, curly hair had to come from the mother though.
"Hello," Nishi said.
"Hi," Ronja said. "Do you got any food here? I'm hungry."
"Braun will make you lunch," Nishi gave Braun a hard stare. "Won't you, Braun?"
"In a moment. Go wait in the kitchen. It's that way," Braun pointed at a door. "You can't miss it."
Ronja shrugged and walked in the direction Braun had pointed at. Braun kept looking at Ronja to make sure she was out of earshot. He turned his eyes to Nishi again who stood there with her arms crossed.
"How could you?" She asked.
"I told you I'm not choosing between you," he said.
"And I told you that you can't have us both," she said.
"Why the fuck not?" He asked.
"I'm not playing stepmom to her!" She hissed.
"Keep it down," he said.
She turned around and walked into the bedroom. He followed after.
"Braun, I can't do this. I don't want to do this. I have no interest in children and motherhood," she said.
"You'll get a hang of it," he said.
"But I don't want to!" She raised her voice. "I respect that you want to be there for her but you have to respect that I don't."
"I refuse," he said.
"Braun, look at it this way," she sighed. "What kind of a father would want to date someone who doesn't want his child? If you want to be in her life, you're a package deal. She should always come first. I'm not gonna stand in your way or try to mess it up for you. You chose her. That's okay. You should have told me instead of trying to pull this crap on me."
He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off my Ronja yelling.
"I'm hungry!" Ronja yelled.
"I'm coming!" Braun yelled back.
He looked at Nishi again and sighed.
"At least come have lunch with us," he said.
"Close the door after you. I want to be alone," she said.
He sighed again and nodded. He didn't like it but he understood. He had stepped over the line big time by doing this. He walked out of the bedroom and closed the door as requested. He went to the kitchen and started making sandwiches for himself and Ronja. They sat there for an hour and just talked to get to know each other better.
"Did she leave?" She suddenly asked.
"Nishi? No, she has a headache. She wanted to take a nap," he lied.
"You're lying," she crossed her arms. "I don't like it when people lie to me, Braun."
"You can call me dad," he said.
"I don't want to. I have a dad at home. Since you didn't care to be around, mom found someone who did. He treats me like his daughter," she said.
"I'm happy to hear it. Now you have two dads then," he said.
He sent her a smile. He knew it was going to be a challenge. He couldn't expect a 12 year old girl to just love him and trust him from the start. He hadn't been there for 12 years.
"I think she's gonna leave you," she said.
He furrowed his brows hearing that. This kid was smart and knew how to hurt him already but even that felt like a step too far for her.
"What makes you say that?" He asked.
"Because she's childfree," she answered.
"How do you even know that word?" He asked.
"Reddit," she shrugged. "I'm not having children either. I like your girlfriend. If she's smart, she'll leave you. I wouldn't want to take care of someone my age either."
"You're a very weird child," he stood up. "Clean the table while I go check up on her."
He left Ronja in the kitchen and went back to the bedroom. To his surprise he found Nishi in there with four packed bags on the bed.
"What are you doing?" He asked.
"I'm leaving you. My sister is on her way," she said.
"You're actually gonna leave me over this? What a cold heart you have," he said.
"That's not fair but I get why you're lashing out," she said. "I'm not leaving you because I don't love you anymore. I'm leaving you because I love you. I know she's important to you so I have to go. One day you'll find someone who's willing to take the stepmother role with everything that comes along with it. You both deserve that."
Her phone beeped and she looked down at the text. She sighed and looked up at him again.
"My sister's here," she said.
She yanked up the bags. She could use a hand carrying them but he refused. Instead he watched as she stumbled out with four packed bags.
"I was gonna ask you to marry me," he said.
She shook her head and looked back at him.
"Don't start with the guilt tripping," she said. "I'm gonna call the landlord Monday and tell him I've moved out. If you want to keep the apartment, you can resign alone. You know he's cool with letting people out of the lease early if you don't wanna stay here."
"But we both love this place," he said.
"So keep it," she said.
He sneered and walked up to her fast. He grabbed her head and forced a kiss on her. She stood there with her lips sealed shut and not allowing him entrance. He let go and stared into her eyes.
"I know how stubborn you can be so I'll play along. I'll sign a new lease and I'll wait here until you're ready to come back so we once again can put your name on the lease," he said.
"I'm not coming back," she said.
"I'll win you back," he said.
"Don't start with the love bombing or weird threats either. Don't be that guy, Braun. Start your life over with your daughter and be happy," she said.
"Mark my words," he said. "I will win you back."
A car horn sounded outside. He smirked at her and opened the front door for her. He was sure he was right about her coming back one day.
"Goodbye, Braun," she said.
She left the apartment and walked towards her sister's car. Her sister Lana jumped out and opened the trunk before taking two bags from Nishi and putting them in there. Nishi put the other two in there as well.
"How is he taking it?" Lana asked.
"Like crap," Nishi answered. "Once he signs a new lease, I'm gonna need a new phone number. One he will never have."
Lana closed the trunk and pulled Nishi in for a hug.
"I'm sorry, big sister," Lana said.
"It's not your fault," Nishi sighed. "You better have banana ice cream at home and not enough for me to share with you."
Lana giggled and nodded.
"I'll stop by the supermarket on our way home," Lana said. "I'm gonna buy you all the ice cream and snacks you need, and we're gonna binge some crazy show on Netflix until you have no more tears to cry. I'm here for you, Nishi."
"Thank you, Lana," Nishi said. "Fuck, this hurts."
"You're doing the right thing," Lana said. "If you stay, you're gonna hurt yourself, Braun and that kid. That's not fair to either of you. Sometimes we have to walk away from the thing we love the most. It sucks and it hurts but you will get through it. I promise."