Chapter 3

Layla chattered away while we ate, but I couldn't pay attention to what she was saying, all I could think about was Jake. As I was washing the dishes there was a solid resounding knock on the door and my heart sunk, it could only be him. There was no one else that would come visit us, not after I fought with my only friend like I did. I slowly dried my hands; I wanted to delay this moment for as long as possible. I hoped Layla wouldn't come to the door as I swung it open.

Paul looked so different, he was huge. Even taller than Jake. Probably around 6'9" and he was muscular then Jake to. His hair was shorter, spiked up to keep it out of the away. His eyes used to be cold, dark and empty. But now, his eyes shown with light, happiness and love. Wait love? The same look that was on Seth's face when he met Layla is how Paul was looking at me now.

"Jacey?" Paul asked. His voice was different, light sweet.

"What do you want, Paul?" I growled ducking out of the house and lightly closing the door behind me. I silently prayed that Layla would not come looking for me.

"Jacey, I know you may hate me but I need to be part of your life and part of our daughter's life too." Paul pleaded reaching out and grabbing my hand. I stepped out of his reach.

"Don't touch me Paul. You don't even know my daughter's name. To be a father, you have to know about your child, you have to care for a child; you have to be there for a child. Where have you been Paul? What have you done for my child Paul?" I said angrily fighting back the urge to hit him. I turned away from him and faced the woods.

"You wouldn't let me be here for you. You ran away from here." Paul argued stepping in my line of vision.

"Why the fuck did I leave Paul? Did I want to leave? No. You denied me, you called me a whore. What kind of father does that? What kind of man does that?" I seethed turning and slamming my fist into the porch railing. Pain shot up my arm, but my anger dulled it.

"I'm sorry, I really am. But I wanna be part of your lives now. I wanna make things right, please let me. Just let me prove to you I can do this. Please Jacey." Paul begged grabbing my arm and forcing me to look into his eyes.

His eyes were filled with emotion; I could see he really wanted this. But I wasn't going to give in that easily.

I stepped back away from him. "You want to be in our lives? Fine, but I'm sure as hell not gonna make it easy. Being a dad is hard. You're on probation. I'll call you if I need anything. Goodbye." I made to the door.

"Jace. I know you. You won't call even if you were dying. You have too much pride to ask me for help." Paul said throwing out his arm and preventing me from going inside.

Damn I thought I could get away with it. I thought angrily.

"Let me meet my daughter." Paul whispered softly.

I'm not sure what made me do, possibly because he was sincere, that he really wanted to be in our lives, but I nodded.

"Do not tell her who you are. You don't deserve the title of a father." I said opening the door and pointing inside.

"Thank you." Paul said as he stepped past me.

"Layla! Someone's here to meet you!" I called walking in the house and closing the door behind me. Layla came barreling down the hallway and grabbed Paul's hand, it was huge compared to hers. I smiled despite myself. How could I not when he made Layla look like a midget.

"I'm Layla. I'm five!" She announced holding out 5 fingers to show Paul.

"Really? I'm Paul and I'm 23." Paul replied looking at his hands, he didn't seem to want to remove his hand from Layla's to show how old he was. But, Layla didn't seem to notice. Layla began to chatter away and drag Paul down the hallway towards the sunroom.

Suddenly an idea hit me. Paul could watch Layla for a little while, while I find Jake and apologize. This would help me figure out if I could trust him. I wouldn't be gone long, and really what could happen?