"Well that wasn't on my list of possible answers you were going to give me," Kate said. "Are you sure?".
"No," Steve replied. "They wanna do DNA testing or something," he continued as he turned around and found a step to sit on.
"Who's the mother?" Kate asked as she sat down beside Steve.
"Don't wanna say," Steve answered sheepishly.
"Why not?" Kate asked. "Because you can't remember?" she teased. Steve had been with a fairly large number of women since she had known him.
"Fuck off!" Steve replied, acting offended. He hadn't been as promiscuous as Kate or the gaffer thought. "It's because it will probably start an argument," Steve explained.
"It won't," Kate promised, realising Steve needed her support right now.
"Alright," Steve said. "It's Claire Tindall,".
"Who?" Kate said.
"The nurse," Steve replied, knowing that was all he had to say.
"Oh," said Kate rather quickly and in a disapproving tone. "I thought you would have been sensible enough to wear a condom for a one night stand,".
"I did!" Steve said getting angry.
"You didn't notice it had split?". Steve shook his head. "This is why you don't sleep with witnesses!" Kate continued, getting riled up.
"I thought you promised we wouldn't have an argument," Steve retorted. This was exactly what he had dreading happening.
Kate stopped and took a breath. "You're right," she said. "Sorry," she apologised.
There was silence for a bit as both thought about Steve's news.
"How old is she?".
"Just turned four,".
"Why are you finding this out now?" Kate enquired. "Does she want maintenance or something?".
"She died," Steve replied.
"Shit!" Kate said, her feelings about Steve's one night stand rapidly changing. "Didn't she have a son?".
"Yeah," Steve answered. "He's with his dad," he continued, informing Kate of what he had been told by the social workers in the gaffer's office. "He didn't want to look after a kid that wasn't his,".
"So what happened to your daughter?".
"Alleged daughter," Steve corrected. He wasn't going to accept he was a dad until the science proved it. "She went in to emergency foster care,".
"Poor thing," Kate said.
"Then the foster dad had a heart attack on Christmas Eve so she was moved to a Children's Home," Steve replied.
"Oh my god!" Kate said. "That's awful,".
"She's still there now. They were clearing out Claire's belongings and have just come across a letter addressed to me that Claire wrote when she found out she was pregnant. They want to know if I want to meet her,".
"What are you going to do?" Kate asked.
"I don't know," Steve said. "That was when I came up here,".
"And now you've had a bit of time to think about it?".
"Still don't know," Steve answered truthfully. "Somebody came up here and disturbed me," he teased before falling silent. "I don't know anything about parenting," he admitted, voicing his concerns.
"Neither does any first time parent," Kate pointed out. "You learn as you go along," she said from experience.
"There's probably someone out there who could do a much better job than me," Steve said.
"So you're just gonna wash your hands of her?!" Kate asked, shocked at Steve's reply.
"No," Steve replied. "I'm giving her a chance at a better life,".
"And in the mean time she's got to stay in that children's home," Kate spat angrily. "That's not a better life! I'm just gonna say four words Steve. Sands View Boys Home!".
Steve stopped what he was going to say. Those four words hit him hard. The stories of what had happened to those boys all those years ago had affected him deeply. He would be a fool to think that it still didn't go on today especially after several recent news headlines.
"Ok, so what do I do?" Steve asked angrily.
"I can't believe you're asking that question," Kate said as she got to her feet. "Sleeping with her mother was possibly the stupidest decision of your life," Kate ranted. "So maybe you step up and take some responsibility for that night," Kate said before storming off and leaving Steve alone. The slam of the safety door behind her left Steve in no doubt that she was perhaps a little upset at him.
Kate was sat at her desk working at her computer when Steve eventually reappeared back in the office. She studiously studied the screen as he approached her, pretending she was unaware of his presence, but Steve knew otherwise. Even when he was stood at her side she made no acknowledgment of his presence.
"If I go, will you come with me?" he asked quietly. A brief nod from Kate was his reply.