Fatima: Love, Family, and Career

Chapter 28: Momma's Baby, Daddy's Maybe

After almost 48 hours of being away to clear his head, Zac is getting ready to leave the lake house and head home. 

It's around 4:00 and Zac arrives home. He decided to text Fatima.

Zac: Hey, beautiful. I just made it home. I would like to talk if that's ok with you. Can I come over?

Fatima: Sure.

He takes a shower and heads to Fatima's house.

He gets there and rings the doorbell.

When she opens the door, he hands her a dozen roses.

"Can I come in?"

Fatima lets Zac into her home.

"Come here babe, look I'm sorry about leaving and not explaining what's going on." Says Zac. He reaches to kiss Fatima.

She moves her head away from the kiss.

" I can't get a kiss?"

"Nope. Let's go over here and talk."

They head to the living room and sit on the couch. He faces Fatima and grabs her hand.

"Look Fatima, I just want to apologize again. When I told you I loved you, I meant it. I don't want to lose you."

"I hear you, but after all the time we've spent together, for you to ignore me and then disappear for days without really giving me details. Is that how you act when you can't handle situations?" asks Fatima.

"You're right. I haven't been completely honest with you." Zac says. "My ex and I were together for 5 years, from age 16-21. She was my first love, my high school sweetheart. We were young, but we had talked about getting married and having kids one day. But I was out running the streets and selling drugs, being reckless. She was opposed to it, so she gave me an ultimatum. Either I leave the streets or she's leaving. Well, she left me, and it hurt me to the core. I've finally turned my life around and moved on. The problem is Karen just moved to Atlanta. I ran into her a few weeks ago in the mall, where we exchanged numbers. Then the other day I was showing her a house and she tells me I have a daughter that is 12 years old."

"Wow!" says Fatima. "Do you think it's yours?"

"What? What do you mean?" asked Zac confused.

"Look she waits 12 years to spring this on you and you just gone accept it?"

"Umm. She wouldn't lie to me."

"But she will keep your child away from you for all these years. Make that make sense."

At this time, she is heated. Fatima did not let Zac in her life so a crazy ex can take him away from her.

"You need to take a paternity test." Demands Fatima.

"Ok. I'll talk to her, but what if she is mine? Fatima, would you stay with me?"

"I don't know Zac; this is a lot right now."

Zac looks at Fatima as tears flow from her eyes. He moves in to hug her.

The next day

Zac calls Karen and asks to meet her for lunch.

Karen meets him at the restaurant.

"Hey, Karen thanks for coming. I wanted to discuss the baby." Says Zac.

"Her name is Zarina. What is there to discuss?"

"Karen. I haven't seen or heard from you in 12 years and you gone just pop up and tell me I have a kid. How do I know she's mine?"

"Because I said so. You think I would lie; besides, she looks just like you."

"Well before I meet her, I want to take a paternity test."

"Aww shit, Zac I knew you were going to be an asshole. She doesn't need you. I raised her for 12 years by myself, I don't need you." Karen gets up and leaves the restaurant.

5 minutes later he gets a text from Karen.

Karen: I will be meeting with my lawyer tomorrow.