Her Viking 2

Chapter 4: Doubt

Vikingfjord burns the esophagus and erupts a cough. The shot glass is slammed down for the fifteenth time. The bartender looks over and shakes his head before going back to cleaning glass cups. Kage sits at the bar.

"What seems to be the problem this time?" The bartender asks with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't know, Askel." Kage sighs with distress. "My woman is pregnant."

"Gratulerer!" Askel smiles.

"But..."

"But what?"

"I'm having doubts."

"Doubts about what?" Askel questions his long-time friend.

"At first, I was so happy to hear that Mariana was pregnant again. I knew this time it would be better because our relationship is more stable. Now... I don't know about us having this baby and how this parenting will be." Kage shakes his head. "I don't want to end up like my father. I keep thinking about the past and what I used to do and how I used to act."

"Kage, you've changed," Askel states. "Last time you were here, you were laughing with Lyting. I haven't seen you laugh like that since before you took over your father's..."

"I know..."

"That was 14 years ago, half of your life."

The bar's entrance door swings open and in walks Lyting. He just finished a long day of work and feels exhausted. His tie is loose as his right-hand holds his suit jacket over his shoulder and his left-hand holds his briefcase. Lyting walks up and pats Kage on his back and shakes Askel's hand. He greets them with a weak smile.

"What are you doing here? Usually, if you work this late you'll go straight home." Kage explains his reason for questioning.

"Well, Askel called me and told me to stop by while you were here."

"He's trying to deal with a problem," Askel points out.

"What problem?" Lyting asks.

"There is no problem," Kage answers, running his hand through his hair.

Kage sighs after both men stare at him in silence. "I'm having doubts about this pregnancy."

"Why? You were happy about it last week. You even smiled the whole time while having dinner with the family. My kids even asked if something was wrong with you." Lyting and Askel laugh at the last statement.

Kage cracked a smile at the thought of his nieces and nephew being confused. "They're a handful."

"You're not wrong about that," Lyting mutters to himself. "In all seriousness, talk to me."

"I'm worried I'll end up like my father. I keep thinking about the past. I don't even know if I'm going to be a good father. I told Mariana about my past before but it was very brief. She only got the gist of what I might have been doing. I don't want her to think I'm like her ex if she finds out what I did in detail."

"First of all, you won't end up like your father. Even though you took over what he used to do, deep down you are different. Second of all, nobody knows if they are going to be a good parent. It's a learning process that you go through and try your best to make the right decisions." Lyting states firmly looking into his brother-in-law's eyes.

"Kage, your woman will be understanding. If she got the gist of what you did and accepted you, hearing the details won't change that." Askel went to reason some more.

"It's not just that," Kage sighs.

"Something else is bothering you," Lyting states.

"I may have called some old acquaintances..."