Visiting his "goddaughters" was never easy. Plus, he seemed to have lots of them, didn't quite claim any of them. All their mothers were just "good friends", most seemed to be single, or partnered with guys who didn't seem to be these girls' fathers either.
The logical answer was that he probably sired close to 20 kids. But, no matter how many times she tried to pin him down, he shook his head. Sincerely, he'd claim that none of them were his. Even the ones he had wanted. "If any of them were, none of them or their mothers would have me anyway," It seemed more pitiful than logical, so she didn't press him.
And indeed, at every house, he was treated like a stranger. A welcome stranger, one who would provide entertainment or good stories. But not a father. No matter how much he wanted to play that role, he was stuck with his aging-idol status. Which made mothers, daughters and even granddaughters flirt with him. But those that weren't attracted to his flame were also blind to him as a human; if they couldn't give him credence as a phenomenon, they also couldn't bear to put up with any other bullshit. No love, no hate, just apathy.
She saw some kind of ache in his eyes every time they left. A life he never could manage somehow, no matter how hard he tried. She certainly never let him take advantage of the 20 year difference between them to patronize her. Or even act paternally. But she thought it was different. Maybe there was something about him that girls instinctively stayed away from. He wasn't to be trusted for the long term.
He had far too many suspicious stories about girlfriends who seemed to arrive on the scene with children already. He was a sucker for someone asking for help. Especially someone with a child. Never quite understood why his generosity was never reciprocated. Why he failed, when he loved a woman SO MUCH that he would accept her child as his own. It made him hard.
Lady's Baby
The logical answer was that he probably sired close to 20 kids. But, no matter how many times she tried to pin him down, he shook his head. Sincerely, he'd claim that none of them were his. Even the ones he had wanted. "If any of them were, none of them or their mothers would have me anyway," It seemed more pitiful than logical, so she didn't press him.
And indeed, at every house, he was treated like a stranger. A welcome stranger, one who would provide entertainment or good stories. But not a father. No matter how much he wanted to play that role, he was stuck with his aging-idol status. Which made mothers, daughters and even granddaughters flirt with him. But those that weren't attracted to his flame were also blind to him as a human; if they couldn't give him credence as a phenomenon, they also couldn't bear to put up with any other bullshit. No love, no hate, just apathy.
She saw some kind of ache in his eyes every time they left. A life he never could manage somehow, no matter how hard he tried. She certainly never let him take advantage of the 20 year difference between them to patronize her. Or even act paternally. But she thought it was different. Maybe there was something about him that girls instinctively stayed away from. He wasn't to be trusted for the long term.
He had far too many suspicious stories about girlfriends who seemed to arrive on the scene with children already. He was a sucker for someone asking for help. Especially someone with a child. Never quite understood why his generosity was never reciprocated. Why he failed, when he loved a woman SO MUCH that he would accept her child as his own. It made him hard.
Lady's Baby
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