"If you want to put the money to use, put it in a college fund. Kamea doesn't need stuff. She needs time and attention." Lani did not want to take his money. It did not matter if he was willing to just buy stuff for Kamea, the fact remained that that kind of thing did not make kids happy. Lani had met all types, and kids really did not need stuff to be happy she had found. And Kamea was happy enough without all that stuff rich parents got their kids.
"I'm not dismissing you Starbuck, hell, this is the first time I've seen you in almost two years." she said shortly, but kept her voice as calm as possible to keep from upsetting her daughter again. "And I'll let you help if you're going to put in the work. But don't I'd really like it better if you didn't feel the need to make all these promises." This was the first he'd seen his daughter, he was overwhelmed. Promises could be broken. If he never made a promise to Kamea, then it would never be broken, and then everything he did would be appreciated.
If he ever called her selfish, then she would be selfish and take Kamea away. She had done what was right for her daughter. Lani still had no clue if telling Starbuck and letting him be part of her life was good for Kamea or not. Sure he was a nice guy, but that did not mean he would be a good father. The money part worried her. Kids needed time, not money. Even if he would never see it that way, she had wanted him to have a bit of his own life just a bit longer.
"People are around domestic animals a lot more than wild animals too." she drawled out sarcastically. Honestly, she was not stupid. "It is my call. And maybe I'll be comfortable with it at some time, but not right now. You've only just met her, I'm not going to have you meeting up with a wild animal that could hurt her."