It was early Saturday morning but she was showered and dressed because James called and said he wanted to come over and talk. She sat on the couch and sipped a cup of coffee as she waited. The coffee was a new thing since Mac was in the hospital. It was time for a long sincere talk. In fact, it was past due. She and James needed to figure all the emotions out and set things straight. There was a knock on the door and she answered immediately,
�Hi, come in.� She stepped aside and he entered.
�I made breakfast. Come on.� He shook his head,
�No thanks, I�m not hungry. I just came to talk.� She nodded and followed him to the couch and sat down next to him. They both sat and looked straight ahead and he broke the silence.
�We�ve been a little messed up lately.� She stopped him before he could go on,
�With Mac in the hospital, its just been really hard.� He shook his head,
�Maybe it was a little strained before Mac was in the hospital.� He turned his body towards her,
�I loved you.� It didn�t get past her that love was in the past tense,
�This is just so hard for me to handle. I want to be your everything. I want to be the one to give you all you need. I want to be your support system and you�ve made it very clear that I would have to share those duties with Nick.� She didn�t want to hear that. She didn�t want to think that he might be right,
�No James. That�s not true. I never said that.�
�You never said it but your actions did�loud and clear. Every time something monumental happened since Mac has been in the hospital he�s been the one you�ve turned to, he�s been the support system, he�s been the one to swoop in and fix things. Getting the private waiting room established. The group of doctors, I mean they are the best in the hospital and they are all working with Mac. You needed bills paid and he easily took care of that. What have I been here for? Why do you need me?�
�You�ve been there for me. Helping me, supporting me.� He didn�t look to buy that at all,
�No, he was the one you were getting support from, he was the one that was protecting you.� She was willing to listen to him but she wanted to scream when he brought up that psychic and the photos,
�That psychic was bullshit.�
�You know why psychics are full of shit? Because they tell you the obvious. And it was obvious in those pictures. Anyone could have figured out there was something between you two. It was there, you could see it Quinn. I mean, if you weren�t too busy trying to dispute it, you�d see it too. The caring�the�the love.� She stared at him in horror,
�James please. Please don�t do this.�
�Its not just the pictures. It was the way he stood up to your moms. Do you know how many times I've personally seen you two hugging?� Her heart jumped into her throat. She didn�t think he had ever caught them doing anything. Now she had to wonder if he saw them doing anything else.
�Do you have feelings for Nick?� Of course she had feelings for him. She would always have feelings for him.
�As a friend? Yes. I...he�s a nice person and I��
�You know what I�m talking about Quinn. Don�t try some technicality crap. Do you have feelings for him?� She hesitated just a moment too long. A noticeable moment that didn�t escape him.
�Be honest with me.�
�I don�t know.� He looked at her as if he was looking at a child he was disappointed in,
�You don�t know?�
�OK, maybe.� He simply looked at her and without words made her crumble,
�Yes, I�m sorry.� The tears got away from her control.
�Don�t apologize.� She cried,
�I really loved you. It was never fake. I dreamed of being with you. Of us being together, a family. I never wanted to lose that dream�I never wanted it to end.� She leaned over and she kissed him. At first she was alone but soon he joined her. It was, by far, the most passionate, the most intense kiss they had ever shared. She placed her hand on his cheek and spoke into his mouth,
�I love you James.� She pulled back and looked into his eyes,
�I will always be thankful for you. You were there for me when I thought I would always be alone. You made me feel like a woman again not just a mom. I was able to get over being embarrassed about being a single mom because of you. I have so much to thank you for.� He shook his head,
�It wasn�t one-sided. You made me happy too. I guess it just wasn�t meant to last.� He stood up and began to walk towards the door. She pulled off her engagement ring.
�No, keep it.�
�I couldn�t, you should get your money back if you can. I can�t keep it. It wouldn�t be right.�
�And it would make me miserable to have it. What am I supposed to do with it? I cant so please you keep it. I don�t want it. I can�t deal with that.� She nodded and he pulled her into a hug,
�You be happy. And make sure you take care of that little girl.� He pulled away and walked out the door. He never looked back.
She sat on the couch and stared at her now meaningless ring. Her relationship was over. Her engagement was over. It was over because it was. It was over because it didn�t work. It was over because it wasn�t meant to be. The last thing she wanted to say was that it was over because of Nick. She didn�t end it, it was mutual, they ended it. And Nick really wasn�t on her mind.
Yes, she slept with Nick but that wasn�t why she and James were over. At least that�s what she told herself. James never knew about the days that she and Nick spent together. She just hoped in her mind it wasn�t over because of Nick. She hoped in the back of her mind she wasn�t hoping for something with Nick.
She was watching TV before heading to the hospital to be with Mac when she saw concert footage of the Backstreet Boys. She sat in amazement as it became a reality. That whacked out lady was really going to sue the group. Her lawyer had already filed her complaint with the court. She felt bad for the guys and she felt bad for Nick. To have a career where someone sues you for loving your own child seemed horrible.
How could this woman be so cruel? She knew why Nick had to leave. As if it was more important for her daughter to see Nick than for him to see his own daughter. Fans could really take the cake sometimes. Why did they think they were so much more important than anything else going on in the Boys� lives? She never behaved that way; Chris never behaved that way. There were always a few nuts out there making it bad for everyone else. She turned the TV off and freshened up.
She arrived at the hospital and surprised to see not only Nick there but also sitting next to him was his father.
�Hi.� She said to Nick, �Hello Mr. Carter.� They both said hello and she sat in a chair next to Larry,
�Hi.� He smiled,
�Hello.� She couldn�t help but be amused by his demeanor,
�Why do you look so happy?�
�Because Nick�s so-called friend is leaving today. He�s been nothing but a pain since he�s been here. It was like baby-sitting. I can�t believe Nick�s taste sometimes.� She looked over at Nick. Sometimes she wanted to step in and run his life; make him see what he wasn�t doing right. He needed the equivalent of a tour manager.
Chapter 103
Reunited
Stories