He shook his head,
�You have no idea how much I care about you.� Why he couldn�t have said that why she was standing before him he didn�t know. She had no idea. No idea how many times in lay in an empty bed and dreamed that she was there next to him. No idea how he longed for some perfect relationship they could have together. No idea how many times he thought of her when he saw someone who looked remotely similar to her. He cared about her and liked her more than she would ever know. He always had fun with her, even before they slept together. She was so easy to talk to and those few times when he would talk to her about something she wasn�t always trying to solve the problem for him or tell him it would be ok, she just listened and it seemed like that was what he needed more than anything. Everyone seemed to like her for the most part and that made things easier. He shook his head and looked down at MacKenzie,
�Your dad is stupid. Don�t grow up to be like me.� He leaned down further so he was closer to her,
�What? Yeah, I know. Your mommy is really mad at me. What do you think I should do?� He smiled slightly and shook his head,
�No, I don�t think I should tell her that. She�d probably smack me.� He turned when he heard someone clear his or her throat and saw Josh,
�What�s up?� Josh pointed inside the room,
�Is�is it ok if I come in?� Nick nodded his head,
�Yeah, sure come in.� Josh made his way over and handed him his phone,
�Your mom and Kevin called. Your mom wants you to call her and Kevin said he and Brian will be here tomorrow.� Kevin and Brian, he hadn�t talked to them since that awful night he walked out on them. He knew they now understood his need to leave but he knew they surely hadn�t forgiven him for the way he walked out and for not telling them.
�They�re going to be here tomorrow?� He had heard loud and clear but he just felt the need to make Josh verify it,
�Yeah.� He sighed,
�What about Howie and AJ?� Josh shook his head,
�I don�t know he didn�t mention them, he just said he and Brian would be here tomorrow, to let you know and make sure you called him back today.� He nodded and looked down at his phone, the last thing he wanted to do was talk to Kevin and his mother; of all the people to call. His thoughts were interrupted when Josh placed his hand on his shoulder,
�If you need anything let me know. Mike is on his way down. He can�t stay that long though.� He nodded,
�Alright cool.� Josh patted his shoulder,
�I�m going to go get a drink. You want something?� Nick shook his head,
�No.� He watched as Josh walked out of the room and his image was replaced with Elliott�s. Nick groaned inwardly and turned his attention back to his daughter. He wasn�t up for anymore arguing and lectures on what an awful human being he was,
�I�m not here to argue with you, I just want you to answer one question.� Nick took a deep breath and sighed,
�Ok.� Elliott�s voice was calm and quiet, that was better than any other time he tried to have a conversation with Nick so maybe this time wouldn�t be so bad.
�Do you care about Quinn and Mac?� What kind of question was that Nick wondered? Of course he cared about them they were his girls. They were right up there with the women in his family. Well, maybe not his mother. As he thought about it, maybe Quinn and definitely MacKenzie had more of his heart than she did.
�Yeah man, of course I do.� He looked over to see Elliott nodding his head,
�Well good. Your presence here makes things harder than they have to be for Quinn and Mac. Quinn can�t get any privacy so I think it�s best if you leave.� He should have known better. He should have known this was just another attempt to get him away from Quinn.
�You were the one that demanded that I be here and now you want me to leave. Why?� Elliott nodded his head,
�Yes and now I regret making you come. Photographers and cameras crews hanging out around the hospital and at Quinn�s place trying to get some scoop.� He didn't know they were staking out,
�Weren�t you the one who threatened to call them if I didn�t show up?� Elliott rolled his eyes,
�I never would have done that to Quinn. You were just stupid enough to fall for it because you were more concerned about yourself than stopping to think.� Nick stood there and he never thought of that but it was true. If Elliott had gone to the media it would have been just as awful for Quinn as it would have been for him.
�Why do you want me gone so bad? That�s all you have talked about since I got here.� Elliott sighed,
�Because I thought that when you got here, with the seriousness of the situation, you were going to act like a man not the fool you�ve been so far. They are better off without you.� Nick couldn�t take it anymore,
�Says who? You? You don�t make decisions for Quinn and you sure don�t make decisions for MacKenzie. Walking away is the last thing I would do if I care about them. And if case you are wondering I do�I do care about them�both.� He thought his words would finally convince Elliott but it did nothing but seem to bother him even more,
�You are a selfish little prick. You know that? You don�t care about MacKenzie and you sure as hell don�t care about Quinn. This is a fucking game to you and the only reason you�re sticking around is because everyone wants you to leave. You are worthless as a father and you�re of no use here. MacKenzie doesn�t even know you and Quinn hates you. You ever wonder why no one talks to you? Because no one wants you here.� Nick stared down at his feet as Elliott walked out the door. He never thought that; never thought that he wasn�t wanted or needed. He knew James and Elliott weren�t fond of his attendance. They were the men in her life; James was her fianc�e and Elliott was the man when there was no man. Sure, Quinn had posed the question of why he was there a couple of times but he didn�t think she really didn�t want him there. Maybe she didn't want him there. Maybe that was why no one talked to him, except to scold him for being a bad parent. Even Chris didn�t talk to him except a couple of times and he knew for a fact that she was a fan just like Quinn was. But like he told Quinn, she had trustworthy friends, they were good friends and would pick her friendship over him anytime.
He looked down at MacKenzie,
�Why did I make things harder than they had to be?� Her eyes were closed and she lay there, her little chest rising and falling with every breath she took,
�Why couldn�t I just have accepted you and been there for you? Why couldn�t I have let everyone know and been happy and proud instead of upset and embarrassed? Things would be so much easier right now.� Her image blurred as the tears formed in his eyes,
�I never meant to hurt you. I�m sorry I was embarrassed. It was me it wasn�t you. I promise.� Maybe he should back off; it probably would be best especially now that reporters were roaming around. The least he could do was try to shift some of the attention away from Quinn and her family as they tried to be there for MacKenzie. What had he done since he had been there? He had done nothing but bring more strife apparently.
Chapter 59
Reunited
Stories