She walked in the door and saw the three of them smiling and seeming to be enjoying themselves as they stood in the very room where her daughter was struggling to live. To say it bothered her was an understatement.
�What�s going on in here?� They all turned to face her, amusement all over their faces. Jane, no surprise, was the first one to speak,
�Oh Quinn hi. Dr. Callan this is Quinn, MacKenzie�s mother. Quinn this is Dr. Callan, the hospital�s chief of staff.� She immediately began to think the worse and the worry, she was sure, was all over her face,
�Chief of staff? What�s going on? Is she, what�s going on?� The doctor stepped towards her and tried to put her mind at ease,
�No, I�m not here about any news regarding MacKenzie. I came to talk to Mrs. Carter about the foundation.� She looked over at Nick, who seemed to simply be standing in the background, and then she looked at Jane, who was smiling brightly.
�What foundation?� Dr. Callan smiled at Jane quickly before giving his attention back to Quinn,
�The foundation to help families in MacKenzie�s position. Well, not exactly MacKenzie�s position but children who need surgery, extended hospital stays and therapy. To make sure all kids, no matter their financial situation, get the treatment they need and should have.� Her head snapped towards Jane�s direction as she began to talk,
�And raise money for the children�s wing to make sure they have things like computers, toys, books and all the entertainment they need to make sure they feel as comfortable as they can while they are in the hospital.� She nodded her head and watched as Nick�s wrapped his arm around his mother�s shoulder,
�And who�s idea was this?� Jane shrugged and she knew instantly that it was her idea. Dr. Callan spoke,
�Mrs. Carter-� Jane shook her head and laughed,
�Dr. Callan, it was definitely a joint thing. I mean, everyone wanted to help kids.� She smiled,
�Jane, I should have known.� Jane smiled even more and looked up at Nick. She was like a proud beaver or something. Quinn didn�t know the phrase she was just fully aware of the self-congratulatory demeanor,
�Well, I just think it�s important.� Quinn shook her head and her smile disappeared immediately,
�Over my dead body.� Everyone�s eyes zeroed in on Quinn and she knew she caught everyone off guard,
�You know, you disgust me Jane.� Jane frowned and Nick and began to stammer,
�What do you mean? I just-� Quinn waved off her attempt to say anything in her defense,
�You just wanted to look like a saint. You would do anything for publicity. I�ll be damned if I let you use my daughter to make yourself look good.� She could see Dr. Callan easing towards the door,
�I�m going to leave now. I�ll give you some privacy and I must return to my office. I�m surprised they haven�t sent the dogs out for me.� Quinn stood with her arms folded almost as if daring Jane or Nick to take issue with what she had said.
�I just wanted to help.� Quinn snorted and rolled her eyes as she began to pace back and forth,
�Sure Jane. I�m supposed to believe that. You are a publicity whore! You would do anything to make the Carter family look good; to be in good standing. What is it going to be called?� She looked and Nick and his mother and when neither of them answered she sighed, �The foundation. What is it going to be called?� She looked at Jane, almost daring her to answer. She could see it in her eyes, on her face, it was something Jane didn�t want to say,
�We haven�t really given it an official name.� Quinn rolled her eyes and pushed a little harder,
�Yeah but what is your initial name?� Jane looked over at Nick before looking off to the side and making eye contact with no one,
�The Carter Family Foundation.� She could hear Nick groan almost silently and she laughed a little as Jane tried to defend herself,
�It�s only to give recognition. The fans participate in everything Nick and Aaron take part in and I know.� She directed her diatribe towards Nick, �I just knew that with our name it would bring attention and donations. Your fans would get to participate in something you and Aaron are a part of and we would all be helping kids who really need it.� She looked back at Quinn, �You have to look at the bigger picture Quinn. It�s about helping people.� Quinn didn�t want to hear it. She didn�t want to hear Jane try and justify her latest attempt,
�You are not.� She stepped closer to Jane and before she knew it her finger was pointing at Jane,
�You are not going to use my daughter as a poster child. What, you�re going to have a bunch of sick kids sitting around Nick, Aaron and of course you.� Jane shook her head,
�Of course not Quinn. This isn�t about publicity.� She almost seemed to be telling the truth. She looked at Nick again,
�It�s not about publicity.� He shook his head and rubbed his hand up and down her arm,
�I know momma, I know.� His whisper wasn�t enough that she didn�t hear it and whatever compassion she tried to feel for him was now gone. How could he go along with her idea? Couldn�t he stand up to her for the sake of their daughter? There was no doubt she was going to be all over television and in magazines standing over Mac�s bed, holding Mac in her arms and soaking up every bit of attention she could get as the grieving grandmother. She waved her hands in the air as she walked towards the door,
�You can have your damn family foundation.� She turned as she held the door open, �But my daughter will have absolutely nothing to do with it. Not even the mention of her name. She�s mine and so is her name.� She stood in the middle of the hallway and shook her head. Where the hell was she going she thought. She reentered the room,
�This is my daughter�s room. I�m not going anywhere, you two need to leave.� Jane wanted to say something but Nick shook his head as he ushered her past Quinn and out of the room. He didn�t bother to look at her as he left the room and she noticed he didn�t bother to even look at his child before he left either. He was too busy being there for Mommy Dearest.
She stood next to Mac�s bed and ran her finger ever so lightly over her cheek,
�You�re going to be ok soon enough angel. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of your life. It�s going to be ok. I�ll be praying for you like I have every day since you�ve been here.�
She could hear the door open and she was ready to tell Jane to get the hell out. She knew it wouldn�t be Nick, he wouldn�t have the guts to face her. She looked up when she saw her brother�s hand touch Mac�s bed,
�How are you holding up?� She was her mommy�s little trooper. Quinn knew she was going to pull through and make it,
�She�s, she has the surgery tomorrow. She�s going to make it.� He placed his hand under her chin and forced her to look up at him,
�No, I said how are you doing?� She heaved a sigh. She really didn�t know how she was doing. She wasn�t sure anymore. She was sleepy but she couldn�t sleep. She was angry, she was sad, she was full and pity and guilt. She was only certain about one thing and that was hoping that her baby�s well-being would be better after the next couple of days,
�We�ll see after tomorrow.� Nate pulled her into a hug,
�It is going to be ok. It really is. When you finish up in here mom, dad and I are taking you out to eat lunch. You need some good food.� She began to shake her head but when she saw the expression on her protective brother�s face she knew it wasn�t a battle that she could win. She accepted and smiled as she looked at her brother. She hadn�t spent nearly enough time with her own family and vowed to spend less time thinking of Nick and his entourage and more time concentrating on the people that meant something to her. Her daughter and her family and friends.
Chapter 71
Reunited
Stories