�What is wrong with her?� He shook his head and remained silent. He didn�t have an answer for his mother on Quinn�s behavior. She was so out of line with her attack on his mother that he couldn�t believe she was the same person he liked so much.
�I wasn�t trying to get some media hype Nick.� They walked down the hallway graciously smiling at random hospital employees along the way.
�I just wanted to do something to help. With every charity organization it�s about exposure.� He placed his arm around her shoulder,
�You don�t have to explain it to me mom. You�re not doing anything different than Howie and his foundation or anyone else. Everyone uses their fame to help out causes.� She let out a labored sigh and waved her hand in the air,
�You know what Nick? I don�t want to talk about that girl anymore.� He was a little shocked by the bite in her voice but he couldn�t say he blamed her too much. He wasn�t feeling all that nice towards Quinn at that moment himself. Sure, she was under a lot of stress but no more than he was. Mac was his daughter too and he wasn�t going around being rude to people.
�I�m going back to the hotel. I have some calls to make.� She kissed him on the cheek and walked down the hall leaving him to stand there and wonder what to do next. He wanted to go back and see MacKenzie, she was having surgery that next day but he didn�t want to interact with Quinn anymore. Simply put, he was through with her until she got over all her issues and returned to being the person she used to be.
He was sitting in the cafeteria with Josh when he felt a strong hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Kevin standing over him.
�Mind if I sit down?� He shook his head and offered a chair as sipped on a coke. He wasn�t in the mood for a lecture. He wasn�t in the mood for being told that he handled something wrong. He wasn�t in the mood to be told what he should and should not do.
�I was talking to that Elliott guy is a piece of work.� He looked over at Kevin and waited for him to continue,
�You are in a world of hurt here baby. Everyone seems to be against you. It�s even like they take out their anger on me, Brian and AJ.�
�What do you mean?�
�Man, it�s like they don�t like you.� He laughed mildly,
�No, it�s exactly that. They don�t like me. They blame me for everything. I�m surprised they haven�t said it was my side of the family that caused her to have this heart problem.� Kevin gave him a smile,
�They aren�t even nice to us. I mean, they don�t really come out and say anything but they are kind of cold.�
�What happened with Elliott.�
�Man, he�s the worse. He just came out and said none of us are welcomed and we�re bringing attention to a very private situation.� He grunted,
�Sounds like him. He threatened to tell the media if I didn�t show up to the hospital.� Kevin�s eyes grew as he shook his head at Nick,
�As if you wouldn�t come running when you found out? What is with these people?� He wished he could say he came running when he found out but he couldn�t because he didn�t. And it still embarrassed him. If anyone ever found out about that he would never be able to show his face again. They lose all respect for him.
�Why are they mad at you? They act like you did something wrong?� He shrugged his shoulders and continued to give his attention to his drink.
�You can�t even say you have Quinn on your side. Maybe if she wasn�t so mad at you they wouldn�t be either.�
�They should all be hating her. Its her fault they didn�t know I was the father.�
�I knew you didn�t know right away but I didn�t know her family didn�t know you were the father. Damn.� He sighed and sat back in his chair, his arms behind his head.
�She�s going through a lot. I don�t know baby. I guess all you can do is hang in there.� Hang in there? That was the advice he got? If he was going to have to listen to Kevin he at least wanted something he could use.
�Howie called. He tried to call you but he got your voicemail. He wanted to let you know he loved you and he wished he could be here but something about the foundation and finances. He really needs to be there.� He nodded at head absently,
�And that he went to church last night and prayed for MacKenzie.� That was Howie. That was his friend and that was why he loved him so much. Only Howie would do something like that. Actually go to the church to pray of someone else. Someone that wasn�t even a part of his family. He would later find out that Howie went to his church every day since he got off the tour to pray for her health.
***
�I�m going to go get some real food. How about we find a Macaroni Grill or something.� He shook his head. Not only could he not think about food he couldn�t think of leaving the hospital the night before his daughter�s surgery.
�I�m going to stay here but take Larry with you.� He pulled out one of his credit cards and handed it to him,
�Its on me.� Josh shook his head,
�That�s ok man.� He insisted. They were there because of him. The least he could do was pay for a meal once in a while.
�No really I want you to, please don�t argue.� He hesitated once more but took the credit card,
�What about ID?� He had never once been asked for a piece of ID in his life outside of an airport,
�They never check that stuff. Especially in a restaurant. They�re just worried about getting their tip.� Josh walked off and left Nick to be alone with nothing more than his ever wandering mind and thoughts. His daughter was going to have surgery the next day. Not only could he not get his mind around the fact that he had a daughter he couldn�t get over the fact that she may die. He couldn�t imagine following behind a small coffin and he couldn�t understand why, at the moment, he wasn�t moved to tears. He was thinking about his dying child and he didn�t even care enough to cry. It seemed like the nightmare would never end and the dream of being a father, that everyone told him he would feel, would never begin.
�So I�m an uncle?� He smiled,
�Yeah bro, you�re an uncle.� He wasn�t sure how Aaron was going to take the news. He knew how his sisters would take it. They would be mad. Not only was another woman in his life but they were competing for his attention with their brother�s only child. They couldn�t contend with that. He knew once they were around Mac they wouldn�t be able to take it out on her. She was too sweet, too beautiful. However, Quinn might be another story. Especially since they never really met her or spent any time with her. They saw her briefly a long time ago but he didn�t think they even said one word to her.
�Is�is she going to be ok? Will I get to see her?� He couldn�t answer that honestly. He really didn�t know the answer but he knew what his little brother wanted to hear.
�Yeah man, she�s going to be fine.�
Chapter 71a