Nick and Quinn were in Mac�s room sitting in two chairs side by side. She was in a state of shock. It had been a long time before someone was so rude to her in her face. She dealt with the girls in Vegas talking about her with Nick when they didn�t know she was there. She dealt with management�s comments about her dating Nick. But again, they didn�t know she was there. Jane and her hurling insults were directly in her face and meant to do nothing but hurt her. She had to have known she was being insensitive. Sometimes she wondered if, in fact, Jane was clueless as to the edge she had about her. Maybe she didn�t know she could come off a bit abrasive. When she met Jane for the first time when she spent the weekend with Nick, Jane was nice. She was a bit intimidating to Quinn but she was nothing but nice. In fact, they had a pretty deep conversation.
Just as she was about to turn and talk to Nick the door opened. In walked her brother and he looked like he had a purpose.
�Hey, what�s up?� She wasn�t sure she really wanted to know. She actually felt a little uncomfortable around her brother at the moment.
�Can we talk for a minute?� It seemed as if her big brother was trying a different approach. Instead of being authoritarian he opted for equal.
�Sure.� She looked over at Nick but he was accustomed to it. He knew the drill.
�I�m going to go see what the guys are doing.� She nodded and both she and Nate waited until he was gone and the door was closed before another word was said.
�So, do you know when you're going back to Atlanta?� He sighed as he walked over and sat where Nick was once sitting.
�I�m heading back in a few days.� Pretty soon her parents would need to go back and she would be left along with a sick baby to care for. She just didn�t know if she could do it.
�What about mom and dad?� He shrugged,
�I�m not sure but you know them. They�ll stay as long as they need to.� She was about to say something for the sake of not having to endure uncomfortable silence when his voice filled the air,
�You and Nick. What's going on between you two?� She wanted to deny anything but he already knew about the chapel so she might as well come clean.
�Nothing really, it won�t happen again.� She was receiving the look from Nate that she would get in the past when her life wasn�t quite right.
�What won�t happen again? How far did you go? Did you sleep with him when he spent the night at your place?� She couldn�t bear to have this conversation with him,
�Ok, we slept together but we have an understanding now. He knows James and I are together�� He cut in,
�Do YOU know you and James are together? You need to act like it. Don�t be like these women I come across in Atlanta. You are so much better than that...so much more class. And James deserves better than that. He is a good man.� Tears launched an attack on her eyes and before she could stop them they rolled down her face,
�You are so sensitive. You always have been. Someone says the slightest thing to you and you're in tears.� She didn�t see that having anything to do with the current situation but she didn�t argue it because it was true. In fact, her parents took her to a behavioral specialists when she was a kid because they didn�t think it was normal.
�I know James is still the one for me and I know he�s a good guy. You don�t need to tell me that. Nick and I were a mistake.�
�So you haven�t changed your mind about who you are going to be with.�
�Of course not. Nothing has changed.� He sighed and stood over Mac�s bed,
�You�re my little sis and I love you. I want you to have a good life. And I want my niece to have a good life too. She deserves it and it�s your responsibility. You owe it to not only her but to mom and dad. They didn�t give us good lives so we could go and mess it all up. Every generation is supposed to benefit from the previous. You get stronger, wiser, richer, happier.�
�I don�t want to talk about this ok? You had something to say and now you�ve said it but I don�t need or want a lecture Nate.� She stood up and walked out of the room leaving him to spend some quality time with his niece and out of her face.
She spent some time walking around the hospital and soon was walking past a door with a familiar name on it. She went inside the suite and saw a secretary sitting behind a reception desk.
�May I help you ma�am?� She was a slightly older woman with the beginning of gray appearing at the edges. Her tiny square frames sat on the edge of her nose. The gold chain connected to her glasses ensured she would never lose them throughout the course of the day. She waited for Quinn to answer,
�Uh yes, is Dr. Callan in?�
�Yes he is. Do you have an appointment?� She didn�t even have an agenda. There was no reason for her to be there. She just ended up there.
�Harriet did you type that new memorandum?� He looked up and smiled at her immediately,
�Ms. Garner. How are you? Is everything ok?� She knew it had everything to do with Jane and the new charity. If it weren�t for that, this doctor wouldn�t know her name.
�Um, yes. Everything is fine. I was just walking and I saw your name on the door. If you�re busy I can leave.� And if he wasn�t busy what was she going to do?
�No, in fact I'm not busy at all. Why don�t you come in my office. Would you like something to drink?� She shook her head and smiled as she walked past his inviting arm and into his office. She was impressed with his office to say the least. A Chief of Staff really leads the big life. He had huge windows behind his large desk. He most definitely looked down at the city when he wanted to take a few minutes away from all his duties.
�Please, have a seat.� She sat down in the plush chair across from his desk and smiled as he sat in the seat next to her instead of behind his desk. It did seem more personal and less intimidating.
�So, what can I do for you?� She shrugged,
�Nothing really. I�how is the charity going?� She could see the uneasiness in his expression. When the charity was first mentioned Dr. Callan was caught in the middle of a nasty fight between Quinn and Jane.
�Well, it�s going well. All the paperwork is being worked on by the lawyers. You know, in order to become tax exempt. I know Mrs. Carter has more details. She asked about office space in the area so the Foundation can be close to the hospital.� Jane was really going to make this thing happen. She disregarded Quinn�s feelings about the whole thing but she was glad Jane ignored her. It was for a good cause. Quinn was still set against Mac being used as a poster child.
�If I can help in anyway feel free to give me a call.� She may not have wanted her daughter pimped to the world but she wasn�t against helping a worthy cause. She could come every now and then to pass out some toys, read books or something.
�I will most definitely take you up on that offer.�
�Can I ask you something; off the subject.� He nodded,
�Of course.� It was something she had thought about for the last two days. Finally, she made the decision that it was the right thing to do. She went over everything in her head. Her parents� reaction, her brother�s reaction and last but not least James� reaction. It was something that she realized had nothing to do with them.
Chapter 96 cont'd