Page 88 of More Than Words
Later, after the dishes were cleared and homework was done, I knocked on Quinn’s bedroom door.
“Come in.”
She was in bed under a pile of blankets, the glow of her bedside lamp giving her enough light to read by.
I hadn’t tucked her in for years, but I hovered in the doorway like I used to when she was young.
She set the paperback down when I walked in.“What’s up?”
I hesitated for a moment.“I just wanted to say good night and…” I gestured with my head toward her bed.“Can I sit?”
She didn’t answer, but scooted over and patted the bed next to her.I reached out and smoothed a piece of hair off her forehead.She didn’t pull away.
“I just want you to know that I am going to try to fix things with Delaney,” I said softly.
She blinked up at me.“How?”
I blew out a breath.“I’ll start with an apology, but I know it needs to be more.”
She nodded, but didn’t speak.
“I’m going to show her that she matters,” I continued.“Reallymatters.”
“Good.”
I smiled a little.“I know I screwed up, kiddo.But if she’ll let me, I am going to fix it.”
“You better,” Quinn murmured.“Because I like her.A lot.”
“So do I,” I said softly.
“So?”Quinn straightened up in bed.“Do you have a plan yet?”
“As a matter of fact,” I told her, “I do.”
Her eyes lit up.
“And I’m going to need your help.”
“Obviously.”She rolled her eyes before a yawn took over.
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” I said.“I still have a few details I need to discuss with your Uncle Reid first.”
To my surprise, she accepted that and held her arms out for a hug.
I kissed her forehead.“Love you, kiddo.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
I stood and was halfway to the door when she called out again.“Hey, Dad?”
I turned.“Yeah?”
“She looked like she missed you.”
The lump in my throat was instant.
“I miss her, too.”
