Page 87 of More Than Words
She hesitated for a moment before setting her fork down.“You kind of scared me a little when you got mad.”
That gutted me.
“I hate that,” I said quietly.“I want you to always feel like you can talk to me, Quinn.Even when I make a mess of things.Maybeespeciallywhen I mess things up.I am really sorry, kiddo.”
After a moment, she looked up and gave me a small smile.“It’s okay.”She ripped a piece of bread off and stuffed it in her mouth.
It wasn’t.But it would be.
We both resumed eating in a newly peaceful silence.After a few minutes, Quinn said, “I saw Delaney today.”
I froze for a moment before putting the forkful of salad in my mouth and chewing thoughtfully.“Oh yeah?”
“Yup.”Quinn reached for more garlic toast.“She told me not to be so hard on you.”
A smile twitched at my lips.“She did, did she?”
“Yup.She also said that we were still going to be friends no matter what.”
My stomach twisted.“Of course you are.”
“What about you guys?”
Quinn asked the question so frankly, it took me off guard.
“Are you still going to be friends?”
More than anything, I wanted to be friends with Delaney.
No.Not true.
I wanted to be more than friends.
I took a deep breath and told Quinn the truth.“I hope so.”I kept my tone even.“In fact, I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately and about how badly I handled everything with her.”
Quinn nodded sagely as if she, too, had spent some time thinking exactly that.
“The truth is, I was so focused on the way things always had been, that I didn’t stop to consider what they were growing and changing to be.And what theycouldbe.I didn’t stop to consider how my choices and decisions might affect Delaney, and when you’re in a relationship, that’s exactly what you should do.Does that make sense?”
“I think so.”She chewed thoughtfully before adding, “You hurt her.”
The words were so simple.But so accurate.And they hit right in the heart.
“I did.”I swallowed hard.“But I didn’t mean to.”
“I know you didn’t, Dad.”Quinn lifted her fork in the air and stared at me for a moment.“But does she?”
“Honestly, I’m not sure,” I said, opting for the truth.“But I hope she will.”
She tilted her head, and for the first time, I could see the wisdom in my little girl and how grown-up she’d become.Especially when she said, “Then you’re going to have to show her that, Dad.”
“You’re exactly right, kiddo.Exactly right.”
She shrugged and popped another bite of lasagna in her mouth.“I know.”
I couldn’t help but laugh.
We ate the rest of our dinner with easy conversation about Quinn’s school and her classmates.It felt normal again.Or at least, like it would be soon.
