Page 70 of Two Daddies for Little Jenna

"This was supposed to be Daddy Nick's place, but he was kind enough to share it with me on our first date. Did I ever tell you he let me have ice cream that night when we went out for dinner? This older woman was staring at him from a distance, but he didn't as much as look at her. He only had eyes for me. It made me feel like I was the only girl in the restaurant. He told me how all his friends were settling down and that he badly wanted to get married, just so he could have a family of his own. You know, because he lost the family he grew up in one by one. Anyway, it was too early back then, but I pictured the three of us walking down the aisle together. Now I know it's never going to happen. When all this is over, I either end up dead or with Nick realizing he doesn't want me anymore. If this does turn out badly, I wish I got to have Daddy Nick by my side in my last days. Now I have to leave this world wondering if he was ever going to come back to me, hoping I died knowing he loved me."

"Don't talk about death," Daddy scolded, pressing a finger to my lip. "The only way someone's harming you is over my dead body. You know how strong I am. A knife isn't enough to stop me. But it hurts to see you hurt like this, sweetheart. You really miss your Daddy, huh?"

"I don't miss him," I lied. "I just think about him sometimes, and rarely in the past few days. It's like you said. Time heals all wounds. Eventually, I’ll forget all about him."

"Aw, Jenna." Daddy clicked his tongue as he shook his head. "You've learned so much about the world and you've come such a long way since I found you crying outside the supermarket. But you haven't learned how to lie yet. You barely smile anymore. All you can talk about is whether I remember Nick doing this, and him doing that. You poor thing. I wish I could make it all better, but heartbreak's one of those things Daddy can't help you with. I haven't seen you this sad since Princess was diagnosed with cancer."

I nodded. "Remember what you told me back then? Everything's going to be alright. I need you to tell me the same now, so I can feel better and forget all about him."

"I'm not going to tell you that," he said sternly. "Seeing you suffer like this hurts me. I was wrong when I said you'll forget all about him with time. It'll continue to hurt until you do something about it."

What could I possibly do? I wasn't the one who wanted to take a break.

Before we could finish the conversation, my phone rang. It was Michael letting us know he was waiting at our home.

I wanted to spend more time at the park, to feel Nick's presence for just a little longer, but I couldn't invite Michael there. I had promised Nick the secret place was going to be just ours. My heart ached as I left the park. It was almost as if I was bidding Nick goodbye all over again.

We found Michael on his Daddy's hip on the porch, his arms around his neck and legs wrapped around his waist, his wolf stuffie in his arms, and a binky in his mouth.

"Sorry we dropped by unannounced," uncle John said. "Michael just couldn't wait any longer and had to talk to Jenna."

"Hope you haven't been standing out here too long, uncle John. Michael isn't as light as he used to be."

Michael gasped as he popped his binky. "Are you telling me I've put on weight? I do aerobic dancing at home to stay fit, you know. Also, I can stand on my own two feet. Here, watch."

Michael climbed out of his Daddy's arms and stood on his feet before waddling back for support.

"No, I mean you've put on some muscle mass, silly," I said, leading them in and onto the couch.

Michael took a seat in his Daddy's lap and I took mine in Clark's.

"How have you been holding up, hon'?" Michael said, taking my hands in his. "I see the officers are still around keeping you safe. Having bodyguards looks cool usually, but not when your life's in actual danger. You know, I never lift weights when I work out in the gym room, but I've been doing so for the past few days. I'm preparing my calf muscles to kick the masked man's ass should I come across him. I'm gonna sucker punch him so hard, he's gonna be sorry he waved a knife at you. Here, take a look at how big my biceps have gotten."

When Michael flexed his arms, I smiled at him. "That's so sweet of you, Michael. But I can't put more lives in danger. I almost lost Daddy when Otis was after me. Daddy Nick was smart enough to remove himself from my life. You should do the same."

"Never," Michael said adamantly, crossing his arms. "Friends don't just leave you to face danger all alone. You just wait till the day comes. You'll see how I'll kick the masked man’s ass. But how are taking all this? Must be hard to go through this, especially now that Nick isn't around."

I sighed and shook my head. "The threat to my life doesn't hurt as much as not having Daddy Nick around. Have you seen him since? How's he doing? Give it to me straight. He's moved on already, hasn't he?"

"Not even close," Michael said, sticking his lower lip out in a pout. "It's why I'm here. We visited him a few hours ago. I asked Daddy to drive us straight to your home to set things right. It hurts to see you both hurting like this."

"Oh?" I sighed again. "I'm afraid there's nothing to be done. I can't just force him to take me back when he doesn't want me."

"That's the thing," Michael said. "He wants you just as much, but he's haunted by his past so badly he's stuck in a cycle of sorrow. It's true that he left you when you needed him the most. But the truth is that he needs you both now more than ever. He looks like he's days away from entering a catatonic state. He's clearly not getting any sleep, and uncle Marcus says he barely comes down to manage the club anymore. He and Bradley were such close friends. It was like losing a part of him when Bradley died in his arms. You should've seen him when he returned from Afghanistan. He spoke so quietly you could barely hear him, and he refused to see anyone for weeks. He would go on and on about how he was a murderer who deserved to be locked up for the rest of his life. Daddy and I stayed over at his place for weeks to make sure he wasn't going to try anything stupid. Daddy credits us intervening on helping him become the man that you know. But as Bradley's death anniversary approaches, he's slowly slipping away. Soon there will be nothing left of the Nick you've come to know and love. I haven't asked you for anything, but please, Jenna. I ask you this. Only you can help him now. Don't abandon your Daddy when he needs you the most. Sure, he abandoned you first, but trust me it wasn't him talking when he asked for a break. It was his sorrow making all the decisions. There's an eternal battle going on inside him ever since Bradley’s death, consuming him from within ever so slowly. You can't let his sorrow win and take over. I care about uncle Nick and I know you do too. I don't want to lose him. Veterans go through PTSD so we can stay safe, but we've learned to turn a blind eye to their trauma as a society."

"Well said, Michael," uncle John said, turning to me. "I have to agree with my boy here. I know Nick very well. I feel the same way my boy does, but I chose not to say anything because I didn't want to intervene in your love life. He needs you now more than ever, Jenna. If you want the Daddy you fell in love with back, time is of the essence. Don't give up on your love so easily. Fight for it."

I looked up at Daddy for guidance, but I had a feeling it was one of those things I had to decide on my own.

"I can't force him to take me back, can I, Daddy?" I asked. "As much as I'd like to get back together, he doesn't want me in his life."

Daddy frowned as he thought for a while. "Irrespective of what Nick says, looks like he really needs us more than we thought. You said we are a family, right? Well, you never abandon your family, even if they try to abandon you. Sure, I was mad at him for what he did. But watching you over the last few days and listening to Michael now, it's clear you both need each other to be happy."

"What do you suggest we do?" I blinked up at him. "I want us to help him, but I don't know how. You're good at these things, Daddy. Can you help Daddy Nick like you've helped me with my trauma?"

"Leave that to me," Daddy said, standing up and shifting me on his hip. "Like Michael always says, we stand up for our own because that's what a family does."

Chapter 31: Nick