Nathan's Dilemma

What a wonderful story Will! You have a great talent for writing! Thanks for another grrrreat chapter!!! Cannot wait for more!
 
So well written... maybe Melanie can also bring up little Johnny, another child of rape. He is very significant and not anything bad at all... Johnny is a little sweetheart even though his father is trash!
 
:cry2:

What a heart wrenching moment between them. Will, you have captivated us all with this story. It's so well written and the emotions I go through reading this story stay with me for awhile. I'm a fan!
Looking forward to the next chapter.
 
(Melissa's House)

Melissa and Maggie sit at the kitchen table.

Melissa: I just dont understand! How does his wife know about Nathan?
Maggie: I dont understand either, we did everything possible to keep this under wraps.
Melissa: Can you call Judge Owens?
Maggie: He passed away years back, your father attended the funeral.

Melissa buries her face into her hands. Maggie gets up.

Maggie: Let me fix you something to eat dear.
Melissa: Im not hungry. I just wish Nathan would come home.

Maggie looks at her watch.

Maggie: Melanie's been gone for over two hours.
Melissa: We shouldnt have let her gone. We should be dealing with this!
Maggie: I know your anxious, but trust me, if anyone can get through to Nathan its Melanie.

Melissa picks up the letter again.

Melissa: How dare she? How dare she ask Nathan to be tested for a donor match! That man put me through hell!

She starts to cry, Maggie hugs her.

Maggie: Just calm down sweetie. Everything is going to be ok.

They both hear the front door open. They rush into the living room. Melanie is standing in the door way.

Maggie: Did you find him?!

Nathan steps in behind her, Melanie smiles. Maggie rushes over to him.

Maggie: Oh thank god!

They hug.

Maggie: Are you ok?

Nathan nods and looks at Melissa. She stands on the other side of the room, resigned to approach him.

Nathan: Mom.

She bursts into tears as he hurries towards her, they hug. Maggie and Melanie watch with tears in their eyes.

Melissa: I love you Nathan!

Maggie leans towards Melanie.

Maggie: Lets give them some privacy.
Melanie: Yeah, good idea.

They walk out of the room. Melissa and Nathan sit down on the couch.

Melissa: I'm so sorry Nathan! I never meant to hurt you!
Nathan: I know you didnt.
Melissa: I just never wanted you to know, for you own sake!

Nathan sighs.

Nathan: Mom, I need to know everything. Please tell me?

Melissa looks down at the floor.

Melissa: Ok, I will tell you.

Melissa whipes the tears out of her eyes. She tells him everything about the night at the club.

Nathan: So Wes was a bouncer, and he attacked you in the parking lot?
Melissa: The last thing I remember was feeling a blow to my head. I woke up a couple hours later in the woods just beyond the parking lot.
Nathan: Did you call the police, did you tell anyone?

Melissa shakes her head.

Melissa: No, I was to ashamed and frightened.
Nathan: What did you do?
Melissa: I just went back to my apartment, and completely shut the world out around me. I cried for days. I felt so helpless. I felt like an outcast.

Nathan whipes the tears out of his eyes.

Melissa: I just feel into a deep depression.

She starts to tear up again.

Melissa: And I eventually tried to commit suicide!
Nathan: Suicide? How?
Melissa: I took a bottle of sleeping pills. But luckily Wade kicked the door open that day. I had missed my audition and hadnt returned any of his calls. He called an ambulance and I was rushed to the hospital. He saved our lives.
Nathan: Ours?

Melissa shakes her head.

Melissa: It was that day at the hospital we found out I was pregnant.

Nathan closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. Melissa takes his hand.

Melissa: I tried to end my life that day, but the truth that day was that my life was just beginning. It was then I decided to call your Grandma Maggie. I realized I needed her more than ever.
Nathan: What happened then?
Melissa: I finally told the truth about Wes, he was arrested and charged. But I didnt want anyone to know about it, including the family. And of course I didnt want Wes to know I was pregnant.
Nathan: So nobody knew?
Melissa: Cecil Owen's was the judge over the case, he was an old law school friend of Grandpa Mickey's. As a favor to your Grandma Maggie he agreed to seal all the records and assigned an alias name to the case. News of it never made the light of day.
Nathan: What happened to Wes?
Melissa: He was sentenced to prison. I have never seen him since.

Nathan gets up and walks over to the fireplace.

Nathan: Why did you tell me that Pete was my father? Why did he pretend?
Melissa: Grandma Maggie stayed with me for another month. I had started therapy at the crisis center and she didnt want me to be alone. But we both knew she had to go back to Salem eventually, so she called Pete.
Nathan: Why him? You guys were divorced.
Melissa: We had written each other a few times since the divorce, it was very clear that we still loved each other. He saw me through the pregnancy and agreed to put his name on your birth certificate.
Nathan: So why did he leave again?
Melissa: He couldnt let go of the past, that was part of it.
Nathan: Part of it?
Melissa: And I dont think he could deal with the fact that you were not his biological son.
Nathan: So I screwed it up this time!
Melissa: No!

She gets up and puts her hands on his shoulders.

Melissa: You are not to blame for anything! If he wasnt up to being your father then he never should have agreed to be! It's not your fault!

He starts to tear up again, she pulls him into a hug.

Melissa: You listen to me! No matter what has happened you are not to blame! You are my son and I love you!

Nathan continues to cry.

Melissa: You saved me! When I found out I was going to be your mother, I knew then I had to get better and overcome for you! I have come to terms with the rape! I have found solace in knowing that the worst thing to ever happen to me brought out the best thing to ever happen to me! You are and always will be my inspiration! You are the angel on my shoulder!

They both sink down onto the couch, hugging and crying. Maggie walks into the doorway and sees them. She turns and looks up at the ceiling.

Maggie: Oh Mickey, Tom, and Alice. Please be with us. We need you now more than ever!
 
I can totally feel all the emotion too. I am crying. LOL
I am such a sap. Thanks for another great chapter Will!
 
(Melissa's House)

Nathan sits on the picnic table in the backyard. He stares at the big oak tree at the edge of the yard. The breeze picks up and the leaves start to rattle. The old tire swing attached to a branch begins to sway back and forth. He closes his eyes and sighs. "The weather is nice down here" a familiar voice says behind him. Nathan opens his eyes but continues to stare foward.

Nathan: Hey Mel.

Melanie walks around the table and smiles at him. She extends her hand to him, it contains a king sized snickers bar.

Melanie: Maggie and I just got back from the grocery store. I grabbed this in the checkout aisle, I know its your favorite.

Nathan half smiles and takes it. He sits it on the table and and looks back at the tree.

Nathan: I made a ton of memories in this backyard growing up.

Melanie smiles and sits down beside him.

Melanie: I would love to hear one.

Nathan points to the oak tree.

Nathan: There was actually two more oak trees back here the same size as that one when my mom bought this place, I was only eight years old at the time. But I got off the school bus one day that first spring here and saw two strange trucks parked in the driveway. I heard the sound of chainsaws coming from the backyard, mom had hired a landscaping company to cut them all down. I ran inside crying and begged her to not let them cut this one down. She asked me why and I told her I wanted a tire swing.

Melanie smiles, he smiles back.

Nathan: So of course mom had to bargain with me a little, and the deal was that I would rake the leaves back here every fall if she let the tree stay for a tire swing.
Melanie: That's a cute story.
Nathan: Our old neighbor Mr. Perkins had a utility truck with a rise on it. He was kind enough to get me "squared away" as he would say.
Melanie: Does he still live around here?

Nathan shakes his head.

Nathan: He passed away when I was in high school.
Melanie: It sounds like he was a very good man.
Nathan: He was very nice. And of course I think of him anytime I see that tire swing now. It has for sure withstood the test of time.

They both sit in silence for a few seconds.

Nathan: I'm really sorry about this morning Mel.
Melanie: Don't be. You are going through something so unimaginable and I completley understand.
Nathan: I'm really glad that you are here, and the truth is I was the second I opened my eyes and saw you at the motel.
Melanie: There is no place else I would rather be. You have always been there for me, but now its my turn to be here for you.
Nathan: Grandma Maggie and I talked before you guys left for the store. She told me about the divorce being final. Are you ok?
Melanie: Yeah. I was a little shocked at how quick it was, but you know all about the Kiriakis connections.

Nathan nods his head.

Melanie: I am greatful Philip respected my decision, I will give him credit for that.
Nathan: I suppose. I am just glad you are ok.
Melanie: I'm gonna be fine, just like you are going to be.

Nathan takes her hand and smiles. Inside the house Maggie stirs a pot of homemade chicken and dumplings. Melissa walks into the kitchen and sits down at the table.

Maggie: Melissa, you go lay back down. I know you havent slept much.
Melissa: I dozed off for a few minutes while you were at the store, but I just can't sleep right now.
Maggie: Well dont you worry about anything, I am going to stay as long as you need me.
Melissa: Thanks mom. I am really glad you came. I dont know what would have happened if you and Melanie hadnt.

Maggie sits down at the table with her.

Maggie: I am so sorry for telling Nathan that Wes was his father. But with the contents of the letter, I felt he atleast needed to know that much right away.
Melissa: It's ok, you did the right thing. I still dont understand how the wife knows about Nathan.
Maggie: According to the return address they live in Lebanon, so I would assume that Wes has stayed in the area after he got out of prison. But your right, the knowledge of the pregnancy was never disclosed during the trial.
Melissa: And there is nobody I ever told afterwards. I just dont understand any of this.
Maggie: Concerning her request about being a possible donor, what do you think Nathan will do?

Melissa sighs.

Melissa: Well, I know what I want him to do. If I had it my way he would never see Wes or his wife. But he isnt a little boy anymore, so I suppose what I want is irrelevant.
Maggie: You know Nathan would never shut you out, especially when it comes to this. But we have to understand it will be his decision, rather we agree with it or not.

Melissa shakes her head and starts to tear up.

Melissa: I just dont understand any of this! Why has this come back to haunt me?! Why now?!

Maggie hugs her.

Maggie: Some things can never be understood, but whats meant to be will happen.
Melissa: Why couldnt she have just come to me instead? Why did she have to bring my son into this?!
Maggie: Everything is going to be ok.
Melissa: Is it mom? Because I have to admit I am having a little trouble with my faith in god right now!
Maggie: It's ok to feel what you are feeling, god knows I went through smiliar emotions last year. I thought I was going to shatter when we lost your dad and Gram. It was so trying. But you have to keep beleiving that you will make it through, you must keep your faith.

Melissa gets up and looks out the window. She sees Nathan and Melanie walking in the yard.

Melissa: I just wanted to protect my son. I dont care what would have happened to me, I just wanted to protect Nathan. And I failed.
Maggie: You did not fail! You were the best mother you could have been to him. You made sure he was always happy and seen him all the way through medical school. The family is so proud of you both. But sometimes things happen that is beyond our control and this was one of them.

Melissa whipes the tears out of her eyes and looks at her.

Melissa: I just hope Nathan doesnt hate me!

Maggie rushes over and hugs her.

Maggie: He may be angry right now, but he could never hate you! He will always love you!
Melissa: I just dont know what to do! I feel so helpless!
Maggie: We just need to keep being here for him at this point, and support whatever decisions he makes.

She continues to hug her until she calms down. Melissa kisses her on the cheek.

Melissa: Thanks mom.
Maggie: Why dont you lay back down and try to rest. I will bring you some dumplings in a bit.

Melissa smiles, she walks back to her bedroom. Maggie stirs the pot again then sits the wooden spoon back on the stove. She looks across the ktichen at the wall in thought.

Maggie: I wonder what Nathan will do?

Nathan and Melanie are now standing on the back deck. They have been discussing the letter.

Nathan: I just dont know what do to. I mean, the man raped my mother. Would it be even morally right for me to consider the request?

Melanie puts her hand on his shoulder.

Melanie: You know I will support whatever decision you make.
Nathan: Thanks. But I am so worried about my mom.

They both stand and stare back at the oak tree in silence.

(Lebanon Medical Center)

Brenda Watson stands at the window at the end of the hall and stares at the stars in the night sky. She turns around as Dr. Davis walks out of Wes's room.

Brenda: Doctor?
Davis: For someone in his condition, he is holding up very strong.
Brenda: That's good to hear.
Davis: But even so, I'm afraid it is still just a matter of time. All we can do at this point is continue the dialysis treatments.
Brenda: I understand, thank you.
Davis: I will see you in the morning, try to get some sleep.

She walks back into the room and stares at Wes. He is sleeping. She looks at the i.v.'s in his arm and all the medical machines he is hooked up to. She starts to tear up and sits down in the chair beside the bed. She closes her eyes and says a silent prayer. Her cell phone begins to vibrate. She walks back out into the hall and puts the phone up to her ear.

Brenda: Hello?

"Mrs. Watson, its Nathan Horton" the voice says.
 
Wow! Great story Will! I generally do not like the character of Nathan on the show but I think if he had a story like this I would actually like him. Can't wait to see what Nathan decides. :clap:
 
Again thank you all for the wonderful comments. I actually did a little research on the Nashville area and Lebanon is a city 30 miles away according to what I found on google. I was wanting to use an actual hospital's name in Lebanon and was shocked to discover one named "University Medical Center". So to avoid conflict with University Hospital in Salem, I decided on Lebanon Medical Center. Thanks again, next chapter will be up soon.
 
(Watson House, Lebanon)

Nathan parks his car in the driveway and gets out. He walks onto the porch and stops at the door. He takes a deep breath and rings the doorbell. He hears the sound of footsteps approaching, the door opens.

Nathan: Mrs. Watson?
Brenda: Dr. Horton, please come in.

He steps in and she closes the door.

Brenda: I was happy to get your call last night, thank you for agreeing to meet with me.

Nathan nods and looks away.

Brenda: Can I get you something to drink or anything?
Nathan: No, I would just like to get this over with please.
Brenda: I understand. We can talk in the study.

He follows her down the hall and into the study. She closes the door and sits down behind a desk, she motions for him to take a seat.

Nathan: Thank you, but I would rather stand.
Brenda: Very well. There is no point in beating around the bush, you know why I have contacted you.
Nathan: Yes I do. And just so you know, I have already made my decision. But I do have one question.
Brenda: How do I know about you?
Nathan: Yes.

Brenda sighs and looks up at him.

Brenda: If I may say this first, I already know my husbands history. I know he raped your mother.
Nathan: You know?! You know he raped my mother and yet you still contact me asking that I be tested for a donor match?!
Brenda: Yes.

Nathan lets out a laugh and shakes his head.

Nathan: This is unbelievable!
Brenda: Dr. Horton-
Nathan: Look, lets not waste anymore of each others time! My answer is no.

He starts towards the door. Brenda stands up with tears in her eyes.

Brenda: Dr. Horton please!

He stops at the door and looks at her.

Brenda: All I am asking is that you please hear me out.
Nathan: Why? It doesnt matter what you say, Im not changing my mind.
Brenda: Please! Just have a seat and hear me out.

He takes a deep breath and sits down in a chair.

Brenda: Thank you.

Nathan looks at her.

Brenda: As I said, I know about my husbands history. He served four years in prison over what he did to your mother. He spent the last year of his sentence at the local halfway house. It was during that time when I first met him, he was referred to me by the state.
Nathan: Referred to you for what?
Brenda: I am a psychologist. It was a condition of his release from prison that he attend weekly sessions.
Nathan: So?
Brenda: Wes had a very troubled childhood. His mother died while giving birth to him and his father was an abusive alcoholic. He always blamed Wes for his mothers death, always reminding him that he was the reason she was gone. Not only was his father physically abusive, but he was also sexually abusive. He would beat Wes with a leather belt, then make him take a shower while he watched. Wes endured this for the first twelve years of his life until his father died of a heart attack. He was sent to live with his grandmother, but by then it was to late. When he entered his teenage years, all the anger and resentment took over. He became a very rebellious teen and was arrested for the first time at fourteen years old for grand theft auto. Along with the charges, he was ruled beyond parental control and was sent to a residential treatment facility. After eight months in the facility he was released and went into foster care. The whole cycle just started over again, and he was arrested again at sixteen for armed robbery. He was then sentenced to a DJJ facility in Kentucky, which is basically a lockup for teenagers. He stayed there until he was eighteen then came back to Nashville. He moved back in with his grandmother and somewhat got a grip on his life. He got a job as a roofer with a local construction company, but unfortunately it would be that job that would put him back on the wrong path. One of his co-workers was a cocaine dealer on the side and Wes indulged. He was eventually fired and spent the next few years bouncing from job to job, all the while his cocaine addiction was worsening. He then got the job as a bouncer at the club-
Nathan: Where he would eventually rape my mother.

Brenda closes her eyes and shakes her head.

Brenda: Wes was alot of negative things back then, but the one thing he never was is a rapist. The last thing he can recall about that night is getting the flashlight out of his truck. He had just took cocaine before escorting your mother out.
Nathan: So what I am supposed to do?! Forgive him?! Hope for a father, son relationship?!
Brenda: Of course not.
Nanthan: Good.

Brenda whipes tears out of her eyes.

Brenda: When the DNA test confirmed that he raped your mother, he could not live with himself. He tried to commit suicide twice in jail while awaiting the trial. Coupled with the memories of his own sexual abuse as a child, he did not want to go on. But after the trial and his sentencing, he was transferred to the state prison. While there he became cellmates with the man he credits to saving his life. His name was Abdul Hill, a former gang member from Los Angeles. Abdul tracked down a debtor to his gang that had fleed here to Tennesee to hideout. Abdul killed the debtor, then killed the mans family after they witnessed the murder. Although Abdul was a gang member and did what he did, he was very dedicated to his own family. He was caught and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He was very defiant at first, but later found the will to dedicate his life in prison to help the other inmates who still had the chance to turn their lives around. Wes was fortunate to be one of them. He completely changed his mindset, got his general equivalency diploma and decided that he wanted to start his own rape crisis center when he got out one day. As I told you before, I met him after accepting him as a patient after he entered the halfway house. After that year was over, he enrolled in college and eventually completed a masters degree in social work and counseling. He worked as a support staff at a local residential treatment facility while going to school. I was brought in to evaluate a case there and that is how we rekindled. One thing lead to another and here we are married.

Nathan sighs and looks down at the floor.

Brenda: Two years ago Wes's dream came true, we opened the Watson Crisis Center and run it together.
Nathan: Congratulations, but that still does not change my position.
Brenda: I understand your position Dr. Horton, but I can honestly tell you that I have never met anyone that carries more regret with them than Wes does over what he did to your mother.
Nathan: You never told me how you found out about me.
Brenda: The Monroe Children's Hospital in Vanderbilt.
Nathan: Monroe? That is where I worked for my medical school clinical hours before graduation.
Brenda: Yes I know. We donate every year to their annual fundraiser. You volunteered during the 2009 one.
Nathan: Yes I did, how did you know that?
Brenda: The hospital mails out a packet to the donors which contains all the information about the fundraiser. Your picture and short biography was included in the 2009 packet. When I saw your picture, the resemblance to Wes was uncanny. I knew your mothers last name was Horton and just connected the dots. There was no doubt in my mind that Wes was your father, I needed no further confirmation.

Nathan leans foward and looks at her.

Nathan: Let me make this perfectly clear! Your husband is not my father!
Brenda: I apologize Dr. Horton. I was speaking in a different sense of course.

Nathan sits back.

Brenda: I have never told Wes about you. He doesnt know that I sent you the letter.
Nathan: So only you know about me?
Brenda: Yes. After you graduated I kept tabs on your career, I knew you moved to Salem and started an internship at University Hospital. That is why I sent the letter to the hospital address.

Brenda looks out the window and starts to tear up again.

Brenda: Six months ago we found out that Wes was suffering from chronic kidney failure due to years of high blood pressure. The doctor proclaimed last week that he had entered end stage renal disease. I am assuming you know what that is?
Nathan: ESRD, of course.
Brenda: As I said before Dr. Horton, I understand your position. But as a wife who loves her husband, I will do anything to try and save his life.

He looks at her

Brenda: Will you please be tested to see if you can help us?

Nathan stands up and and shakes his head.

Nathan: I'm sorry, but my answer is still no. I dont mean to be blunt, but I cannot help your husband.

Brenda bursts into tears.

Brenda: Dr. Horton, I am begging you!
Nathan: So this was your plan?! To tell the sob story of your husbands upbringing? To tell the redemption of his life? I suppose my heart should be melted by now? I should be so full of compassion right?!
Brenda: As someone who took the hippocratic oath, I was hoping that maybe you would feel some compassion.
Nathan: That is true Mrs. Watson, I am a physician who took the hippocratic oath. But before that and still to this day, I am the son of the woman that your husband raped. I hope you can understand!

He walks towards the door again.

Brenda: Dr. Horton please!

He turns around again.

Nathan: For the last time, my answer is no!

He pulls the door open and is startled to find a teenage girl standing in the hall. She stares at him, tears rolling down her cheeks. Brenda walks up behind Nathan and sees her.

Brenda: Cassidy!

Nathan looks at Brenda confused, then looks back at Cassidy.

Cassidy: Please dont let my dad die!
 
All I can say is WOW!!! This is an amazing story. I can picture the people .and feel the emotions. You are doing this story as if YOU are part of it and I thank you for inviting this reader to be a part of it too
 
Oh My God. What a roller coaster ride this is. I am not sure what Nathan should do. The daughter Cassidy made it such a hard choice to make. Thanks for the chapter Will. I wonder if Nathan will do it for his half sister like Mer did it for Lexie on Grey's. Or still say no. I am hoping that Nathan will not be a match and therefore save him from having to make the choice.
 
(Melissa's House)

Melanie dries the last dish and puts it in the cabinet. Melissa walks into the kitchen.

Melissa: Melanie? You dont have to clean up.
Melanie: I wanted to. I'm happy to help.

Melissa smiles.

Melissa: Thank you.

She sits down at the table.

Melanie: I convinced Maggie to lay down, she is so tired.
Melissa: Well Im glad someone did. She has been going non-stop since you guys got here.
Melanie: She has been that way since I have known her. I dont know what I would have done without her.

Melanie sits down at the table, Melissa looks at her.

Melissa: I will never forget your kind and touching words at my fathers funeral. I know mom appreciated them very much.
Melanie: I meant every word. Maggie and Mickey are the kindest people I have ever known. I know she was shattered when he passed.

Melissa takes her hand and tears up.

Melissa: Thank you so much for being here for my son.

Melanie starts to tear up to.

Melanie: I will always be here for Nathan.

They both wipe away their tears, Melissa hugs her.

Melissa: When I went home for the funeral last year, I have to admit my first impression of you was not favorable. With everything that happened with my cousin Nick, I wasnt willing to give you a chance. But seeing you here with Nathan, I now know I was so wrong.
Melanie: Well, dont beat yourself up. Just about everyones first impression of me when I came to Salem was not favorable. And the truth is, they had every right to feel that way.
Melissa: Mom told me about your past. We talked on the phone not long after you moved into the house.
Melanie: Oh.

Melanie smiles nervously.

Melanie: Then you heard some pretty horrid things.
Melissa: No, what I heard was an innocent young woman being under the influence of a very horrid man.

Melanie shakes her head.

Melanie: I take full responsibility for my mistakes. But yeah, when your raised by someone like Trent Robbins, his influence does rub off on you.
Melissa: Well, whats important now is the future. And from what I can see, it looks like you have a very bright one.

Melanie smiles. Melissa looks at her watch.

Melissa: Nathan's been gone for three hours now. I wish he would have atleast let you have gone with him.
Melanie: He will be fine. He is strong, just like his mom.

Melissa hugs her again.

Melissa: Thank you Melanie, thank you.

(North Side Park)

Nathan sits in his car staring at the baseball field. He looks at the stands next to it. He can still see his mom and the other parents cheering his team on during a little league game. He gets out of the car and walks over to the stands, he sits down on the first row. He closes his eyes as the encounter with Cassidy plays over and over in his mind:

Cassidy: Please dont let my dad die!

Brenda rushes past Nathan and takes Cassidy's arm.

Brenda: Cassidy! How long have you been standing out here?! You are supposed to be at cheerleading practice!
Cassidy: It was cancelled, so I walked. I just got here and heard what he said.

Cassidy wipes away her tears and looks back at Nathan.

Cassidy: You have to see if you can help my dad! You have to!
Brenda: Cassidy enough! Go upstairs to your room!
Cassidy: But mom!
Brenda: Upstairs now!

Cassidy turns and runs down the hall crying. Brenda looks at Nathan.

Brenda: I am very sorry about that Dr. Horton. She wasnt supposed to be here while we talked.
Nathan: Why didnt you tell me about her?
Brenda: I didnt want to put anymore pressure on you, and I didnt want you to think I was using her.

Nathan takes a deep breath.

Brenda: But now that you know about her, we obviously have a daughter. She doesnt know about Wes's past and I prefer to keep it that way. I thank god she didnt hear that you are his biological son.
Nathan: I understand.
Brenda: Again, I am very sorry.

They walk to the door.

Brenda: I will respect your decision Dr. Horton, but I will also plead for you to reconsider.
Nathan: I, um. Well, goodbye.
Brenda: Goodbye.

He walks to his car and gets in. He notices Cassidy standing in a bedroom window staring at him, she is still crying.

He snaps out of his thoughts as a red bouncing ball hits his shoe. He picks it up and looks at it. He then notices the little girl standing a few feet away. He smiles and stands up.

Nathan: Hi sweetheart, is this yours?

She smiles shyly and shakes her head. He gives her the ball, a man walks up.

Man: Hey, sorry about that.
Nathan: Its fine.
Man: Play over there by the tree sweetie.

Nathan watches her run over to the tree, he looks at the man and extends his hand.

Nathan: Nathan Horton.
Man: Jack Fields, nice to meet you.
Nathan: Your daugther I assume?

Jack smiles and shakes his head yes.

Jack: She's my little Jessica.
Nathan: She's a very pretty girl.
Jack: Thanks.

They watch her kick the ball.

Jack: Yeah, she kept begging me all day to bring her here, even after I told her no a few times.
Nathan: Thats the little ones for you.
Jack: We go to Sunday school at the church down the street. This past Sunday the pastor discussed gods plan in his sermon, and she told me it was gods plan for us to come here today. How could I keep saying no that?

Nathan smiles.

Jack: Truth be told, I dont know where I would be today without her.
Nathan: Kids can change our outlooks on life, thats for sure.
Jack: Amen to that, and I should know.

Nathan looks at him.

Jack: I didnt follow the right path when I was younger, in fact I served some time in prison. I have a son who was born back then, but I wasnt man enough to be a father. He just graduated from high school but we are estranged. He doesnt want anything to do with me, and I cant say I blame him.

Nathan looks down at the ground in thought.

Jack: But with Jessica, its like I have been given a second chance. She is my life.

Nathan looks at him again.

Jack: But hey, listen to me rambling on. I dont know why I told you that, I guess I just like for people to know what she means to me.
Nathan: Its fine Mr. Fields.
Jack: Well, it was nice chatting.

They shake hands, Jack starts to walk off.

Nathan: Mr. Fields!

He stops and looks back at Nathan.

Nathan: I think your daughter was right. I think it was gods plan for you two to come here today.

Jack looks at him and nods.

Nathan: You two take care.

He hurries off back to his car.
 
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