Romance in the Rain (Quinntana)

Ch. 13 Trouble in Paradise

.

.

.

.

.

Chang Cottage

"Mike, this is for you," Quinn said, handing him some bills.

Mike's brows knitted together. "I still have the money you gave me last time. Plus I've been working harder so my income has also gone up-"

"I'll be mad if you don't take it." She pushed the money back into his hand when he tried to return it.

Mike looked apprehensive but reluctantly complied after Quinn gave him a stern look.

A moment later, Tina stepped out of the bedroom and joined them with a smile. The two girls hugged and the three of them settled at the small table to talk. With a sigh, Quinn began telling them about her father's discovery of her job and the incident at the Fabray Estate which ended in her leaving the mansion in tears.

"Wait, your father looked sad when you left?" Tina asked.

Quinn nodded. "He probably didn't want to make a scene by blowing up again."

"From what you told me last time, I don't think he cares about that. Has he come back to the dance hall after that?" Quinn shook her head. "Maybe he is trying his best to make peace with you, but there are instigators around him that paint you in a bad light."

Mike nodded in agreement. "Especially the ninth mistress, she sounds so evil. She must be fueling the resentment between you and him."

Quinn pursed her lips, she was also surprised that he hadn't gone ballistic which she surely he would have. Her father hadn't even tried to contact her again since he showed up unannounced at the dance hall.

"He does sound like he cares a lot about you," Tina added.

Quinn's brows creased in thought, she had conflicted feelings. She didn't want to admit it but she knew his father had the potential to be caring, in fact, he was quite attentive back in her childhood. Aside from Martha constantly adding fuel to their deteriorating relationship, the only thing that estranged them was their shared hubris. Perhaps if she became more submissive, her relationship with him had hope. But that was the issue - neither of them was willing to make concessions.

Russell had fought in battles and wars for over 40 years, some said he was a true hero and moreover, a feared man back in his day. Quinn on the other hand was a similar reflection of him and had always been headstrong, she'd learned from a young age in her dysfunctional family that showing kindness was a weakness, her mother being a prime example of that. She decided a long time ago that she would hurt other people with vicious words if they were to ever cross her and as of recent years, her father had been on the receiving end of that.

She sighed. "Santana said the same thing, but I just don't know. She said that I deserve happiness and that I should try to let go of the misery that's been keeping me captive."

"I agree with her," Mike said. "I'm not taking sides or saying he is a good guy now, but it sounds like maybe he realized his faults."

Tina placed a hand over Quinn's. "You might not think they deserve forgiveness, but you owe it to yourself to let it go."

Quinn stayed quiet, contemplating their words. It seemed like everyone that cared for her had a similar stance. Her mother, Santana, and now, Tina and Mike. Surely they had a point, right?

But she was still dubious.

Someone as high and mighty as her father and someone equally unyielding as herself... their lens of justice and injustice drove a wedge so deep between them, how does one begin to forgive? How can she be civil with her father when they had seemingly different moral compasses?