Daughter (Book 3, the Feel the fire Series)

Chapter 11.

"Dad, daddy?" she said and the boys on the couch turned around to see Linsey slowly approaching them. "Can we talk?"

They both nodded and sat a little bit apart from each other. Linsey went around the couch and sat between them, hanging her head down and looking at her hands in her lap. Both Mark and Jack sat closer to her and they rubbed her back to comfort her. They sat there in silence for a while when Jack asked.

"What's wrong, princess?" he tried to look at her face, but she just burst into tears again and buried her face into her hands.

They both hugged her, trying to calm her, but it didn't help. The boys looked at each other and they both saw on the other that they have to do something because Linsey is really hurt this time.

"Nick is leaving the city. He is moving to San Francisco and I won't see him again. His mother banned me from him. I won't be able to let him go." she cried more and Jack knew exactly what she was talking about.

He looked up and eyed with Mark, who looked concerned and confused as well. Jack only mouthed 'I will explain' then they turned back to Linsey.

"Don't worry. I'm sure you will be able to call him. Did he give you his number?" asked Jack and Mark now looked angry that he was left out of so many things about this mysterious boy.

"He did. But it only works until his mother changes his number," she said a little bit calmer, but she was still sobbing. "He told me that when he finishes school he will come back, but I doubt that his mother will let him leave."

"If he promised then he will come back. After school his mother can't hold him back," said Jack and pulled Linsey's head closer to him to press a kiss on her forehead. "Go wash your face, then get in bed. Sleep will help."

Linsey nodded and hugged Jack, giving him a kiss on his cheek, then hugging Mark and giving him a kiss as well. Mark tightly hugged her back, then let her go to her room. When they heard the door close, Mark turned to Jack and crossed his arms, waiting for him to explain.

"What?" asked Jack as he slightly turned away from Mark's menacing look.

"Well, explain this. Who is that Nick boy?" asked Mark and Jack just fiddled with his fingers, trying to avoid the question, but Mark became more serious. "Seán, answer me."

"He is just a boy from school," he said, hoping that Mark wouldn't ask another question, but he did.

"And?" he asked him to continue, but when Jack didn't say anything he did. "She wouldn't be this upset about him moving to another city if he was just a boy from school."

"Alright, he is her friend. Travis hurt him so..." Jack stopped at this point because he realized that he will tell too much to Mark.

"So what?" Mark asked as he became more frustrated.

"So..." Jack tried to form the right words, but he knew there was no way out of this now, he had to tell Mark the truth. "So, she helped him out and used her power to protect him from Travis."

"And why didn't you tell me this?" he asked now a bit angry.

"Because she knew you would react like this." fought Jack back rolling his eyes in exasperation to prove a point.

"Of course I react like this, she is my daughter and..." Mark started as he yelled back at Jack, but now he became angry as well and he just didn't let Mark finish his sentence.

"Aren't you happy that at least she has a friend finally?" he snapped back at Mark.

"She has a boy friend and it could become a boyfriend soon."

"Well, you are a little bit late with that," said Jack as he turned away with folded arms.

"What?" he asked back.

"They are dating. And I don't see what's the problem with that?" said Jack and Mark just shook his head as he stood up.

"What's the problem? Really Jack?" he asked angrily and went behind Jack putting his hands on the back of the couch. "This is the problem. That the stupid ones just hurt her. And besides that, she is different than the others. She is a witch. Not just a random girl. What are the chances that she finds a boy who understands her? Huh? Nothing. There will always be someone who will look at her differently and will be afraid of her."

"He was different too," said Jack as he glanced at Mark then turned back to look in front of him.

"I know what it likes to be the weird one. Not pleasant. And my parents paid for it..."

"It's not about you right now. It's about her." snapped Jack back as he now turned to Mark fully. "She loved him. I saw it. Every time she talked about him, she looked truly happy. Nick was not just a boy. He was the perfect one for Linsey. But you are too afraid to see that."

Jack turned back and Mark straightened up. He was not afraid at all. He just didn't want Linsey to be hurt, because he knew that feeling. He just took a deep breath and went to their room, closing the door behind him. Jack sat on the couch for a while, thinking. Mark had to see that Nick wasn't a threat to Linsey. He took a deep breath too and just shook his head. They shouldn't argue about this in this way. He went to his room and when he opened the door he saw Mark as he was already in bed.

"Look." started Jack as he closed the door behind him and stood there. "I didn't meet him either, but I can tell that he is a good person. He made Linsey smile. He would never hurt her. This... this was his mother. If there is someone to blame, then you should blame her."

Mark turned his glaze at Jack, then just simply sat up in bed. He looked at his hands in his lap then turned to Jack.

"I believe you. But I'm still mad that she is now like this," he said as he signed towards the door with his head. "She doesn't deserve this."

"I know," said Jack and went over to their bed and climbed in beside Mark to hug him. "We will figure something out."