CHAPTER TWO
Despite the hustle and bustle that made the small café resemble midtown during rush hour, the silence between these two men were deafening and really awkward. They sat opposite each other for a couple minutes now, other than the brief greetings and introductions earlier, no one had said anything else. The older man eyed the younger man intently, almost with a little bit of anger, like he had stolen something precious from him.
Technically, he did.
This man was about to marry his daughter; the most valuable thing to him. He was more than a little upset when he heard Emily was getting married, but he was not invited to her wedding. He only had himself to blame. After all, he was the one who abandoned her; the dumbest thing Joe Prentiss had ever done in his entire life.
Sighing sadly, he began, "How's Emily?"
"She's fine now," Morgan replied evenly. Looking out of the window for a moment, Morgan turned back to his future father-in-law; he wasn't sure if this man was going to be his father-in-law, because Emily no longer considered him her father. "Why did you want to see me?"
"I need a favour from you. I want to try to have a relationship with Emily again."
"I'm sorry, I can't help you there," Morgan shook his head sadly, "She doesn't even want to see you."
"Please," Joe begged, "I want to be a father to her again."
"Shouldn't have left her in the first place," Derek muttered under his breath. He sighed, "Why now? Of all the times, you could have looked her up... Is it because we're getting married and you figured that she'd be so happy, she'd forgive you in an instant?"
"No, not that." Joe stared at the mug placed in front of him and sighed again. "I can't tell you."
"I can't help you if you don't give me a good reason to."
"You don't understand..."
"Hell, I don't understand!" Morgan glared at the older man. "I don't understand how you could have abandoned your own daughter. I don't understand how you could have let her grow up without a father. And I sure don't understand how a brief conversation with you could cause her so much pain."
Joe watched his expression change from incredulity to resentment and even anger. "Did you know she cried herself to sleep last night?" he hissed, his voice a low, dangerous rumble, like the clap of thunder warning of an impending storm. "We're planning our wedding. This was supposed to be the happiest time of her life. She shouldn't be crying. Brides-to-be aren't supposed to cry themselves to sleep."
There was long, tensed moment of silence between them before Derek figured he had enough of it. He didn't even know why he agreed to meet up with him behind Emily's back. Checking his watch, he sighed. "I should go. Emily's going wake up soon."
"I have cancer," Joe said abruptly.
"What?" Morgan eyed him carefully, unsure if it was a scheme to get him to help.
Pushing his medical statement to Morgan, Joe continued, "I don't know how much time I have left. I just want to get my daughter back before it's too late for me."
He took the sheets and was silent as he attempted to decipher them. "I..."
"Don't tell her."
"You... You don't her to know?"
"No. Not now. Look," he took a deep breath, attempting to keep his emotions in check, "Leaving her, was the hardest thing I ever had to do. If I could go back in time, I'd never do it. I can't change the past, all I can do right now, is try to make it up to her before I die. I know I don't deserve your help, but please, you have to help me. This is my last chance..."
After another long and awkward silence, Morgan spoke up, "She likes waffles for breakfast. With strawberries and chocolate."
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