"You didn't do anything wrong. It's me. I've failed her. I barely know her. She doesn't even want to call me mommy. She calls me Catherine most of the time."
"Why don't you come in? She hasn't had a bath yet. I've got some things that I need to do around the house. You could help her get her bath, and put her to bed."
"She's lucky to have you, I'm lucky to have you. Most guys wouldn't put their lives on hold because..."
"She's my daughter. She means everything to me, nothing else matters."
"I know."
"So are you coming in? She's waiting on us."
"How can you tell?"
He points to a window on the second floor. "She's waving at us."
Catherine looks up at the window and finds Macyn smiling, and waving. Nick gets out of the car. Catherine grabs her keys, and follows him into the house. She lays her keys on a table by the door, and immediately heads up the stairs. She finds Macyn in the closet in her bedroom.
"What are you doing?" Catherine questions.
"Picking out clothes to wear tomorrow."
"Are you going to school tomorrow?"
"Only if daddy tells Brittany that I have too."
"Do you like Brittany?"
"Of course, she's my nanny."
Catherine points to a dress, "I like this one."
"Too pink."
"You love pink."
"I think that I want to wear purple tomorrow."
"You could wear your purple and yellow dress," Catherine suggests.
"Yeah, and I have a purple headband that matches."
Catherine pulls the purple and yellow dress out of the closet and lays it on the bed.
"Are you ready to take a bath?"
"Uh huh. What is daddy doing?"
"I think that he's doing laundry."
"Why are you here?"
Catherine hoists Macyn onto her hip, and grabs her pajamas.
"I missed you," she admits.
"Oh," Macyn comments as they cross the hallway into the bathroom. Catherine sits her on the floor and turns on bath water. After finishing the bath Catherine follows Macyn back to her room.
"Can you tuck me in?"
"Of course," Catherine nods, pulling back Macyn's pink bedspread.
"Don't tell daddy, but you're way better at tucking me in."
"Do you want me to read you a story?"
"No," Macyn shakes her head as Catherine tucks her in.
"Can you just stay here for a little while?"
"Sure."
"I know you just tucked me in but..."
"You want me to sit in bed with you until you fall asleep?"
"Uh huh," she nods.
Catherine sits down on the bed next to Macyn. She places a couple pillows between her, and the headboard. She flips off the lamp next to the bed. Macyn snuggles up against her side.
"I have question."
"I might have an answer."
"Why aren't you and daddy together."
"That is very complicated," Catherine admits.
"I know that you're not married."
"No, we're not."
"I thought that you were supposed to love someone to have a kid with them."
"You should, but you don't have to."
"Do you love daddy?"
Catherine take a moment to answer, "What do you think?"
"I think you should answer me," Macyn replies.
"Yes Macyn, I do."
"So why aren't you with him?"
"We can't be together."
"Why not?"
"One day you'll understand."
"Why can't you just live with us?"
"You want me to live with you?" Catherine asks as she pets Macyn's wet head.
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I miss you."
"Macyn it's getting late, you should try to go to sleep."
"Please stay."
"I should go home."
"Is Lindsey waiting on you?"
"No."
"Stay," Macyn begs.
"I'll stay just a little while longer."
"Ok."
When Catherine opens her eyes it's still dark out. She feels Macyn's warm body next to her. Instead of leaving the room she lies perfectly still. Macyn is pressed up against the wall. She kisses her warm head.
"I'm cold," Macyn reveals.
Catherine scoots closer to Macyn, she wraps her arm around the little girl.
"Is that any better?"
"A little."
"You're still cold?"
"Uh huh."
"Ok. Stay there, I'll be right back."
Catherine climbs out of the bed, and walks into the hallway. She makes her way to Nick's room. She tiptoes into the room, and stops next to the bed. She finds him sleeping at the edge of the bed. She gently shakes him.
"Huh?"
"I know you're tired, but Macyn is having chills and I don't know where to find any more blankets."
"In the hall closet," he answers.
"Ok."
"Cath..."
"Huh?"
"I know you probably won't like this idea, but it might be more effective if you just bring her in here."
"How?"
"We can all fit in this bed, and she'd be between two warm bodies."
"You're right."
"You don't like the idea."
"I don't like it, but you're right."
Catherine returns to Macyn's room. In the dark she lifts the groggy little girl out of the bed. Macyn wraps her legs around Catherine's waist, and rests her head on her shoulder. Catherine enters Nick's room, and places Macyn in the middle of the bed. She crawls in on the opposite side of Nick. He pulls the covers back over them. Nick rolls over to face Macyn.
"Mace is that any better?"
"Uh huh," she yawns.
