Randy practiced on how he would greet Quinn because after all these years she still had that effect on him. He is the Apex predator, the legend killer but it seems like his nerves were killing him at this moment.
Taking his luggage towards the car rental department, Randy sets the engine on and leaves Stockton Metropolitan Airport heading to Best Western Brentwood Inn where he will be staying the duration of his stay.
The ride itself was not long as it was only at least 3-4 kilometers from the airport. After getting checked in and fixing his stuff, Randy fired up his Laptop and searched for the daycare center John sent him where he apparently left Quinn and the kid.
'Could be my kid' he thought but shrugged the thought away as he did not want to get ahead of himself. Randy has lived with disappointments all throughout his life already. He did not need any more of those specially major ones like assuming the child was his.
5 years is a very long time. No one could tell what transpired between those years that they were not in contact.
"Well isn't that just my luck starting off great" Randy says as he looks at the screen of his laptop. The daycare center was no more than 5 minutes away and considering that it was the afternoon, maybe Randy could swing by and just watch for a few hours. 'Wouldn't hurt to try right?' He tried to reason with himself but the jetlag of a 30 hour flight was getting to him and he sure as hell was not meeting Quinn in his disheveled state after years of not seeing each other.
Even after all those fights with himself, Randy found his hands putting on fresh clothes after taking a bath and heading out with the car rental keys and just drove around the corner to see the daycare center.
"Kiddie Academy of Brentwood" Randy read out loud and just stared at the area. It was a Tuesday so most likely there will be classes but Joh did mention Quinn leaves the kid here when she needs to run errands for work. Randy was on a good roll so he decided to use his lucky streak and hung around for a while.
A solid half hour in the car did him no good and he was thankful there was a playground just next to the center so he got out of his car and sat on a bench which was available at the park. Scrolling through his phone mindlessly, Randy wants to kick himself as the situation dawns upon him.
"What am I doing?" He whispered as he covered his face with his hands and sighs. 'What am I even going to do? Say?'
'She left without a trace. Not even a goodbye, I thought we had something-'
Sulking for a few more minutes before hearing the voice of a child coming from the gate of the center, Randy looks at a toddler who was clutching her teacher's hand while looking around. They seem to be waiting for someone.'
Randy immediately gasped and felt his breath hitched and lodged in his throat as he saw the toddler. The same one from the picture John sent him.
Blinking fast and feeling his hands getting sweaty, Randy pulls up the hoodie he was wearing so as to not get noticed but the action seemed futile since the child may or may not know who he is. He never felt this nervous in his life even if he was up against the greatest during his debut year. This is all because of a child and Randy wanted to scream. He knew that this place would be the first step to even catch a glimpse of Quinn but here he was - almost choking and restless.
"Sweetie, I don't think your mommy is here yet. Would you like to go back inside or play at the playground? " Randy heard the teacher ask the child and was met with a pout. "Mommy will come shortly, Miss Anna. I can play at the park with the other kids for now." The child responded as she let go of her teacher's hand and went to play just behind him on the swings as the teacher followed suit.
The little girl continued to play and not long after the teacher took a seat next to Randy which made him uneasy. He was thanking the heavens that no one was talking to him because he wasn't sure if he was able to communicate effectively.
HIs luck must be running out because as he was busy fiddling with the string which made his hoodie tiger around his head, he felt the teacher's gaze on him and it was lingering. He took a chance and looked at her and was met with a small smile. "Hello sir, it is my first time seeing you around here, are you a parent of any of the kids playing?" The woman asked and Randy cleared his throat before answering. "Uhh, just passing by. Looking around the neighborhood is all" The woman seems to acknowledge his answer and leaves it at that.
Not long after that short conversation, Dominique approached her teacher and gave her a phone. "Teacher, you may use this to contact mommy. I will go ahead and play with Mike first until she gets here.' Ms. Anna nodded and asked Dominque to stay on the bench first as she retrieved the toddler's things inside the daycare. "Just stay here and don't leave Dominique, I will be right back and will just make a quick trip for your stuff inside. You may play after I am back".
Seemingly to understand her teacher, Dominique stayed on the bench with her short legs swinging as she sat. Randy was palpitating as if he just chugged 3 shots of espresso with the little next to him. 'This is your chance.' He convinced himself but backed down. Dominique felt him shifting next to her and since Ms. Anna was talking to the man earlier, she did not see anything wrong with making conversation.
"Hello Mister. I saw you talking to Ms. Anna. Are you a parent of one of my playmates?" The child asked and turned to him and Randy froze. Letting out a nervous laugh he shifted just slightly to her side and gave out his answer. "No kiddo. Just looking for someone". "I'm looking for my mommy as well but she tends to come late sometimes. But that's okay because she works very well." He wasn't sure how to respond to that honestly.
Few more minutes of silence and Dominique asked him a question again. "Mister why do you have your face hidden? Are you hiding from someone?" Randy took his hoodie off and faced the child. It felt as if he was mirroring himself with that turn and found himself smiling nonetheless.
"Yes, I am hiding from someone. Someone I miss so much." Randy was convinced this girl is his daughter. The timeline sets it clearly and after seeing her this close, he was more than determined to talk to Quinn - or so he thought because once he heard a voice calling out for the girl next to him Randy shoots up and walks away almost immediately. Dashing to his car, the little girl called for him behind while he was fumbling with his car keys.
"Mommy! That MIster left his wallet!" Randy was ready to get in his car but a hand was on his shoulder. "Excuse me sir, my daughter said you left your wallet and I -" Quinn stopped and she felt her getting cold feet.
They stared at each other when he turned back and was met with the woman he had been looking for the past half decade.
Things were in slow motion as they looked at each other without blinking. Quinn was the first one to break eye contact.
"Randy?" she whispered and was nervous as hell because she ran away from this man with his baby whom he does not know about.
"Quinn." Randy's raspy voice was a delight to her ears but she remembered that Dominique was trailing behind her and was quick to get a hold of herself and stammered a "Goodbye" before turning back.
Randy will not let her leave like that again and this was his chance. Besides, he flew all the way here to meet her, and might as well get things over with.
"Wait Quinn! I need to talk to you!" Randy locked the car and had a grip on her wrist and Quinn knew it was useless to fight against his grip.
"What is it Randy?" she asks, sounding dejected. Expected the worst but Randy just sighs and hugs Quinn tight. "Can we talk? I think we need this and it is long overdue."
Quinn was trying to reason with herself that she should just leave and ask him to do the same but she did owe Randy this much.
"We can talk Randall but not in front of her" she motions to Dominique who was looking at them with interest. "I understand. I can give you a lift to your house and maybe work out something soon?" Quinn declined his offer but gave him her new number making a mental note to change it after he is gone since she doesn't want him coming up to her porch unannounced.
"I'll contact you." Quinn says. "I'll be waiting." he replied and they both drove off.
Quinn can feel Dominique's eyes on her as she drives and she knew this was going to happen but much to her surprise, the ever so curious little girl of hers kept silent and was just busying herself with her doll.
Randall waited for the call until 9PM. The poor man barely even had a wink of sleep but he insisted on waiting for Quinn. He texted her once he got back at the Inn he was staying at. Just a simple 'This is Randy'. The text was shown as seen on his iPhone and now he was fighting the urge to sleep on the soft bed that was situated in the middle of the room.
No longer past 10PM his phone dinged and saw it was a text from Quinn.
'You up?' it reads and Randy just replied 'Yeah'. A call was flashing on his screen and Quinn's name appeared.
"Hey. UHh wanna come over? I can't really go out since Dominique's sleeping and I can't leave her alone." Randy smiled as he agreed. Assuring her that it was not a problem at all. "Sure. Text me your address and I'll be right over" He offered and the call ended after she said "See you" then came a text.
'318 Bougainvilla Drive. White house." Randy took his keys once more and headed off for the parking lot still feeling squeamish but at least this was better and easier than he thought it would be. Not forgetting to buy coffee from Starbucks on the way there which was no more than 25 minutes including the coffee take out trip. Randy reached the address and parked just right outside.
Randy observes the place. Checking if this is a safe home for Quinn and Dominique with just the two of them but he did pass by a village security patrol on the way here so that much is enough for his nerves. Gathering himself once again he exited the car and dragged his way towards the front door.
A knock. Followed by another one. On the third attempt the door was opened and Quinn was looking at him with her doe eyes and steps aside for him to enter.
"Thanks. I bought coffee" he said. 'Only because I think this will be a long night for us' he didn't dare add that thought.
"Thank you Randy."
The two of them sat in silence as they both sipped on the coffee Randy bought. It was Quinn who broke the silence just like earlier with their eye contact. "I have a hunch on how you ended up here but I don't wanna make assumptions." she said and Randy shrugs. "Surprise me. You could be right"
"John. I bumped into him with Dominique no more than 72 hours ago. It's a coincidence right?". "No, I planned to be here. For a while now actually. Just didn't know where to start. Brentwood is a pretty huge town." Randy shakes his iced coffee while looking at the floor.
"Imma just cut to the chase Randall. Why did you come here?" Quinn did not expect anything at all from his answer but she was taken aback b y his response. "You. I'm here because of you. I meant to find you earlier though but the schedule was hectic and I didn't even know if you wanted to see me. But I guess you have been doing well yourself eh?" She could almost sense a sad tone lingering from his voice and Quinn turns to Randy with a small but sad smile.
"I'm sorry for leaving like that. I was young, too naive and not mature. I didn't know what I should do so I reckon if I left things wouldn't be affected so much."
Silence…
"Not that I'm saying we were a thing or whatnot" she added in defense and this made Randy frown. "We weren't a thing?" he questioned. Quinn felt like she just needed to let it all out. 5 years has been enough. She yearned for Randy but was not expecting any outcome for them. Her priority is Dominique.
"Yeah. We were just casual weren't we? Nothing too steady nor serious even though it has been going on for more than a few years already. I didn't really fit well in your life Randall and I just want you to know that everything I have done before and after I left was for your own well being. I didn't want to keep your focus and energy away from work. I can't really tell you much but I did what I thought was best for your interest"
Randy took in what she said. Absorbing it well before nodding. "If we weren't a thing it wouldn't have gone for that long though".
"I know you didn't want to start a family, You didn't want a child and you wanted to keep your bachelor life. I respected that because I'd do anything for you during that time." Randy was confused. "I never told you I didn't want to have one."
"You may not have told me but I overheard you and Mark Callaway talking about it after TLC. I understood where I stand in your life and it was clear to me what I had to do." Randy swallows the lump in his throat. "Is that why you never showed up after the event?" Quinn nods. "I didn't fit in your life. I wasn't even supposed to be in your life but I know I will not do anything to jeopardize your career. I had to leave."
"You had to leave…
With my baby right?"
Quinn closes her eyes and she was surprised she didn't cry at the mention of Dominique. Talking about it with Randy was overwhelming yet it made her feel free.
"I'm sorry. I just thought if I didn't fit in your life, so would she. I wanted to tell you. I was supposed to tell you but after what I heard I can't be selfish."
"Does she know about me?". Quinn shook her head. "She asks me broad questions sometimes but never did she specifically ask who you were." This broke Randy's heart a bit. "I see."
"Look Randy, if you want to be a father to her I will not hinder you from doing so. As long as this will not interfere with your career and personal life before you knew about her."
He finds himself laughing lightly while shaking his head. "You are so considerate of me but I was not like that to you. I know I should be furious because you kept our daughter from me but I am willing to put that behind now and focus on her-" Randy paused and looks earnestly at Quinn. "-and you."
Quinn shook her head. "Randy, seeing you make an effort for her is enough. Just because we have a daughter together doesn't mean you and I need to have something going on again as well."
"Do you believe I am incapable of being there for you as much as I will be there for our daughter?" he snaps but not in an angry tone. "Don't take it the wrong way Randy. All I am saying is you don't need to feel like you have to include me as well. You may live your single-bachelor life and continue with it while caring for Dominique. I am okay"
"You're okay but I'm not. I want to be with you and I don't just mean to have you in my bed all the time. I want to raise Dominique together as a family but it seems to me it'll be hard to convince you so I'll take what I can get." Quinns laughed at his statement and this made him frown.
/ to be continued
