Chapter 7
2021-
The drive back to their loft was silent, the weight of the evening at Maddie and Chimney's hanging heavy in the air. Carina stared out the window, her expression unreadable. Buck kept glancing at her, his heart aching with a mixture of guilt and concern. He knew how much his parents' disapproval hurt her, even though she tried to hide it.
When they got home, Buck helped Carina get settled in her room. He sat on the edge of her bed, his voice soft. "Are you okay, Cari?"
Carina shrugged, avoiding his gaze. "I don't know," she mumbled. "I just… I don't understand why they can't just accept me."
Buck sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It's not you, sweetheart," he said, his voice filled with a quiet anger. "It's them. They have their own issues, their own ideas about how things should be. And they can't seem to see past that."
"But it's not fair," Carina said, her voice trembling slightly. "I didn't do anything wrong."
"I know, Cari," Buck said, taking her hand. "You're the best thing that's ever happened to me. And I'm not going to let their negativity affect us. We're a family, you and me. And that's all that matters."
He pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly. "We'll get through this," he whispered. "We always do."
As they held each other, a sense of quiet determination settled between them. The confrontation at Maddie's had been painful, a stark reminder of the challenges they faced. But it had also reaffirmed the strength of their bond, the unbreakable connection between a father and his daughter. They would continue to navigate the complexities of their lives, together, their love for each other a constant source of strength and resilience.
The following days were quiet. Buck threw himself into his shifts at the 118, finding a sense of normalcy and purpose in the familiar chaos. Carina spent her time focused on her online schooling and her physical therapy exercises, slowly regaining more strength and mobility in her leg.
They didn't talk much about the dinner at Maddie's, but the unspoken understanding lingered between them. Buck made extra efforts to show Carina how much he loved her, from making her favorite breakfasts to staying up late to watch old movies with her. Carina, in turn, offered him quiet smiles and small gestures of affection, a silent reassurance that they were in this together.
Maddie and Chimney checked in frequently, offering their support. Maddie was furious with their parents, her loyalty firmly with Buck and Carina unwavering. Chimney, ever the pragmatist, offered a listening ear and gentle advice.
One evening, as Buck was helping Carina into her bed, she looked up at him, her eyes serious. "Dad," she said softly. "Do you think they'll ever… accept me?"
Buck hesitated, the familiar ache of uncertainty returning. He wanted to lie, to tell her everything would be alright. But he couldn't. "I don't know, Cari," he admitted, his voice low. "But you know what? It doesn't matter. What matters is that we accept each other. What matters is that we're a family. And that's enough for me."
Carina nodded slowly, a small smile touching her lips. "Me too, Dad."
As Buck turned off the light and left the room, he carried the weight of his parents' disapproval, but it felt a little lighter now. He had Carina, he had his chosen family at the 118, and he had a love that was stronger than any judgment. And in the quiet of their loft, that felt like everything.
One evening, a week after the tense dinner, as Buck was in the shower, the insistent ringing of his phone echoed through the loft. Carina, who was working on her homework at the kitchen table, sighed. Buck usually kept his phone close by, and the persistent ringing was unusual. Thinking it might be important, she wheeled over to the counter where it was charging.
Without looking closely at the caller ID, she reached out and answered. "Hello?"
There was a brief pause on the other end, followed by a crisp, unfamiliar female voice, dripping with disapproval. "Hello? Is Evan there?"
Carina hesitated, a knot forming in her stomach at the tone. "Um, he's in the shower right now. Can I take a message?"
"In the shower?" the voice repeated, laced with disdain. "And who, pray tell, is answering his phone?"
Carina felt a flush creep up her neck. This was definitely that woman from dinner. "It's Carina," she replied cautiously. "I'm Buck's daughter."
A longer, icy silence followed. Carina could almost feel Margaret's disapproval radiating through the phone line, even stronger than it had been at the dinner. Finally, the voice spoke again, each word sharp and condescending. "Carina. Yes, I remember you. The… situation Evan has gotten himself into. A rather unfortunate predicament, wouldn't you agree?"
Carina's breath hitched. "No, ma'am," she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the sudden trembling in her hands. "It's not unfortunate. Buck is my dad."
Margaret scoffed, a harsh, unpleasant sound. "Father? After that display the other night? Don't be ridiculous. He's clearly in over his head. This whole… arrangement is a selfish whim, a misguided attempt to fill some void in his own pathetic life. And you, my dear, are simply a pawn in his little game."
Tears welled up in Carina's eyes, blurring her vision. The woman's cruelty, now directed at her personally after having met her, was like a physical blow. "That's not true," she choked out. "Buck loves me."
"Love?" Margaret sneered. "Don't be naive. I saw the way he was. This is about his own needs, not yours. You're a responsibility he's ill-equipped to handle. You'd be better off in a proper home, with people who can actually provide for you."
Just then, the sound of the shower turning off became audible. Buck started humming softly as he stepped out. He moved towards the living area, still toweling his hair, and his humming stopped abruptly as he heard Carina's distressed voice.
"He is providing for me," Carina was saying, her voice thick with tears. "He's the best dad anyone could ask for!"
Buck frowned, his heart pounding. He moved closer, recognizing the cold, cutting tone on the other end of the line. It was his mother. He could hear snippets of her cruel words, enough to understand the devastating impact they were having on Carina, after she had met her.
Without a word, Buck reached out and gently took the phone from Carina's trembling hand. He brought it to his ear. "Mom?" he said, his voice low and dangerous.
There was a startled silence on the other end.
"Whatever you were saying to Carina," Buck continued, his voice shaking with anger, "you need to stop. Right now. She is my daughter, and I love her more than anything. You have no right to speak to her that way, especially after meeting her."
Without waiting for a response, Buck ended the call, his chest heaving. He turned to Carina, who was now openly crying, her small body shaking in her wheelchair. He knelt down beside her, pulling her into a tight embrace. "She's wrong, Cari," he whispered fiercely, his voice thick with emotion. "So wrong. Don't ever believe a word she said."
Buck held Carina tightly, his anger towards his mother warring with his need to comfort his daughter. He rocked her gently, whispering reassurances, his voice thick with emotion. "She doesn't know you, Cari. She doesn't see how amazing you are. How strong, how smart, how kind… You're not a burden. You're the best part of my life."
He pulled back slightly, cupping her face in his hands, his gaze intense. "And I'm not making a mistake. You're not a mistake. You're my daughter. And I'm going to protect you. Always."
Carina clung to him, her tears slowly subsiding, replaced by a fragile sense of calm. "I know, Dad," she mumbled, her voice muffled against his chest. "I know."
Buck helped her get ready for bed, his movements gentle and deliberate. He read her a chapter from her favorite book, his voice soothing and steady. As he finished the chapter, Carina hesitated, her gaze fixed on her lap.
"Dad?" she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Buck looked at her, his heart aching at her vulnerability. "Yeah, Cari?"
She looked up at him, her eyes pleading. "Could… could I maybe sleep in your bed tonight? Just…just because of what your mom said."
Buck's heart softened completely. He understood the depth of her distress. Carina rarely asked for this – only when something truly upsetting had shaken her sense of security. "Of course, Cari," he said, his voice warm and reassuring. "You can always sleep in my bed when you need to."
He helped her get settled in his bed, making sure she was comfortable. He laid down beside her, making sure he isn’t touching her, but offering his presence as a source of comfort. He knew this wasn't a regular occurrence, and that Carina, for the most part, valued her own space. This was a moment where she needed extra reassurance, and he would be there for her. He stayed there until she drifted off to sleep, his hand resting lightly on her arm, a silent promise to shield her from any further pain.
The next day, Buck was quiet and withdrawn. He called Maddie, his voice tight with anger and frustration. He told her about the phone call, about his mother's cruel words after having met Carina. Maddie was furious, her support for Buck and Carina unwavering. She offered to come over, to be there for them, but Buck declined. He needed to process this on his own, to figure out how to navigate this new, even more fractured relationship with his parents.
He knew he couldn't shield Carina completely from their disapproval, but he could control how he reacted to it. He decided he wouldn't engage with them, not until they could treat Carina with the respect and kindness she deserved. He would focus on building a strong, loving home for Carina, a haven from the negativity of the outside world. Their little family, forged in love and resilience, would be enough.