Page 26 of I Remember Moscato
“Sal, tell me you found my girl,” I blurt out as I answer my phone.
“We found her, Jagger. She’s safe and on her way to you. We’re taking Vincent in to book him, then we’ll meet you at your place.”
“Sounds good. Thank you for bringing her back to me.”
“There’s no need to thank me, we’re family.”
Waiting for Quinn to get here is torture. When I finally hear the car in the driveway, I feel like my heart is about to leap out of my chest.
I open the door and Quinn jumps into my arms. I hold her as tightly as I can. I can feel her shaking as she sobs.
“I love you, Quinn. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I had lost you.”
“You’re why I’m okay. I kept thinking of you and getting back to you. It kept me calm and helped me focus on not showing them how scared I was.”
“My parents are headed to the airport to pick up your parents. I didn’t tell them anything, I was hoping you’d be home before they got here. And if you weren’t, then I would figure out how to tell them.”
“Thank you. I don’t ever want to be away from you again.”
Veronica comes into the room.
“Are you okay?” she asks Quinn.
“Thanks to you, I am. Celestino told me that you helped them find me.”
“He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
“No, he didn’t hurt me. He was trying to trade me to the Russian Bratva to get his territory back in Oregon.”
“My father has never been a good man. I’m sorry you were pulled into this. When I figured out that he’d found you, I came straight here. I wish I could’ve prevented everything.”
“I’m okay. It was scary waking up and seeing Vincent. But he didn’t do anything that I can’t get over.”
“I think your parents are here,” I say to Quinn as I give her a kiss.
As soon as the door opens, Quinn launches herself into her dad’s arms. He laughs as catches her.
Quinn
All the anger that I held onto growing up is gone. I couldn’t wait another minute to talk to my mom and dad. I asked everyone if they could excuse us for a moment so we could have some privacy. The only person I asked to stay is my Jagger. I want him with me for every moment of my life, from now till forever.
“Is everything okay, sweetheart?” my mom asks as I lead them to the living room.
“Come and sit with me, please. First off, this is Jagger, he is the love of my life. Jagger, these are my parents, Silas and Mary Mendonca.”
“It’s really nice to meet you both.” Jagger smiles as he shakes both their hands.
“I need to say something. Growing up, I was an ass to you both. I was always so angry at the fact that I was abandoned. Even though I knew you loved me and it didn’t matter that I wasn’t your blood. You never treated me differently from the other kid. But in my head, I could never get over the fact that my birth parents just left me. I’m so sorry I did that to you. I realize now how lucky I am to have you as my parents. Can you forgive me for treating you the way I did?”
My dad reaches out for my hands and kisses them.
“Quinn, you never have to apologize. Your mom and I never felt like you meant the things you said. We understood your feelings and loved you no matter what. You are our daughter.”
“I couldn’t love you more. It doesn’t matter that I didn’t give birth to you. You’re my daughter. Our daughter. Our baby. You completed our family, and we knew the moment we saw you that you were ours,” my mom says, tears streaming down her face.
I grab both of my parents and hold them tight.
“I love you both. Thank you for choosing me.”