He shrugged and headed over to his baby daughter. He reached his arms out to pick her up, then backed away, shaking his head. Zac turned and ran. Out the door and down the street, leaving Rita staring after him.
**********
"I don't want anything to do with her. She reminds me too much of Cassie." Zac informed Taylor with a distressed note in his voice.
"That's no reason to put her up for adoption."
"It's reason enough!"
"C'mon Zac, be reasonable. Think of the consequences. What about Cassies' parents? Don't you think they have a right to their grandchild? Not to mention Hope herself." Isaac pointed out.
"I don't care."
"You don't care?" Taylor repeated. "How can you not care? Hope was Cassies' too. Hope is a part of Cassie."
"But she isn't Cassie! She's just a poor substitute."
"Shut up Zac. Quit yelling." Babsie scolded. "There are other people living in this house you know, and the youngest ones are having naps. You wake 'em and I'll..."
She let the threat open. Zac just glared at her.
"I've decided. And there's nothing you can do about it."
"And what if you regret doing that one day Zac? What if Hope decides to try and find her real father one day Zac? What would you do then?" Isaac asked. "Do you think Cassie would approve of what you're trying to do right now? Do you think she would be happy with you?"
Zac was silent for a moment.
"I, I can't even look at her." He whimpered. "I can't."
There was quiet.
"How about a compromise? We'll look after her. And in time, hopefully you'll wake up to yourself." Babsie said. "You give us custody, and one day, we'll give it back to you. Unless, of course, she's eighteen or older by the time you want anything to do with her."
Zac snorted.
"He'd better not wait too long. Or he'll alienate his own daughter." Taylor put in grimly. "So, what's it to be Zac?"
"Fine. Whatever."
They heard crying upstairs.
"Esmes' awake." Babsie paused. "Or is it Carmen? One or the other. Gee, I hate it when they cry alike."
She stood up and left the room. Slowly, the others too, got up and left. Zac watched them leave, a mixture of sorrow, anger, frustration, misery and relief.