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“Alright, you two,” she laughs. “There are children present.” Natalie comes up pulling us apart.
“The closet is full of Barbie’s, dolls, and whatever else the people at FAO Schwarz suggested I get for two little girls. I also got all my Barbie dolls and my old dress up clothes from the attic at home when I picked out the furniture. I thought the girls would enjoy them. Let’s give them a chance to play and get comfortable.” She ushers us out of the playroom and back into the living room.
“Natalie, you didn’t have to do that. I don’t want the girls to ruin your toys. Those are your childhood things.”
“You didn’t happen to bring my G.I. Joes did you?” Nathan grabs my hand and leads me, Natalie and Brad over to the couches.
“No. The girls don’t want to play with those nasty things.”
“You never know; they may be tomboys.”
“I’m afraid that’s not true,” Brad says. “I’ve been trying to get them to enjoy football and baseball since they were able to stand and nothing has stuck.”
“Well, thank you for allowing the girls to play with your toys. I’m sure that means a lot to them.” I smile warmly at Natalie.
“Don’t even worry about it. I have no plans on getting married, and if I do want children, then I already have plans to adopt when the time’s right.”
“Why wouldn’t you want to get married?”
“Didn’t have the best example. I always promised myself that I would never allow a man to do to me what my father did to my mother.”
“Not all men are like that, Natalie. Look at your brother. Do you see anything that resembles your father? Brad isn’t a bad man either.” I can’t help but say.
Nathan looks like he’s getting ready to say something. I raise my hand to stop him.
“We all make mistakes. It’s what we learn from them and what we do with that knowledge that makes all the difference.
“I think you’re giving me too much credit, Street.”
“I agree.” Nathan piped up.
“Anywho. The girls are welcome to my toys. I know they’ll take good care of them. If there comes a time I ever need them back, I’m sure it wouldn’t be a problem. Who knows, maybe I’ll just adopt a boy to give the girls a run for their money.”
After Natalie’s comment, the room got uncomfortably silent. I still haven’t had a look around, and I was dying to take everything in. This is Nathan’s home. This is a part of him. I wanted to know everything there is to know about the man I married and am now living with. I see Brad looking out the windows that line the living room. “It’s beautiful isn’t it?” He notices that I’m looking at him.
“That it is. It’s amazing the kind of views money can buy, you know?”
“Look, um why don’t Brad and I get out of your hair? I’m sure the girls are getting hungry for dinner and I know they’ll want to take care of whatever nighttime routines they have.” Natalie states as she walks towards us.
“Yeah, I still need to figure out their clothes and stuff.”
“Oh, well, Nathan had all that stuff brought over this morning. The moving truck came first thing. I have it all put away in their dressers and the bathroom across the hall from their room.”
“You had all their stuff packed and moved over here?” Brad looks upset.
“I’m not sure. Nathan and Amanda packed up everything last night while I was sleeping.”
“Nathan packed?”
“Yes, is that a problem?”
“It is getting late.” Nathan breaks the tension. “I’ll order in tonight, is that alright, Laney? I’ll just order some burgers and fries.”
“Nathan, don’t forget about the charity event I’m hosting this weekend at the house. You and Laney need to be there.”
“The girls don’t like burgers.” Brad chimes in. “They prefer chicken nuggets.”
“Hold up on the food, Nathan. Natalie what do you mean a charity event?” I ask.
