Natalie: You’re something else, Parker. Take it easy on Madison, okay? Remember what it’s like to be a teenager.
I sighed, knowing she was right. But still, I wasn’t going to make it easy for Kellen.
At 9:55, I went to the doorway and announced, “Madison, you’ve got five minutes.”
“Okay, Dad,” she said, annoyed.
I heard whispers and movement. A minute later, they emerged.
“Thanks for having me, Mr. Parker,” Kellen said, polite but awkward.
I nodded stiffly. “Sure.”
Madison walked him to the door, closing it behind her as they stepped outside. I stayed near the window, watching. A few minutes later, she came back in, her expression happy as she headed toward the stairs.
“Good night, Dad,” she said.
“Wait,” I called.
She turned, curious. “Yes?”
I hesitated. “I’m new to this, Madison. I want to keep an open line of communication. I love you, and I don’t want anything bad to happen to you. You’re still my little girl.”
Her expression softened. “I know. I should’ve asked if it was okay for him to come early. He’s a nice guy, though.”
“I’ll be the judge of that,” I said. “Love you, kiddo.”
“Love you too, Dad,” she said, heading upstairs.
And just like that, we had a productive conversation. Small victories.
CHAPTER 37
GRAND DEBUT
NATALIE
It was the day before the opening of Pier and Table, and every muscle in my body felt like it was running on high alert. Weeks of preparation were about to culminate in a single night, and it needed to be flawless. This wasn’t just a restaurant, it was the sum of vision and precision, each choice stitched together to mean something. From the lighting to the table settings, each element carried weight. I had checked, double-checked, and triple-checked the design, yet I still felt like something had slipped through my fingers.
The day stretched endlessly ahead, a blur of final walkthroughs, last-minute adjustments to the seating plan, and making sure each corner looked exactly as I had envisioned. Lori was already on-site, no doubt armed with another list of changes from her end, and I had a nagging feeling Lucas would appear soon to weigh in with his own touches.
Having Meredith here this past week had been an absolute lifesaver. She’d taken over helping with Bebe, keeping herentertained while I focused on the finishing touches for the restaurant. Bebe was finally on the mend after her surgery, but I still worried about her being home all day. Jason, to my surprise, had stepped up in ways I hadn’t expected. He’d been taking James to school every morning while Meredith and Camille managed pickups. James would spend the afternoons at home with us, a welcome burst of normalcy in the middle of all the mayhem.
Jason had even joined us for dinner a couple nights. It felt like old times, it was… nice. Civil. We were finding a rhythm I hadn’t thought possible. He’d leave with James in the evenings, giving me space to concentrate on my work. It felt good to have him close, even just as a co-parent. It was an odd comfort, knowing we were doing this part right, even if our marriage had fallen apart.
One evening, I decided to ask him for a favor.
“Hey, would you mind taking both kids tomorrow night? Just for the night, so I can focus on the opening and not worry about rushing home.”
“Of course,” he said, his tone surprisingly easy. “I could take them for the whole weekend to give you a chance to recover. You’ll need it after a night like that.”
I felt a wave of relief but also a twinge of guilt. “That would be amazing, but are you sure? Bebe still needs a little extra care.”
Jason smiled. “I’ve got it covered. I’ll work from home Friday and keep an eye on her. And I’m not doing it alone, the babysitter can come by to help with laundry and whatever else, and Brooke offered to bring dinner.”
There it was—Brooke. I’d known her involvement was inevitable, but the mention of her name still caught me in the chest. Jason must have noticed the flicker of discomfort on my face because he added, “She’s good with the kids, Nat. You don’t have to worry.”
I hesitated, swallowing my pride. “Okay. If it makes things easier for you, she can come. I just…want Bebe to feel taken care of.”
