“When you reach the end of the line…”
“Yeah, yeah, I know, boss…”
Nathan gets up and walks to the back porch. I follow. He rests his elbows on the railing, looking out over the pool and garden. When I step up beside him, he turns toward me.
“Did you get any sleep?” I ask.
“Yeah, actually. I did.”
His skin is smooth, and the dark circles under his eyes from Sunday have disappeared.
“Talk about jumping right back into the deep end,” I say.
“I want this.” He leans into the railing, bearing more of his weight against it. He turns to me. “I feel more alive than I have in six years. I can make a difference.”
I believe him, and that’s what terrifies me. But I refuse to put up another wall. Time is short, and I won’t let fear waste any of it.
“You will.” I take his hand. “I wanted to ask you if you’d like to come over tomorrow night. To my place. Let me cook you some dinner, and you can meet Natalie.”
A grin breaks free. “Is there anything you need? I can stop by the general store.”
“Just you.”
CHAPTER 15
The Stranger
Small children and their pets play on the sides of the crunchy shell rock street, running, laughing, and getting into all sorts of trouble in the afternoon sun. On my sixth turn around the small beachside neighborhood filled with modern pastel-colored bungalows, I get up the nerve to park in front of the pale yellow one-story I’m looking for. This is like a first date for me, but for her… She must have expectations. I carry the bouquet and the small gift bag to the door. Pressing the tiny conch-shaped doorbell sets off a tinny chime.
When the door opens, she’s standing there in a navy-blue velvet dress and meticulously curled hair. Was she wearing any makeup yesterday? I don’t think so—she doesn’t need it. But today she’s wearing light mascara and liner, and her lips are glossed. Stunning.
“Are those for me?” When she reaches for the bouquet, I catch the diamond on her ring finger. Unconsciously, I look at mine. It’s bare. My breath hitches when I realize she wore the same ring around her neck yesterday. “Come in.” She puts her arm around me and leads me through the small entryway to theliving room. Her fresh, citrusy, floral perfume drifts over me, stirring something familiar.
When I step inside, she turns to me. “Natalie’s playing outside. Are you ready to meet her?”
Yes.
I hold my breath.
She opens the glass sliding door and peeks out, curling her fingers inward, calling Natalie to come inside. I feel every hair on my arms stand as I wait. Natalie runs in, a bundle of excitement with white-blonde curls like Crystal’s and light brown eyes like mine.
She holds her mother’s hand and watches me—her face filled with curiosity.
“Hi, Natalie. I got you something.” Opening the bag, I pull out the teddy bear I bought at the general store. I wasn’t sure what she’d like, but the white bear with a dark blue nose seemed right. “Here you go.” Bending down to her level, I offer it to her.
She squeals and eagerly takes the bear, hugging it. “I’ll call him Mr. Blue Nose.” She hugs him to her chest and looks directly into my eyes. “Are you my real daddy?”
My heart bursts, and at first, I can’t speak. “I am. And I’m so happy to meet you.” Slowly, I reach for her, and she throws her arms around me. Squeezing me with all her strength.
“I love you, Natalie.”
“I love you too, Daddy. I made a wish to meet you, and it came true.” She chatters then, asking me all sorts of things. Then she asks. “Why did you leave us?”
I keep my gaze on her despite the burning behind my eyes. My words catch in my throat when I try to answer.
Crystal takes Natalie’s hand and whispers something in her ear. Natalie gives me a cute wave and runs off into the kitchen. A few seconds later, there are sounds of drawers opening and pans clanking. Crystal returns to my side.
Lowering her gaze, she reaches for my hand. I feel the ring. “I haven’t told her much. Until Mark died, she thought he was her father. I wanted to tell her so many times… but.”
