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“Efer!” Amanda joins in.
It amazes me how resilient these girls are, all kids really. Addie has just gone through surgery, and here she is, up and excited about a birthday that’s weeks away. You could never tell she went through something so traumatic. They’re both such troopers. I look over at Brad, and I can tell that he’s exhausted. I don’t think he’s showered since the accident. His clothes are wrinkled and torn. I’m so lucky that nothing more serious happened to any of them. I’m not sure what I would do if things had turned out differently. If I had lost any of them, I don’t know that I would have been able to survive. Even Brad, he's the girls’ father. I wouldn’t wish that loss on anyone. There’s a knock at the door, and Nathan sticks his head in. “Hi, I was just curious on how the princesses were feeling?” In his hand were two bouquets of pink carnations.
“Come in. Girls, I want you to meet my very special friend, Nathan. Nathan, this big girl right here is Addie and this one on my lap is Amanda. Girls can you say hi to Nathan.”
“Hi, Nafan.” Amanda is soft-spoken, acting a little shy. I don’t blame her. Nathan’s good looks can be intimidating.
“Hi, Nathan, thank you for getting our Mama back to us.”
“It was my pleasure, sweet girl.” Nathan bent down next to the bed. “Someone told me your favorite color is pink, so I brought you these. I hope you like them.” He hands the girls each their own set of flowers.
“Wow, I’ve never gotten flowers before.” This coming from Addie.
“We picked flowers for mama before, but we nefer got flowerth from anyone. Thank you, Nafan.”
“You’re welcome, young lady. How are you gals feeling? I heard you two were very brave and that your daddy has been here making sure you were okay until I was able to get your mommy here. You guys are very lucky to have a daddy who loves you so much.”
There's no denying what I‘ve been feeling for this man since the moment I laid eyes on him. This is becoming more than just lust, more than just an alcohol-induced decision on my part. Nathan Whitmore is such a pure and honest man. A man that I could see myself falling for. His interaction with my children tugs at my heart. Love hasn’t been good to me in the past, but I have a feeling that’s going to change. Our meeting may have been fate, or an accident, but right now, Nathan seems to be perfect.
“Yes!” They both say. “Daddy is great. The best daddy ever.”
“I couldn’t be the best daddy ever if I didn’t have the two sweetest girls in the whole wide world.”
“How are my two lovelies?” My mother comes into the room unannounced, completely breaking the moment.
The peace that I was feeling only a moment ago comes to a sudden stop.
“Grandma!” Addie yells; Amanda is staying quiet.
“Oh, sweet baby, how are you feeling?” She walks over to the other side of Addie’s bed smoothing her bedridden hair.
“Look at the flowers mama's friend Nathan brought for me and Bear.”
“They are lovely aren’t they? Did you tell Nathan thank you, Amanda?” She looks towards Amanda, who sinks into me looking for comfort; she nods her head. “Use your words, Amanda.”
“Not now, Mother. She’s been through enough for today.”
“She has been through enough? Addie has undergone surgery, and she’s still able to speak and use her words like any five-year-old should. Come on, Laney, she's almost in kindergarten. How do you expect her to communicate and learn if she won’t even answer her own grandmother with a simple yes or no answer?”
