Page 46 of Accidentally Perfect

The look on my mother’s face is priceless, even the Botox can’t hide her shock. Before I know it, Nathan has his hand on mine pulling me away from the table. “I want you to know, sweet girl; I’m proud of you. You handled that woman like a champ. It shouldn’t be much longer before she realizes her that she needs to mind her own business when it comes to you and the girls.” He places a kiss to my temple.

“Nathan?” He stops. “Do you think you’re projecting your anger you have for your father onto my mother? They may be alike but they aren’t the same person.” I know I have every right feel hatred towards my mother, but Nathan's anger, it seems to have a lot more to do with his father rather than my mother.

“I know that."

"Do you?"

"Yes, Laney I do. Your mother and my father may be very much alike, but I know they differ in many ways as well. My animosity towards your mother is because I see, even in this short amount of time, how much abuse you've endured over the years. It makes me sick that a mother can treat her child the way she continues to treat you. Not to mention the fact that she feels entitled to have any say so in the way you raise your children. My father, he's just a self-centered egotistical ass who believes that life owes him everything he wants on a silver platter. He's a lost cause, there's no changing him. But your mother, I think with enough strength and determination on your part, and with my help, your mother will come around and treat you as a daughter should be treated."

You give her too much credit. I don’t think the time will ever come when she knows how to be a real mother.”

“Are you sure father and that one have never met?” Natalie asks. “It seems to me they must have attended the same parenting school. My God, Laney, she’s as awful as they come.”

“Don’t I know it. Try living with it. But I’m sure from what I’ve heard about your father, he’s just as bad.”

“Yes, unfortunately so." Natalie sighs.

“All right, sis, enough on the subject. There’s no use giving those two any more of our energy because it doesn’t change anything, and that’s time we will never be able to get back.”

We take the elevator up to the girls’ room and make our way in. Just as I hoped, Brad is with the girls. All three of them are propped up on Addie’s bed. “Hey, girls, how are you doing?” Nathan asks the question before I have the chance to.

“Good.” Both girls are smiling. I notice Brad looking at Natalie with questions in his eyes.

“Is this the specialist?”

“No.” Nathan gives a laugh. “This is my sister, Natalie. Natalie this is Brad Richards, the girls’ father.”

“Nice to meet you, Brad. The girls are absolutely precious.”

“Yes, they are two beauties, aren’t they?”

“Auntie Nat, we’re gonna move in wif Nafan as soon as Bug gets out. Do you life wif Nafan too?” I notice Brad's eyebrow rise at the mention of an aunt, but he doesn’t object.

“No, baby, I live in my own house. Actually Nathan used to live there when we were little like you. As soon as Addie is feeling better I can take you over there and show you around. There are lots of places to explore and places to run around in. We have a lake to swim in, trees to climb, and we have horses on the property too.”

“You have horses?” Addie asks while Natalie nods her head.

“Yes, we do. We have several. They are all different sizes and colors. There are even some foals and colts there now.”