Chapter Twenty-three - Natalia
Chapter Twenty-three
Natalia
N atalia crawled out of bed and slipped the silk robe onto her naked body. She stood there for a moment, admiring Nic’s chiseled arms and legs, the white sheet barely covering his midsection. Light snores escaped from his mouth as the morning sunlight gently crept across his face. He was home. Despite everything that had transpired with her friends, she was at least happy about that. Her heart was overjoyed. She smiled, pulled her robe tighter, and headed into the bathroom.
In the shower, she closed her eyes. As much as she wanted to block the thoughts of the other night— the night that changed everything with Lu and Kenya— she couldn’t seem to get the conversation out of her head.
He came over one night . . . and . . . he was a mess. He wanted to understand why you were obsessing about having a baby. She kept playing Lu’s words repeatedly in her head. She’d said, I thought I was helping.
Did Lu really think that she was helping?
And Kenya’s I was the one who killed him. I caused him to die craziness was what caused Natalia the most pain. Why hadn’t she just been brave enough to tell Kenya the truth? She’d told herself that she was protecting her, when really, she was protecting herself. It was easier to wish it away than tell her friend the truth. Natalia decided that it was she who had been a coward, and it hurt. Kenya wasn’t picking up any of her calls. Natalia wasn’t sure of what she’d say if Kenya picked up anyway. She was at a loss.
She hung her head, her eyes tightly shut. She only opened them when she felt strong arms wrap themselves around her waist. She was so deeply enthralled in her thoughts, she hadn’t heard Nic enter the bathroom, nor had she heard him open the shower door and step in. He kissed the nape of her neck, and then her shoulders. His touch made her heart race, caused her to blush even though he couldn’t see her doing it. She relaxed in his arms, rested her entire body and head against his bare chest.
“Natalia, you worry too much about things you can’t change,” he whispered. “Soon, you three will be friends again, and all of this will be behind you.” He knew her well, knew that she wouldn’t let what happened rest. She would stress herself to no end.
His words caused her sadness—deep concern for Kenya. She certainly wanted to repair her friendship with Kenya. As for Lu, she didn’t know if she could ever forgive her for poking her nose where she shouldn’t have. Though Nic was home now and had given up his condo in the city, the pain of him leaving in the first place still penetrated her heart and mind. The thought that Lu had watched her suffer, yet never revealed that she had been partly responsible for his leaving, that was something she couldn’t forgive. She’d listened to the seven messages Lu had left on her phone, begging for her forgiveness, but hadn’t returned any of them. She didn’t know if their friendship would survive this.
“I’m headed into the city. Meetings all day today.” Nic washed Natalia’s back with a lathered loofah sponge, and then washed his own body.
She turned to face him. “Should I wait for you for dinner?”
“Go ahead and eat without me.”
She was used to his long hours and unpredictable work schedule. She didn’t mind it, was just happy to have him home.
“I’ll keep it warm,” she promised.
“Thanks.” Nic rinsed his body and then slapped Natalia on the rear end as he stepped out of the shower. “I need to get going. The drive into the city will be murder.”
“I’m leaving soon, too. The winery has been busy lately. But I’m not complaining; busy is good, especially now.”
“Yes, busy is good. Focus on the winery.” He stood in front of the mirror, quickly brushed his teeth, and then spread shaving cream onto his face. He faced her with his white foam beard. “Try not to obsess about it.”
His words, obsess about it , took her back to an uncomfortable place, causing her to tense up. Her obsessing had been the reason for Nic leaving in the first place. And here she was, obsessing again, this time about what had taken place with her friends. Her obsessing needed to end or it would certainly ruin every relationship she ever had. She exhaled and took a deep breath before stepping out of the shower.