Chapter Twenty-One
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Have you ever been to New York?
Eugene sent the text and waited. He went back to work on the ride design, trying to figure out how to get around a particular problem his team hadn’t been able to work out. After about an hour with no resolution, his phone rang. Seeing it was Natalie, he punched the button.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself,” she said. “No, I’ve never been to New York. Why?”
He pushed back from his chair and stood, stretching his back. “I need to fly up there for a couple of days to check out a game design company we might want to bring on to assist with this project. I thought you might want to come with me. We could do some sightseeing, eat a lot of good food, maybe see a Broadway show.”
“Oh. That would be fun. When?”
He told her the dates. “I have to be there on Thursday. I thought we could stay over the weekend and fly home Sunday.”
“Sean has the kids that weekend. I’ll need to see about the other days. When do you need to know?”
“It’s in a week, so I’ll need to make reservations. So, as soon as you can?”
“Okay. I’ll see what I can do.”
“Sure.”
“And, Eugene?”
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for asking.”
He grinned even though she couldn’t see. “Always thinking of you. Of us.”
She went silent for a few seconds, then said, “Talk to you soon. Bye.”
He hung up and continued staring out the window, feeling that familiar warmth he always felt after hearing Natalie’s voice. Getting away alone with her for a few days would be great, would give the two of them more time to get to know each other better. And have some fun, too.
Hopefully it would all work out.
· · ·
Natalie buried herself in work, pushing down the aggravation from her conversation with Sean. She was flipping through fabric books with angry intent when Delilah walked into the room.
“Something piss you off about that book?” she asked. “Or just not finding what you’re looking for?”
Realizing she was about to rip pages from a very expensive sample book, she smoothed her hands over the pages and gently closed it, then turned to Delilah with a smile. “No. Sorry. The book is amazing.”
“Okay, so it’s not design related. That’s a relief.” Delilah studied her. “I’m going to guess it’s either the ex or the current boyfriend.”
Breathing in slowly before letting it out on an exasperating sigh, she said, “Definitely the ex.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“No. It’ll just make me angrier. But thank you for the offer.”
“Sure, honey. If I might offer a suggestion, talk to someone about it. That always helps.”
“You’re right, of course. Thanks, Delilah.”
“Hey, I have two exes and three kids. I know all about it. And I’m always available to chat.”
After Delilah left, Natalie went back to work, this time without the anger, deciding to push it aside until…well, until sometime after work, at least. When she finished for the day, she was grateful to have tomorrow’s work schedule front and center on her mind instead of her selfish ex.
But first, Grizelda had a vet appointment. She gathered up her things and drove toward home, grateful that Sean had the kids tonight so all she had to deal with was the dog.
Grizelda wagged her little tail with excitement when Natalie opened the door. She laid her things down and picked up the pup to give her some love. Her dark little eyes shined with adoration. Nothing like puppy love.
“It’s good to see you, too, baby girl. And, guess what? We’re going for a ride so the vet can give you a checkup. Hopefully there won’t be any s-h-o-t-s.”
The dog gave her a happy wiggle.
“Okay, let’s take a quick walk to get some of that excited energy out.”
She put on Grizelda’s harness and they did a stroll over a couple of blocks, Grizelda happily sniffing every blade of grass. When they got home she took several gulps out of her water bowl. Natalie put her in the car and buckled her to the seat belt, and they were on their way.
When she got to the vet’s office, she was surprised to see Hazel in there.
They hugged and sat next to each other in the waiting area.
“What’s wrong with Gordon?”
Hazel looked down at the pug, who was comfortably sleeping on Hazel’s lap. “He’s got a bit of a cough. Given his age, I didn’t want to take any chances so I want the doc to check him over.”
“I hope he’s all right.”
“Me, too.” Hazel reached over to run her hands over Grizelda’s fur. “Is Griz okay?”
“She’s fine. It’s our first visit. I know she’s spayed and has all her shots, but I just wanted to establish our relationship with the vet and make sure she’s all healthy.”
“Aww. You’re a good mom, Natalie.”
Her sister always knew how to make her feel good. “Thanks. Though if you asked Sean he’d tell you I’m the worst mother ever.”
“Sean’s a prick. What did he do now?”
“Eugene invited me to go to New York for a few days next week. It’s Sean’s weekend so no problem there, but I asked him if he’d keep the kids for a couple of extra days. He told me that I’m failing in my parental responsibilities in order to go off and have—and I quote—‘an affair.’?”
Hazel blinked. “What? He does realize you two are divorced, doesn’t he?”
“Sometimes I wonder. Anyway, then he concluded by saying he’s very busy and has all his days and evenings booked. And that next time I need to give him advance notice.”
“I…don’t even know what to say to that.” Hazel shook her head. “I’m sorry you have to deal with him.”
“Thanks. Me, too.”
Hazel was called in for Gordon, so Natalie hugged her sister, and not too long after that the vet tech called her name.
“Okay, sweet girl,” she said, scooping Grizelda up. “Your turn.”
Of course, Grizelda was perfect, and Dr.Smith was amazing and took his time looking her over completely. They scheduled her next appointment, and she was on her way.
She stopped at the coffee shop for an iced mocha latte, and got a pup cup for Grizelda, who was so excited she nearly burst through the window of the drive-through. But she got oohed and ahhed on by the staff, and Natalie made a mental note to do this more often with the pup. The kids would get a kick out of it as well.
After they got home, Grizelda curled up on her bed and went right to sleep.
“That was a lot of excitement for you today, wasn’t it, girl?” Natalie took her coffee and went to sit at the kitchen table, scrolling through her phone to read her emails, making sure nothing critical had come up.
The doorbell rang and Grizelda jumped up and barked, then ran to the door.
Natalie followed, checking the security through her phone to see it was her mom. Grizelda stood at the door, barking away. Some people might find that annoying, but a good guard dog sounded mean, and Grizelda definitely had that covered. Not that she’d bite anyone. She was a marshmallowy fluff ball. No one on the other side of that door knew that, though.
“Sit, Grizelda,” she said.
The dog sat, but still at full attention, her focus fully on the door as Natalie opened it.
“Mom. What a surprise. Come on in.”
“I know I should have called first,” her mother said as she came in and bent to pat Grizelda on the head before moving down the hall.
Natalie followed behind.
“But I talked to Hazel,” her mom continued, “and the two of us realized that something needed to be done.”
“Something needed to be done about what?”
“Could I have some coffee?”
“Oh. Of course.” She brewed a cup of coffee for her mom, then brought cream and sugar to the table where her mom had taken a seat. Natalie pulled up a chair across the table.
Mom took her sweet time pouring the cream and adding a teaspoon of sugar. Then stirring, stirring, stirring.
“Mom.”
“Yes.” She took a sip of coffee.
“What’s this about?”
She laid the cup down. “Well. Hazel called me and told me about your planned trip to New York, and your horrible ex-husband’s inability to care for his own children.”
“Oh. That.”
“Yes, that. Natalie, while you can’t do much about Sean other than his contractual visitation obligations, you can always rely on your family. All you have to do is ask.”
“If it was some kind of emergency or a work situation, I absolutely would, Mom. But you have a job and a life of your own. And this is just a fun trip. I can say no to Eugene.”
“You’re entitled to have a good time, Natalie, something that was sorely lacking in your marriage to Sean. I have a very flexible work schedule, so Paul and I will watch the children on the days Sean is”—she coughed for emphasis—“unavailable. And Hazel will watch your dog. Now make your plans with Eugene and go have a good time.”
Her mother had always been so stern with her and so fond of Sean. Even after Natalie told her they were divorcing, Mom had been so certain it would be a mistake. Until Natalie had cried and spilled everything about how unhappy she’d been.
Her ex wasn’t a monster. He just liked things his way, and her opinion had never counted. Her mom had been especially livid when Natalie had explained that she wanted more out of her life, and that she had given up her career to fulfill Sean’s family-life ideals. It was then that her mother had decided he was worse than dirt. Her mom might come off as proper and old-fashioned, but Natalie had been shocked to discover her mother was quite the feminist and thought no man should hold a woman back from her dreams.
“Okay. I’ll go.”
“Excellent.” She took another sip of her coffee. “Now that that’s settled, how about we go have a nice dinner? My treat.”
“Mom, I’d love to have dinner with you. Where’s Paul?”
She got up and waved her hand. “He’s at the country club with the guys. I do have my own life, dear. And so should you.”
Her mother was definitely right about that.
She might be opinionated as hell and often wrong about a lot of things, but it was a revelation to discover that her mom was always in her corner. She probably always had been, but Natalie had butted heads with her so much she hadn’t noticed.
And that felt great.