Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
The rich aroma of roasted chicken and rosemary filled the small family kitchen as Nat settled onto the couch, her plate in hand.
Her mother’s warm, homey touch was evident in every bite; the vegetables were perfectly seasoned, and the mashed potatoes had just the right amount of butter, melting into the fluffy texture with each forkful.
She felt instantly comforted, a balm after the surreal past couple of days.
Martha, her mother, bustled around the room with a content smile as she always did when everyone was home.
She gave Nat an affectionate pat on the shoulder and blew her a quick kiss as she handed her the plate.
"I’m glad you didn’t try to drive back last night.
That storm was terrible. Some big branches fell all over town—one even hit a car, but thankfully no one was hurt. "
“Yeah… it got pretty wild out there,” Nat replied, keeping her tone casual.
“That was a first for you, staying at that luxury chalet overnight. I bet the bed was great,” her mother added with a knowing smile.
Nat kept her eyes down on her food to avoid her mother’s gaze, which always seemed to see right through her.
Martha’s perceptive nature was both a blessing and a curse; one glance from her, and Nat felt like she’d have to spill everything.
She certainly didn’t need her parents knowing just how interesting the night had been…
or how Sofia had made her heart race in a way she hadn’t expected.
Her feelings were still tangled, an impossible mess of curiosity, attraction, and this constant tug of arousal that had her in a hold.
She’d only left the chalet an hour ago for a quick shower and change, but she missed Sofia’s physical presence already.
They’d spent a beautiful day together after the storm cleared.
A brisk morning walk, a warm breakfast, and an afternoon that ended back in bed, wrapped in each other’s arms. She was still buzzing from the memory, caught off guard by how much Sofia’s warmth lingered even now.
She was jolted out of her reverie when her sister Zoe, shifted in the armchair with her legs tucked under her, phone in hand as always. “Was it weird staying at the chalet with that unfriendly tenant?” she asked as her thumbs flew over the screen.
Nat flushed, her cheeks growing warm. She tried to shrug nonchalantly, but even she could tell it wasn’t convincing. “She’s, um…she’s actually much nicer than I initially thought.”
Zoe looked up from her phone, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Okay… What did you two get up to then?”
“Oh, you know…just kept to ourselves, mostly,” Nat mumbled, trying to busy herself with her fork. She could feel her sister’s piercing gaze as if Zoe could see right into her thoughts. Her younger sister always had a knack for picking up on things Nat would rather keep hidden.
“Right…” Zoe murmured, raising an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with the vague reply.
Her mom interjected before Zoe could dig further. “And the kitten? The one she found?”
“Oh, little Moxie. She’s so cute. No one has called to claim her yet, but she’s doing really well,” Nat replied, relieved by the change of topic.
“That was such a lucky find,” her mother said. “Poor thing could’ve frozen out there.”
Zoe immediately perked up, turning her focus from Nat to their parents. “Speaking of which—Mom, Dad, can we keep her if no one claims her? Pleeeeease?” she begged, clasping her hands in an exaggerated plea. “You could bring her back after work tomorrow, Nat!”
Their dad, who had been half-watching the television from his favorite armchair across the room, looked up with an amused shake of his head.
He sighed, torn between amusement and mild exasperation.
“Hey, hey, not so fast. We need to talk about this first,” he said, adjusting his glasses and glancing over at Martha as if looking for support.
Nat laughed. “Sorry, Zoe, but I don’t think Moxie’s going anywhere this week. She’s taken to Sofia, and Sofia’s taken to her, too.”
Her mother shook her head, a note of compassion in her voice. “She must be so lonely, spending the holidays all by herself. How sad to be all alone over Christmas. She’d be welcome here, you know.”
Zoe groaned dramatically, letting her head fall back against the chair.
“Seriously, Mom? Why would someone like Sofia want to spend Christmas with us? She probably has five houses of her own and a million other places she could be, but she clearly chooses to spend Christmas alone. Seems pretty intentional.”
“Well said, Zoe,” her father chimed in before his attention drifted back to the TV. “Your mother’s got a good heart, but sometimes…” he let the sentence trail.
Martha, not one to back down easily, huffed and crossed her arms, glancing at him. “It’s not entirely selfless. If Sofia comes, then Nat can spend the whole holiday with us, too. And we’d all be together.”
Zoe snorted. “A family holiday with that woman in this tiny place? Mom, she’d feel so out of place. I mean, she probably only eats lobster and caviar. Imagine her shock if she saw meatloaf or one of Nat’s weird dishes.”
“Hey, she loved my cooking,” Nat said defensively. “She even loved the sourdough.”
“Oh please, Nat,” Zoe shot back, crossing her arms. “She was probably just being polite. I’ve never actually seen evidence of these legendary ‘culinary skills’ of yours. For all we know, you just serve beans on toast.”
“Excuse me?” Nat put a hand to her chest in mock offense. “Have you forgotten I’m classically trained? I worked in one of the best restaurants in Denver before coming back home. I’m a great chef.”
“Yeah? Well, I wouldn’t know, since you never cook at home. Every time I ask for so much as an omelet, you’re like, ‘Nah, make it yourself.’”
“That’s because I’m always working!” Nat said. “Cooking three meals a day for luxury clients kinda drains a person, believe it or not.”
Their mother stepped in, shooting both of them a look as she set down another dish on the table. “Girls, enough bickering. And Zoe, don’t you dare complain about my meatloaf.”
Their dad chuckled, patting his stomach with a grin. “And don’t forget my famous leftover casseroles. That’s gourmet on a budget.”
Zoe let out a dramatic sigh. “Poor Sofia. Imagine, trading truffle risotto for Dad’s famous left-over casserole.”
Nat laughed as she glanced around the cozy but undeniably humble living room. The modest decorations and the well-loved furniture were indeed worlds apart from the luxurious lodge that Sofia had rented.
“Gourmet or no gourmet, your father and I are very proud of the life we’ve built here,” Martha argued. “There’s more love in this little house than in half the places I’ve seen, and don’t you forget it.”
The words lingered in the air, their weight settling over everyone.
Zoe’s gaze softened, and she offered a slight nod of acknowledgment as she hugged a pillow to her chest. Nat felt a surge of love for her mother, whose kindness and openness had always made their little house feel big enough to fit anyone who needed it.
Even someone like Sofia, who, despite all her wealth and confidence, had been so visibly affected by the kindness of a stray kitten.
Nat took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts.
A pang of something she couldn’t quite name bloomed in her chest—something between curiosity and an almost absurd fantasy of what it would be like to have Sofia here, in this bustling, imperfect household.
The image was faintly ridiculous; Sofia, with her designer clothes standing in their modest living room, surrounded by Christmas lights and family laughter. And yet… it was strangely appealing.
She hesitated, then spoke, surprising herself as much as her family, who all turned to her in shock. “Actually, I’ll ask her,” Nat said. She quickly added, “But, um, I don’t think she’ll be interested. Still, I’ll ask her. You’re sweet, Mom.”
Martha walked over to Nat and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, sweetheart. You never know—it might be exactly what she needs.”