19. Natalie
Natalie
When I wake, I slip out of bed quietly so Luke can sleep a little longer. I shower, then check my phone to see a text from Jules.
Jules: Feel free to come over for breakfast this morning. We’re all eating at nine. And, of course, bring your husband.
I read the frustration in Juliet’s words as clearly as if they were boulders between granules of sand; she’s upset I didn’t tell her about my marriage. It’s another layer added to the heavy, ever-growing shell of guilt encapsulating my petite body.
I send Emma a quick text.
Me: Luke showed up last night. He’s here. In my bed.
I place the phone beside the sink as I apply mascara and minimal blush to my cheekbones. I’m almost done when my phone chimes.
Emma: Ooooh what a great way for you to start the day.
I cover my mouth as I chuckle, hoping to not wake Luke in the other room.
Me: It isn’t like that. Not right now anyway. But he’s here, and I’m happy about it.
Emma: That’s great. I’m happy for you. I think you needed him, even when you didn’t want to need him.
Why is my best friend always right?
When I open the bathroom door—hair and makeup complete, and dressed in fresh clothes for the day—I find Luke sitting up in bed with his laptop open.
His eyes bounce over to me from across the room, and a smile pulls at the corner of his mouth.
He’s bare chested. His blue dress shirt lies discarded in a crumpled heap on the floor beside the pair of beige pants he wore yesterday.
“Good morning,” he says, pushing the laptop away and tossing the blanket off his bare legs.
A shy smile cracks across my face. “Good morning … Did the shower wake you?”
“No.” He smiles up at me, and my heart skips a beat.
I step away from the safety of the bathroom. “I’m sorry if you didn’t sleep well.”
He gets out of bed and has me in his arms before I even realize he’s moved. He’s in nothing but boxer briefs, which makes me feel far too overdressed in a yellow sundress that reaches my ankles and hangs off my shoulders.
“I slept fine.” He tucks my head under his chin, and I wrap my arms around his back. His smooth bare skin is hot against my fingers.
“Things will be better from now on,” he says.
“I want us to talk openly with each other about our feelings. We won’t hold anything back.
Okay? And we’ll figure out together how to balance what we both want.
I’ll give a little, you’ll give a little.
I don’t know exactly what that looks like yet, but I want this.
I want us. That’s why I’m here.” He squeezes me a little tighter, and I nod into his firm chest. His lips meet my forehead. “I love you,” he whispers over my skin.
“I love you, too.” And I mean it. I’ve always loved him.
“I’m sorry I never truly listened to you when you told me what you needed. I didn’t know how to discuss it properly. I just … got scared every time. So I gave you a lame excuse for not wanting kids. It’s not a good excuse, though, for being a bad husband.”
I look up into his eyes and down to his lips, noticing—not for the first time—the shadow his newly grown scruff casts over his skin.
The moment my eyes fall on his lips, he rests a finger under my chin and lifts it, bringing my gaze back to his.
Luke’s mouth lowers to mine and suddenly I’m in a world of warmth and sunshine and blazing stars orbiting around nothing but us, this moment, this love.
Unlike the unrelenting tug of the moon, Luke grounds me.
And I’m reminded of every reason I love him. His teeth pull on my lower lip, and his tongue searches for mine in a dance as I give in to him, unable to resist what my heart still wants.
This kind of love—the one that’s forgiving, gracious, and kind—is the love I want. It’s the kind we were all meant to find.
I pull away from the kiss, panting for air, my lips swollen and cheeks red. Luke’s firm chest rises and falls like mine, and his heart races under my hand as I rest it between us. He grazes his nose against my jaw, which sends tingly nerves shooting through my arms. I’ll never tire of his touch.
“What are your plans for today?” he whispers into my ear.
I clear my throat, afraid my hoarse voice will give away how much I want him. “Breakfast with my family. You’re invited, of course. It’s at nine.”
He raises his head to check the time on the clock across the room, and he swears under his breath. “I’ll be ready in two minutes.” He kisses my cheek, lets me go, and strides into the bathroom. The sound of the shower fills the room.
In a daze, I glance at the clock. It reads 8:30. We can make it on time, but we’ll be cutting it close.
We step through the doorway hand in hand, my dress flowing around my legs as the breeze carries us in.
Today the sky is a cloudless baby blue, and the sunshine makes me squint while I adjust to the indoor lighting as we enter Juliet’s house.
Her dog runs up to us, tail wagging, and I reach out to pet his soft white ears.
Levi and Archie stand in the living room next to a tower made of colorful blocks—it’s as tall as Archie is, and their excited squeals make my heart giddy, easing my anxiety a fraction.
“Hey, buddy,” Luke says playfully, bending to pet the dog.
“That’s Dax,” Cam explains , closing the door behind us.
“Jules has had him since before we got married, so he’s getting up in years.
But he still thinks he’s a pup. I kept him upstairs last night because he can get a little hyper.
” Dax’s tail wags more quickly when he hears his name, and he licks my hand.
I bend to give him a good scratch under his hairy chin.
Luke and I are led to the kitchen where Mom and Dad sit at the counter talking to Juliet as she washes dishes in the sink. When my parents see us, their faces light up.
Mom jumps down from her stool. Her blonde hair is gray at the roots, and today she wears it pulled back in a clip.
“I’m so glad you two could come over again this morning.
” She gives me a tight hug and rubs my back before letting go.
“I just want to get as much time with you as possible while you’re here. ”
“Which makes me ask,” Dad adds from the counter, “how long do you plan on staying?”
I look up at Luke who stands at my side, his hand around my waist. “I still don’t know exactly. We haven’t figured it all out,” I say.
Luke shrugs. “I can work from anywhere right now. I don’t have to visit any of the properties unless something unexpected comes up.” He says this more to me than to Dad.
I smile. “Maybe we’ll stay a couple weeks, then?”
Cam peeks inside the oven, closing the door swiftly. The heavenly smell of a sausage-and-egg casserole escapes, filling the kitchen with a warmth that tickles my nose.
“You should stay the whole summer,” he says, tossing an oven mitt onto the counter. “You’re welcome to use the cabin. No one’s renting it right now.”
Juliet passes me to grab plates from the cabinet behind us. “We talked about it last night,” she says, “and we think it would be great to have you guys around for a little while. If you can,” she adds. “I know a whole summer is a long time.”
Did my sister and her husband really just offer us their cabin for a whole summer?
I still haven’t grasped everything that’s happened in the last week.
Like sand falling through my fingers, time has passed so quickly I haven’t been able to properly process the events.
I came to Maple Lake thinking my family would be standoffish at best.
I don’t deserve any of this.
Luke takes the offer in stride, looking down at me with light in his eyes.
“We could probably make that work, actually. If I have to fly out to any of the properties, the airport isn’t too far of a drive from here.
And you could book photography sessions in Maple Lake if you find interested clients.
And even if you don’t, you’ll be able to relax and spend time with your family. ”
My brows pull together, and my lips press into a tight line. Luke leans down so his mouth brushes the top of my ear.
“Don’t think about it too hard,” he says, quietly enough so only I can hear. “Say yes. This will be good for everybody.”
I lean back so I can see his face. “Are you sure?” He nods.
Everyone watches me, waiting for a response. They’re handing me a way to stay in town so I can be with my family and get to know them again. And they’re asking me to stay. They want me here.
I nod, and my cheeks hurt from how wide my smile spreads, reaching my eyes and making me feel tall. “Okay. Yeah, I’d love that.”
Mom claps her hands together enthusiastically, and Dad looks relieved from the way his thick brows soften. Juliet has a smile on her face. Although she doesn’t let me see just how excited she is, I can tell it means a lot to her that I’m staying.
“That’s awesome. It’ll be a great summer,” Cam says as he checks the casserole again and removes it from the oven. Steam lifts from the hot dish. “I’ll take you guys over to the cabin after breakfast so you can see it. It’s fully furnished, and all you’ll have to do is fill the fridge.”
Luke leaves my side to help Juliet collect glasses from another cabinet.
“We’ll pay you rent for the summer,” he says.
“We’ll make it official with a lease agreement and everything in case something happens to the house while we’re occupying it.
Or in case we end up not being able to stay through the end of the summer for some reason. ”
“Psh.” Cam waves his hand at us. “You won’t owe us anything.”
“No.” I agree with Luke. “We should make it official and sign an agreement. You guys already said you’re having trouble renting it out. I can’t imagine staying there for free. We’d be happy to be your tenants.”
Juliet turns to us with a bottle of orange juice tucked in the crook of her arm and glasses in each hand. “Fine. But if you have to leave early, we won’t make you pay a fee for terminating the lease or anything.”
Luke chuckles. “That sounds fine. We appreciate it. Thanks for the offer.” He looks at me with a warm smile.
Breakfast is served buffet style, and we all circle around the kitchen, filling our plates with egg casserole, bacon, yogurt, and fresh fruit.
When we each have a plate and a full glass, we make our way into the dining room we’ve passed through several times and sit at the long wooden table.
Juliet’s sons flit in and out of the room like little birds, taking bites of food and rushing back to their toys.
Juliet informs me that she doesn’t usually let them do this, but that it’s nice for her to have a quieter moment to enjoy conversation with adults.
“So, what kind of photography do you do?” she asks once we’re all halfway through our meal.
“Lifestyle photography mostly,” I say. “Couple’s portraits, family photos, pretty much whatever the client wants. But I started out by playing around with real estate photography to help Luke with his rental homes.”
“And she became an instant pro,” Luke claims, placing his hand on my leg.
Jules looks between the two of us. “Well, if you want to keep working while you’re here, you can take our family photos.
I’ve been begging Cam to let me hire someone who will come over and do them at the house, but he doesn’t really enjoy being in pictures.
” She pouts at him and he laughs. She looks back at me.
“And there aren’t any photographers in town.
We have to get someone from Sansville to come over here, and they aren’t cheap even though it isn’t that far. ”
Cam huffs. “They take advantage of the fact that we don’t have a lot to choose from in Maple Lake. They know we’ll pay the price if we really want it.” He rolls his eyes.
“I’d love to take your photos,” I say emphatically. “Just let me know when. As of this morning, I’ll be here all summer.”