Chatper 143


    Chapter 143


    “Go for it,” Natalie said with a decisive nod. “I missed your birthday bashst time, and that was on me.


    Today, whatever wish you have, I’m here to make it happen.”


    “Really?” Nate sparkled his eyes with excitement.


    “Yes,” she affirmed, nodding earnestly.


    Nate started counting on his fingers, showing Natalie his little calction. “When Daddy gets back, can


    we go to the amusement park tomorrow?”


    Natalie had expected his birthday wish to be for some kind of toy or gadget and never thought he’d ask


    for this.


    She paused, thrown off bnce.


    “Can’t we?” Nate noticed the change in her expression and asked in a small and tentative voice. almost


    as if he felt unworthy.


    Natalie felt like she hadmitted a grave sin. She had raised his hopes and was now hesitating.


    A pang of guilt washed over her. After a few seconds of silence, she forced a smile and whispered,


    “Yes, we can.”


    “As long as your dad agrees to join us.”


    “Wait for Daddy!” Nate cheered, his reply bubbling with joy.


    In truth, as long as Brian agreed, it would just be the three of them going to the amusement park for a


    day. Natalie could picture it now that she’d be the one ying with Nate while Brian dealt with business


    calls on the sidelines. No big deal.


    Sadie set Nate in a child’s booster seat and handed Natalie a bowl of nutritious soup. “He’s never been


    to an amusement park,” she said softly.


    Natalie tightened her grip on her spoon. She nced over at Nate who was now eating quietly.


    ‘First off, such crowded ces are too dangerous. Mr. Howard thinks there’s a high risk of idents,


    so he never allowed us to take him.” Sadie exined.


    “Secondly, Mr. Howard is busy 365 days a year. He seldom has time to even share a meal with Nate,


    let alone spare a whole day to y.”


    “Nate’s biggest thrill is when Mr. Howard takes him along for work. Just being by his side a bit longer


    makes him happy.”


    With every word Sadie uttered, Natalie’s heart ached increasingly for Nate.


    She hadn’t realized this was his everyday life.


    She leaned down, kissed Nate’s chubby cheek, and whispered, “Whatever you want to y


    14:30


    Tomorrow, I’m in. Okay?”


    Nate, still chewing, nodded with such joy that he could hardly sit still.


    All he wanted was a family day out at the amusement park, just like his ssmates‘ parents did for


    them. Whenever he heard other kids at school talking about where their parents took them over the


    weekend, he felt a pang of envy.


    The thought of his dreaming true tornorrow filled him with a bubbly delight.


    In the afternoon, after Nate woke up from his nap and the sun was already dipping low, Brian and Reid


    still hadn’t called to say they’d be home for dinner.


    Natalie sat at the kitchen doorway, peeling shrimp tails for Sadie, watching Nate ying quietly with his


    Belongs to ? n0velDrama.Org.


    sandbox in the garden.


    Sadie had mentioned that Nate’s favorite was pineapple shrimp, which Natalie also loved, so they


    decided to make a big tter for dinner.


    By the time they finished peeling two pounds of shrimp, the sky had begun to darken. Still, there was


    no sign of theming home.


    “Nate, it’s getting chilly outside. Come in now,” Sadie called out to him from the kitchen window.


    Resting her chin in her hands, Natalie watched Nate as he stubbornly yed in the dying light of the


    sunsel, a smile tugged at her lips.