Chapter 20
What Jody didn’t know was that Natalie continued to ‘drop by’ when Jody was at work. Taylor was hard-pressed to show Natalie to the door. A part of him never stopped loving her.
“Do you know what today is?” Natalie questioned as Ezra sat perched in Taylor’s lap.
“What?” Taylor questioned. Being together with Ezra and Natalie brought back happy memories of the trio as a family.
“The anniversary of our first kiss.”
Taylor looked at her. “You still keep track of that stuff?”
Natalie shrugged. “Yeah.” She paused. “Why?”
“It just seems a little- juvenile- that’s all.”
“To keep track of something that’s important? I don’t see what’s so wrong about that.”
He shrugged, knowing that it was pointless to start an argument over something so trivial. His attention lied in keeping the boy in his lap distracted.
Natalie observed both of them before smiling.
“What?” Taylor asked as he set Ezra on the floor.
“Just thinking.”
“About anything in particular?”
It was Natalie’s turn to shrug. “Just about us.”
Taylor gulped as she continued.
“About everything we’ve been through.”
Taylor stayed silent, knowing what Natalie was talking about.
“Good thoughts, I hope,” he finally responded.
“Yeah,” she said softly as she rested her head against his shoulder.
His first reaction was to tense up. His arm froze and every muscle in his body became solid.
Taylor relaxed after a few moments, still weary of the fact that the woman who still held part of his heart was attracted to him.
“You’re jumpy,” Natalie noted. “You OK?”
“I’m good,” Taylor said, looking over at her out of the corner of his eye. She had that look about her that he absolutely adored. The serenity in her face, the wisdom in her eyes- Taylor took it hook, line, and sinker.
“You remember that kiss?” Taylor questioned softly.
Natalie smiled. The battle was half over and she was winning.
“Yeah.”
“It was after our first date...”
“Second,” Natalie corrected.
“What?” he asked. “Nat, it was our first date.”
“Nope. Second.” Taylor looked confused. “For our first date we went for dinner.”
“Yeah...”
“It was on the second date that you tripped up the steps to my house.”
Taylor laughed. “OK fine. It was our second date then.”
“And you fell up the stairs.”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Grace under fire.”
Taylor laughed again, this time remembering how the porch light made Natalie look ethereally pretty.
“You weren’t too graceful yourself if I remember correctly.”
Natalie cringed. “That wasn’t my fault!”
“Yeah, OK.”
“Daddy!” Ezra said, slightly whiney.
“Yes, Ezra?” Taylor replied.
“I wanna play with Play-dough”
“What time is it?” Taylor asked Natalie.
“Um, about 4:30?” was the response.
“How about you play with Play-dough after you take a nap?” Taylor offered.
“But I’m not tired,” the boy insisted.
“But you’re awfully cranky,” Natalie chimed in as she knelt next to him. “And Play-dough’s only fun for happy boys.”
Ezra turned to Taylor for help.
“It’s nap time little man.”
“But I don’t wanna.”
“But you’re gonna,” Taylor picked up Ezra and whisked him down the stairs, making flying sounds as he went. Natalie wasn’t that far behind them, watching as the scene unfolded. Ezra was giggling as Taylor rounded the corner and deposited him in the bed.
“So are you gonna take a nap?” Taylor questioned.
“Can I play with Play-dough when I wake up?”
Natalie sat on the bed next to Taylor.
“Of course,” she responded as she stroked his head.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah?”
“Can you stay until I fall asleep?”
Taylor and Natalie smiled at each other. “Sure.”
It wasn’t too much longer until little Ezra was out cold.
“He looks so sweet,” Natalie said as she looked Ezra over.
“Then he starts playing with his trucks...” Taylor said softly as he bent down and picked up a toy that hadn’t quite made it back to the toy box.
“Is he sleeping yet?” Taylor questioned.
Natalie nodded. “Yeah.”
“Let’s go back upstairs.”
She playfully elbowed him. “Don’t trip.”
Chapter 21
Index
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