NovelOnlineChapter 143
“Go for it,” Natalie said with a decisive nod. “I missed your birthday bash last 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 calculation. “When Daddy gets back, can we go to
the amusement park tomorrow?”
Natalie had expected his birthday wish to be for skind of toy or gadget and never thought he'd ask for this.
She paused, thrown off balance.
“Can’t we?” Nate noticed the change in her expression and asked in a small and tentative voice. almost as if he
felt unworthy.
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Natalie felt like she had committed 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 playing 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 bow! of nutritious soup. “He's never been to an
amusement park,” she said softly.
Natalie tightened her grip on her spoon. She glanced over at Nate who was now eating quietly.
‘First off, such crowded places are too dangerous. Mr. Howard thinks there's a high risk of accidents, so he never
allowed us to take him.” Sadie explained.
“Secondly, Mr. Howard is busy 365 days a year. He seldom has tto even share a meal with Nate, let alone
spare a whole day to play.”
“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 play
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 classmates’ parents did for them.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmWhenever 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 dream coming 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 hfor dinner.
Natalie sat at the kitchen doorway, peeling shrimp tails for Sadie, watching Nate playing quietly with his 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 platter for dinner.
By the tthey finished peeling two pounds of shrimp, the sky had begun to darken. Still, there was no sign of
them coming home.
“Nate, it's getting chilly outside. Cin now,” Sadie called out to him from the kitchen window. Resting her
chin in her hands, Natalie watched Nate as he stubbornly played in the dying light of the sunsel, a smile tugged
at her lips.
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