by Jamie Hill
"And you have. You're a terrific mom. You just need to learn to let go a little."
"It might be easier to let go if I had someone here to hang on to."
He paused then said, "I'll be home Wednesday evening."
"For the whole weekend?"
"For the whole weekend," he agreed.
"Good. See you then." Natalie hung up. It was a start.
* * * *
Alex arrived early Wednesday to make sure he beat the boys home. He unpacked and put his suitcase into the closet. He knew Natalie was watching him, but he didn't know what to say to her, so he didn't speak.
They ate sandwiches and she baked pumpkin pies before the kids arrived.
"Hey, we're home," Dave called and led the others in.
Jake barked and greeted them happily, with Alex and Natalie behind him in line to say hello.
"Mom, Dad, this is Lana Koster," Dave introduced. "Lana, these are my parents."
Lana was quite a beauty, with long, blonde hair, even longer legs that settled nicely into a pair of tight jeans, and breasts that entered a room several steps ahead of the girl.
Alex extended his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Lana."
"You too, sir. Hello, Mrs. Jameson." She shook Natalie's hand.
"Welcome to our home." Natalie smiled graciously. "Please come in, have a seat. David, take her jacket, honey." She tossed a glance at Alex and rolled her eyes.
He bit back a chuckle. He'd been married to Nat long enough to understand that look. Alex tried not to notice Lana's curves. He was a happily married man, after all. I am, aren't I? Yeah, dammit, of course I am. But he was also just a man, and no man who appreciated women could keep himself from noticing this one. "So, how was your trip?" He attempted small talk.
"It was great." Lana smiled at him then at Dave. She sat on the sofa, and Dave dropped down next to her.
Natalie sat on the arm of Alex's chair and whispered, "Put your tongue back in your mouth, dear."
He gave her an irritated look and turned to Dave. "Much traffic?"
"Tons. The busiest travel day of the year, they say."
"They sure do," Alex flexed his hands together nervously.
"My trip was fine, too," Matt spoke up.
They all laughed, and Natalie stood and ruffled his hair as she passed him, heading for the kitchen. "We're so glad to see you," she said in a baby's voice.
Matt attempted to fix his hair and muttered, "I should have gone to Chicago with Geege. I bet they'd be glad to see me."
"Jake is thrilled to see you, look there." Alex pointed to the dog lying happily on Matt's feet.
Matt reached down and patted his dog. "Somebody loves me, that's right. Such a good boy."
"What are you doing in there?" Dave called to his mother.
"Taking the pies out of the oven," she called back. "Do you smell them?"
"They smell great," Lana answered. "David told me what a fantastic cook you are. Can I help?"
Natalie came to the entryway. "Nope, all done, but thanks. May I get you something to drink?"
"Let me do it, Mom." Dave stood up and took her by the arms. "You should sit. You always overdo on Thanksgiving." He settled her into an easy chair. "Now what can I bring you to drink?"
Natalie raised her eyebrows and looked at Alex. He could only grin, and she did the same.
They stayed up and visited with the kids for a couple of hours. Lana was actually a very nice girl, Alex concluded, inwardly ashamed that he'd jumped to conclusions because of her looks before he got to know her. He said as much to Natalie as they got ready for bed.
"I did the same thing," she replied. "I was making faces behind her back the minute she walked in."
"Yes you were," he teased.
"Who knew nice girls could have such big gazabas?" She held her hands out in front of her chest.
"Natalie!" He had to laugh as he pulled his pajamas out of the drawer. He usually wore only the bottoms, but tonight slipped on the top as well. He knew she was watching him and tried to ignore her.
They went into the bathroom together and stood at the double sinks brushing their teeth. He reached for the mouthwash and she handed it to him, as she had a hundred times before. Their easiness felt uncomfortable tonight, and he hurried to finish and crawl into bed. "Good night," he mumbled as he pulled up the covers and faced the wall.
"Night."
He couldn't see her, but he felt her eyes boring into his back. He willed himself to fall asleep quickly.
Their Thanksgiving meal was wonderful, as usual. After all these years, Natalie had it down to perfection. Alex admired that about her, as he watched her move around the kitchen getting dessert. He joined her there to help carry the plates. He was trying to be a little more helpful this year, and noticed both boys seemed to be, as well. He wondered what they were feeling guilty about.
Natalie put a spoon in the whipped cream and handed it to him. "Can you get this?"
"You bet." Alex took the bowl. He fought back the urge to dip his finger in the whipped cream and touch it to her lips. Then they'd have to spend another five minutes getting it off, and they had company waiting. But it was a tempting idea. He turned around and walked out, knowing he was losing the battle at being angry with Natalie. The longer he spent in the house, the more he wanted to take her into his arms and make love to her. And the next time he did, it was not going to be frustrated, angry sex. When he made love to her again, it would be for keeps.
"Dessert," she announced, and they served the pumpkin pie.
"Wow, David was right about your cooking," Lana told Natalie appreciatively. "Maybe someday you can give me some pointers."
Alex watched Natalie look at Dave, then Lana. He could read her thoughts. Was this girl going to be around long enough for a 'someday'? Alex thought about that as he finished his pie. Dave could certainly do worse than a girl like Lana. She was going to be a pharmacist, like Dave hoped to be, so she evidently had brains as well as… He forced himself not to think about her other attributes. Lord, she could be his daughter-in-law someday. He wasn't supposed to notice her gazabas, as Natalie so delicately put it last night. But he was a man, and he needed sex. Scratch that. He needed Natalie. He didn't really want to look at anybody's gazabas but hers. He glanced up at her.
"So what do you think, Alex?" she asked.
He had no idea what the question was. Better to admit he was not paying attention then to agree to something blindly. "I'm sorry? What?"
She made a face at him and said, "The kids wondered if we could watch some football here instead of rushing off to grandma and grandpa's? Maybe if we went over there a bit later, there wouldn't be as many people."
"Sounds good. I'm ready for the sofa and football."
"Dishes first," Natalie reminded. "And then you call your mother. If you don't, she'll be phoning us during your nap-er, I mean your football game."
He grinned and loaded up his hands with dishes.
When the kitchen was spotless to Natalie's specifications, Alex stretched out on the sofa with the remote in one hand and a beer in the other. Matt spread out on the floor next to him, and Alex tossed him a pillow.
"Thanks." Matt yawned and made himself comfortable. Jake curled up next to the boy happily.
Dave would usually be stretched out with them, but this year he was curled up in the easy chair with Lana on his lap. Alex remembered how he and Natalie used to sit like that. Was it the holiday that made him feel so sappy, or simply being back in his home with his wife and sons? Whatever it was, he felt comfortable…and happy. He glanced at Dave and Lana. They looked happy, too. He hoped they truly were.
Natalie made no pretense about watching football. She lay down on her bed for a nap. It took all the willpower Alex could muster not to join her. He wondered how much willpower he would have that night, when he crawled in bed next to her. Not very damn much, if his body's reaction to the mere idea was any indication. Now he just had to wonder what Natalie's reaction would
be.
When he woke up a couple of hours later, the football game had morphed into two different teams. Matt and Jake snored on the floor, and Dave and Lana were nowhere in sight. Alex stretched and sat up.
He wandered down the hallway and saw Dave's bedroom door closed. He kept going into his room, where Natalie was just beginning to stir.
"Heard any thumping sounds?" he asked.
"What?"
"Dave's bedroom door is shut."
"Oh for Pete's sake!" she sat up.
"Yeah." He chuckled. "It's not like we'd ever sneak off to have sex on Thanksgiving afternoon."
"Not right across the hall from your mother, anyway." She made a face. "That's just disturbing."
He reached for her hands and pulled her to her feet. "I don't know. We could go over there, sneak off and do it in my old room. Might be kind of fun."
She made a face at him. "Look at you, Mr. All Talk and No Action. Just for that, you get to knock on his door and tell them it's time to go."
"Thanks," Alex replied sarcastically. He went into the hall and took a breath before rapping on the door. "Hey, Dave? You guys ready to go soon?"
"Sure, Dad," Dave replied. "Come on in. We're looking at pictures."
Alex opened the door and saw the two of them sitting on the bed—fully clothed, he noted with a fatherly sense of relief—and going through photo albums.
"Remember this?" Dave held up a book and showed his father a picture.
Alex leaned in to examine it. "Oh yeah, the three of you learning to water ski. Now that was fun."
"It was." Dave nodded and grinned. "We'll be ready in a couple minutes."
"Take your time," Alex said and slipped back out of the room.
Before he got the door closed, he heard Lana ask, "Are your grandparents as cool as your parents?"
Alex hesitated long enough to hear Dave's response. "Yeah, they're pretty cool. But my parents are the greatest, aren't they?"
Shutting the door quietly, Alex smiled as he went back into his room. Natalie had changed into a nicer sweater and was checking her make-up in front of the bathroom mirror. He walked up behind her. "Grandpa and grandma are cool. But we're the greatest."
"You don't say?" She glanced at his reflection in the mirror. "Good to know." She leaned back against him for a moment. "So, everything's okay in the room across the hall?"
He put a light kiss on her temple. "They were looking at photo albums."
Natalie gazed at him in the mirror and nodded, obviously relieved.
Alex looked at his own reflection. "Suppose I need to change?"
"Something without a gravy stain might be nice."
"Okay." He shrugged and went to his closet.
Grandpa and Grandma Jameson lived up to their reputations. They treated Lana like one of the family, with the same, easy-going manner they'd shown Natalie on her first Thanksgiving with them. They had a pleasant visit, topped off by some of grandma's to-die-for pumpkin cheesecake. It was, Alex decided, another successful Thanksgiving.
As they piled into Dave's Explorer to go home—Alex understood Dave's need to feel mature in front of his girlfriend, so he'd agreed to let his son drive—Dave said, "Anybody mind a little ride? It's a beautiful night. I thought I might show Lana some of the town."
"I don't mind, but you could take us home first, if you wanted," Natalie said.
"Nah, this is nice," Dave replied, and Alex saw him squeeze Lana's hand and smile at her.
Alex settled back and looked out the window. Natalie sat next to him in the back seat, with Matt to her right. It was warm and comfortable, and they all relaxed as Dave drove. For a moment, Alex felt guilty. Am I so comfortable and happy today because Gigi isn't with us? He hoped that wasn't the reason. He said quietly, "We should try to call Geege when we get home. Wish her Happy Thanksgiving, and all."
"Sure," Natalie agreed, and they settled back into an easy silence.
He looked out the window but wasn't really paying attention. His mind was overflowing with the headiness of the day, with a few nagging thoughts of Gigi mixed in.
Alex was surprised when he heard Matt say softly, "Mom, are you all right?"
He turned to his wife and saw that she had gone a ghostly shade of pale, and was shivering.
"Nat, what is it?" He took her hand. "Natalie?" Something made Alex look out the window and discover they were parked at the top of Bluemont Hill. He and Natalie used to park here quite often, before…the incident. They had never been back since.
"This is a big make-out spot for the kids in town," Dave was telling Lana. "I like it because of the view. You can see the whole city from up here."
"It's beautiful," Lana agreed. She added teasingly "So, did you ever bring a girl up here?"
Before he could answer, Alex spoke up. "Hey, Dave, Mom's not feeling too well. I think you need to take us home." He put his arm around Natalie's shoulder and pulled her to him tightly. "I'm sorry, sweetheart," he whispered in her ear. "I wasn't paying attention. We'll get out of here."
"What is it, Mom?" Matt asked, clutching her other hand.
Dave and Lana turned around to the back seat. "Mom, what's wrong?" Dave asked.
"We need to go," Alex said quietly. "Can we just go?"
"Sure." Dave exchanged glances with his brother and Lana before he started the car and headed down the hill.
Alex held Natalie firmly and continued to whisper in her ear. "We're away now, honey. Dave's going to take us home."
Natalie nodded, but her shivering didn't subside. She still looked pale when Dave parked in the driveway and Alex helped her out and into the house.
"I'm sorry," she said self-consciously as Alex took her coat. "I don't know what came over me."
"You overdid it again today," Alex piped up before the boys had the chance to question her. "Just nerves and stress. A good night's sleep and you'll be back in top form." He put his arm around her shoulders and turned to the boys. "You guys lock up for me, please, and take care of Jake?"
"Sure, Dad," Matt replied.
Alex spirited her off before anyone had the chance to wonder how Natalie got so tired and stressed after a two hour nap and a peaceful evening.
"I feel ridiculous," she muttered as Alex closed their bedroom door behind them.
"I feel like an idiot," he countered. "I should have taken you back up there, so your last memories of that place wouldn't be bad ones."
She shook her head. "I never wanted to go back."
"I know," he pulled her into his arms.
"The kids must think I'm nuts."
"They'll forget it by tomorrow."
"I wish I could forget…" she trailed off, and he kissed her temple.
"You aren't going to forget." His kisses marked a warm path down her face to her mouth. "But maybe I could give you something else to think about."
Natalie put her hands on his chest. "I can't keep doing this, Alex. I want you, you know I do, but not part time. I want you back here with me permanently. Whatever problems we have, we'll be stronger if we face them together."
"I agree."
"You do?" She looked at him, surprised.
"I do." He pulled her close again. "I love you, Natalie. I'm tired of being angry. We'll figure out the other stuff later, but right now, I just want to love you."
She melted into his arms, and their kiss was deep and passionate. Alex tried to slow his hands as undressed her, but most parts of his body were thinking 'full speed ahead' rather than 'slow'.
Natalie tugged at his sweatshirt and jeans with the same intensity, and soon there was nothing but skin on skin. They tumbled backward onto the bed, stroking and kissing each other.
He knew that as much as he wanted to savor this, to move over her slowly as he had in his fantasies, it wasn't going to happen. There'd be time for slow later. Now he needed to possess. He wanted it fast and furious. Alex rose over her, his arms trembling, and whispered, "I can't wait. I need you right now."
"Take me,
" she whispered, and arched her back as he drove into her. "Oh yes," she moaned. She looked into his eyes. "I need you, too, Alex. I need you to come home."
Her eyes were dark and heavy-lidded with passion as he stared into them. "I'm home," he told her through gritted teeth. "I'm right where I belong."
She wrapped her legs around him as they rocked back and forth. It wasn't long before he brought her home, too. Tremendous shudders wracked her body, spilling over into him until he was convulsing as well.
They were both right where they belonged, he thought afterward, with immense satisfaction. They were exactly where they wanted to be.
* * * *
Natalie woke up in Alex's arms for the first time in over two weeks, and it felt wonderful. She nuzzled her face in the soft hair on his chest and breathed in the scent of him.
His eyes didn't open, but he ran a hand up her bare back. "This feels good," he murmured sleepily.
She kissed his chest and smiled. "What? My back, or waking up with me in your arms?"
"Both." He reached for her and dragged her body on top of his. "I do love your back." He nibbled her neck and let his hands caress from her shoulders downwards. Cupping her butt in his hands, he finally opened his eyes and smiled at her. "But then, there's not a part of this body I don't love, Mrs. Jameson."
"Um, show me."
"I'd be delighted," he murmured, and she moaned. "Shhh," he whispered. "We have company, remember? We don't want to give them any ideas."
"Oh, I can do quiet," she teased. "You're the one who has trouble with quiet." She leaned down to murmur in his ear. "Yes, Natalie! Oh, yes! Right there, oh yeah, do that again, baby!"
He squeezed her waist and she squealed, then looked at him with wide eyes. "No fair! I know you can make me scream when you want to, you don't have to prove anything today."
He grinned and reached for her.
She could barely walk when she sauntered out to the kitchen to make breakfast—or rather brunch, as it was called this late in the morning. She wondered if Alex would want to sneak off and make love again in the afternoon, or wait until the nighttime when they would have no restrictions on their time. For one moment, she wished the boys weren't spending the whole weekend, then she felt guilty and shoved that thought from her mind.
