Page 58 of Accidentally Perfect

Dinner with Nathan was just what I needed. To be able to sit, talk, laugh. Plus the orgasm was a great topper. Once we get home, Amanda is rearing to go. Stella said she didn’t care to watch more than one movie until it was time to play dress up and running all around the house. A few days of lying around had allowed Amanda to store up more energy than I ever thought possible. It was after midnight when I finally give in, and I can’t keep my eyes open. Nathan assures me that he and Amanda would be fine if I go to bed. I finally feel him crawl into bed next to me just after three in the morning. He pulls me to him placing a kiss on my temple. I drift back to sleep without any fuss.

My morning is abruptly started by Amanda jumping on my bed, telling me she can’t wait to go pick up Addie and go to Nathan’s. Evidently while I slept, he and Amanda packed up everything the girls would want to take while we stayed with him. I spent my morning packing my clothes and everything I may need. Nathan made some calls and had a small moving truck pull up to my house to haul our belongings over to his place. Mine was loaded in the trunk of my car. “Baby, are you ready to go get Bug?” Nathan was standing in my closet while I finished getting dressed.

“Yeah.” I pulled on a pair of flats that I paired with capris and an off the shoulder t-shirt and threw my hair up in a ponytail. I wasn’t sure what moving into Nathan’s would entail so I wanted to be ready and comfortable.

“Come on, Bear, let’s go get your sister.” I hear Nathan call out as he leaves my room.

Once we get to the hospital, I see reporters along the drive, but none of them are at the entrance. I’m so thankful for this. Hopefully, it won’t be too hectic once we get ready to leave. The three of us enter the third floor. Nathan is holding Amanda on his side while he holds my hand. As I push through to her room, I see Brad and my mother sitting with Addie. “Mommy!” She exclaims.

“Hi, baby, are you ready to get out of here?”

“Yes, I wanna go to Nathan’s.”

“Okay, as soon as we get the doctors to say you’re ready, then we’ll get out of here.”

“Brad.” Nathan nods his head towards him.

“Nathan. Hey, baby, come and see daddy.” He holds out his hand, and Amanda wiggles out of Nathan’s hold and runs into Brad's arms.

“Are you gonna come wif uth to Nafanth, daddy?”

“Yes, baby. I have to make sure you, your sister, and your momma are all taken care of.” I glance at Nathan, and I see his jaw tense at Brad’s comment.

“Where exactly are you taking my daughter and my grandchildren, Nathan?”

“To my home, Vivian, our home.”

“Laney, how do you expect for me to be alright with this? I have no idea where Nathan’s home is located.”

“I’m not taking the girls to another country, Mother. Stop acting like you’re never going to see us again. The girls’ birthdays are coming up in a few of weeks.”

“Have you even put any thought in their birthdays? You’ve been so caught up in your own life, I’m sure their birthdays slipped your mind.” she snips.

I have to admit; I haven’t made any final decisions about anything. I’m sure I’ll have some of their friends from preschool over to the Central Park Zoo, but I haven’t made the phone calls yet. If worse comes to worse and I can’t get that set in stone, I will have something over at my house. Maybe once the girls start kindergarten and make more friends, I’ll put together a big fancy party.

“We’ve already made plans, Vivian. Everything is under control, and your input isn’t needed. You’ll have your invitation within the next two days. It’s up to you if you want to attend or not.” I have no clue what Nathan is talking about. Plus, I haven’t even talked to Brad about anything.

“Are you serious, it’s up to me? And where else, Nathan, do you think I would be on that day?”

“Probably the same places you’ve been on all the birthdays you didn’t make an effort when it came to your own daughter.”

“We’re hafing a party, Nafan?”

“Yes baby, you are. It’s a surprise, but I know you and Bug are going to love it.”

“Excuse me, I hope I’m not interrupting anything. But I have Addie Richards’ release papers.” A nurse comes in with a stack of papers. “I’m sure she’s ready to get out of here and go home. If the parents can sign them.” She hands Nathan some papers. “Here are the at-home care instructions. She will go home in the wheelchair. I’m giving her a pair of crutches, if she wants to try them, but that isn’t something I advise for a few more weeks.”

“Thank you so much,” I tell the nurse. Once everything is signed, we’ve been officially released from the hospital. Brad pushes Addie in the wheelchair while Nathan carries Amanda in his arms. My mother and I trail behind them.

“I don’t feel right about not knowing where Nathan lives, Laney.”

“He lives near the park, on Columbus. Does that make you feel better?”

“I’ll feel better once this whole situation is over, and you and the girls are back where you are supposed to be; in a house your father and I purchased for you.”

“One, the girls and I are where we’re supposed to be and two, he bought the house for me. Not you. If I remember right, you weren’t too happy that he bought me such an extravagant gift.”

“Laney, why do you always have to be so difficult?”