Page 101 of Night Moves
Drake glanced at Natalie. “You ready to meet everyone?”
She smiled up at him, and his heart somersaulted. God had blessed them with such glorious weather to gather, and this was just the beginning of an amazing life together with this woman at his side and the family spread out before him, welcoming and supporting her. He couldn’t imagine being more blessed.
Natalie relaxed in the cushy chair, her thoughts full of so many things as the family members joked around her. The Byrd house was just the kind Natalie had longed for when she was a kid. She’d seen similar houses on TV, and she’d wanted forever parents to go with the house, parents who would love her and Gina to the moon and back. She knew her dreams could come true. Good families like she wanted to be a part of were real, and she’d believed it could happen. Until her dad had taken off. Then she realized that idyllic life would never come true for her. She would always live the life of cheap apartments and a sullen mom, and she had to make the best of it.
But today, it felt as if God had flung doors open wide, not only offering her a spectacular man but the forever parents to go with him. And these amazing brothers and sisters and their significant others. Even little Karlie, who couldn’t be any more precocious and adorable.
And yet, the Gentry children were clinging to Natalie’s thoughts and heart, and she had to work hard not to let it get her down. If only she knew where they were. What they were doing. If they were okay. Adjusting.
“Lunch is ready.” Peggy carried a giant bowl of potato salad to the table.
“Help me up, Reed,” Sierra said. “If this baby doesn’t want to be born yet, I might as well feed him.”
Reed gently tugged her out of the chair, and she pressed a hand to her back as she lumbered to the table. Natalie couldn’t imagine being pregnant. She hadn’t even talked to Drake about potential children. Sure, they’d only started dating, but being together in close confines almost twenty-four hours a day was like going on a hundred dates, and it felt as if they’d known each other for a long time.
“You look so serious.” He leaned close. “What’re you thinking about?”
“Children,” she whispered back. “Now that you’re ready to get into a serious relationship, I wondered if you’d thought about that.”
“I want at least three. Maybe more, depending on how the first three go.”
“Oh.” She sat back in surprise.
“Is that a deal breaker?”
“No. I mean, I’ve honestly never thought in terms of numbers of kids, just knew that if I ever married, I would want the chance to raise kids the opposite of how I was raised.”
He took her hand. “You’re going to be an amazing mother.”
“And you’ll be a great dad. Though I might have to rein in your love of adventure so you don’t put the children in too many risky situations.” She grinned at him.
He laughed. “That would be good.”
“Come on, Natalie,” his mother said. “Since you’re our newest member of the family, you’re up next.”
Drake didn’t object to his mother’s comment, just got up without letting go of Natalie’s hand and brought her to her feet with him. A long folding table butted up to the house was filled with burger fixings, fresh fruit, baked beans in a Crock-Pot, and a giant bowl of potato salad. And at the end of the table were all the ingredients to make s’mores. A fire pit surrounded by colorful Adirondack chairs sat in the yard.
“Nana, can I eat too?” Karlie tugged on Peggy’s hand. “I’m really hungry.”
“Karlie,” her mother, Jenna, warned. “Wait your turn.”
“Aw.” Her lower lip slid out.
“It happens to be your turn next.” Peggy smiled at the little girl, who wore a sundress and white sandals. “Let’s get in line behind Natalie, and I’ll help you fix your plate.”
“Do you like Natalie?” Karlie asked.
“Karlie!” Jenna leaned forward as if preparing to get out of her chair to come after the little tike.
“What? I just wanna know cause I like her. She said really nice stuff about my dress.”
“It is a pretty dress, and I do like Natalie. A lot.” Peggy grabbed a plate. “She loves children, so I know she will become a good friend to you.”
Karlie cast Natalie a questioning look. “Is she gonna marry Unca Drake?”
Jenna gasped. “Sweetheart, just get your food and forget all the questions.”
“Do you like potato salad?” Peggy asked the child.
