Page 97 of Night Moves
“I didn’t ask,” he said slightly breathless. “Would you go out with me? I mean not just on a date, but something serious. Is it too soon to talk serious?” He leaned back and dropped his hands. “It is. I’m sorry. I…”
She grabbed his hands. “I’m not saying no. I was just thinking about what it might mean to my work. But I need to stop thinking about that and begin to consider having a life outside of the job.”
“I think that’s a good idea for both of us.”
“You do? Since when?”
He reversed hands and gripped hers in earnest. “Since I learned something from you. We have to go through difficult times to get to where we are. I need to stop feeling bad for you and what you’ve experienced. You were right. It was God’s plan for you. You have the right attitude. God doesn’t give us the stress or the problem. He gives us the strength to go through the situation and emerge whole on the other side. That’s where we are now. On the other side, and I’m thankful we’ve come through it together.”
She nodded, but her thoughts wandered. “I’m still so worried about Willow. She doesn’t know God. Doesn’t have the inner strength. At least I had God on my side when I was young.”
Drake let out a long breath. “Can you specify a Christian home when you place the kids?”
Natalie shook her head. “But I can try to find homes whose values will be good for them.”
“Well, come on.” He dropped one of her hands but held tightly to the other. “We don’t have to figure this all out tonight.”
She looked up at him. “Can I ask a big favor?”
“Anything. I’m yours to command.”
“Can they spend the night at your place? I don’t want Willow to have to come back in here after the scene with her mom.”
“Of course. Or, if you think it’s better to have a house, I can ask Mom if you all can stay there tonight.”
“Your condo will be just fine. Unless you’d rather not have us on your doorstep.”
“No. No.” He circled his arm around her shoulders. “You’re welcome to come home with me anytime.”
Natalie had enjoyed being with Drake at his condo when she’d visited before, but tonight the warmth in her heart was greater. How could it not be when she was willing to admit she had feelings for him, and they were going to pursue them together? She couldn’t wait for that date he’d suggested, but before she could fully embrace her happiness, she had to take care of the Gentry children.
She looked at Willow, who was sitting on the couch with one of Peggy’s famous chocolate chip cookies and a big glass of milk. But she was just holding the cookie. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying, and her chin still trembled.
Natalie left Drake in the kitchen, where he was brewing a pot of coffee, to sit next to Willow. “Not hungry?”
Willow shook her head and set the cookie on the plate and glass on the table next to it.
“Do you want to talk about your mom and dad?” Natalie asked softly.
Willow shrugged and curled her arms around her waist.
Natalie scooted closer. “It must be good to know your mom is alive.”
Willow gnawed on her lip. “Maybe. I don’t know. She’s a bad person. Really bad.”
“No.” Natalie waited for Willow to look at her before going on. “She’s not bad. There’s no such thing as bad people. Just flawed people whose actions are bad. She’s still your mom. She loves you, which is why she came to my place, to get you and Sadie and Logan.”
“Really? You mean that?”
“I do. It seems like she has some mental health issues that are causing her to do what she’s doing. She should get the help she needs in prison.”
Willow’s eyes brightened. “And then she’ll come home?”
Natalie didn’t want to have to explain, but Willow had to know the truth. “No, sweetie. She won’t ever come home. She’ll have to stay in prison.”
Willow gasped.
Natalie tried to take the child’s hand, but she jerked back. Natalie worked hard to convey her sympathy in her expression. “I’m sorry to have to tell you that, but you need to know so you can move forward in your life. A life I know will be amazing if you let us help you through this stress.”
