Page 102 of Night Moves
“It’s yucky.”
Jenna looked like she might say something, but Brendan took her hand, and she held her tongue.
“Okay, how about baked beans?”
“Yummy.”
As Natalie filled her own plate, she listened to Karlie weigh in on the different foods. Natalie reached the end of the table, where Russ stood wearing a black apron that saidGrill Sergeantin big white letters.
“We’ve got cheddar cheese, jalapeno, or Swiss.” He held his large stainless steel spatula at the ready. “Or you can have a plain burger, though I only recommend that for people with dairy issues.”
“Jalapeno, please.” She held out her plate.
“Yep,” he said looking at Drake. “She’s a keeper.”
Natalie felt ridiculously proud of her decision to have the spicy burger. “I’m a big fan of hot things.”
“Odd that you chose Drake then,” Erik said and laughed at his own joke.
The others laughed with him, including Drake, telling her that he was secure in his looks whereHand-Me-Dunnmight’ve come out for her. But come to think of it,Hand-Me-Dunnhadn’t made an appearance at all today, not even when Natalie had stepped onto the deck and could’ve felt just a little bit inferior as she remembered her family’s rusty charcoal grill on the tiny apartment patio slab and the ancient lawn chairs they’d never been able to replace. That was, when they had a patio. She’d endured times when they’d lived in their car. In fact, Natalie could only remember them grilling food once, and they sure wouldn’t have had any company.
Drake got a Swiss cheeseburger, and she followed him to a long table, where they sat across from Sierra and Reed. Jenna, Brendan, and Karlie soon joined them. Another table and folding chairs had been set up at one end to accommodate all fourteen people in the group.
“Sit on my lap, little bit,” Brendan said to Karlie. “So we can save a chair for the big people.”
She cast him the most stunning smile, her expression filled with adoration, as she climbed up on his lap. She looked at Natalie. “This is my daddy.”
“I know,” Natalie said. “And it looks like he’s a great dad.”
Karlie gave a serious nod. “He doesn’t make fun of me.”
Jenna frowned but didn’t explain.
Drake leaned close to Natalie. “She has juvenile idiopathic arthritis, and her father used to make her feel bad about being sick.”
Shocked, Natalie looked at the precious child. Natalie knew parents could be cruel. She’d seen it over and over. She just didn’t expect to see it here. She offered a prayer for the child’s health and one of thanks that she now had a father who cared for her.
She dug into her burger. “Oh, wow. This is really good.”
“Shh, Dad might hear you, and his head will get even bigger.” Aiden set down his plate and pulled out a chair for his wife, Harper.
“I can hear all of you,” Russ said. “And I know my burgers are the best. Peg tells me every time I make them.”
“Did you ever stop to think she does that so you’ll keep making them and she gets a break from cooking?” Clay asked from his place in line behind his fiancée, Toni.
“But I…” Russ clutched his hand to his chest and mocked an offended look. “Say it isn’t so, Peg.”
She gave him a big kiss on the cheek. “It isn’t so, honey. Your burgers could win awards.”
“Agreed.” Harper held hers up. “Best ever.”
“And you’ve had burgers from all over the world, right?” Aiden asked.
She nodded. “I’ve even had one in Hamburg. Yours is still better.”
Russ puffed out his chest and smiled while Peggy put her arm around him and looked at the table. Clay and Toni sat, leaving a place next to them for Erik, who was grabbing a burger, Pong at his side. The end chairs remained open for Peggy and Russ.
Natalie’s heart overflowed with happiness. This was her dream come true. The family she’d always wanted.
