Forgiving Natalie by Kristin Noel Fischer

Author:Kristin Noel Fischer [Fischer, Kristin Noel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction
Publisher: KNFBooks
Published: 2017-10-15T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Natalie – 2017

When Gage brought Dash home on Tuesday after dinner, he asked if I had time to talk. Afraid he was going to ask if I’d participated in a prison nursery program like the one we’d discussed on Sunday, I said I was too busy tonight.

“It’s important,” he said, squatting to pet the dog. “It’s about the first week of summer.”

The first week of summer. That was the week after the musical. The week I planned on telling Dash goodbye and going back to Chicago to turn myself in.

“What about the first week of summer?” Dash asked.

Gage winked at Dash. “Never you mind. Your mom and I have to talk about it first.”

“Can’t I listen?” Dash asked.

“No,” I said. “Run up and take your shower. When I finish talking to your dad, I’ll come up and read to you before bed.”

“Okay,” Dash said, his voice agreeable. He was always agreeable these days, something I attributed to having a positive male role model in his life.

“Come on, Roxy,” Dash called. “Let’s go upstairs.”

The dog followed, and I turned to face Gage. “Would you like a cup of decaf?”

“I’d love one.”

We headed back to the kitchen where I started the coffee. “I also have a little leftover Coke cake if you’re interested.”

His eyes widened with excitement. “A piece of Coke cake with my coffee sounds wonderful. Yes, I’d love a piece.”

I prepared our slices of cake and Gage carried them to the table. When the coffee was ready, I joined him.

Sitting across from me, Gage took a bite of the cake and sighed. “You’ve always been an incredible cook, Natalie.”

My insides quivered at the way he said my name. “Thanks.”

He took another bite of cake and a sip of coffee before finally presenting his request. “The reason I wanted to talk to you is because I’d like to take Dash with me when I go back to Chicago to see Adam.”

I frowned. “You fly all the way back to Chicago to see your prosthetist?”

Until Gage and I reconnected in the ER all those years ago, I hadn’t realized what an active role a prosthetist played in an amputee’s life. I thought once an amputee got his limb, he was good to go.

Unfortunately, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Because the stump changed with age and situation, an artificial limb had to be constantly adjusted. Gage saw Adam, his prosthetist, several times a year.

“I know I need to find someone out here in California,” Gage said with a bashful grin, “but Adam’s the best at adjusting my fit. He also knows when my problems can only be fixed with an upgrade. Besides, going to him gives me a good excuse to see my mother.”

“You’re going to see your mother while you’re there?”

He nodded. “Of course.”

I could only imagine all the horrible things Miriam would say about me in front of Dash, especially if Gage’s trip coincided with the week I went to jail.

“I know my mother didn’t always treat you right,” Gage said.

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