Love Me

Chapter Twenty-three

Alyssa

“You all have to come again soon, I miss you so much.” Carina said, hugging Nathan goodbye.

“We will, Gran, soon.” Nathan promised.

Carina hugged me too. “Do me a favor and take care of my boys, even though Nathan won't admit it he needs someone to take care of him.”

“I will, don't worry.”

She nodded accepting my answer. “And you, young man,” She said to Oliver. “no more running into roads.”

“You do it one time and everyone is on your case.” I heard the boy grumble.

Carina giggled and ruffled his hair affectionately. “Take care of yourself and be careful, get enough rest so that arm can heal before you have to start going to school again.”

Oliver rolled his eyes dramatically. “Papi, tell Gran gran to stop worrying so much, I'm fine.”

Matthew laughed and crouched to his level. “Well, you can't blame her, just say you'll be careful and she'll leave you alone.”

Oliver nodded and smiled at his great grandmother innocently but you didn't have to look far to see the mischief in his eyes. “I promise I'll be really careful Gran gran.”

Carina shook her head with a sigh. “Good luck with him, Alyssa. You're going to need it.”

We were already on the tarmac and the plane was right behind us, waiting for us to board. It's been three days since Oliver was discharged and because his arm wasn't so bad and he didn't have any complications the doctor cleared him to fly. Oliver wasn't so happy we were leaving so soon but Nathan needed to catch up with work before his company closed for Christmas.

After we said our last goodbyes, we got into the plane and thirty minutes later we were in the air. Oliver was being his usual bubbly self. He was playing around with his toys, talking and I was glad he was moving like the cast on his forearm wasn't even there. Although I worried because he wasn't giving the arm any rest, I let him play until he laid down and fell asleep an hour later.

Maybe now I can try to convince Nathan that we shouldn't go for Thanksgiving dinner with Christopher.

“Nathan?” I called and he simply hummed in reply. “What does your mother do for Thanksgiving?”

That's a good way to start the conversation, right?

“She doesn't do anything for Thanksgiving, but her bakery is usually busy that day.” He answered.

“So wouldn't leaving Oliver with her too much for her?” I reasoned. “She'll be so busy and Oliver needs to be watched carefully now with his injury.”

“Actually, when my mum's bakery is that busy, Oliver is more controlled. He usually gets a job that day and even gets paid and by the time he gets back, he's fed, very tired and ends up sleeping really well.” He explained, his eyes still on his laptop.

Damn it. “What about your father? Does he do a dinner or something?”

“I'm not letting Maria anywhere near you again.”

It was sweet of him to be protecting me like that and I was thankful but honestly I would rather take my chances with Maria, at least she won't beat me up.

“Why don't you want to see your family? Did something happen?” He asked.

A lot happened but I can't tell you. “I-It's not that. I just thought maybe your father would want to spend more time with you.” I lied.