Save My Sparkle (Completed)

20. Practice Buying

Natalie gets up and helps her dad as he finishes up dinner. Chrissy laughs and I join in when Natalie fumbles with the sprayer on the sink while trying to wash off some vegetables, which ends up soaking her dad in the process. Nothing like seeing the happiness from Natalie as Phin threatens to splash her with cold water and see how it feels while he laughed.

Phin excused himself to change his shirt while the gumbo was finished and the rolls were ready to come out. Now that I am waiting on it is all totally made from scratch. Never had rolls so fresh and they smell even better once I got a whiff of the melted butter on the top of them rolls.

Chrissy and I talk about food as Natalie joins in while she prepares the vegetables and has them on the table. Phin comes back and joins in placing the food on the table. Chrissy moved and shown me where to pull the plates while she got the silverware so we had already sat the table for everyone. Laurie has been silent through much of it all as she keeps tapping on her phone moreso than having anything to do with everything here in the kitchen with her family.

Natalie and Phin start passing the dishes around and we all fill our bowl like plates.

"That is all you're going to eat?" Phin looks confused over to Laurie.

"Yes. This is the lady like size portion."

"Laurie, you should eat not a soul here will judge. I am sure Nicolas isn't like that just from what I know of him." Phin shakes his head lightly.

"Well, I am a lady and I need to watch the weight anyhow." Laurie snaps back.

"That is why you spend so much time at the gym?" Natalie joins in their conversation easily and smooth.

"I stopped going and just doing it without the equipment." Laurie narrows her eyes at Natalie.

"It isn't healthy to starve yourself though." Natalie sighs and Phin agrees with her even Chrissy nods her head.

I stay silent since it is not my place not having known much on Laurie. She goes back quiet and the others pay her no more mind and just leave her be, but there is a feeling she doesn't want to be here or trying to be someone she is not.

The food tastes delicious and I compliment it all. Phin redirects the conversations and they get to talking about Chirstmas.

"So how about we put a tree up this year?" Phin looks to a shocked Natalie and a beaming Chrissy.

"YES!" Chrissy squeals and Natalie agrees with her.

"I will get us one tomorrow. The decorations are still in the attic so I will pull them down tonight." Phin smiles and I can't help but smile while seeing Natalie beam with so much happiness.

"You know what that means too?" Natalie smirks wide.

"What is that sugarplum?" Phin looks to her as Chrissy bounces in her wheelchair.

"I must go shopping for some gifts. Can't have a bare tree now can we?"

"Nope." Chrissy laughs.

"You are right. How does it all sound to you Laurie?" Phin looks to his wife.

Laurie simply shrugs her shoulders before moving to the living room as I help to clear the empty plates and clean the table. Natalie puts food away while Phin loads up the dishwasher with Chrissy.

They don't let Laurie's foul mood on the holidays bring them back down. Natalie had talked and told me how this is the first year they have done anything in over a decade so I can't imagine the steps or emotions they are feeling but I am excited for them too.

Once we are done cleaning, Natalie is ready to shop and we walk to the living room where I see Laurie has moved to from earlier. Laurie has maybe spoken a total of ten sentences in the last two hours. Natalie keeps rolling her eyes at her mother and Phin has shook his head here and there when she would sigh then look at the phone once more.

"Thank you so much for inviting me over Phin, this has been a delicious meal and I have truly enjoyed getting to know you, Chrissy and Natalie even more." I smile as I shake his hand.

"What about me?" Laurie stands and huffs.

"I apologize but it is truly hard to get to know someone who sighs, tends to pay more attention to her phone and has only spoken ten sentences since you have gotten back home and joined us. So I apologize that you couldn't be bothered to seemingly put in a little effort getting to know me since I am dating your oldest daughter." I nod my head once with a smirk at her expression.

"Kid has you there now Laurie." Phin coughs behind his hand.

As Natalie is holding onto my arm laughing silently.

"I suppose you are right." Laurie sighs and then moves to sit on the couch. "Maybe next time my mood will be better."

Natalie grabs her jacket and keys. "I will be back later don't wait up for me Chrissy, with all the shopping I will be doing." She smiles wide.

I walk out with Natalie after bidding Phin and Chrissy a good evening. Natalie follows behind me.

"Want some company while you shop?" I ask her before opening my car door.

"Love some for sure if it is you. You know I am out of practice buying gifts and then I got to find a place to hide it all, plus not to mention have zero wrapping skills." Natalie snickers.

"I could most definitely help you out." I smirk as she puts herself in my arms that I just wrap around her. "Do you want seperate cars or I could just take you where you need to go? As for hiding gifts leave them at my house and I will give you my address."

"Well then I will bring my car and just let you take the gifts home with you."

"You can come over too, see where your gifts are being hid. Since you hadn't seen my house yet." My heart flutters when she looks up at me and smiles.