Sam lead Natalie outside into the backyard. They chose a shaded spot in the corner and each settled into large cushioned chairs to relax. He was happy for the brief moment of peace and quiet, it was rare to find this when Cooper was at home.
"Can I get you something to eat, has he been feeding you?" Sam questioned. He knew Natalie was small to begin with, but she somehow looked even more frail than the first time he had seen her.
"We just had breakfast, thanks."
"What about something to drink? You know, if you need anything at all jus-" Sam's awkward rambling was cut short.
"Are you okay?" Natalie interrupted. "From last night I mean ..." She had been trying to read him since they were in the living room, but she didn't know enough about the man to know if he was acting normal or not.
"Oh, yeah, I'm fine." He was quick to brush her off "Come on, let's go, I'll show you the rest of the yard." Sam did not want to get up and move quite yet, but it was obvious that Natalie had more questions.
She planned on talking to Sam about the previous night, but he was better at distracting her than she thought he would be. Every time she was about to bring it up he had something new to show her.
"Oh, you have to see this!" Sam said excitedly. He led her to a small building in the furthest corner of the backyard. "Me and Cooper built this place by hand."
From far away it looked like a small shed, but as they got closer she could see it was a sort of greenhouse. The air coming from one of the opened windows was thick with the scent of flowers. She understood Sam's excitement, and couldn't wait to get inside.
She was expecting the smell of flowers, but what surprised her was the rainbow of colours waiting inside. There were too many plants to look at, she didn't know where to start. They walked up and down the cramped isles, marvelling at each species.
"Why would Cooper build a place like this?" Natalie questioned, this was too wonderful to be his.
Sam was hesitant to answer. He knew that the truth would warm her heart towards his brother. He did not want any part in the mind games currently being played on her, but one look at the sincere curiosity on her face and he was gone.
"When mom died, our dad was so distraught. He couldn't stand to have anything around that reminded him of her. He was so out of his mind with grief that he ordered everything be destroyed, including her garden. Cooper couldn't stop them in time, all he managed to save was a couple of bulbs. This is all we have left of her." Sam spoke as if he was far away, lost in the memory of that terrible day. "He built this greenhouse for me the next day. It's funny, he thinks he's subtle but I know he only built this here, at his house, so I'd have to keep coming around. We both know he won't come out here, and someone has to take care of them."
Natalie's heart broke for the poor brothers, even the cruel unkind one. She could not imagine her father ever acting in such a way. She did not even try to hold back the stream of tears that begged to fall, especially when she looked at the beauty surrounding her in the small greenhouse.
Sam was not surprised to see the sadness etched across Natalies features. He knew she was an empathetic soul and seeing her tears almost brought on his own. But he would not cry, he couldn't, not for this. His tears had run dry for his mother and for the day she died.
"Why won't he ever come out here?" She questioned while wiping her face, trying to distract herself.
"To grieve is to give up control to your emotions, even for a short time. He could never do that, not even for her." Sam gave a weak shrug of his shoulders. He could only assume that Cooper felt this way, the two brothers had never actually spoken about it.
YOU ARE READING
Dangerous Daddy
Romance"Hey-" the attractive man began to yell as he climbed out of his car. He assumed the woman would see his face and know who he was. But there was no recognition. The stranger didn't know that she almost got hit by Cooper Grant. When he saw her face h...
