Adventures and Dramas in the Nursery

Chapter 4

As they settled into their usual restaurant, it was evident that the staff at the nurseries had agreed upon this spot for their gatherings. Sara's absence that evening brought a sense of relief to both Reese and Autumn, albeit for different reasons.

The weariness from work still clung to them all, unchanged in their attire. Winter, ever the gentleman, pulled out Autumn's chair with a tender "my love," while Marjorie wasted no time in flicking through the wine list.

"I take it you're not driving then," Reese remarked with a playful hint of annoyance.

Ignoring his comment, Marjorie turned to Autumn. "Do you want to share a bottle of rosé?"

The mention of sharing a bottle caught Reese's attention. It wasn't like either of them to indulge to that extent. "A bottle? What the hell happened over at your nursery to warrant a bottle?" he questioned, his teasing tone becoming to genuine concern as the atmosphere at the table suddenly shifted.

Autumn's expression darkened, and Reese's concern deepened as he realised there was something he needed to know. "Aut? What's wrong? Is it Dad? Did he..." His voice trailed off, panic rising within him as he tried to piece together the puzzle.

Marjorie had to intervene, gently guiding Reese back into his seat as his panic threatened to overwhelm him. Turning to her for answers, he pleaded, "Do you know what's going on?"

Realising the weight of the situation and not wanting to put Marjorie in the position of choosing between Reese and herself, Autumn took a deep breath, tears welling in her eyes, and began to explain.

"It wasn't Dad... Well, not directly," she started, glancing briefly at Marjorie for support. "When Winter proposed and we went to tell him, he noticed the ring before I could even say anything. And when he asked about it and I told him... he just... lost it, Reese."

Reese's expression morphed from concern to anger as Autumn continued to explain. "He... he lunged across the table at us, ranting about Winter not being good enough for me, about how I was making a mistake."

The weight of her words hung heavily in the air as Autumn recounted the confrontation with their father. Reese's jaw clenched in anger, his protective instincts kicking into overdrive.

"That's... that's insane," he muttered, struggling to comprehend the extent of their father's reaction.

Autumn nodded, her eyes reflecting the pain of the encounter. "Yeah, it was... rough. But, in a twisted way, it confirmed that we made the right decision in not inviting him to the wedding."

Reese reached out, his hand finding Autumn's in a silent gesture of support. "I'm sorry, Aut. But I'm glad you and Winter have each other."

Autumn managed a small, grateful smile, squeezing her brother's hand in return. " Me too."

As they sat in the comforting embrace of their bond as siblings, Autumn felt a sense of relief wash over her. Despite the challenges they faced, having Reese's unwavering support meant everything to her. And with Winter by her side, she knew they could overcome anything.