BEHIND THEIR MIEN

CHAPTER 32- NATALIE

" You have that look since you left that room" Nathan says, pulling me out of my haze.

" What look?" I ask him curiously

" When you are in deep thinking and your mind can't figure out stuff.

Your eyebrows rise, reach your hairline and your eyes pop when you think and figure things out.. like they're running like a train and you need to catch them before they leave and disappear.

But right now your eyebrows sit still and your eyes are blank...and your lips parted. You do that when you can't figure things out" he explains while driving and something warm settles in my chest.

" I didn't know that?" I said to him,

" No one ever told you that? You do that really often" he says while keeping his eyes on the road.

" No one ever paid much attention to me to notice such things' 'I say to him and he frowns in disappointment.

" They'd miss out on really cool stuff then, their bad luck." he says and parks the car in front of the mansion.

" You ready?" I ask him and he nods.

" Should I just hold her? She's sleeping so peacefully" he says as he turns around and looks at Beatrice. It was night and she was fast asleep by the time we reached home.

I nod," Try not to wake her, I'll get the baby. Mason must be losing his mind while waiting" I say and carefully take the baby out of his seat and hold him, trying not to wake either kids. Nathan hesitates for a few seconds but then puts his hand under her armpits and lifts her up and hugs her to his chest while balancing her head on his neck. I could say he'd had experience holding children...probably Bella and Thomas. Nathan looks at me with wide eyes, as if needing some assurance if everything's fine and I nod again, trying to hold back my tears. I don't know why but it just felt so good and heart clenching at the same time seeing Nathan hold his daughter for the first time with such fear and anxiety. It should have been when she was a baby with her first cries.. not like this. We both walked to the front door, taking a few steps when Beatrice woke up in fear and started trembling.

I Rushed in front of her so that she could see me.

" Shh.. it's fine.. I am right here... you are safe. We just reached home. See. this is your home where you grandmother, grandfather, uncle Mason, Aunt Mary, your father lives and now you and the baby will also live." I say to her, trying to sooth her while caressing her matted hair as Nathan froze. I take Nathan's hand and calmly rub it over Beatrice's back. " Your father is holding you. You were sleeping, we didn't want to wake you. Is it fine if he keeps holding you?" I ask her and she shakes her head.

" I'll keep holding your hand" I tried once again, I shouldn't have and just listened to her...but I was selfish and I wanted to see Nathan hold his daughter even if it was just a few more minutes. She hesitated for a few seconds and held her hand, holding my hand firmly. I nod at Nathan, encouraging him to take initiative.

" Your grandpa, grandma and Uncle Mason will be inside. They will be surprised and really happy to meet you. But if you are not comfortable, Natalie will take you to your room. You can take as much time as you want until you are comfortable. There is nothing in this world that now will happen against your wishes. Beatrice, this is your kingdom and you are its princess." he says to her gently with so much love in his eyes for her. Her head was between his neck looking at me, she couldn't see the look I'd see on his face but I could only hope she could feel his sincerity through his words.

We'd already called Mason when we entered the neighbourhood. Our eyes fell on a very anxiously waiting Mason, who sat on the stairs. His eyes widened as it fell on the baby in my arms and he ran to us, stopping just before he could crash to us. His chest rose and fell in rhythm as he started breathing heavily. His glistened eyes found mine and Nathan, as if asking if it's true or a dream.