New Lives (A Nathan Gardner Story)

Chapter 4 - Family Matters

Sydney was snuggled against Nathan on the couch, his arm around her. He held paint swatches in his free hand, as they were deciding on colors for the bedroom - the first room in the house they were going to tackle together. Nathan wanted to get rid of the dated wallpaper in there for years, but never before saw reason to put in the effort. Now he was actually excited and looking forward to getting to work.

When Susan entered the living room, she rolled her eyes. "Seriously?"

Nathan looked up at her. "Did I miss something?"

"You're so obvious after you've done it."

Sydney went crimson. "You...weren't home?"

Susan sighed and plopped down on the love seat. Seeing what they were looking at, she asked, "Do these renovations include a nursery? I was serious about all that baby stuff a few months ago, you know? I've only been asking for a sibling since I could talk."

Nathan cleared his throat. "Not just yet, but what do you think of these?" He held out swatches of black, white, and gray.

Her eyes went wide. "Please say these are for my room."

"I thought you didn't want me touching your room."

"Well I didn't want you to do it, but...do you know why I have so much stuff all over my walls?"

"You're...expressing yourself?" Nathan asked, sure he was correct.

"And covering those Pepto pink walls." Nathan and Sydney both laughed. "So...those are for..."

"Our room," Nathan said, loving how it sounded.

"Laura Ashley wallpaper not cutting it anymore, huh? Are the flowers distracting?" She started giggling like a five year old.

Nathan shook his head, wishing he wasn't laughing along with her. "To change the subject, I'm guessing you want to redo your room as well?"

Susan stopped laughing. "Can I?"

Nathan's arm tightened around Sydney, and she knew why. "You're going to be eighteen in a couple of months...an adult. If you want a change..."

"Like maybe a new furniture kind of change?"

"Uh..."

Sydney chimed in. "Actually, honey," she said, looking up at Nathan. "She could have my bedroom set if she wanted it. It's only a couple of years old and I'm pretty sure it's her taste."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, Arlen's going to change up that room now and..."

"Thank you, Syd!" Susan flew up from her seat and now had her arms around Sydney's neck.

Sydney smiled widely. "You're welcome. We're gonna eat in about fifteen minutes."

"I'm gonna take a quick shower." She got up and started down the hallway. "Dad, can we go look at paint for my room tomorrow?"

"Sure, Susie Q." He heard her close the bathroom door and looked at Sydney. "You know you didn't have to."

"And you know I wanted to." She caressed his face. "It's cute how you're accepting her growing up, but you don't want to let go."

"I didn't do enough for her," he said sadly. "I feel like I owe her."

"Oh, honey, no. You did plenty right; she's really a wonderful kid. She's smart and has a good head on her shoulders..." She stopped when Nathan looked at her. "What?"

"Nothing..." He kissed her, grateful for everything he had. "...just, thank you."

During dinner, something both Nathan and Susan were getting very used to having as an actual family, Susan kept looking like she wanted to say something, but would quickly look back down at her lasagna. Nathan finally couldn't take it anymore and baited her.