New Lives (A Nathan Gardner Story)

Chapter 8 - Love the New Look

Celia rang the doorbell twice before Nathan made his way to the front foyer. He was clad only in his trunks, but he didn't care. When he opened the door he did his very best not to frown. "Celia," he said slowly. "You know you should have…"

"She hasn't answered her phone for two weeks, Nathan. Two weeks! What are you telling her? What are you doing to…"

Nathan put his hand up, defensively. "I told her she'd have to talk to you, I just didn't give her a limit as to when."

Celia's breath shook. She looked at his chest and his toned arms, but made sure not to be obvious about it. He looked so…healthy. "Nathan," she softened her voice. "She's my daughter too."

He sighed, knowing he'd regret his next action. He stepped aside and motioned for her to enter the house. "Come on."

"Honey, who's…oh." Sydney was dressed in her swimsuit again, a towel wrapped up around her chest.

Celia's brief bought of control faded when she saw Sydney. "Oh to you too." She looked around the living room. There were drop cloths over some of the furniture and several different strokes of paint on the walls. "Love the new look," she said sarcastically.

"Haven't decided on a color yet," Nathan replied, trying not to grit his teeth. "Syd, Celia and I need to talk about Susan."

Sydney understood and nodded. Forcing a polite smile she said, "I'm just going to go get dressed," and made her way upstairs.

"So, a coat of paint's going to make this a happy little home, hm? I always hated this house…"

"We're discussing Susan, Celia." His patience was already growing thin. "I know she's your daughter, but you need to understand that her finding out what you did…"

"She's known what I…what happened…"

"Yes, but not with who. I was so careful to keep that from her. She didn't need the burden of seeing him every day and…"

"Well, it's a good thing that your plaything got him fired then, isn't it?"

"You need to stop right there." His face went red. "He attacked her, twice, and you are never to bring that up again."

"Oh, stop it, Nathan, she's obviously fine." Celia looked at him again, lower this time. His suit was still damp and it was clinging to him in just the right places.

"She's…" Nathan felt her eyes on him and grew uncomfortable. "You know, I'm a bit chilled. Stay here for a minute." He jogged upstairs to change, leaving Celia alone.

Celia could hear their muffled voices and took it upon herself to look around a bit. She wandered into the kitchen and saw the contractor information Nathan had been going over. She also saw the preliminary designs for the bathroom and kitchen. "You've gotta be kidding me." She rolled her eyes and made her way to Susan's room, wishing more than anything to find her daughter waiting there for her…with an apology. When she walked through the open door, she wasn't sure she was in the right place. She looked around, seeing how much her daughter had grown up and instantly felt sick. She wasn't a part of any of it. She was missing out of so many big changes and, as far as she was concerned, it was Nathan's fault.

"I asked you to stay where you were." Nathan's voice came from the doorway, anger on his face. "You don't have the right to be…"

"Making her daddy's little girl again, hm? Spoiling her to keep her even further away from me." She pushed by him, going out into the hallway.

"She wanted to make her room more grown up, Celia. It's paint!" He followed her into the living room, where Sydney happened to be passing through on her way to the kitchen.