New Lives (A Nathan Gardner Story)

Chapter 19 - Happy Birthday

Susan sat across from her father, chocolate chip waffles in front of her. She watched as Nathan cut into his stack of blueberry pancakes and smiled. The last few years of this tradition had been trying to say the least, but today…today was perfect.

"So, Dad, I thought maybe we could talk about a few things while were here." She sipped her orange juice.

Nathan smiled back at her. "Sure, honey. What's on your mind?"

"A few things, but mainly, um, college." She cleared her throat. "I've been doing a lot of thinking and, well, a lot of mind changing." Nathan raised an eyebrow, but he didn't get the chance to ask any questions before Susan continued. "You know I wanted to leave. I wanted to get as far away from you and Mom as I could, but now…"

"Susan," Nathan began, his voice soft, "I'm fine with wherever you want to go, you know that. Your grandparents and I have been saving for…"

Susan shook her head. "I don't want to go far, at least…not yet. I just got a parent back and while everyone else doesn't want that, I do because I haven't had…" She blinked back tears. "This was a lot different when I practiced it."

Nathan reached across the table and took his daughter's hand. "Susie Q…"

She composed herself. "I don't know exactly what I want to major in yet, so I was thinking of a local campus to get all of my gen ed credits out of the way and, well, Ro's been thinking the same thing. You know how her dad flips houses and stuff and…he was going to let us have a place…" She was rattling things off as fast as she could, a bit of nervousness taking over. "…I want to keep my job with Arlen and I want to still see you, but I really want you and Sydney to have your space." She took a deep breath.

"That all?" Nathan said, chuckling.

Susan smiled. "Yeah."

"Space…for me and Syd?"

She sighed, blushing. "I love you guys, but I can only wear headphones so often."

Nathan went crimson. "What?"

"Dad, you and Syd…"

"When you're home we try to…"

"Dad, there was a butt print on the hood of the car!" It was a shouted whisper, with traces of a giggle.

"Shit…" He started to laugh as well. "Honey, I…"

She waved her hands in front of her. "I don't want to know, I just…" And suddenly Susan was more grown up than Nathan had ever seen. "You deserve the sort of time that people have before kids, you know? You deserve real time to yourselves and…"

Nathan's eyes grew sad. "Honey, please don't think that…"

"No!" Susan quickly lowered her voice. "Dad, I promise, I'm not headed anywhere near that. I'm not comparing this to you and Mom at all. How could I? I love living with you and Sydney, I'm one of the few teenagers who can honestly say I have a good time hanging out with my parents." She caught her slip instantly, as did Nathan.

"Uh…" He wasn't sure how to respond.

Susan blushed, but shrugged it off. "I love her too, Dad. Is that…weird?"

"Not even a little bit." He was beaming.

"So when are you proposing?" she asked, winking.

"You know, these might be the best pancakes I've ever had." He shoved too large of a forkful into his mouth.

"Really? We're gonna avoid that question, Dad?" He didn't respond and Susan smiled. "So you've either already started planning something or you haven't thought about it, which I know is crap…"