Saudade

Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Scarlett's POV

I am dreading Nate's arrival home. I have cleaned and re-cleaned the house a million times, making sure everything is perfect and in place.

Hearing a car pull up into the driveway, I quickly put away the vacuum and feather duster. I smooth my dress and I sit on the barstool, pretending to read a riveting article in Cosmo.

"Honey, I'm home," Nate's voice booms.

I jump, a little startled at his voice. Turning around, and putting the magazine down, I face him, plastering a fake smile to my face. "I'm glad to see you made it home," I stand up and walk towards him, planting a kiss on his pink lips, "how was it?"

"We got the project!" he claps his hands together and holds a giant smile on his face. "Where's Georgia? Let's all go out to dinner tonight!"

An uneasiness settles over me. Will he get mad when I tell him Georgia is out? "Umm, Georgia is at Miranda's, I was just about to go pick her up."

His smile still remains on his face, "Go pick her up, then we can head out." He hands me his car keys and plants a kiss on my cheek.

Who is this man, and what has he done to Nate? I knew Nate would be happy if he got the deal, but not this happy.

I try not to overanalyze it on my way to pick up Georgia.

Thankfully, for me, Georgia was more than excited to come home and see Nate.

As we open our door, she runs through the door and screams, "Nate!" as she runs towards him. He laughs and scoops her up in his arms.

"Hey there, cutie," he spins her around, while she giggles furiously. I laugh. We look like a normal family. A normal, happy family.

A pain shoot through my heart. It shouldn't be Nate spinning her around, it should be Matt. I try to push the thought out of my mind, but it's no use, I know I'd be happier with Matt. It would be some façade of a 'happy family', it would actually be a happy family.

Nate puts Georgia down, "Are you girls ready to go?"

I nod my head, while Georgia squeals, "Yes!"

He laughs. Georgia runs out to the car, Nate grabs my hand and we walk out together.

The ride to the restaurant is light and airy. For once there's no yelling or fighting, instead it's filled with laughter and smiles and kind words. It was like how it was in the beginning.

We pull into the Olive Garden parking lot and easily find a spot. And as if to keep our good luck going, the hostess had us seated immediately.

I look at the menu and suddenly I'm hit with another memory.

"What do you want, my dear?" Matt asks me.

"Hmmm, the Fettuccini Alfredo," I declare.

He laughs, "I see you're definitely trying something new."

I stick my tongue out at him and we laugh. When I look around the restaurant, I see this old couple walking towards us. They were easily in their 80's, but they were still so obviously in love with each other. They were even holding hands.

The older woman walks up to us. "Can I help you?" I ask the woman kindly.

Matt looks between the woman and me.

"No darling, I just wanted to tell you that you and your boyfriend are the cutest couple in this room. You two remind me of my husband and I when we were younger," she beams at her husband, who smile back at her, "it's obvious to anyone that you two are in love with each other."

I blush, "Oh, thank you!"

"No problem, it's just nice to see a couple of your generation who truly loves each other."

Matt pipes up, "Thank you, ma'am. That means a lot to us."

She nods kindly to us, then her and her husband walk off.

"I hope that's us one day," I tell him.

He places his hand over mine, "It will be, without a doubt."

"Scarlett!" a voice calls me out of my memory.

"Hmm," I say in a daze of confusion.

"Scarlett, honey, what would you like," Nate asks me kindly.

"Oh! Fettuccini Alfredo, please," I tell the waitress.

After the waitress leaves, Nate looks at me. "You should really try something new sometime, honey."

I look down, "Yes, I will next time."

He beams, "Good."

Just as I look back up, I catch Matt's eye. He was already looking at me. I notice one of the grooms was with him. At that moment, I forgot that Georgia and Nate were here, I was too busy focusing on Matt.

Matt moves his mouth. He mouths at me, 'We need to talk' and he points towards the bathroom.

I look back at Nate. "I'll be right back, I need to go to the bathroom."

He just nods and turns his attention back to Georgia.

I get up and head towards the bathroom, not looking to see if Matt is coming, too.

Just as I near the bathroom, I feel someone grab my arm and drag me into the only dark corner in the restaurant.

"Matt," I breathe, looking him up and down.

"We need to talk," he gets to the point.

"About what?"

"I want a paternity test on Georgia."