Moving Forward (Completed)

Chapter Forty Seven

The jewelry store wasn't close to the donut shop, but it was the excuse Katherine and her mom used to get out of the house the following morning... that and some vague errand Natalie mentioned running to account for time. George showed Katherine a selection of pendants he could have the stone cut to fit into and then assessed the amethyst itself.

"It's a nice translucent stone which will make for a pretty pendant once cut. Do you have particular shape you like?" George asked, setting the amethyst back on the counter.

"Teardrop and this mounting." Katherine handed him the necklace she'd decided on. The one in his display had a large emerald grasped between the prongs, but it was easy enough to picture the stone purple instead of green. There was a simple band of white gold outlining the gem that Katherine thought would contrast nicely against the purple of the amethyst.

"I have these in stock so I should be able to get this done by Wednesday. Getting the stone cut will take the longest, once that's finished I can mount it pretty easily." George took note of the skew number on the necklaces tag. "You want me to call Nattie when it's done?"

"Uh... yeah," Katherine furrowed her brow at her mother, "that should work." She quickly paid for the promised work and followed her mother out of the jewelry store. "Hey mom?"

Natalie turned to face her, smiling like she always did. "Yes sweetheart."

"Why does George the jeweler call you Nattie?"

"I've known George a long time." Natalie shrugged.

"There are three people on the planet that call you Nattie... dad, your sister, and Lauren who you grew up with and basically consider a sister."

Natalie climbed in the car and waited for Katherine to join her. "I've never cheated on your father if that's what you insinuating. George and I just get along really well."

"You hangout with him?" Her voice raised an octave purely out of shock. "Like outside of the jewelry related business?"

"It's completely platonic, believe me I have no interest in anyone but your father."

"He calls you Nattie."

"He calls me that because he heard your father say it and we're close enough that I didn't correct him."

"He's friends with dad?" Katherine was now hopeful she was overreacting to the use of her fathers pet name for her mother by the stranger in the jewelry shop.

"His wife Judy calls me Nattie as well."

"The four of you hangout?"

"Sometimes... sometimes it's just me and Judy, others George and I. Honestly Katherine, did you really think that I could ever step out on William?"

"Well no..." Katherine chuckled, "hence how shocked I was."

Natalie shook her head and started for the donut shop. "Oh!" The high pitched squeal startled Katherine, making her thankful to not have been the one driving. "I booked lunch at the club for MJ's birthday."

Katherine groaned not unlike an unhappy teenager from the passenger seat. "Can't we just go to a nice restaurant?"

"It's her birthday, we always go to the club for birthdays."

"I know, but I'd really rather not go to a place Scott frequents."

Natalie waved her hand in the air dismissively. "He's in the past and you shouldn't live your life avoiding things because of your ex-husband. Besides, it's lunch in the middle of the week... he'll most likely be at work."