AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Oh, Natalie was coming over later to take Mark for the weekend. She had promised him a trip to her house, and he had been looking forward to it all week. How could I have forgotten that? He'd been dancing about it all week.
"Okay, I'll drop you off at her place, and you better not give her any trouble,” I said sternly.
"She said she'll pick me up from school, Dad, can she?" He asked, looking up at me earnestly. I paused, wondering when he wanted someone else to pick him up from school. Then I shrugged. Natalie could pick him up if she had the time.
"Okay, I'll need to speak to her first. Get my phone,” I said, nodding at my dresser.
While he went to get it, I snuck into the bathroom and washed my face, brushed my teeth, and made my way back out. He was standing right by the door. He handed me the phone and looked up at me hopefully while I dialed Natalie's number. She picked up and her hello floated to me over the receiver.
"Good morning, Natalie, Mark's here and he wants to talk to you,” I said to her. I handed the phone to Mark, who took it and held it to his ears.
"Hello Aunty Natalie,” he said, his smile stretching his face.
He listened and nodded enthusiastically.
"Okay,” he said finally before handing the phone to me.
"Hello Natalie, will you be picking him up at school?" I asked her.
"Yes, I will,” she replied. She sounded groggy like she had just woken up from sleep. I probably sounded that way myself.
"You can't be late; I could pick him up and drop him off at your place."
"I won't be late, I'll take him, I'll drop him off Sunday evening, you can enjoy the rest,” she replied.
I wasn't looking forward to the empty house but maybe Becca would come over, I was starting to feel like she was avoiding me or something.
"Okay, I'll see you, and thank you. Also, please do not feed him pizza for dinner,” I said finally.
"Oh, I'd forgotten to ask, seems you're the one who feeds him pizza for dinner."
"That was just one time,” I replied. The boy was a regular little snitch.
"Ciao Hunter," she said, before hanging up.
"You told her I feed you pizza for dinner?" I asked Mark, who was looking at me expectantly.
"She asked what I wanted for dinner, I thought pizza would be nice," he said, shrugging.
I took his hand and led him out to the kitchen. Best if I started breakfast already, I could drop him off at school and be back in time to dress up and get to the cafe to see Becca. I didn't expect to, it had been just a day, but I missed her so much.
I had asked her to move in and she had shaken her head no, but considering the fact that she spent so many nights here, she might as well. Which just made it more obvious when she wasn't. Maybe that's why I missed her because I had grown used to her presence here.
I made breakfast for Mark, who was still chattering about his weekend away with Natalie.
"Do you think Becca will come along?" Mark asked hopefully. Did I think Becca would come along? I hoped she wouldn't.
"No, she'll be too busy with the cafe,” I replied.
"Can we go to The Cabin with her later?" He asked.
The cabin was another of the many properties I had inherited. I had thought of selling it off until I and Mark had discovered the waterfall. And now maybe I could show it to Becca. Who knew? She might love a weekend away from the cafe. It would take a lot of convincing, though. The woman was stubborn. She still hadn't made use of that passage.
"Mark, you're a genius,” I replied. "And yes, we can go to The Cabin later, if Becca would love to come along, of course."
"Oh, she will, I'll be there,” Mark replied, nodding to himself like the very fact of his existence meant her affirmation. The conceit, or maybe it was that confidence that every parent wished their child would grow up with.
When Mark was done with breakfast, I stacked the dirty plate in the sink and went up the stairs to his room to get him ready for school. I'd call Becca later or maybe I'd just drop by the cafe on my way back from the drop-off.
