by Jamie Hill
"We live on the third floor. You can wait here," he motioned to the sofa, "or come on up." He grabbed the mail from the third mailbox posted on the front of the house and looked at her.
The stained plaid couch looked scarier than whatever waited inside. "Okay," she agreed, and followed him in and up two flights of stairs.
They'd become inseparable from that day forward.
About a week before Thanksgiving, Alex brought up the holiday. "My parents want you to come to dinner. They always have friends over. There'll be about a dozen people or so."
"Sounds cozy." Natalie chuckled. "But what if my mother wants to have you over for dinner? What are we going to do about that?"
Alex rubbed his chin. "What time do you eat?"
"I don't know."
He looked at her.
She shrugged. "We haven't made a big deal about Thanksgiving since dad died. It's been just the three of us, my sister, mom and me. All of a sudden mom thinks we need to have dinner and invite you."
He grinned. "She knows we're sleeping together."
Natalie snorted. "Hasn't been much sleep, if you ask me. If she does know, she's ignoring it. That's the way she handles things. When I was twelve she set a box of sanitary napkins on the bathroom counter with a pamphlet. That was my 'period talk'."
"Good thing for health class in school, huh?" He grinned again. "I remember the drama—the boys had to leave the room, so the girls could watch a film—"
"Growing Up and Liking It."
He laughed. "You remember the title?"
She laughed with him. "I remember stupid things sometimes. Yeah, that was the name of it."
He reached for her hands and pulled her to a standing position. "Well, I like the way you grew up, Miss Clark. And I'll go to your house for Thanksgiving if you want me to."
She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a gentle kiss.
He smiled at her and sighed. "I hate to admit it, but I'd do just about anything you ask of me. I'm crazy about you Natalie Clark."
She kissed him again. "I love you, too, Alex."
Mr. and Mrs. Jameson weren't thrilled with the idea of losing their son to Natalie's mother on Thanksgiving, so they phoned her and made their own arrangements. They'd serve dinner at one p.m. and the kids would be present. Mrs. Clark would serve her meal at six p.m., and the kids would be there, also. Natalie snorted when she found out. Nobody cared if they were hungry or not, but they'd make it to both houses that way.
The meal at the Jameson house was more of a social gathering than a family event. Natalie liked Alex's parents, and they welcomed her into their home. Ted Jameson was a big, burly man, Alex said he'd played football in high school and it was obvious he still loved the sport. Games were on TV in the background all the time. Natalie was surprised Mrs. Jameson put up with it. But then, it appeared Susan Jameson did pretty much whatever her husband asked. Even so, Natalie liked her. She was a lovely woman with dark hair like Alex's, and a nice smile.
They seemed to like her from the beginning, Natalie thought with relief. She couldn't imagine a relationship with someone whose parents didn't care for her. A bad way to start things off. But the Jamesons were friendly and welcoming, they didn't treat her like company so much after their first few meetings, but almost like another of their children, which Natalie enjoyed and appreciated.
Of course, Mr. Jameson made it clear from the get-go that college would continue to be Alex's number one priority, and tennis number two. Allowing for that, it was okay if Natalie was number three.
She knew those priorities were shifting in Alex's mind, but she figured as long as they were all there, it didn't really matter which was one, two or three.
After their meal, Natalie and some of the other women helped Mrs. Jameson clean up, while Alex joined the men in front of the TV. When Natalie finished and stepped into the living room to find Alex, their eyes met and held. She knew he was thinking the same thing she was.
There were so many people at the house, they found it easy to excuse themselves and slip away. With quick goodbyes to his father during a commercial break, and thank yous and hugs to his mother, they were out the door. Alex pulled Natalie by the hand to his car. They got in and fell into each other's arms. They kissed and steamed up the windows until he finally pulled back and panted, "Let's go home."
"Yes, let's," she agreed breathlessly.
At his apartment they spent the afternoon burning off their first meal and working up an appetite for their second. Fortunately, by the time they arrived at the Clark's house, they could blame their rosy, glowing complexions on the cold weather. The looks they exchanged were full of the knowledge of shared, wonderful passion. Natalie knew her mother was oblivious, but Dean was another story.
"You two have been doing it!" she exclaimed shortly after they arrived, the first chance she had to get Natalie alone.
"Don't be ridiculous. We've been at his parent's house."
"He's looking at you like he could eat you alive!"
Natalie smiled. "He loves me."
"Ooh, he said that?" Dean squealed.
"Many times."
"Have you said it to him?"
"Of course."
Dean looked her sister over questioningly. "I still think you've been doing it."
"Get your mind out of the gutter, big sister. You've heard the song—Good Girls Don't."
Scoffing until realization struck her, Dean grinned at Natalie. "Yeah, I've heard that song. Good girls don't…" they finished the line together, "but I do."
Natalie shoved her sister out of the hallway and into the kitchen, where Alex helped their mother set the table. It was an informal meal, quite the opposite of their earlier experience. Natalie smiled as she watched Alex. He was being such a gentleman. She knew her mother thought he was great, even if the woman did have her head in the sand as far as sex was concerned.
She's a good mother, though. Natalie studied the woman who was trying to decide if the turkey was done or not. Jane Clark had always been there for her daughters, and they knew without a doubt that she loved them. Life had gotten harder after Natalie's father had died, but her mother had hung in there, working long hours and managing the best she could. She had a job as a secretary at the university, which provided good insurance and benefits, if not the highest salary.
Natalie had always thought her mother was pretty. She had dark hair like both her daughters, but wore it in a short, pageboy style. When the girls had told their mother that she should start dating again, the idea had been met with a scoff and an 'I don't think so.' It had been just the past couple of years, since the girls had been in college, that Jane had socialized at all, usually with women friends from work.
Now she stood over the turkey trying to read the thermometer, while Natalie, Dean and Alex looked on in amusement.
"I think it's done," she announced.
"Let me help you with that." Alex took the hot pads and lifted the roasting pan out of the oven and onto the table. "This needs to cool before we can think about carving it."
"I hope you're going to carve." Dean batted her eyes at Alex.
Natalie made a face at her sister. Although they looked a lot alike, Dean was prettier than she was, and certainly knew how to show off her…assets…better. She can get her own boyfriend. That was one reason Natalie hadn't wanted Dean and Alex to spend a lot of time together. She would hate to discover he preferred her sister if given the choice.
One look at Alex's face reassured Natalie for a lifetime. He smiled politely at Dean, but looked at Natalie like the big, bad wolf might look at Red Riding Hood. He pulled her into his arms. "Actually, I've never carved a turkey before. My father always does it. But I'm willing to try, if you'll help me."
"Anything," Natalie murmured, her face against his shoulder. "I'll help you with anything."
Jane handed Natalie a spatula. "Why don't you try helping me for a while? Mash these potatoes, Nat. Dean, stick the green beans in the oven and stir
this gravy. Alex, pass out these napkins."
"Yes ma'am." He took the napkins and winked at Natalie as they each attended to their duties.
The turkey was dry and carved into choppy little chunks. The potatoes were lumpy, because Natalie's mind wasn't on mashing. Even the gravy was burnt. Dean obviously failed Basic Stirring 101. Nevertheless, the meal was memorable and enjoyable. Alex delighted them with stories, and Jane and Dean were sweet and funny like Natalie knew them to be. When they left the Clark house that evening, it was with a full and satisfied feeling, not just from the food, but from the whole day.
Alex drove to Bluemont Hill, a small park near his house that overlooked the city. It was a picnic spot for families by day and a make-out spot for high school kids by night. Tonight it was deserted, and they snuggled together and stared out over the twinkling lights of the city. "This has been the perfect day," Natalie said contentedly.
"Juggling both our families and eating two turkey dinners?" he asked with amusement.
"Yeah. Your parents are great. The food was good. That pumpkin cheesecake was to die for."
"They like you."
"I know. I'm so glad. And my family likes you."
"I get the feeling your sister would jump me if she found me alone in a dark alley."
Natalie laughed. "Just don't go into any dark alleys alone. Let's don't put her to the test."
He kissed her temple. "You know I don't want anybody jumping me but you."
"I know," Natalie replied. I do know that.
"So where did she get the nickname Dean?"
"Daddy always called her that. He called me Nat."
"When did he die?" Alex asked softly.
"I was a junior in high school, and Dean was a senior. She took it really hard. I threw myself into school, and she threw herself into makeup and boys and anything but school. She was lucky to graduate."
"But she's going to college, that's something."
"Yeah, and she has to maintain a reasonable GPA to belong to the Tri-Delts, which is good. Sometimes I think she does just enough to get by, and no more. But like I said, Daddy's death hit her hard. It was a really bad time."
"I'm so sorry."
"It's okay." She snuggled up to him. "Times are much better now."
Alex sighed with contentment. "This day definitely had its finer moments."
"I can think of a couple."
He touched her cheek and turned her face to his. "There were more than just a couple. Here, let me refresh your memory." He kissed her gently, and Natalie sank into his embrace.
The weeks after the holiday flew swiftly with finals approaching, and tennis season just around the corner. Alex put in some time on the indoor courts daily, usually early in the morning or in the afternoons when Natalie worked.
Her car finally died, and they made do with one vehicle, trading it off during the day as necessary. Natalie decided a convertible with a vinyl top might be fun in nice weather, but it was dang cold in the midst of a Kansas winter. When she eventually got another car, it was going to have a solid roof and a good heater.
They juggled Christmas the same way they had Thanksgiving, spending time with her family Christmas Eve and attending midnight mass at the Catholic church. Natalie admitted they were basically Christmas and Easter church-goers, but neither of them minded attending the late night service. The church was beautiful and peaceful, filled with candles and flowers, and it felt right to be there together this year.
They spent Christmas morning with the Jamesons, who then hosted another big meal for a dozen of their closest friends. It was four p.m. before Natalie and Alex found themselves alone, at last, in his deserted apartment.
"I'm so glad your roommates went home for Christmas." They lay wrapped up in a blanket on the floor of his living room, beneath the Christmas tree, which they'd bought and decorated together.
"Quite convenient." He kissed her neck. "Oh, I forgot. I need to give you your present."
She smiled languidly. "You just gave me my present, and I liked it very, very much."
He grinned and hopped up, heading into his bedroom. He returned with a small box and handed it to her.
"Really, Alex, we already exchanged presents. What's this?"
"Open it," he urged.
They sat facing each other with the blanket wrapped around their shoulders, and she looked at the box.
It was a rectangle, maybe a necklace or earrings, she decided. But it was not exactly the size of a jeweler's box, so she wasn't sure. She unwrapped it and found a little red toy car. "Well, hmmm."
He grinned. "I wanted to get you a new car for Christmas, but I knew you'd think that was too extravagant. So I thought I'd give you this now, and maybe I could give you the real thing as a wedding present."
She gazed up at him.
He touched the little car. "Look, the doors open." He showed her.
Natalie peered in and saw something inside. She held it up and gasped when she realized what it was.
Alex smiled and took the toy from her. He shook the ring into his hand and tossed the car aside. He got on one knee and held her left hand in his. "Natalie Clark, will you marry me?"
She was shaking as she nodded. "Yes. Oh yes!"
He grinned and slipped the ring on her finger. It fit perfectly.
Natalie looked in amazement at the beautiful diamond solitaire. She couldn't have picked a lovelier ring if she'd chosen one herself.
He leaned in and said softly, "I wanted to be sort of traditional. I asked your mom for her permission. Plus, I got down on one knee. Now I realize that I just proposed to you stark naked."
Natalie glanced at him lovingly and laughed. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tight. "I'm glad you're naked. It's going to save us so much time here in a few minutes."
* * * *
It was a beautiful June wedding, even if it wasn't what Natalie'd had in mind. She didn't have strong feelings about her Catholic faith, so Mrs. Jameson booked the Christian church they belonged to. Natalie had very little family to invite and just a few friends. Mrs. Jameson filled the rest of the guest list with their family, friends and acquaintances. Natalie and her mother couldn't afford a big wedding, so Mr. Jameson took care of that. Once he'd agreed to foot the bill, Natalie had felt an obligation to let his wife run the show.
Alex offered to ask his parents to back off, but Natalie didn't really care. She wanted to marry him, and it didn't make that much difference to her how it happened. She chose her dress and the colors of the wedding, blue and white. She helped Dean pick out a pretty blue dress, something that was serious enough for a maid of honor but fun enough that she could wear it again. Other than that, Mrs. Jameson called the shots.
"Why are you letting her run things?" Dean muttered to Natalie as they dressed in the changing room before the ceremony.
"Why not?" Natalie shrugged. "Someone has to, better her than me."
"She's so bossy." Dean made a face then turned to the mirror to touch up her makeup.
"It doesn't matter," Natalie said serenely. She knew who was getting the prize in this deal. Let Mrs. Jameson be bossy, what does it really matter? In one hour, she would be Mrs. Alexander Jameson. Mrs. Natalie Jameson. She loved the way that sounded. She loved the way it looked when she wrote it over and over, scribbled on notepaper.
"You are a good girl." Jane Clark hugged her daughter from the side. "You have your head on straight. I think you and Alex are going to be very happy."
"Thank you, Mom."
Jane fingered one of the two dark curls that framed Natalie's face. "Your hair looks so pretty pulled up like this. I wish your father could see you today."
"Me, too." Natalie touched her mother's hand. "When the minister asks 'Who gives this woman to be wed' or whatever it is he says, make sure you say 'her father and I', all right? I want Daddy to be part of this."
"All right." Jane wiped a tear from her eye and hugged her daughter one more time.
The mother
and father of the groom were seated, then the mother of the bride. A relative of the Jamesons provided the flower girl, a little sprig of a thing who pranced sassily down the aisle tossing rose petals. Natalie smiled at the girl as she went.
Dean turned to Natalie at the rear of the church. "Last chance to change your mind! Say the word and we bolt out the back door!"
Natalie laughed and hugged her sister gently. She had a mountain of lace surrounding her, and didn't want to crush it. "No way I'm changing my mind. Let's go."
"If you're sure," Dean sounded like she wasn't totally convinced, but she plastered a smile on her face and marched down the aisle: step, step, pause…step, step, pause.
The Wedding March played and Natalie stepped forward. The pews were filled with faces on either side of her. She was nervous because of all the people, but not scared, because of the man standing at the front of the church. He was beaming at her already. She started toward him, surer than she'd ever been about anything in her life.
* * * *
The fall semester started and Alex was busy. It was his senior year and his classes were tough, plus it was his last opportunity to play on the tennis team, and he wanted to get in all the practice he could manage.
Natalie's schedule was much easier, and with no job to fill her afternoons, she found herself with time on her hands. She loved taking care of their house and Alex, but she knew she wanted more.
"Let's have a baby," she whispered to him one night in bed.
"Go ahead," he answered groggily. "I'm sleeping."
"Alex." She wiggled his arm. "I mean it. I want to have a baby."
He sighed and stretched and looked over at her. "Do we really have to talk about this tonight? I'm beat, it was a long day."
"But I'm excited," she insisted. "I've been thinking about this for awhile. We could start trying now, and the baby would come after you've graduated."
"Okay." He sat up and turned on his bedside lamp. "If you want to do this now, we will. How many ways can I think of to tell you what a bad idea having a baby right now is?"
Natalie was crestfallen. "Bad idea? Why?"