Accidentally Perfect (24 page)

My morning was started by Amanda jumping on my bed telling me that she can’t wait to go pick up Addie and go to Nathan’s.  Evidently while I slept, he and Amanda packed up everything the girls would want to take while we stayed with him.  I spent my morning packing my clothes and everything I may need.  Nathan made some calls and had a small moving truck pull up to my house and haul whatever he and Amanda wanted to take over to his place.  Mine was loaded in the trunk of my car.  “Baby, are you ready to go get Bug?”  Nathan was standing in my closet while I finished getting dressed. 

“Yeah.”
  I pulled on a pair of flats that I paired with capris and an off the shoulder t-shirt.  I threw my hair up in a ponytail.  I wasn’t sure what moving into Nathan’s would entail so I wanted to be ready and comfortable.

“Come on Bear,
let’s go get your sister.”  I hear Nathan call out as he leaves my room. 

Once we get to the hospital, I see reporters along the drive, but none of them are at the entrance.  I’m so thankful for this. 
Hopefully,
it won’t be too hectic once we get ready to leave.  The three of us enter the third floor. Nathan is holding Amanda on his side while he holds my
hand. As I
push through to her room, I see Brad and my mother sitting with Addie. 
“Mommy!”
  She exclaims.

“Hi baby, are you ready to get out of here?” 

“Yes, I wanna go to Nathan’s.”

“Okay, as soon as we get the doctors to say you’re ready then we will get out of here.”

“Brad.”  Nathan nods his head towards Brad.

“Nathan.  Hey baby, come and see daddy.”  He holds out his
hand, and Amanda wiggles out of Nathan’s hold and runs into Brad's
arms. 

“Ares yous gonna come wif us to Nafins, daddy?”

“Yes,
baby.  I have to make sure you, your
sister, and your momma are all taken care of.” I glance at Nathan, and I see his jaw tense at Brad’s comment.

“Where exactly are you taking my daughter and my grandchildren, Nathan?”

“To my home Vivian, to our home.”
 

“Laney, how do you expect for me to be alright about having you and the girls at a place when I have no idea where it’s located.”

“I’m not taking the girls to another country mother.  Stop acting like you’re never going to see us again.  The girl’s birthdays are coming up in a few of weeks.”

“Have you even put any thought in their birthdays?  I know you have been so caught up in your own life, I’m sure their birthdays have slipped your mind.”

I have to admit.  I haven’t made any final decisions about anything.  I’m sure I’ll have some of their friends from preschool over to the Central Park Zoo, but I haven’t made the phone calls yet.  If worse comes to worse and I can’t get that set in stone, I will just have something over at my house.  Maybe once the girls start kindergarten and make more
friends, I will put together a big fancy party then.

“We’ve already made plans, Vivian.  Everything is under
control,
and your input is not needed.  You’ll have your invitation within the next two days.  It’s up to
you
if you want to attend or not.”  I have no clue what Nathan is talking about.  Plus I haven’t even talked to Brad about anything.

“Are you serious, it’s up to me?  And where else, Nathan, do you think I would be on that day?”

“Probably the same places you’ve been on all the birthdays you didn’t make an effort when it came to your own daughter.”

“We’s hafin a party Nafin?”

“Yes baby, you are.  It’s a surprise, but I know you and Bug are going to love it.”

“Excuse me,
I hope I’m not interrupting anything.  But I have Adele Richards’ release papers.”  A nurse comes in with a stack of papers.  “I’m sure she’s ready to get out of here and go home. 
If the parents can sign them.”
  She hands Nathan some papers.  “Here are the
at-home
care instructions.  She will go home with a pair of crutches that she’ll need for the next two weeks.  Once those two weeks are up she will have to see the
doctor, and he will make the decision if she starts to wear a walking boot and get rid of her crutches.”

“Thank you so much,
” I tell the nurse.  Once everything is signed, we‘ve been officially
released
from the hospital.  Brad pushes Addie in the wheelchair while Nathan carries Amanda in his arms.  My mother and I trail behind them.

“I do not feel right about not knowing where Nathan lives, Laney.”

“Mother he lives near the park, on
Columbus.  Alright, does that make you feel better?”

“I’ll feel better once this whole situation is over, and you and the girls are back where you are supposed to be; in a house your father and I purchased for you.”

“One, the girls and I are where we’re supposed to be and two, my father bought the house for me.  Not you.  If I remember right, you weren’t too happy that he bought me such an extravagant gift.”

“Laney, why do you always have to be so difficult?”

“Mother, why do you always have to be so difficult?  Did you ever think that if you weren’t so pigheaded and hard to deal with that you would be coming with us to see where your
grand girls
and I are going to be living?  Nathan is big on respect mother, and there is no way he is going to allow you anywhere near his home if you don’t respect him or me.”

“Doesn’t the saying go, ‘respect your elders’?”

“Yes, and doesn’t the saying go, ‘give respect where respect is given’?  You need to learn a little bit about respect mother.  It’s not just about people giving the respect you think you deserve.  You also need to give it back.”   

We ride the elevator down in silence.  My mother never says another word about where I’m taking the girls.  Once we get out of the
hospital,
I see reporters off in the distance.  I don’t have to explain anything to the girls because this time they aren’t shouting out questions or making accusations. 
“Alright, girls.”
  My mother says.  “I’ll see you soon.  Be good for your mother and father.”

“And Nafin too, and Nafin too.”

“Yes, and Nathan too.”
  She gives a small
smile, and she’s off to her waiting car and driver.

We get the kids secured in their boosters,
and Nathan gives Brad the directions to his building.  “Are you ready girls?”  Nathan asks as we pull from the curb. 

“Yes,” they say in unison.

“I think I may need to buy myself another car.  I’m not sure how I feel about driving the girls everywhere in this.”

“Why, is your Bugatti too manly
for car seats and sippy cups?” I say with a smirk. 

“Hell no, I just want something bigger, secure while I have them with me.  We were lucky this time, but I don’t want to chance it. I think I want a big tank.”

“Yeah, I can see you driving the streets of Manhattan in a tank.  Be serious Nathan.”

“Well, I am buying a new car.  I’m serious about that one.” 

The rest of the drive is quiet.  The girls take in the scenery as it passes by.  The buildings near Nathan’s home are exquisite.  High
rises
of glass and steel line the streets.  We slow and enter the belly of a modern looking structure.  “
Hello,
Mr. Whitmore.”  The guard greets Nathan.

“Hello Clive, I want you to meet my wife, Laney Whitmore.”

“Laney Richards-Whitmore, nice to meet you,
Clive.”  This bit of information earns me a dirty look from Nathan. I know we haven’t talked about, but I do want to continue to share my daughters’ name.  I don’t want to lose that connection that I have with them.  Plus they are starting a new school
soon,
and I want the staff there to make the connection.  I don’t want any doubt from anyone that I’m their parent.

“Richards-Whitmore?”
  He questions me as he parks the car.

“Yes, and just to let you know, Lovey, I’m not budging.”

“Lovey, huh?
  You think by giving me a cute pet name I’m going to back down on this subject.”

“No, because you love me and you know how important the girls are to me is why you will back down on the subject.”

“Alright Bear
, you got me there.  I’ll let this one slide.”  He gives me a wink and get out of the car.

         I didn’t think I would be this nervous to bring the girls here.  I just want everything to be perfect for them.  I want all three of them to feel welcome and at home.  I haven’t talked to my sister about what I asked her to do, but
I know
I can count on her.  Once we get into the elevator to head up to my
penthouse,
the tension is unbearable.  I haven’t made eye contact with Brad
yet
because I know he’s going to be pissed that I took a huge step with his girls.  But they’re my family now, and I don’t feel I overstepped whatsoever. “Do you own the entire top floor?”

“Yes.” Brad is asking the questions.  “It’s totally
secure; no one gets up to the penthouse without clearance from myself
, and now Laney.  The doorman is always on
staff, and he has to buzz any visitors to the top floor. They aren’t allowed up if there isn’t a verbal confirmation.”

“And the elevator?”

“My team is coming over first thing in the morning to move the control panels further up. They are also going to install a finger panel.  This way the elevator won’t open if the fingerprints don’t match.  The girls will not be able to open the elevator and leave without my or Laney’s fingerprints.”

“Brad, you have an elevator and stairs at your building.  I’ve never thought the girls would leave your place without you.”

“I know, but they’re getting older.”

“They will be secure
here Brad. Don’t worry.”  He nods in agreement.

We get off the elevator,
and the girls take everything in.  I didn’t like the idea of the elevator opening into my home so once I bought the place I had an entryway created and installed a nice front door. I get my key out but the door swings open and Natalie is standing there.  “Well
hello,
pretty ladies.” 

“Auntie Nat!”  They scream.

She squats down greeting Amanda and Addie.  “Well Addie, I don’t think I’ve ever seen pink crutches.  How are you feeling sweetie?”

“I’m okay. 
Tired.”

“Well let’s get you inside,
so you and your sister can take a look around.  Nathan has a surprise for you guys.”

We walk inside. Brad, Laney, Amanda and Addie take a look around.  Addie struggles a little with her crutches, but Laney makes sure to keep her hand on her shoulder to steady her.  My home is pretty
spectacular
if I don’t say so myself.  This was the first place my realtor showed me a year
ago,
and I knew as soon as I stepped foot inside that it was meant to be.  The entire length of the living room and dining area is floor to ceiling windows.  I have a full view of Central Park and the New York
skyline
.  At night when the city is alive with the glimmering lights, it’s absolutely beautiful.  I can’t wait to share it with Laney.   I’ve never been much
for color, so I had each room decorated in grays, whites, blacks,
and silvers.  Comparing my house to Laney’s home, I know they are complete opposites.  Where Laney’s home is bright, warm and welcoming mine is cool, and maybe not so welcoming.  Definitely doesn’t reflect a man with a family.   Seeing the three fiery redheads roaming about my house reflects the great contrast of what my life was, and what it now is.  I know I will forever choose color over the bleakness of my past, red always being my favorite.  “Would you like to see the surprises Nathan did for you guys?”

“Yeah!”
 

“What did you do, Nathan?”  Laney looks at me.

“It wasn’t really me.  I had Natalie help me with something over the past couple of days.”