“Okay.” She pulled up the short’s hem higher so the little girl could see the jagged scar where a piece of glass had been embedded in her skin.
Watching the little girl’s eyes get wide as she looked at the red puckered skin that looked like it might still have stitches in it today. The little girl reached out and touched it.
Natalie wanted to pull away but didn’t want to frighten the little girl.
“It feels weird. How did you get it?” the girl asked.
“I was in a big car accident. When you think you don’t need to wear your seat belt, just remember this scar. I wasn’t wearing one that day,” Natalie explained.
“You have to wear a seat belt in the car, Beckett, it’s the law,” said the kid of a judge.
“I know. Now I wear one every time,” Natalie promised.
“Do you have any more scars?” Molly asked, looking at her other leg, the one that didn’t have any as obvious as the one Molly had touched.
“Yes, but I’ll not show you anymore. Just this one. Lilly, did you want to touch it?” She turned to the girl on the other side of her mother. Not wanting to leave the other sister out.
“No.” Lilly backed up a little.
Natalie had been surprised at Molly’s reaction to the scar, but Lilly’s was the more common reaction.
“You guys should come over for supper, in thanks of helping the girls.” Max had slipped his arms around his wife as Natalie had spoken to Molly.
“No, we couldn’t impose.” Sam helped Natalie to her feet.
“We’ll not take no for an answer.” Della pulled herself from her husband’s embrace, and for a second, Natalie thought she was going to hug her until she turned and walked toward the front door of the law office away from everyone.
Sam took Natalie’s hand and followed the shorter woman into the building. Once inside, Max took over, leading them to the back kitchen as Della went upstairs to change. She and Sam sat on the stools at the island as Max started to cook. When Della came into the kitchen, she sat down on the remaining stool and watched her husband cook.
Looking over at the younger couple, she explained, “I don’t cook, so Max does all the cooking now. I don’t even pretend anymore. Not that I pretended for long.”
“You could pretend to get drinks, beautiful,” Max said to his wife.
With a smile at him, the woman laughed and got up to get beverages for everyone. Soon the kids wandered off to play, leaving the adults to talk.
“Do you live here?” Natalie looked over at the quiet office.
“Yes, we live upstairs, but the kitchen is down here. It’s a little inconvenient, but I like it here still.” Della took out glasses from the cabinet.
“Is the upstairs as nice as the downstairs?” Sam asked.
“Oh yes. The entire house is gorgeous. I love it here.” Della set the glasses in front of the younger couple.
“I bet it is. It must have cost a fortune,” Natalie said.
“It’s been in my family forever. It’s called the Connor Mansion. I just had to fix it up since it had sat empty for years,” Della explained. “It took over a year.
Natalie looked around and wondered what it could have possibly looked like empty. After seeing the office full of activity, she could barely believe it could ever have been empty?
“How long have you two been married?” Max asked from in front of the stove.
“Just recently tied her down.” Sam pulled her close to him.
She went willingly into his arms.
“Have you known each other a long time?” Della asked.
“We met years ago, but we got together more recently. We’re from a small town where everybody knows everybody,” Sam said.