Nathan didn't move except for to envelope her hand in his. It hadn't occurred to him that the breakthrough would happen while Louise was asleep but it was still a breakthrough and he would take it no matter how it came. He wondered how she would react in the morning when she woke up and found him in bed with her even though he was fully dressed. For a brief second he though about slipping away before she woke up but decided to stay where he was. It was time to stop coddling her so much and to begin treating her for what she was, a beautiful woman that he intended to spend an eternity with.
Slowly so he wouldn't wake her, Nathan moved closer to her on the bed stopping when she muttered something in her sleep, moving again when she quieted. Several minutes later, he was next to her, his leg touching hers, her hand still in his. As she slept, he began to plan how he was going to tell her about his family and then decided that he needed some guidance. Out of respect and love, he decided that he would talk to his father first and then Patrick. He knew that in the end it would be up to him to decide how he told her. First, the issue of that damned Barb had to be settled and then he would have her undivided attention.
It seemed as though he had just closed his eyes when he heard a startled gasp and then felt Louise fly off the bed.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Resting." Nathan replied not moving.
"How long have you been here?"
"Since we got back, it's early yet, come back to bed." Nathan urged.
"Ummm no thanks and I think that you should leave." Louise replied,
Nathan started to push a little but thought better of it. He wanted to talk to his father and uncle first. He got out of the bed, walked over to Louise, bent down, kissed her lightly on the lips, and left the room before she could react.
Louise stood speechless. Her heart pounded as she watched Nathan walk out of her room. Part of her had really wanted him to leave but part of her didn't. She thought about calling Kevyn, picked up the phone to do it but lay it back in its cradle. It was time for her to start accepting a few facts no matter how far fetched they seemed. The biggest fact was that Nathan Sinclaire cared about her. It didn't matter that she wasn't fashion model beautiful; he cared. The second fact was that she liked him too... actually, she more than liked him and that was why she had gotten so angry with Barb.
"So what now?" she asked herself as she sat down on the bed.
*******
Nathan went into the room that adjoined Louise's suite and lay on the bed. It would be another few hours before Patrick surfaced but he knew that his father was up. He took out his phone and hit speed dial.
"How's it going dad? Really? But mom is alright? Good...do you have a minute?"
By time the conversation was over, Nathan's cell phone battery was nearly dead but he had a new appreciation about how difficult it had to have been for his parents. However, it was the end of the conversation that concerned him. His parents were concerned about his younger brother Joseph. While never a big talker, he had become even more withdrawn since Patrick found Kevyn and now Louise was in the picture. When asked what was bothering him, he gave the same one word answer, "nothing." Nathan promised that he would talk with him to see if he could figure out what the problem was although he thought he already knew- the damned Sinclaire legacy. He would call him later but he had to deal with Louise first.
He found Patrick an hour later in the small movie theater in the basement. He was setting up the concession stand in anticipation of spending the evening watching the sports channel with Kevyn.
"You and Lou can join us if you like." Patrick said.
"I'll ask her... Uncle Patrick, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure... shoot."
"How did Kevyn react when you told her about us?" he asked.
Patrick sat down and indicated that Nathan should as well.
"It's something that I never want to go through again although I know that I'll have to if and when we have children. She was angry, hurt and I think for just a little while scared of me even though she wouldn't admit it. Her going back to Pennsylvania was an attempt to distance herself from me although in the end it was a good thing that she went. It took a lot of talking and I won't lie to you, we're still working our way through it. You're going to tell Lou about us aren't you?" Patrick asked.
"Yes but I wanted to talk to you and dad first." Nathan replied. "No offense, but I'm glad that I can at least tell her that I've never raped anyone."
"None taken but you may want to wait for a few days. Kev is planning to meet with Barb and Louise at her old apartment. They need to hash out whatever the root of the problem is between them. I doubt that it will change Barb but it may change their relationship.
"I was thinking about that." Nathan said, "Not about their meeting but about waiting until the issue with Barb being settled. Do you mind if I stay here? I want Louise to get used to having me around."
"I was wondering when you would think of it." Patrick replied, "But the answer is of course you can stay as long as you need and want to, you didn't have to ask."
"Thanks... when is this meeting with Barb going to happen?" Nathan asked anxious for it to be done and over with.
"Tomorrow I think but Kevyn hasn't talked to Lou about it yet." Patrick replied. "Be prepared, they could be gone for a couple of days."
"Actually, that's good." Nathan said, "It'll give me some time to think of how to tell Louise the ugly Sinclaire truth."
"I understand but Nathan, don't think about it too hard." Patrick advised. The important thing is that she knows that you love her and that you will do anything to ensure that she is happy and safe. And one more thing, don't try to justify what we are and what we've done. For one, there is no justification for it and two, it won't help."
"That's the same advice dad gave me." Nathan said. "And her being away will give me a chance more work done on the house that I'm building for her."
"Sounds good... the games start in about an hour if you want to come down."
"Thanks." Nathan said realizing that there was so much he didn't know about his mate.
*******
Barb fumed for the rest of the night into the early morning hours not answering her phone when it rang. Every time she thought about what she considered an intervention, she got angry. "Just who in the hell do they think they are?" she asked the air "Miss high and mighty and Miss mousy" she grumbled. She had no intentions of meeting with the; she had nothing to say. As soon as she got the paper, she would start looking for a job and a place to live and that would be that.
The phone rang again and this time she snatched it out of the cradle.
"What?" she snapped.
"I was calling to see if you needed assistance with anything." Hans replied ignoring the harsh tone,
"No." Barb said, hung up and remembered that she wanted the paper.
Someone else answered when she called back.
"Yes ma'am?"
"I want a paper with my breakfast and this time don't overcook the eggs!" Barb said and hung up not giving the person on the other end a chance to respond. Breakfast was delivered a short time later delivered by none other than the woman that she had yelled at the day before.
