Page 49 of Natalie's Nighthawk

“Paid for your education, your medical bills, your living expenses. See if either one of you gets another penny from us after this!” she admonished them.

“We haven’t needed your money in years. We are both doing quite comfortably in our jobs without you.”

Debra snorted. “Hmpf. You,” she pointed at Natalie with a sneer, “with your pitifulart.And you,” she turned to Maddie. “You could have been so much more. What are you now? Some crippled ‘gal Friday’? You could have been so much better! Now … now you are nothing! Just like your sister has always been!” Both sisters paled at her harsh words. Graham’s hand clenched on hers, making her heart skip a beat knowing he cared enough to be angry on her behalf.

“That is enough, Debra!” William shouted at her. Both Maddie and Natalie stared at their father. They had never heard him stand up to her before. “Grab your stuff. I’m taking you back to the bed and breakfast. And not another word.”

Much to the sisters’ surprise, Debra stood, back ramrod straight as she walked to the hall closet, grabbed her coat, and walked out the front door without a backward glance, the door slamming behind her.

“I’m sorry for all of this,” William was telling Mary and Tim, who assured him none of it was his doing. He thanked his daughters for the meal; then he was gone too.

Both sisters collapsed back into their chairs, completely done in. No one said a word. Mary stood and took charge, allowing the girls some time to come to grips with what had just happened. “Okay, Whitaker boys. Time to clear this table and wash the dishes.” She hustled the three men into the kitchen like a bunch of toddlers. Graham stood and kissed Natalie on the head before grabbing dishes and heading into the kitchen.

Natalie and Maddie sat across from each other. Staring into each other’s eyes as the men worked around them. The emotions too raw, too overwhelming. They’d always known their mother was a cold woman. They just hadn’t realized the extent of her callous attitude. Now they knew.

Suddenly, they both burst into laughter. “God, that felt good,” Natalie gasped, trying to catch her breath from her laughter.

Maddie wiped tears from her eyes. “I’ll say! Did you see her face when we told her to get out?”

“And when Dad told her to shut up!” They burst into another round of hysterics.

When they had calmed down enough, Natalie reached for Maddie’s hands across the table. “Thanks for having my back. It means more to me than you’ll ever know.”

Maddie smiled, tears threatening again. “Should have happened a long time ago, we’re in this together.”

“Always,” Natalie promised, quickly wiping a tear away.

Mary plunked down a tray carrying glasses and a pitcher of … was that margaritas? “Who wants a margarita?” she asked, pouring the first glass. Both sisters seized on the chance to get tipsy.

After the margaritas were poured, Mary sat at the head of the table, a deck of cards in her hands. “Okay,” she started shuffling the cards. “Do you want to talk about it, or do you want to play a game?”

They glanced at each other briefly before they turned to Mary, saying, “Game!”

They played gin for several hours, the boys eventually joining in with the cobbler and another pitcher of margaritas. Natalie couldn’t remember having a more enjoyable night. The Whitaker’s were unlike any family she’d ever experienced. The love between them was obvious; they enjoyed each other’s company. They had fun together. That was … different. And incredible.

“Natalie,” Mary said, dealing the cards for what seemed like the hundredth time. “I just have to tell you that I love that painting over your fireplace.”

“Natalie painted it,” Graham informed her, pride in his voice.

“That’s one of yours? It’s wonderful,” she said wistfully. “Tim, does that view look familiar to you?”

He glanced at the painting again, “Is that …?”

“Certainly looks like it, doesn’t it?” She shared a private smile with her husband. Graham and Natalie had their own private smile. Apparently, they shared a wonderful memory of a special spot with his parents.

David and Maddie looked between the two couples in confusion. “What is it?” David asked.

“It’s a hidden spot that overlooks the lake off of Lakeside Drive back home in Indiana.” The older couple looked at Graham, the shocked expression on their faces that someone else would know about that spot made Graham laugh out loud. “Come on, guys,” Graham said to his parents. “You don’t honestly think you were the only ones in town that knew about that spot.”

“I didn’t.” David remarked.

“Me either,” Maddie concurred. “How do you know about it?” she asked Natalie.

Natalie smiled; the memory precious to her. “Graham took me there the day of the tornado.”

“Yeah, you remember,” Graham teased Maddie. “You abandoned your sister on the side of the road.” Maddie winced, reminded of what a bitch she had been in high school.

“Graham rescued me.”

---