Page 41 of Rescuing Nathaniel

“Mother, Father, this is Nathaniel. He’s not a doctor, he’s the Navy SEAL who saved my life,” she said, hoping against hope her parents wouldn't have the reaction to the man she could see herself falling for but knowing that they would.

Her parents thought they were better than everyone else because they had money. They looked down on people who weren't as financially blessed as they were, and it drove them absolutely crazy that she had forged her own path in life instead of following the plan they had for her.

For once in her life, she wanted them to be actual parents, see her as a real person and not a piece on a chess board to be utilized to the best of its ability. Especially when it involved the special man standing beside her. He had put his life on the line for her when he didn't have to, and the least her parents owed him was their gratitude.

But she doubted they would see it that way.

* * *

March 4th

10:37 A.M.

The parents.

Great.

Not only was Nathaniel not meet the parents material, but it was pretty obvious from the looks on the older couple standing by the door, that the moment they heard he wasn't a doctor they lost all interest in him.

“What's he still doing here then?” Mrs. Hendricks asked as she strode into the room like she owned the place. “If you're in the hospital, shouldn’t he be off playing in the water or whatever it is his kind do?”

“Mother,” Ava gasped, clearly aghast at her mom’s disrespectful words and tone. “That’s a terrible thing to say. What Nathaniel does isn’t playing. It helps keep our country safe and he literally saved my life. What about that aren't you getting? You owe him a massive thank you, not rude words.”

Mrs. Hendricks shrugged, she couldn’t look less apologetic if she tried.

Mr. Hendricks just looked plain bored.

Neither of them looked like they were all that worried about their daughter who had just been through a traumatic ordeal and was currently sitting in a hospital bed minus one organ which had been stolen from her.

What kind of parents were these?

They were dressed impeccably in brand names Nathaniel had heard of before but never seen in person. Ava’s mother had her hair and makeup done like she was heading out to a formal event instead of a hospital visit, and she was dripping in diamonds that probably cost more than he made in an entire year.

If it wasn't for her smarmy, I'm better than everyone else expression, Mrs. Hendricks would be a beautiful woman. She was short, slim, and delicate, with no wrinkles on her face despite the fact she had to be in her fifties. It was obvious Ava took after her mother, at least in looks, but thankfully not in personality.

“Did you at least meet any nice doctors?” Mrs. Hendricks continued her own train of thought, ignoring her daughter’s rebuke and refusing to acknowledge him.

“Mother, I was just snatched off the streets and held by organ traffickers, right now I'm just happy to be alive and trying to believe I'm safe. Looking for eligible doctors is not even on my radar,” Ava said through clenched teeth.

“Well, it doesn’t hurt to keep your eyes open,” Mrs. Hendricks spoke as though she were completely oblivious to her daughter’s anger. “You're not getting any younger you know.”

“I'm twenty-eight,” Ava seethed.

“Right, the wrong end of twenty, almost thirty, and look at you, still single.” The way Mrs. Hendricks said it made it sound both like an insult and a tragedy.

“I’m not going to get married until I meet someone I fall in love with,” Ava said, a weariness to her tone now like this was a conversation she’d already had over and over again.

As she spoke, Ava’s blue eyes shifted to him, drifting from his face to her arm, where he realized he was still holding tissues pressed against the small wound in the crook of her elbow.

Since her attention had been drawn to his hands on her, it seemed to draw her parents’ attention there as well. Or at least her mother’s.

“Why is he touching you?” Mrs. Hendricks snapped. “Do I need to call security? Is he pressuring you to offer your body to him because he saved your life?”

“Mother,” Ava rebuked. “That’s a terrible thing to say. Nathaniel isn’t like that, and I don’t know why you would imply that he is.”

“You can never tell with his kind,” Mrs. Hendricks said, once again completely unapologetically. The look she gave him made it abundantly clear whatkindshe thought he was. Her nose turned up as she gave him a scrutinizing once over, making him feel like he was dirt on the bottom of her shoe.

“Stop it, Mother. I was scratching at my arm because it was itchy and took off the scab, it was bleeding. Nathaniel noticed and grabbed some tissues to stop it bleeding.”

---