Page 76 of Nathan
Family Meeting
Nathan
When I walked through the doors to Liv’s and Charles’ house, I took a deep breath and squared my shoulders. I already knew I was in trouble because River had asked me to show up for a family meeting.
Beside my adoptive parents, my three sisters and Damian were here. Saffron was only six and would be happy to see me no matter what, but Lumi and River were a different story. Walking into the open kitchen, dining, and living room, I saw Liv, Damian, Lumi, and River gathered by the bay window where they were looking out.
“Hi.” I raised a hand and waited for them all to turn around. “What are you looking at?”
Liv waved me over. “It’s Saffron on the trampoline. She just learned how to do a backflip, and she wants us all to see her. Hurry!”
I walked over to stand next to Damian, Lumi’s fiancé, who had been a family friend for years.
“What’s the craic?” he said and patted my shoulder before he quickly looked back to the garden. “I wish I’d had a thing like that as a kid. Say, Liv, are ye certain I can’t use the trampoline?”
“You’re too heavy, and I don’t want you breaking your neck when you fall through.”
“I’d be careful.”
“Tsk.” She smacked her tongue with a smile. “No you wouldn’t. You’re reckless by nature. Just like Nathan.”
“I’m not reckless,” I protested.
“Just watch.” Liv knocked on the window and waved at her daughter.
Outside, Charles stood next to the trampoline with his hands on the surrounding net like he wanted to reach her in case his little princess hurt herself.
Saffron’s lips were pinned together in concentration, and her little body not entirely straight or coordinated. She jumped to get momentum, and then she threw her body backward and flipped in the air, landing briefly on her feet before she lost balance and sat down on her behind.
We all applauded and River opened a window and shouted. “Do it again.”
One more time, we all watched Saffron almost get the backflip right, and when she came in with windblown hair and red cheeks from the exercise, we all told her how brilliant she was.
“That’s because I practice every day,” Saffron said and lifted her arms for me to hug her.
I picked her up and carried her to the kitchen. “Because of your bravery, you get to have a fizzy drink. What do you want?”
“Can I have a Coca-Cola?” Saffron looked to Liv, who raised her eyebrow at me.
“She can have half a Coke, but no more.”
I sat Saffron on the counter, found a cola in the fridge, and poured it into two martini glasses for fun. “Sláinte.”
Sitting on the counter, Saffron swung her legs and held on to the glass with both hands.
“Look at us two fancy people,” I said and winked at her.
She was missing a tooth when she smiled.
River came over. “Where’s my hug? Don’t think we didn’t notice how you sneaked in without proper greetings.”
Lifting my arm, I gave her a sideways hug.
“You know you’re in trouble.”
Saffron burst into a small giggle that made River place a hand on her hip. “What’s so funny?”
“I’ve never seen you so strict with Nathan.”
