Gina loved her back yard. She spent a lot of her free time gardening and fixing her back yard. The backyard had lush green grass with a stone path that cut through the middle of it to lead to the wooden shed at the bottom of the yard. There were flowers of all colours and types surrounding the grass. There was a glass table with four chairs and an umbrella for shade on one side of the path. And then on one side of the porch was a Cherrywood swing whiles on the other side was a glass table with four rattan brown chairs.
'I'm better, I just had a migraine. I guess I just needed some sleep' I said looking over at the beautiful red roses that Gina had planted.
'What's on your mind dear?' asked Gina with a motherly smile as she took a sip of her ice tea.
'It's just Nate and Nick butting heads. Nate just… I don't know what to do anymore. It's like he has to bait Nick. It's always 'momma lets me' and I think it gets on Nick's nerves when Nate compares the both of us. I think it hurts his feelings. Not that he says anything. And, well you know Nick' I said to Gina. I couldn't tell her the real reason, so I thought I'd tell her half the reason. I was in fact worried about the way Nate would bait Nick.
'Well I think it's because Nate misses his father. When Nick is home, he isn't used to the way that you and Nate are. So, Nate doesn't like the change' said Gina.
'Like yesterday Nate didn't want to eat a sandwich that Nick made for him, after asking him to make it for him. They both ended up arguing and Nate ended up crying and went to his room in a strop. And just before we came they were both arguing over Nate on the bed with his shoes on' I said as I took a sip of my ice tea. I sighed, Gina leaned over and took my hand in hers.
'It'll be fine, sweetheart. Nate's growing up and he's becoming more independent. But I think it's mostly because he misses his father when he's on the road' said Gina squeezing my hand.
'You not complain about me to Ma, Tay?' said Nick as he sat on the chair next to me.
'No, we were talking. How are you dear?' asked Gina smiling as I passed my ice tea to Nick.
'I'm fine, Ma. Just taking Taylor and Nate out before I head out' said Nick taking a sip of my ice tea.
'Where's Nate?' I asked Nick. As soon as we got here Nate has wondered off and Nick had followed after him to keep him out of trouble.
'He's with Pa and patchy' said Nick putting the empty glass on the table.
'Patchy? I'm assuming that's what my grandson is naming my kitten' said Gina with an amused grin on her face.
'Oh, that kitten! Gina that's all he's been going on about it since he's seen it' I groaned pushing my hair back.
'Yeah, ma. All he's said since he's come back is 'grandma's kitten this' 'grandma's kitten that' or 'can we get one' so we're going to get a puppy' said Nick smiling fondly.
'So where are you guys headed?' asked Gina getting up.
'We're going to the aquarium and then a zoo. Then we're going to have some lunch' I said to her following her example and getting up.
'Don't forget we're going to get a puppy then you're going to drop me off at the airport' said Nick following us in to the house.
Gina made maple and cinnamon French toast, Waffles with banana & salted caramel sauce, pancakes, Peanut Butter and Jelly Cinnamon Rolls and a few other favourites of my little family. Oh, and my little munchkin's favourite chocolate chip pancakes.
We stayed for about an hour talking and catching up. It had been a while since the three of us had been together with Nick's parents. I would visit with Nate but rarely with Nick. When Nick was home he would visit his parents when he could, but it was every now and then when all of us would be together.
We spent the rest of the day together just the three of us. Nate was all smiles and he was glowing that he was so happy. He ended up with different stuffed animals. A lion, tiger, elephant, flamingo, polar bear, and a rhino from the zoo. A clown fish and shark from the aquarium as well as a snow globe with the lion enclose in it. It was times like this that reminded me why I had fallen in love with Nick. He had held my hand all day and held me close. I felt conflicted. I loved Nick I knew that, but I didn't know how to go on with our relationship.
We stopped for some lunch in McDonalds. Nate's mouth was running a mile a minute again as he kept on recounting what he saw and what animals he saw. I had to keep reminding him to take a break and breathe.
After our dinner break we were going to a pet shop nearby to get the puppy that Nate had his heart set on.
'Nick… I know you… you want a puppy but are you sure we should get one. I mean we could just get him some gold fish' I stuttered trying to find the right words. I didn't want to ruin such an enjoyable day that we had together. I looked over at the back seat where Nate was busy playing with his stuffed animals.
'It'll be fine Taylor. We'll get a puppy like we always wanted. Nate will have someone to play with and you can take him for walks. It'll be fine. Don't worry about it' said Nick taking my hand in to his and giving it a squeeze.