October 8th
Two days before Nathan's surgery, Evie turned fifteen. No one mentioned anything at breakfast and she was fine with that. Her mom wasn't there so celebrating felt less important. She would just be happy to spend the day with the family. She loved all of them.
As they ate breakfast together at the large, custom dining table, she listened to the conversations but didn't contribute. She just ate her scrambled eggs and fruit.
"Eve?" Nathan said, nudging her hand with his.
"Huh?"
"What are your plans for today?"
"Don't have any. Whatever you guys do is fine with me."
"Well, we were going to drive up to Ludington to see the trees and the lighthouse. Maybe grab lunch?"
"Yeah. Sounds good." She knew fall was Aunt Beth's favorite time of year and the trees with their deep red, oranges and yellows were gorgeous.
Once they arrived in Ludington, Nathan pulled over and switched with Elizabeth since his head was starting to hurt.
"I'm going to run into the store and grab stuff for our lunch. Wanna help me, girls?" she asked them.
They grabbed a loaf of bread, deli meat, cheese, two bags of chips and some soda.
Evie was quiet as she had been all morning while Allie and Kendra talked excitedly about seeing the big lighthouse and having a picnic.
"You okay, Evie?" Elizabeth asked, giving her a squeeze.
"Sure."
"You seem quiet today." Elizabeth figured she assumed no one remembered her birthday. However, they definitely remembered and she hoped she enjoyed her day.
"I'm okay," she assured her.
While inside the store, Nathan and the boys went to the flower store next to the grocery store. They bought six small bouquets of wildflowers and hid them in the rear of the Tahoe so Evie wouldn't see them.
Once they arrived in Ludington, they headed to where they would hike to Big Sable Point Lighthouse.
"Should we eat first?" Elizabeth suggested, noticing Nathan's energy waning.
"Sure," he said with a wink. They sat in the sun on a blanket, thankful it was a warm day for early October.
As they ate their food, Elizabeth suggested they take some family photos.
"Aunt Beth, I don't think we brought a camera," Evie told her.
"We did," Nathan said, getting up. "JJ, want to help me find the camera?"
"Why would it take two of them to find a camera?" Evie asked Allie who just shrugged.
She found out about three minutes later when the boys wandered back, their arms full of flowers, a large gift bag and cupcakes.
Evie looked at her aunt, her eyes immediately filling with tears. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."
"I thought you all forgot," she admitted.
"Nope," Julian grinned, getting up and grabbing a bouquet, handing it to Evie. "Love you, Eve. Thank you for being my big sister."
Evie stood and hugged her brother. "I love you too, Julian."
Kendra was next. "When Mommy died, I was so sad. Thank you for always staying with me and crying with me. It really helped. I love you." Kendra hugged her big sister and let her tears fall.
"I love you more. I'll always be here for you, Ken."
JJ stepped forward. "I'm glad you're my cousin, Evie. Love you," he said, hugging her and handing her his bouquet.
"Love you too, JJ."
Allie smiled and held out her bouquet. "You're one of my best friends. I'm so happy I have someone to talk to about boys or when Uncle Nathan bugs me or just because."
"Hey," Nathan teased. "Do I bug you that much? And boys?"
Evie hugged Allie and they giggled. "Your turn," Allie told him.
He playfully glared at the girls and then handed his bouquet over. "Evie, I've loved you as my patient and then friend and now my niece. I am so grateful to have you and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, because its all for you."
"I love you too, Uncle Nathan. Thank you for being all those things."
He kissed the top of her head and stepped aside for Elizabeth to take her turn.
"I am so proud of you, Evie. You are such a strong, smart, beautiful person, inside and out. I know you were saving up for this, but Nathan and I wanted to give it as a gift. I hope it helps you make your dreams come true, wherever they take you."
Evie opened the bag and gasped. A digital camera and a tripod! And a camera bag! "Oh my goodness! Thank you so much!" she squealed, hugging both of them.
"This is from me," Kendra said, handing her a flat box.
"A photo album?"
"Its a memory book. I put pictures of Mommy and us in it. I thought when you take new pictures, we can add more memories."
"What a great idea, Ken. Thank you so much."
The rest of the day was perfect. They took so many "family" pictures in dozens of different combinations and she couldn't wait to look at them later and add them to the album.
Nathan moaned in his sleep in the front seat. Evie worried about him. They had all just become a family and now...he was having surgery the day after tomorrow. What if it didn't fix his headaches? Or worse...what if he didn't survive?
They pulled into their driveway an hour later. The rest of the kids got out. Evie watched Elizabeth softly graze his cheek with her fingertip.
"Babe," she whispered. Evie could hear the love even in her whispers. "Babe, we're home."
Nathan opened his eyes and smiled at Elizabeth. "Hey, beautiful."
Elizabeth smiled back. "Hey, handsome. How are you feeling?"
"Woozy. But, not in as much pain."
"That's good."
Evie sniffed and wiped her cheeks.
Nathan took off his seat belt and turned. "Eve? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. I'm just going inside."
"Evie, what's on your mind, sweetie?" Nathan asked again.
He asked that same question every time they had gone to his office for grief therapy and now, since he lived with them, anytime he noticed them upset or concerned.
"I'm worried," she admitted.
Elizabeth gave him a soft kiss. "I'll see you inside."
"What are you worried about?" he asked her, after Elizabeth headed inside.
"You. I don't want to lose you, Uncle Nathan. What if the surgery doesn't help or you don't survive it? I need you. All of us need you."
Nathan got out of the SUV slowly and opened her door, offering his hand. "Let's go sit on the porch swing, birthday girl." They grabbed her flowers and bags and walked up to the swing, setting her items nearby.
"Surgery is risky," he admitted, putting his arm around her shoulders. "But I need to feel better. I can't do my job like this. I trust my surgeon to do what he can to help."
"I need you to walk me down the aisle at my wedding," she blurted.
"Hang on, Evelyn. What are we talking about here? Boys again? I'm not sure I'm up for giving you away. Do you have a boyfriend?" The sparkle in his eyes made her laugh.
"No. No boyfriend, Uncle Nathan. I meant in the future."
"Phew. Like ten years? I might be ready by then."
"I'll be old then!"
"Twenty five isn't old."
Evie kissed his cheek. "Thank you for today. Let's go have hot chocolate with extra marshmallows."
"Anything for the birthday girl."
The next evening, about eighteen hours before his surgery, Nathan asked Elizabeth something she hadn't expected. "Babe, will you shave my head?"
"Shave your head? Isn't that a bit drastic?" She loved his dark, soft hair.
"Please? I can do it myself but I figured I'd ask you."
She reached up and ran her fingers through it, fighting her emotions.
"Beth, if its too hard…"
She wrapped her arms around his waist and hugged him tightly. He was her husband, her love. "Nathan…"
He touched her chin and softly touched his lips to hers. "I'm not going anywhere."
She pushed up on her toes and kissed him passionately, tears rolling down her cheeks. "You better not. I need you here." She kissed him twice more and then walked away to find the hair clippers and scissors.
A few moments later, he was sitting on a stool in the kitchen, a towel draped over his shoulders.
Beth hesitated. He pulled her between his knees, into his arms and held her. "I love you, you know that?"
"Of course," she whispered. "I love you more."
"I'm going to be fine and my hair will grow back."
She sighed and backed up a smidge, running her fingers through his hair again. Then, taking a deep breath, she cut away the length before picking up clippers and running it along his scalp. About ten minutes later, it was done.
"Thank you," he said, standing and removing his towel.
"Daddy?" JJ said from nearby. "Where's your hair?"
Nathan scooped him up and pointed at the floor. "Down there."
"Why did you cut it all off?"
"Well, you know I'm having surgery tomorrow?"
"Yeah."
"Well, if I didn't shave it off, the doctor would just shave a little bit and I'd look weird."
"Okay," JJ said, touching his head.
"Whoa!" Julian said as he wandered in. "You look cool!"
"Can you cut all my hair off, Mommy?" JJ asked. "I want to look like Dad."
"Me too," Julian said.
So she did it. The boys certainly looked up to Nathan as a father figure. Who was she to deny them the chance to show their support?
As she was finishing up the boys, the doorbell rang. "That's Grams and Grampa!" Allie yelled running to the door.
JJ was done with his haircut so he ran off to greet them too, Nathan following behind.
"Aunt Beth?" Julian whispered.
"Yes?"
"Thank you. For cutting my hair like Uncle Nathan's."
"You're welcome."
"I want him to know that I love him and I am his family."
"You should tell him that, bud. It will make him very happy. It makes me happy."
"Okay."
Archie, Ruth and all the kids walked in then. "Why wasn't I invited to this haircutting shindig?" Archie asked, his eyes twinkling.
Archie sat down on the stool after kissing Elizabeth's cheek. "Now, I'd like to match the boys, if you don't mind."
"Dad, you don't have to do that," Nathan told him.
"I'd like to. If your lovely wife is willing."
Elizabeth put the towel around Archie's shoulders and smiled. "I'd be honored. Maybe I should cut my hair," she teased, knowing exactly what Nathan would say.
"Oh no. Your hair is staying on your head, my love."
She smiled and continued cutting Archie's full head of hair.
"Grams? Will you read to me and JJ?" Kendra asked, taking her hand.
"Of course. Let me say hi to your Aunt Beth and I'll meet you in the living room."
"Okay!" Kendra and JJ ran off to pick out books.
Ruth walked over and hugged Elizabeth. "Hello, dear."
"Hi, Ruth. Good to see you."
"You too." Ruth gave Archie a kiss on his weathered cheek and walked back out of the room.
Later after everyone was in bed, Elizabeth poured a cup of tea for herself and Nathan, planning on going upstairs. However, he showed up, pressing up behind her, his lips on her neck, his nose nuzzling her ear.
"Would you like some tea?" she asked, turning to face him.
"No thank you."
"Wine?"
"Nah."
"Uh...milk?"
He kissed her softly and pulled her as close as possible, where not even a breath could fit between them. "No."
"What would you like then?" she asked, melting into his lips.
"Ever been skinny dipping?" he whispered, giving her goosebumps.
"Nathan Grant, there are children in this house, not to mention your parents."
"We have a pool in the backyard, heated and the lights can be dimmed, Beth. Everyone is asleep and no one will know."
He could see the moment when she decided to take the risk. When the idea became more fun and less "unacceptable. "
"Let me go put my suit on."
"Do you know the definition of skinny dipping?" he asked, slipping his fingers beneath the hem of her shirt. "No swimsuits or clothes, babe."
He led her out the back door to the deck where he turned off the lights on the house and dimmed the pool lights to a comfortable level.
"Good?"
She nodded, feeling a blush on her cheeks. "You know, husband, you look pretty sexy with no hair."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." She lifted his shirt up and over his head and smiled. "And I love you very much."
"I love you more."