Chapter 415: North Carolina
Saturday, February 11th, Morning
The morning started early; before the sun even broke the horizon, Nathan rolled out of bed and got dressed. He walked down to the kitchen to start the morning coffee. After the coffee finished, Nathan walked out to the foyer of Raven Hill.
Looking out of the front windows, Nathan drank his morning coffee. Once he finished, Nathan returned to the kitchen and rinsed out his coffee cup. Nathan returned to the foyer and brought his three grandchildren's bags to the SUV. Once all the bags were loaded, Nathan returned to the house. Haley had gotten herself and the grandchildren up.
LK was left to her own schedule, which would make things easier. Nathan stepped into the kitchen and made himself another cup of coffee. Haley finished making breakfast; each grandchild got an egg sandwich, as well as Nathan.
"Eat up; you have a long trip," Haley said.
"Mhmm," Nathan said.
Lacy yawned, "When are we leaving?" she asked.
"When y'all finish breakfast," Nathan said.
Lacy smiled, "I can't wait," she said and started woofing down her sandwich.
Haley shook her head, "Slow down, Lacy, you don't want to choke," she said.
Lacy nodded and slowed down a little. Haley shook her head. "Also, chew your food, Lacy," Haley said.
Nathan finished his sandwich and second cup of coffee. He got up and rinsed off his dishes; he walked over to the breakfast bar.
"After you finish breakfast, make sure you go to the bathroom," Nathan said.
"Why?" Lacy asked.
"We have a long trip," Nathan said.
"Yes, Poppa Nate," Lennon said.
Darren nodded. Lacy kept eating her sandwich. Nathan stood there, watching as Lennon finished his breakfast. Once done, Lennon collected his dished and washed them. Once he finished, Lennon headed off to one of the nearby bathrooms.
Lacy finished next and did the same thing as Lennon. Nathan waited for Darren to finish up his breakfast. Haley cleared the dishes while Nathan took Darren to the bathroom.
Once Nathan and Darren returned from the bathroom, he got the grandchildren to the SUV. Nathan helped Darren buckle in. Nathan watched as Lacy and Lennon buckled themselves in; Nathan double-checked their seatbelts.
After Nathan got out of the backseat, Haley slipped in to say goodbye to each of them. When she finished, she left the SUV, and she went over to Nathan.
"Have a good trip and be careful," Haley said.
"I always am," Nathan said.
"Are you going to tell her?" Haley asked.
"About what?" Nathan asked.
"Everything we discussed," Haley said.
"I'll see how she is doing," Nathan said and shrugged.
"You've said she's not always doing so well," Haley said.
"Yeah," Nathan said and headed towards the drive side of the SUV.
"Be careful," Haley said.
Nathan smiled and climbed into the driver's seat. He pressed the start button and listened to the engine start; finally, Nathan slipped the SUV into gear and drove off. Haley watched the SUV pull out of Raven Hill's drive. Haley turned and walked into the house.
The sun had just popped over the horizon as they hit the open road. Nathan would look in the rear-view mirror and saw his two grandsons had fallen asleep. Lacy looked out the window, watching the sights drive by.
Nathan noted the sights changed as they drove off the coastal plains for more of the hills and woods. Nathan turned off the highway and onto the county road. They eventually drove through a small town. Nathan looked at the small local grocery, a small movie theater, and they passed by a Walmart, which was new.
Nathan had been to this town countless times; the first time he was in this town was his senior year of high school. The Walmart wasn't there back then. As they passed out of the town, Nathan started to look for his turn-off. Once he found it, he turned up the long and winding dirt road.
The cabin came into view, and Nathan sighed. He parked next to the SUV already in the drive. Shutting down the engine, Nathan looked around the cabin. Getting out of the SUV, he closed the door and looked up at the stairs.
A tall, gray-haired woman stood at the top of the stairs. Nathan nodded to her as she walked down the stairs and met at the front of his SUV.
"You're here early," Rachel Gatina said.
"Traffic was light," Nathan said.
"How are the grandbabies?" Rachel asked.
"They're in the back; you can see for yourself," Nathan said.
"Funny, Nate," Rachel said as she opened the door where Lacy sat.
"Grandma Rachel," Lacy said.
Rachel took the hug of her redheaded granddaughter and spun her around. Rachel held the young girl up with some effort and looked into her eyes. Finally, Rachel put Lacy down.
"You look more and more like your mom every time I see you," Rachel said.
"I do?" Lacy asked.
"You do," Rachel said.
Nathan finished getting the boys out of the SUV. Rachel was distracted when the two boys ran over to her. Nathan got their bags out of the SUV. He stood by the back corner of the SUV, watching Rachel and the grandchildren.
After they finished saying hello, they headed up to the house. Inside, the bags went to the bedrooms the grandchildren would stay in. Darren found one of the sofas and went back to sleep. Lennon found a video game console and started playing. Lacy was off doing something.
"Let the kids be kids; let's talk outside," Rachel said.
Nathan nodded, and they went out onto the back porch. Rachel leaned on the rail and looked down at the water.
"There's something you want to say," Rachel said.
"How do you know?" Nathan asked.
"I can see it on your face," Rachel said.
"Yeah?" Nathan asked.
"I've known you for how long? We have how many grandchildren together?" Rachel asked, just as something made a loud bang.
"There is a movie producer that wants to interview you," Nathan said.
"About what?" Rachel asked.
"The movie is about Mental Lapse and Brian," Nathan said.
"So, they want to interview me?" Rachel asked.
"Yeah, because of Brian and Gabi's relationship," Nathan said.
"Great, tare my heart out again," Rachel said.
"I know what you mean," Nathan said.
"I guess I can fit in the interview," Rachel said.
"Mine is coming up, Monday," Nathan said.
Rachel sighed, "Always a joy," she said and scanned the water below, "Reminds me when Tomas died."
"Yeah," Nathan said.
"There's more, isn't there?" Rachel asked.
"There is, but I'm not sure I want to share," Nathan said.
"It can't be that bad," Rachel said.
"It's not," Nathan said.
"Then what is it?" Rachel asked.
Nathan sighed and looked down to the water. He picked up his head. "We've had another woman show up on our doorstep," Nathan said.
Rachel sighed, "So, possibly another child," she said.
"Yeah, that's the rub; her son is between Lennon and Lacy in age," Nathan said.
"Of course," Rachel said.
Nathan nodded and looked down. "I don't know what was going on between them," Nathan said.
"Of course," Rachel said.
Nathan nodded and looked down. "I don't know what was going on between them," Nathan said.
Rachel nodded, "I guess they were poly," she said.
Nathan looked to Rachel, "I don't get it," he said.
Rachel shrugged, "So, who is this filmmaker?" she asked.
"Felicia Van Ankeren, I believe she's Dutch," Nathan said.
"A Dutch woman interesting never had one of them," Rachel said, with a slight chuckle.
"Funny," Nathan said.
"I try," Rachel said.
"Yeah," Nathan said.
"Well, I have to go see what that crash was," Rachel said.
"Have fun," Nathan said.
"Loads," Rachel said and walked away from the rail. Nathan nodded, stood at the rail, and watched the water.
