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Dad went to Natalie's office in a huff, and the twit followed him. Gingerly, I called Don.
"Eppes?" he answered.
"Hey Don!" I greeted him, hating what I had to say next. He was going to be very angry.
"Hey Buddy! What's up?"
"Dad...uh..wants to talk to you, as soon as uh..possible."
"He does?" Don sounded suspicious.
"At Natalie's office"
"You told him didn't you?" he asked with contained anger.
"He overheard me and Natalie fighting, and I ...kinda let it slip" I confessed to my brother.
"You went to her office? Why? I told you I was gonna take care of it!"
"I was hoping to talk sense into her!" I said, remembering now that this was as useful as trying to figure out the physics of fairy flight.
"Tell Dad, I'll be there as soon as I can" Don ordered and hung up.
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I gave Megan some instructions, and told her I'd be back as soon as I could. What was with Charlie? Thanks to him the situation has escalated because Dad is now involved. Damn it!
Eventually, I arrived at the clinic, and was let into Natalie's office. She sat at her desk, while Charlie and Dad sat on the two visitor's chairs. You could cut the tension with a knife.
"Care to explain why you accused Natalie of stealing?" Dad asked. This was a very loaded question.
"Don was just following the evidence!" Charlie jumped to my defense.
"Really" Dad crossed his arms and turned to me. "Did you examine the house for forced entry? Or question the cat's owner?"
"Of course he did!" Charlie lied on my behalf. Could he please shut up now?
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Even when we were kids, I always hated to see Don get in trouble.
"Did you now?" Dad asked Don. He didn't believe it.
"Didn't you say something about the back door being uh...unsecure?"I asked Don lamely. Dad gave us his 'Quit the bullshit' face.
"Dad...look..."Don, by the look of his eyes, told me to shut up.
"I can't believe this!" Dad began angrily. I could feel a lecture coming on.
"Instead of fighting, why don't we..." Natalie began.
"Haven't you done enough!" I yelled without thinking. We were having this stupid fight because of her stealing that cat! I wouldn't have gone to her office, and there would be nothing for Dad to find out.
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"Don't talk to her that way!" Dad furiously yelled at Charlie.
"Maybe the three of us should talk privately" I suggested, hating that Dad was yelling at my brother over that woman!
"Perhaps that would be best" Natalie got up. Guess she couldn't take the heat.
"We'll go somewhere else to talk" Dad told her gently. 'The walls here are thin, and you've got patients to see."
"We could go to my SUV?"I suggested.
Dad and Charlie both agreed and we went. Dad sat with me in the front, while Charlie went to the back.
"All right boys, what the hell is the matter with you!" Dad got to the point. "I thought you guys were starting to like Natalie"
"Charlie and I have made every effort, Dad" I began, figuring that lying was pointless at this juncture "to get along with her, and see her uh..good qualities, but it's not easy. It's not just the age thing."
"It's the cat stealing thing" Dad snorted.
"Dad, Natalie could have been an animal activist when she was younger" I told him, remembering Dad's activism days.
"Guilt by association, huh?"
"She's very passionate about animals!" Charlie piped up.
"And she likes to take things into her own hands!" I told Dad. "Like going undercover!"
"She's like the Dr. Sloan of vets!" my brother put his two cents in. He was familiar with the show because mom used to love it.
"Something tells me it's not just the allegations of cat stealing that bother you" Dad crossed his arms again. "What do you have against her?"
"Dad, look, we know that she makes you happy, and we respect that...but..."
"She's ...annoying" Charlie blurted out. "And Wrong for you!
"Boys, both of you have made decisions that I wasn't too happy about" Dad began. "Like when Don joined the F.B.I or Charlie decided to start going into crime scenes. However, I've supported you in every way I could, because I trusted your judgments.. Please show me the same consideration"
"But you had your objections, and you voiced them very strongly!" I pointed out.
"Charlie's told me his objections, what are yours?"
"It's not just the age thing Dad" I began. . "Look, I know that mom wanted you to move on and see other people, but do you really think Natalie is what she had in mind? A woman young enough to be my and Charlie's sister, who prefers animals to people, and is antisocial?"
"Antisocial?"
"Dad, she hates big gatherings. I've seen how uncomfortable they make her." I told him, worried that she might cause dad to isolate himself. "We all know how outgoing you are, dad!"
"Natalie's just a little reserved" Dad said as a justification.
"I just worry that she'll make you isolate yourself from your friends and family!"
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"Natalie has never told me not to invite you two over!" I told them with annoyance. Isolate? What was Don talking about? "As far as she is concerned, you are welcome any time."
"Would you listen to her, if she didn't want us over?" Don asked, as he adjusted his seat.
"That would be a deal breaker for me!" I snapped, angry that my son would doubt my love and devotion. "But that's not the case"
"She knows better than to object to Charlie and me visiting, but what about other people? Natalie didn't seem very happy at that party you had for us, and the team." Don asked to my surprise. I thought she had done a pretty good job at hiding how angry she was that day.
"Nat had a hard day at work."
". And remember the housewarming? She kinda ...hid"
"Hid?"
"I only saw her when she was doing host related stuff, or talking to her friends. She didn't mingle like you did, like a host should."
"Like you're such an expert!" I rolled my eyes. Sure Nat spent most of the time talking to her friends, or Larry, but she was a very attentive hostess by making sure all the guests were happy and had everything they needed.
"We've already had this argument."Charlie whined.
"Look, boys, she's here for the long term."I told them firmly. "Get used to it"
"Dad! come on! Are you even listening to us?" Don groaned. "You like talking at me"
"I'm not coming to your place anymore!" Charlie announced "it's not worth putting up with Natalie to see you "Why?" I demanded.
"Nat doesn't want us there, and you act differently with her around" With that, Charlie left the car.
"Charlie! Come back here!" I ordered him, but he just slammed the car door. I couldn't believe my sons were acting like this.
"I'll talk to him" Don promised.
"I expect at least you to continue to visit me" I raised an eyebrow.
"Yes I will, Dad."
"And you'll apologize to Nat"
"That I won't do"
"What?"
"She's the best suspect" Don stood his ground.
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"How could you say that?" Dad demanded. We argued a little more, and he left the car in a strong huff, claiming to have work. With a sigh, I went back to the office. On the way, I called Charlie to see how he was.
Later, around seven Natalie came to see at my desk.
"I think I know who stole the cat, and we need to talk about your Dad."
TBC