Nathan missed Elizabeth and their nightly chats. They texted periodically but not as much as before. Scrabble games still happened but not every night.
Now, it had been two weeks since his parents had left and they were due to show up again shortly.
He made sure the guest room was all ready and then the doorbell rang. Exactly on time, as usual.
"Hi, Mom, Dad," he greeted, giving them both hugs.
"Good to see you, son," Archie said, patting his back. "Where's Allie?"
"Out on the beach."
Ruth stood and watched her granddaughter running and laughing with Elizabeth's children. "She's friends with them?"
"Mom, we discussed this last time you were here."
"I only want what's best for Allie and you."
"Elizabeth and her kids are what's best. You're just going to have to accept it."
"What's wrong with the younger girl? Kathy?"
"Kendra. Nothing is wrong."
"She's just sitting there. Staring."
"She's having a hard time with losing her mother."
"Poor child."
"Yes. But Elizabeth is wonderful and she took them in. They are where they need to be."
As his parents moved away from the door, he watched Kendra for a bit. She had definitely retreated into herself, even after three days a week therapy.
He opened the door and walked over to her. "Ken? Sweetheart?"
She looked at him, a blank look in her eyes.
"I feel funny, Dr. Nate," she mumbled before going limp and starting to shake.
He laid her down gently and then rolled her to her side. "Al! Go get Elizabeth and get Grams to call 911! Now!"
Everything happened really quickly for Nathan after that. JJ and Kendra's other siblings rushed over as Allie ran to do what he asked. Elizabeth ran out of the house just as Kendra stopped seizing.
"What happened?!"
"I think she had a seizure."
"Oh my God," she whispered, taking Kendra's hand. "Its okay, baby. Aunt Beth is here now."
Elizabeth's panicked look in her eyes was not missed by Nathan and all he wanted to do was hold her but he didn't. He just nodded and touched her shoulder.
Thankfully Faith Shepherd came over and took JJ and Julian to her house. Evie and Allie stood by and watched, frightened. Nathan stood up and wrapped them in his arms.
"Uncle Nathan? Is she okay?"
"I don't know yet, Al."
"Please don't let her die too," Evie whispered.
"Let's pray," he told them, loud enough for Elizabeth to hear as well.
Ruthie watched from the house as her son lovingly held Allie and the older girl of Elizabeth's.
"Maybe offer to watch the girls," Archie told her.
"She doesn't know me, Arch."
"But she knows Allie and Nathan. Help them out, Ruthie. We can get to know her better."
Archie could see the connection Nathan had with the whole family. He could also see the distance they were keeping, certainly not what you would expect from a dating couple. He assumed it had a lot to do with Ruth's reaction on their last visit. That being said, he was going to do what he could to show Nathan his support and to get to know the children.
Ruthie watched for another moment and then opened the door, walking over to Nathan and the girls.
The paramedics arrived just then so Ruthie pulled Nathan aside. "We can keep the girls here."
"Thank you, Mom." She nodded.
"I want to stay with Aunt Beth and Ken," Evie said, tears rolling down her face. "I need to be with them."
Nathan kissed the top of her head. "Elizabeth is going to be with Kendra and I don't want you to be in the waiting room alone. How about you stay here with Allie and my parents and when we hear something from Elizabeth, I can take you up there."
"We can make cookies for Kendra," Allie told her, pulling her hand.
"Okay." He hugged her tight.
"Its going to be okay, whatever happens."
"Thank you. Dr. Nate."
Kendra was regaining consciousness and starting to get agitated. Evie went over and gave her a hug. "I love you, Ken. Don't worry. Aunt Beth and the doctors are going to take good care of you. Allie and I are gonna make you cookies."
"With sprinkles?" she mumbled.
"Lots of them! Get better, okay?"
"Yeah. Love you, Evie."
Elizabeth gave Evie a big hug. "I love you. I'll call you at Nathan's when I know something." She made eye contact with Nathan and then rushed over to climb in the back of the ambulance.
JJ played with Gavin and Graham that day. He knew Kendra was sick but that wasn't bothering him as much as being apart from his mom yet again. It felt like she never spent time with him anymore. There was always another kid in the way.
It wasn't that he didn't like his cousins. He did. He just wanted more time with his mom.
Now, who knows when that would happen.
"JJ! Marco!" Gavin yelled, going under the water.
"Polo!" he yelled, jumping in and shutting his eyes. At least Gavin and Graham were fun.
Julian sat on the edge of the pool as the others played. He hoped Kendra didn't die too. Can people die from being too sad? Julian was sad but after talking to Dr. Nate and Mr. Shepherd, he felt better. He was coping and started being happier again.
"Julian?" Carson said from behind him.
"Yes, sir?"
"Lunch is ready. Are you hungry?"
"Yeah. Mr. Shepherd?"
"Yeah, bud."
"Kendra is really sad. All the time. Is that why she's sick?"
"Maybe. I'm not sure."
"Why isn't talking to Dr. Nate helping her like it helps me?"
"Because everyone is different. She may need a little extra help."
"Like what?"
"Like medicine or maybe another doctor."
"Okay. Thank you."
Across the beach, Nathan listened as his mom helped the girls with the cookies. He was surprised she accepted Evie.
"How are you, son?" Archie asked, sitting down next to him on the couch.
"Concerned. Scared. Surprised."
"Surprised by what?"
"Mom and Evie?"
"Truth be told, I suggested it to her."
"I love them, Dad, but Elizabeth and I can't be together unless everyone is on board."
"I thought that might be the case. I'll help any way I can."
"Thank you."
At the hospital, it was a waiting game. As soon as they arrived, she was taken in for an EEG. Elizabeth didn't know what that was, but a few hours later, a neurologist, Dr. Yost explained.
"Ultimately, the EEG helps us determine if there is a risk for future seizures, and, if so, what type of epilepsy it may be if the patient has further seizures. More often than not, children only have the one seizure and then never again."
"I hope that's the case."
"Well, she's not feverish or showing signs of a stroke. Her brain waves don't indicate any issues right now. Has she been ill?"
"No."
"Has she had any trauma to her head or injuries?"
"No."
"Has anything drastically changed in her life that would cause stress or anxiety?"
"My Mommy died," she told him.
"I'm so sorry, Kendra. Have you been really upset?"
"Yeah. I talk to Dr. Nate but I cry a lot. I have bad dreams."
Elizabeth didn't know about those. "You have, Ken? I didn't know."
"Evie helps me."
"Who's Evie, Kendra?"
"My sister."
"Who's Dr. Nate?"
"Aunt Beth took us to see him right after. He's really nice."
Elizabeth just let her talk, loving her voice. It had been a while since she had said much at all.
"Mrs. Thornton, what's Dr. Nate's last name?"
"Grant."
"You're right, sweet Kendra. Dr. Nate is nice. I'm going to talk to him about getting you some medicine, okay?"
"Yeah. Will it help me so I'm not so sad anymore? I don't want to cry so much."
"It should help you, yes."
"Okay. I'm going to go to sleep now. I'm tired."
Once she was asleep, Elizabeth called Nathan from the waiting room.
"Elizabeth?"
"Hey," she said, her voice cracking.
"Is she okay?"
"Yes. They think its caused by anxiety and stress. Dr. Yost is going to call you about treatment."
"Okay. How are you?"
"So relieved and so scared."
"It sounds like she's out of the woods. Have they done an EEG and an MRI?"
"The first one, yes."
"Okay."
"Nathan, can I please talk to Evie?"
"Of course." He was disappointed for a moment that she hadn't said what he felt, that she wanted him there with her. Holding her hand. Supporting her. But Kendra was the most important at this moment, not what he was feeling.
"Evie? Aunt Beth is on the phone."
After a short conversation, Evie asked if he could take her up to see Kendra.
"Yes. I'm going to go check on the boys and I'll be back to take you."
He wandered over to the Shepherd's house.
Julian and JJ both decided to stay with the Shepherd's so Nathan drove Evie up there.
"How are you, Eve?"
"Okay, I guess."
"You can tell me."
"As my doctor or as my friend or as my Aunt's boyfriend?"
"You pick."
"As my doctor, I can tell you that I'm fine or getting there, but Kendra is not. I'm really worried about her."
"I am too."
"Is she gonna die, Dr. Nate?"
"No. Not until she's old and gray."
Evie nodded. "As my Aunt's boyfriend, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"Why don't you come over anymore? Don't people who are dating see each other a lot?"
"Yeah but right now, we aren't dating."
"Because of your Mom?"
He looked at her, surprised.
"I notice things. And I kind of heard Aunt Beth talking to Faith about it."
"Okay, well, my mom...yes, she has her opinions but I don't agree with them."
"So why are you letting her win? Show her that you love us. I mean...if you do. I didn't mean to assume."
He put his truck in park and touched her arm. "I do. And I'm working on it."
"Good. We love you too."
It was all Elizabeth could do not to walk over and hug Nathan, breathe in his aftershave and revel in the safety of his arms. It was so amazing how much she missed the way things used to be. She really wanted to ignore her hesitation over his family opinions and just tell him she was falling in love with him.
Nathan must have read her mind because he walked right over and wrapped his arms around her. Which, of course, brought on the emotions she had been bottling up inside.
"Nate.. "
He started stepping away but she grabbed his waist and held on. "No, please. I want this."
"Me too but….my Mom…"
"I know. I need you with me."
"Then I'm here."
"Promise me, that whatever happens, we won't let anyone come between us. Especially family."
He kissed her forehead and then he cheeks. Her lips were right there but...so were the girls.
"I promise." He leaned down, close to her ear. "I really want to kiss you...more than anything ever but our first kiss will not be in a hospital room."
She blushed and kissed his cheek. "Deal."
Elizabeth stayed over with Kendra in the hospital and Nathan took Evie home. She wanted to spend the night with Allie and Nathan was good with that.
After the girls were in bed, Nathan's phone rang. It was the Shepherd's.
"Hello?"
"Nathan, its Carson."
"Hi. How are the boys?"
"Julian is fine but JJ really wants to talk to you. He's upset."
"I'll be over in a minute."
Nathan walked through the slightly warm sand to the Shepherd's home and knocked.
Carson opened the door, a sobbing JJ in his arms.
"Hey, bud. What's wrong?"
JJ wrapped his arms and legs around Nathan and held on tight. "I….want….Momma…" he said between breaths. "Will….you...take me?"
"Momma is with Kendra. She's sick, remember?"
"You….took...Evie. Please?"
"Tell you what? Let's text your mom and see if she can video chat with us."
Elizabeth left Kendra's room and did just that. "Hi, baby! I miss you so much."
"Hi, Momma," he said, his tears returning.
"Aw, sweet boy. Tell me what's wrong."
"I want...you. When will e home?"
"In the morning, I think. I just need to make sure Kendra gets all better."
"That's not fair."
"JJ, I just need you to be patient a little longer."
"You never play with me or read to me!" he shouted. "All because of the new kids! You were my Momma first!"
"I do read to you, JJ. I thought you liked your cousins."
"Not if they are taking you away! Its not fair!"
"Honey, I'm not going away from you. But part of being a big boy is sharing the things you love."
"I love you," he told her.
"I love you more, sweet boy. Listen, after Kendra is all better, I promise, we will go somewhere, just you and me. Maybe Dr. Nate will take care of Kendra, Julian and Evie."
Nathan smiled at her volunteering him.
"Can we go to the zoo, Momma?"
"Sure."
"And to get pizza and ice cream?"
"Yeah. Pizza and ice cream too."
"Ok." JJ leaned back against Nathan's chest. "I love you, Momma."
"I love you too. See you tomorrow."
"Okay."
"Nathan?" Elizabeth said quietly.
"Yeah?"
"Thank you. For taking care of things."
"Its my job." And he meant that. "Think you might be able to squeeze some just "you and me" time in too?"
"I think that's a very good possibility."