May 2016
Henry was thrilled when Uncle Nate and Aunt Jenny decided to take him out for the day because he knew that the former would take him to Chelsea Harbour to see the boats and would let him eat cupcakes until he burst and that the latter would make him new bowties and waffles on request and even take him to her Brooklyn loft, which was what Henry imagined Santa's grotto looked like.
"Why is Daddy sad Uncle Nate?"
"Oh I'm sure he's fine. Maybe he's just tired."
"But Mommy's sad too." Jenny walked over with plates of chilli.
"Well honey, if no one ever got sad then they'd never be happy either. And what fun would that be?"
They watched a backlog of Disney Renaissance movies that Jenny kept stockpiled especially for Henry's benefit. She had a thing, Nate noted, for fairytales. The boy had already fallen asleep by the time a subdued Arthur turned up to collect him.
"I need more chilli," Nate muttered.
"Do you think she'll leave him?"
"Nope. She's not brave enough for that and she's had a child with him. And I don't see Dan kicking Serena out. She doesn't even suspect. Actually, neither does Chuck, aside from the other man part."
"Right. Damn." She rose and joined him at the breakfast counter. "Tell me, why does everyone we know settle for empty relationships? I mean my Dad and Lily, Blair and Dan..."
Nate smiled at her sadly.
"I don't think happiness was ever on the menu."