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“Spencer doesn’t lie,” my mother said, seemingly enjoying this awkward introduction. “I’m very interested to know the woman who caught my uncatchable son in her net.”
“Funny,” Nat said, bringing up the hand that wasn’t looped into my arm to rest on my chest.
“And what do you find humorous?” Heidi said.
“You saying I caught your uncatchable son,” she chuckled and smiled at me, her blue eyes dazzling. “Sadly, that’s not how it went.”
“I’d say I caught her,” I replied, smiling down at Nat. “And it was a narrow catch, at that.”
“Fascinating,” my mother replied, hanging onto the word as if she were sizing us up.
“While this is all lovely,” Nat said, looking around at everyone, “I would hate to be rude by not meeting the rest of the family waiting on the veranda.”
“Perhaps that should wait after you get some rest, dear,” my mother said pretentiously. “You look exhausted.”
Few people could be as underhandedly rude as Heidi Monroe. The problem with her statement was that Nat looked anything but exhausted. She was radiant, as always. My mother just couldn’t resist a dig to bring out the insecurities in someone. Unfortunately for Heidi, I was reasonably certain Nat had no insecurities at all.
“Oh, I assure you that I am extremely well rested after our flight,” Nat responded without skipping a beat, flashing me a devilish grin that was unmistakable to everyone around us.
Nat pressed her lips to my jaw and untwisted us before making her way up the steps, where she kneeled in front of the stunning little girl of ten with blue eyes and black hair who looked up at her shyly.
“Hello,” Nat said, bending down to her level. “Are you Becca?”
“Yes,” my niece answered, not looking away as I walked up the steps to stand next to my sister and Becca’s mother, Sloane. We didn’t even look at each other as we looped our arms around each other, and Sloane leaned into me the way she always had as we watched my new wife interact with my notoriously shy niece. “Are you my new auntie?”
“Well, I guess I am since I’m married to your Uncle Spencer,” Nat said. “From everything I’ve heard, you sound like the most interesting member of the family.”
Becca nodded solemnly. “I do know quite a bit. I go with Mummy a lot to her work at the library.”
“I positively adore libraries; they’re filled with a wealth of knowledge. Do you read many books when you’re there?”
“Yes.”
“This does not surprise me,” Nat said, setting her bag down and pulling out a wrapped present. “Which is why I’ve brought this for you.”
Where the fuck has she been hiding that? I thought as I stood there, trying not to show the shock I felt, watching Nat play her role as my new wife perfectly. I had to admit, I was impressed and surprised that Nat had bothered to read the quick family background I’d emailed her the day I asked her to roleplay as my wife for this shitshow.
I watched Becca’s face light up, and she looked at Nat with a wider smile than I’d seen her bestow on anyone. “Can I show you around the house?”
“I’d love that,” she said. “First, give me a moment to meet everyone, and then I want to take your grand tour.”
Becca nodded triumphantly, and Nat stood before turning to my sister and me. “I’m guessing that you’re Sloane?”
My sister nodded slowly in her gentle, controlled manner, stepping away to reach tentatively toward Nat. “It’s lovely to have you here, Natalia.”
Nat’s embrace was warm and giving, and she folded Sloane into it as Becca came toward me, wrapping her little arms around my waist. I reached down, squeezing her tightly.
“You’ve popped up, you little weed,” I said.
“I like her,” Becca whispered in my ear.
“Good,” I said. “I like her, too.”
“May we take you to meet Nonna?” Sloane asked, reaching for Becca, who sprang forward happily.
“Absolutely,” Nat responded, molding into the woman I would imagine was the perfect vision of my wife…if I ever allowed that to be a thought in my head.
Nat reached for my hand, and we all walked into the house, happily ignoring the cold stare that my mother had aimed at my back.
