Natalie appears behind her, looking slightly overwhelmed. She's changed out of her work clothes and into jeans and a sweater that hangs off one shoulder. Her hair is loose around her face, and she looks different from the way she does in our sessions.
More beautiful.
“Natalie, this is my husband, Theo. Theo, this is Natalie,” Olivia says.
Theo stands and shakes her hand. “Nice to meet you. I've heard good things.”
“All lies, I'm sure,” Natalie says with a small smile.
“She was just about to eat a sad microwave meal,” Olivia continues with a dramatic pout. Natalie chuckles nervously, and I hate that Olivia is embarrassing her. “I told her that's unacceptable when there's perfectly good food right next door and demanded that she join us for dinner.”
“I told her it was okay and that my sad microwave food is surprisingly good.” Natalie’s eyes meet mine. “I don't want to intrude on your time with your friends.”
“Nonsense,” Olivia says firmly before I can respond. Not that I’d know what to say anyway. “There's plenty of food, and we'd love the company. Right, Ethan?”
Everyone looks at me. Natalie's expression is neutral, but tension is radiating off her. She's giving me an out. All I have to do is agree that she shouldn't intrude, and she'll retreat to her apartment.
“Stay,” I hear myself say. “There's more than enough.”
Natalie hesitates for just a second, then nods. “Okay. Thank you.”
We move to the dining table, and I busy myself with plating the food. Olivia takes charge of the seating arrangement, putting Natalie across from me, where I have no choice but to look at her every time I raise my head.
The conversation flows easily, mostly because Olivia could make small talk with a brick wall. She asks Natalie about her move to New York, her impressions of the city, and her favorite restaurants so far.
“I haven't explored much yet,” Natalie says. “Work has been keeping me busy.”
“We'll have to change that,” Olivia says. “The girls do brunch every couple of weeks.”
“I'd like that.”
“So tell us about yourself,” Olivia continues. “Where are you from originally?”
“Charlotte, North Carolina. Born and raised.”
“And your family? Are they still there?”
“My parents are. My father is a cardiologist at one of the hospitals there. He's been practicing for almost thirty years.”
“A doctor,” Olivia says. “That's impressive.”
“He loves it.” There's warmth in Natalie's voice when she talks about her father. “We talk every Sunday. He pretends he's checking on me, but really he just wants to make sure I'm eating enough vegetables.”
I laugh along with everyone else. Natalie notices, and our eyes meet for just a moment before she looks away.
“And your mother?” Olivia asks.
“She's involved in a lot of charity work. Boards and galas and that sort of thing.” Natalie's tone shifts slightly. Still polite but with an edge underneath. “She keeps busy.”
Olivia must sense the change because she moves on quickly. “Any siblings?”
“No, just me. The only child.”
“And no boyfriend back in Charlotte waiting for you?”
Every muscle in my body tenses. I pretend to focus on my food, but my attention is locked on Natalie, waiting for her answer with an intensity that makes no sense.
Natalie reaches for her wine glass. “That's a story for another day,” she says lightly.
