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We spend the next few hours laughing, joking, and catching up. This is one of the first real family dinners I've ever been to. Of course, the Jacksons had dinners, but I never truly felt like part of the family, more like an extended guest. But here, looking around at all the friendly, happy faces, I realize that these people here are my family.
They are the family I chose for myself. The family that has welcomed me with open arms. I only wish Gabe was here to join us. I notice my eyes start to water, so I excuse myself and go to the bathroom. When I come out, I see Nana waiting outside the door. "Nathaniel, can I talk to you in private for a moment?"
"Sure, I guess," I shrug, not knowing why she wants to talk to me. She leads me into the opposite bedroom and motions for me to sit down.
"Nathaniel, I don't know if you're aware of this. Perhaps I shouldn't tell you, but I think you deserve to know..." Nana mutters as she clearly struggles to find the right words to say. "But before I do, I want you to know that Izzy doesn't know anything about this," she states solemnly. I just stare at her and nod in agreement, not knowing what to say or do. "I don't know whether you remember or not, but right before Izzy moved away, I brought her to your house to say goodbye and watched as your father called you names and was abusive towards both you and your brother. Izzy was heartbroken." I see Bella's Nana’s eyes glaze over, and she stops her sentence. It breaks my heart to think that she's probably remembering how heartbroken Bella was, and worse still, I know that I unintentionally caused that. My absence hurt the only girl I've ever loved. Nana eventually restarts her speech, which breaks me out of my own inner turmoil.
"Later that night, I talked to a friend who was a teacher at your brother's school, and she told me about the bruises and black eyes he often had," she begins to sob but continues. "I came back after I put Izzy to bed to try to talk to your father. When I got there, I heard you and your brother screaming and a lot of yelling and crying. I banged on the door, but nobody heard me," she continues, sobbing even harder now. "And when I saw what you looked like the next morning, all bruised and battered, I knew I had to do something," she declares as she wipes her tears on the back of her lilac, knitted cardigan.
"I went to the sheriff's office, hoping they'd help me, but instead social services came and took you both away. When I found out what had happened, I tried to fix things. I tried to find you both and even offered to take you in and foster you myself, but they told me it was too late. I never had the courage to tell Izzy what I had done. Instead, I had to watch as she cried in my arms every night, thinking you had left her. I couldn't even bring myself to tell George. But know this, Nathaniel," she says, reaching for my hands. "I prayed for you every night. I prayed that you and your brother would be happy and well taken care of, and I begged God every night to bring you back to us safely when you were ready. I'm so sorry for what I did, but please believe me when I say that I only did it out of love for all of you."
I hug Nana tightly. "I forgive you," I whisper as I feel the tears fall, and Nana pulls me into a tight hug. I hug her back because, damn, I need it, but I also feel kind of conflicted. Now I finally know for sure that she was the one who caused me and Bella so much heartbreak. At the same time, Bella and I have now found our way back to each other. Nana doing what she did might have just saved Gabe’s and my lives. I don't know what would have happened if we stayed there with our dad. Seeing how heartbroken Nana is and how riddled with guilt she has felt over her decision, I just know I can't be mad at her. After all, she never intended to have us put into care. She made a mistake; everyone makes mistakes. Yes, this mistake broke us, but it also saved us. Had I never moved in with the Jacksons, I probably would have ended up like Gabe — hurt, broken, and constantly getting into trouble. And I know Bella deserves more than that. Without my life being torn apart, I never would have been able to rebuild it and become the man Bella deserves.
We sit on the bed and sob into each other's arms. Finally, after all these years, we both have closure. When neither of us can sob anymore, we get up, wash our faces, and go back to the dining table.
"Where have you two been?" questions Pops.
"Oh, sorry, I was just helping Nana with something," I lie.
"Helped her with what? You've been gone for ages," Bella asks suspiciously.
I open my mouth to speak, even though I’m unsure what to say. Thankfully, Nana beats me to it and swiftly explains. "Fixing the wrongs of the past, dear. Now go help Pops wash the dishes. There's homemade pie or Harper's brownies for dessert."
After helping Pops with the dishes and finishing what can only be described as the best homemade pie I've ever had, we decide to continue the evening by playing a game.
"If you all have nowhere better to be, how about we make it a real family party?" Pops suggests.
Bella sighs loudly, "No! No one wants to play board games, Pops."
"Says who?" demands Ava, feigning outrage.
"Yeah, Izzy, since when did you become the leader of this ragtag crew?" Tucker says, in a fake cowboy accent.
"He's right, Bella, majority rules," I say with a smile, as I see Bella’s little cheeks blush with embarrassment.
"See, it's decided. Game night it is!" declares Bella's Pops happily.
"Don't say we didn't warn you!" both Bella and her Nana remark at the same time.
"He may look sweet and innocent, but as soon as game night starts, George turns into a shark." Nana laughs, shaking her head. "I'll put on a pot of coffee. This could go on for a while."
"Last chance to escape, folks," Bella tries to offer, but it's too late. Tucker and I are already clearing the table, and Ava has gotten pillows from the living room to make our chairs more comfortable. "So, I have Monopoly, Clue, or Scrabble," Pops calls from the next room.
"Monopoly," Bella and I call out at the same time, before looking at each other and bursting out laughing.
Tucker appears, then finally asks, "Does anyone want to let the rest of us in on the joke?" Tapping his fingers on the table, he adds, "We're waiting."
"So, the first day Bella and I spent together, we played," I begin.
"You mean you cheated at Monopoly," Bella adds, pointing her finger accusingly at me.
"I didn't cheat," I say, putting my hand on my chest and giving her my most shocked and outraged face.
"Of course you didn't... you cheater!" Bella smiles and throws one of the throw pillows at me.
"Now, now children, let's put the pillows away and play like grownups." Ava giggles.
Pops comes in carrying all three games in his arms. "Have you guys decided what you want to play yet?"
