Page 127 of Sven

“How do you take it?”

“Cream and sugar.”

Natalie sat at the table, looking at some of the papers.

“I’ve sent some of this to the legal team to see if there is anything they can do. I’m wondering if we should reach out to the Roper foundation again, since the cat is out of that bag.”

Natalie blew out a breath. “Can I have some coffee before we talk about going to the foundation again?”

“Of course,” Hillary said, squeezing her hand. “We’ll get this figured out, Natalie.”

Just then, the door opened and Conner and Murphy walked in. “Your car’s here,” Conner said, tossing the keys to Sven, who easily snatched them out of air and slid them into his pocket.

“Thanks.”

Sasha came and brought Natalie a cup of coffee and a plate of food. Natalie found herself choking back emotion. “Thank you,” Natalie said, trying to hide some of the feelings she was suddenly overwhelmed with.

Sven heard it and came to her side. He put his hand on her back and searched her face. “Are you okay? Is this too much? We can ask some of these people to piss off.”

“No,” Natalie said, putting her hand over his. “This is good. It’s just more than I was expecting.”

“We’re a family,” said Sasha as Conner slipped in behind her and slid his arms around her waist.

“We got your back,” Conner said.

“You fuck with one of us, you fuck with all of us,” said Cash from the floor, where he was still playing with Winnie.

“You guys will not make me cry before I’ve had my coffee. I forbid it,” said Natalie, reaching for her coffee.

The hubbub continued as she took it all in. The Magic really was a family, and she was so thankful for them.

Sven sat next to her and squeezed her leg. She looked over at him and gave him a smile.I love you, he mouthed to her.

I love you too, she mouthed right back.

She took a moment to drink her coffee and eat before she dove into whatever Hillary was working on.

Before she could do that, her phone buzzed on the table. She picked it up, and her heart flew up to her chest. Sven seemed to pick up on it and looked at her.

“It’s my granddad,” she said softly.

“Are you going to answer it?”

She nodded, and everyone in the room quieted. She got up and walked into the office off the entry way.

“Hello,” she said in a shaky voice.

“Natalie, darlin’, what on earth is going on?”

She blew out a breath.

“It’s not what they say.”

“Of course it’s not. Now, can you tell me what is happening?”

And so, she told him. She told him how she was fired for reading a book about different families. When she told her granddad the words they had used to fire her because the words “sexually explicit” were not words she ever wished to say to her granddad, she blushed. She told him about how all of that has been used against her and Sven.

“Natalie, why didn’t you come to me?” he asked, his voice filled with the kindness and patience his voice always held.

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