Page 63 of Nate

Markie shook her head. “I wish I didn’t have to be here, but I love my mom, and I cannot hurt her by not showing up.”

“I get that. I’d feel the same way.”

“You’ve never talked about your parents. Are they still living?”

“Yep. Alive and well in Clifton.”

“So, you grew up there?”

“I did. My parents used to own a boarding stable and I grew up helping out. I’ve always loved horses.”

“They don’t have the boarding stable anymore?”

“No. My dad was in a bad car accident, and it put a strain on their money. They sold the place and bought a smaller home. They missed it for a while, but they’re happy now.”

“Any siblings?”

“I have two younger sisters.”

“Oh, boy. I bet you were hell on their boyfriends, weren’t you?”

Nate chuckled. “You have no idea. Even at the age of seventeen, I was over six feet tall. I hadn’t filled out yet, but it didn’t matter.”

“I’m sure it didn’t. Are they married?”

“Yeah, both are. Cathy and Tom have two little girls, and Tina and Mick have twin boys.”

“Twins run in your family?”

“Yes. My mother is a fraternal twin.”

“It’s the next driveway,” Markie said as she pointed to it.

Nate pulled over to the curb, put the truck in park and looked at her.

“Markie, I’m here for you. Don’t let him worry you because if he makes any kind of inappropriate comment or touches you, I will knock him on his ass.”

She laughed. “I would love to see that.”

Nate grinned. “I promise you I will. All he has to do is say something or even look at you the wrong way and I will take care of it. I’m not a fighter. I don’t think fists solve anything, but he sounds like it’s all he would understand.”

“I didn’t tell you he called me to make sure I was going to make it to her birthday.” She shook her head. “I told him he knew I was going to be there, and he said my mother didn’t say. I told him that was a lie, and he knew I was going to be there. That prick said he was looking forward to seeing me. I said, fuck you, and he said, anytime.”

“Now, I do hate him. What an ass.”

“Nate, I’m so sorry for even thinking you were like him.”

“It’s okay, Markie. We’re past that now. You don’t have to worry about him while we’re here, and I’ll make sure he knows it.”

“Thank you.”

Nate leaned over and kissed her lips. “You’re welcome, sweetheart. Let’s get this over with.” He pulled onto the street, then into the driveway and stopped in front of the garage.

“Damn. Could they have bought a bigger house?” Nate shook his head.

Markie grinned. “My mother fell in love with this place before she even met my father, but when they were dating and he was getting bigger clients, he bought it for her. I never saw the appeal of such a big house, but she never went without when he was alive. He paid the house off years ago. He left her all the assets he owned, along with money for both of us. I wish she’d sell it.”

“It’s way too big for just two people.”

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