Page 47 of After the Rain
I’m surprised to find Corey in the kitchen, also dressed in jeans with a smart navy shirt and a familiar-looking beige, knitted, zip-up cardigan. It doesn’t seem his style at all, but I recognise it, so he must have worn it before – although it does drown him a little bit. But even in the short time I’ve known Corey, I do know that he isalwayscold, so maybe he just likes a chunky bit of knitwear.
Anyway, Nash sent a message last night that Corey was staying at his house for another nightas he was finishing something up for Nancy. But now he’s here, standing in our kitchen, plating up a stack of bacon sandwiches. I don’t think either of us heard him come in, so I have no idea when he got back.
He throws a slice of bacon to Pax, who is leaning into Corey’s legs – the shameless animal – before taking one of the sandwiches for himself that he then proceeds to ruin by smothering it in ketchup. Rain and I both scrunch our noses in disgust and go for the entirely more delicious and only proper topping of brown sauce.
“You know,” Corey says around a mouthful of bacon sarnie, “if you’re going to have sexcapades first thing in the morning, then I think you should at least pay your houseguest the courtesy of a warning.” He blinks owlishly at us from his position opposite the breakfast bar. Embarrassment floods my insides, but doesn’t last long when Rain replies in his inimitable snarky style.
“Maybe you should put your headphones in? Or get your own sexcapade partner so we can compete for who might be the loudest?”
Corey blushes deep red and takes another bite of his sandwich before turning to put the kettle on.
“Tea?” he asks, slightly less sarcasticallythan his last statement.
Rain smiles sweetly at him and tells him to sit down and have his breakfast before taking over the tea-making, pressing a soft kiss on Corey’s hair as he passes. I’ve noticed a shift in their friendship since they got back from their ordeal, and I have to say, it makes me so happy to see. Rain wanted a chance to get to know Corey better after not really having the time and space to explore what their friendship could be while they were trapped in that abusive situation. And now, here they are. Thick as thieves and quite comfortable ribbing each other about their sexual conquests over breakfast.
My thoughts flash to my brother, and I can only hope that Nash manages to do something about his unexpected yet significant feelings for Corey before he misses his chance and Corey finds someone else. Speaking of Nash, we’d better get a move on if we’re going to get there for eleven o’clock as ordered. Thinking about it, I imagine Corey came back as he wanted to be out of the way when Nancy actually arrived.
She was dropped off late yesterday evening by the social worker. Nash had apparently put her straight to bed, and she’d fallen asleep in her princess bed while he watched her sleep before dropping off himself on her floor.
When she woke up, she’d apparently askedhim if she could meet her whole new family today. Nash, of course, agreed, and I can’t help but foresee his future of being wrapped around her little finger while he spoils her rotten. Good for her, I say. It sounds like in her short life thus far, she’s had to cope with an awful lot of shit. And while I’m sure the issues that her past has inevitably left her with will manifest in their own good time, for now, she seems to have bonded with Nash from the very first moment they met each other and has settled in remarkably well. According to Mum, that is, who is obviously keeping us all up to date on the family WhatsApp group.
Mum and Dad have been staying with Nash while he settled her in, and they are equally as in love with her as my brother. I’m excited to meet the little princess. I know I’m going to love her already.
We gather the couple of gifts we ordered for her that were delivered amidst the whole kidnapping debacle and that, in all honesty, I had completely forgotten about. It wasn’t until Rain was settled back in that he just asked where they were, unpackaged them and began wrapping them in unicorn paper as though he’d just got back from a casual spa weekend,
We got her a Squishmallow, whatever the fuck that is. It looks like a kid’s drawing ofa flattened cow, with lilac patches and a pink body. Rain had even checked with Nash about her colour preferences as he refused to gender stereotype her.“She might not like pink! It’s not a given for girls!”I love that man. He’s so thoughtful about everyone else.
But it turns out his concerns were unfounded. Nancy does indeed like pink. Loves it. Everywhere. On everything. So hopefully the pink and purple flat cow thing will go down well. We also got her some colouring books and coloured pencils since she loves to draw. Corey got her an easel and sketchpad with a gorgeous set of paints and brushes, so while Rain picks up our snazzy gift bag, I help Corey carry his huge box that is wrapped in unicorn paper with a giant pink bow on top.
We get everything in the back of the Land Rover, and then Pax and Corey climb in the back seat, and Rain takes his usual spot next to me in the front. We arrive at Nash’s house within ten minutes to find Mum and Dad on the doorstep as Archer, Cole and Wren climb out of Cole’s red Ford Ranger. They all have a collection of gifts as well, and I have to say, I’m keen to see the inappropriateness of whatever the twins got for our new niece.
We head inside and are ushered into the living room. I can hear Nash upstairs speakinglowly, but can’t hear Nancy at all. She must be nervous. Although she asked to meet everyone, it must be quite overwhelming. Maybe we should have staggered our visits?
The house smells incredible, and I know Mum has been hard at work in the kitchen with her sous-chef, Dad, in tow. The NHL channel is on Nash’s TV, and there are occasional cheers from Mum over the footage from last night’s Bruins game. I know they won overall, but I didn’t see any of the game. I cast a quick glance at the screen to catch a screamer of a puck hitting the back of the goal right over the goalie’s left shoulder from a rapid breakaway.Nice.
Steps sound on the stairs, and Nash enters the room, followed by a small tornado of pink who, upon seeing the number of people in the living room, dashes back to hide behind Nash’s legs.
“Nancy wanted to make sure her dress was perfect, so sorry we were down a little bit late,” Nash explains. His apology goes unanswered because, well, it’s totally unnecessary, and judging by the smile that is gracing his whole face, he doesn’t care in the least if we had been waiting hours, let alone a couple of minutes. He is so smitten with his new daughter. It’s incredible to see. Nash kneels in front of her, so he’s at her level, and I hear Rain sniffle beside me. I look overat him and smile, starting a little when I don’t see Corey sitting where he was before. I look around and find him hovering in the corner.
“Nance, do you want to introduce yourself to everyone on your own, like you said? Or do you want me to take you around?” Nash asks his daughter gently.
Nancy looks around, taking all these strange, smiling faces in, before turning back to Nash. “You,” she says in a tiny voice.
“OK,” Nash agrees, taking her by the hand and introducing her to her new family.
We have a wonderful afternoon and an even better lunch, thanks to Mum – roast beef and Yorkshire pudding is one of my all-time favourite meals, especially with a jar of Dad’s homemade horseradish sauce. It’s strong as hell and I love it. Rain was not too keen – I think the strange heat took his breath away a little.
Nancy settled into her role as the princess ruling over a whole new court of admirers after only a few minutes. She is cute as a button, and I could see that all her uncles and especially her “Auntie Wen”, as she called her since she can’t quite pronounce her ‘r’s’, are going to spoil her absolutely rotten. The connection that took everyone, except maybe Rain and Nash, bysurprise was the one she made with Corey. When he gave her his gift, she was in awe and made him set it up for her straight away, and they spent most of the afternoon painting together and talking quietly in the corner by the patio doors.
Corey even stayed at Nash’s when we left, as Nancy wanted him to read her a bedtime story. I think she may be as smitten with Corey as the rest of us are with her.
Rain and I get home at about six o’clock and take Pax for a walk along the river so he can have a good sniff about before we go in. We’re holding hands, our fingers entwined, and the sense of peace that rests over us is almost overwhelming. Rain lets out a satisfied sigh.
“I love it here,” he says quietly, as though he doesn’t want to disturb the peaceful evening.
He bundles in closer to me to keep warm in the frigid January evening air.
“I love it here too,” I reply. “I love you more, though. If you…” I stop myself, not sure why my mouth went where it was about to go.
