Page 29 of Falling Again
Feeling that was a little cold, especially after their kiss that morning, Natalie hastily added a heart emoji. There. That seemed like something a normal, affectionate wife would do.
Wanting more than anything to feel normal, Natalie flopped back on the bed. She knew Anthony kept his phone off during meetings, but a small part of her wanted him to text back right away. Something snarky, like they used to.
Back when they first got together, the debriefing after family visits used to feed their souls. Whether it was a drive back from her parent’s place in Pennsylvania, or whispering under the covers in bed, Natalie and Anthony gossiped about everything––from their family’s insanity to the fact that they were the far superior members of both gene pools. Anthony would take her hand as they’d double over with laughter, squeezing it with all his might to show they were a united front. Flexing her hand instinctively, Natalie yearned for that closeness again.
Hearing raised voices, Natalie gave up her solitude and went downstairs. Hovering in the hallway, she watched Alice continue her pacing and ranting.
“I’m so misunderstood in this family,” she huffed. “Just because I’m not perfect like Anthony doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings.”
Natalie covered her heart with her hand, her armor against Alice breaking down a little. She knew—more than most—that Anthony wasn’t perfect. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t understand what Alice was saying. Anthony worked very hard to appear as in-control as he seemed.
“You’re not perfect, but neither is Anthony,” Donna added. Now she was seated next to Steven, holding him back with her hand on his leg.
Steven’s expression was as fiery as the crimson hue of his cheeks. Much like his son that morning, a vein threatened to pop on his temple. Maybe it was time for a drink refill?
“Alice, we are not here to talk about Anthony. We are here to discuss whatyournext move is. You can’t show up here as soon as you’re done with school. Use one of those degrees you’ve earned and get a job.” He said it so plainly, as if Alice—or anyone—could simply snap their fingers and decide what their life was supposed to be.
The idea gave Natalie pause as she watched the Snyders bicker and argue. Steven and Donna had raised their children with high ideals and expectations. Hell, Anthony had followed in his father’s footsteps. Natalie wondered now if it was truly what Anthony had wanted to do. Growing up in Buckeye Falls his whole life––most of it in the shadow of his father––surely had shaped him.
How different would things be if Anthony hadn’t just fallen in line? What would it have been like if he was more like Alice? An image of Anthony being carefree and driving a car with a duct-taped bumper tumbled through her mind’s eye and Natalie snorted. The simple thought of Anthony not having a plan, a routine, was ludicrous. The man planned everything from what socks he’d wear with which suit, to which mug he’d use for his coffee. She loved Anthony’s type A personality because it meshed so well with her own.
Except for lately. Lately it seemed like they had effectively planned each other out of their lives. The kids, their activities, their jobs, their family obligations––it all conspired against them and their limited free time. But other married couples made it work no matter how many responsibilities they had. Why couldn’t they?
“You have two choices.” Steven’s voice boomed through the house.
The tone left little room for discussion, and Alice finally stopped her pacing. “And what are those?” she asked wearily.
“You can go to the lake house at the end of the month. You can pack it up and get it ready for us to sell.”
That option knocked Alice back on her heels. “You’re selling the lake house? Why?”
Steven waved off his daughter’s question. “Don’t worry about that now. Your second option is to stay with us and the kids while Anthony and Natalie go to the lake house.”
This was news to Natalie, who almost interrupted. While she knew Alice would never intentionally do the kids harm, she also knew Madeline and Otis wouldn’t make life easy for their aunt, even with their grandparents present. She envisioned a week with them eating nothing but candy and watching inappropriate shows on Netflix, their tiny eyes glazing over. The thought made her cringe.
Yeah. Natalie wasn’t fond of option two.
But Natalie had been looking forward to going to South Bass Island to pack up the lake house. Over the course of this week, there had been an imperceptible shift with Anthony. A shift that could use a little push, some time away from their routine. Of course, she’d miss the kids, and she’d panic about work, but Natalie suddenly felt it was imperative that they go to the lake house. The two of them needed this time away—to save their marriage.
Competing feelings stopped Natalie from interrupting. How could she steer Alice toward the choice of staying in Buckeye Falls without showing her hand? Letting her in-laws know about their marital woes made Natalie’s skin crawl, and she rushed to think of the right thing to say.
Knowing Alice worked better without direct orders, Natalie took a deep breath and, relying on reverse psychology, said, “Just go to the lake house.” Everyone turned to see Natalie as she entered the room. The loud thrumming of her pulse in her ears threatened to drown out the conversation.
“You don’t want to go to the lake house, dear?” Donna asked. She leaned forward, breaking her hold on Steven’s leg. Natalie couldn’t be sure, but she thought she saw a look of panic cross over both her in-laws’ faces.
Alice was unsure how to absorb Natalie’s suggestion. “You don’t want a week of sun and relaxation with your husband?” She smirked, clearly undeterred.
Natalie gulped; perhaps she’d overplayed her hand? She opened her mouth to respond, but Steven beat her to it.
“It won’t be relaxing. The house needs to be packed and cleaned before we put it on the market. Whoever goes isn’t staying at a four-star resort.”
Despite Steven’s warning, Natalie’s stomach clenched as Alice weighed her options. “Screw it,” she finally said. “I’ll stay here and help with the kids.” Turning to face Natalie, Alice continued, “You know Mom will be here the entire time. I won’t be able to corrupt them too much.” She threw her arms in the air and stomped into the kitchen, where Natalie heard the clinking of glasses and the popping of a cork. So much for that last bottle of wine...
If there was one thing Natalie had learned over the years as a Snyder, it was that they loved to drown their feelings—the good and the bad.
Natalie decided a drink would settle her nerves before dinner arrived, so she joined Alice as she poured a bottle of pinot noir. Wordlessly, Alice slid one glass across the counter. She looked up at Natalie and nodded in a toast before downing half the glass.
Fighting the urge to cry, Natalie watched Alice gulp a fifty-dollar bottle of wine like it was grape juice. “Cheers,” Natalie sighed as she sipped from her own glass. She really needed to do a better job of hiding the fancy booze.
