Page 35 of 5+Us Makes Seven

“It’s a deal!” Nathaniel said.

I could feel Carter’s eyes on me, but I avoided his gaze. I stared out the window, watching as the world passed by. The city gave way to a park, and the park gave way to trees, and as we drove up into the parking lot there was a big soccer field staring us in the face.

“We’re here!” Nathaniel said.

“Time to get the brood out,” I said with a grin.

Carter’s eyes met mine and I couldn’t look away. There was a mixture of curiosity and sadness in his eyes. Was something wrong? Did I say something he didn’t like to the kids? I didn't have time to unpack it, though. Nathaniel’s game started in fifteen minutes and he was already running for his coach.

“Nathaniel! Hold on!” I said.

Then like lightning, Clara and Joshua took off as well.

“So much for trying to catch them,” Carter said.

“They’re excited. I guess as long as I can see them, they’ll be okay,” I said.

We walked over to the soccer field and took our places on the metal benches. Joshua and Clara were running around, tossing a ball Joshua had brought with him. I kept them wrangled to the benches as the sun began to set, and every time Nathaniel had the ball I was up on my feet.

“Come on, Nathaniel! You can do it!”

“Kick it! In the goal!”

“Run! Run! Run! You’re doing so good!”

We clapped and cheered and whooped and hollered. I stomped on the bench and got all the other parents cheering both of the teams. We were on the side of the kids. It wasn’t red versus blue or west side versus east side. We were all there to watch how our kids had grown and laugh as they worked up a sweat and got dirty.

We cheered for every goal, and I was leading the pack with the bleacher stomping.

After the game was done all the boys shook hands. I gathered Clara in my arms and Carter wrangled Joshua, and we all rushed over to hug Nathaniel. He was sweaty and covered in grass, but he had the biggest smile on his face.

“Does this mean I get another story!?”

“Yes, it does,” I said with a grin.

“Let me tell you something,” a man said. “If every family was as inclusive as you guys are with your children, these sporting events would be a lot more fun for everyone.”

“Oh, I’m not their-”

“We believe everyone should be cheered at this age,” Carter said. “Carter Marshall. I’m Nathaniel’s father.”

“Craig Lancaster. This is my wife, Betty, and our son is the one that took off with your boy just now.”

I looked over and saw Nathaniel kicking a soccer ball with a blonde-headed boy in a blue outfit. They were running around with a bunch of other kids, laughing and having the time of their lives. It brought tears to my eyes to see them so happy. To see them looking beyond the different-colored jerseys and bonding over something they took joy in.

“I’m Natasha,” I said as I held out my hand. “I’m-”

“The saving grace of this family,” Carter said with a smile.

I shook hands with the Lancasters as Carter’s hand rubbed my back. I couldn’t be sure as to why he didn’t want me admitting the fact that I was only the nanny, but I thought I knew why. I still cared about him deeply, and I knew his eyes would linger on me from time to time. There were nights where his hand would creep a little too close to my knee and nights where I had one too many glasses of wine and got a bit too close to his lap.

Our feelings were still there for one another.

Even though we weren’t sleeping together any longer.

“We should trade numbers,” Betty said. “If the boys get along like this, we could do playdates.”

“My wife needs a wine buddy,” Craig said.

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