Over the Fence (47 page)

At your desk?? Why aren’t you lying down?

I am fine. Please come.

I’m on my way. Don’t go anywhere. Wait for me.

Where the hell would I go, Nat?

In the car. Coming. I love you.

Love you too, Daddy.

Kourtney, is everything okay?

Relax, Nat, we’re fine. You’ve only been at work a couple hours.

I would rather be home with you and Liam. I miss you both.

We miss you. We’ll be waiting when you get home.

I’ll come home early. In fact, I may work from home a couple days a week for a bit. Perks of being the boss.

Why does this news not surprise me? I like these perks.

Good. I like you.

That is a good thing.

You are a good thing. You are, in fact, the best thing that ever happened to me.

I think you should come home now.

On my way.

I see I missed 4 texts. Sorry—the appointment took longer than I thought.

Are you okay? Going mad with worry here. What did the doctor say?

You need to come home.

Kourtney. Tell me now. What did the doctor say? I wish you had let me take you. The meeting could have waited.

It’s not the flu.

Where are you?

In the parking lot of the doctor’s office.

Liam?

Asleep in the back.

Tell me.

Your ninja-sperm have done it again.

Kourtney!!!

I think I need to lie down.

I think that’s what got us into trouble in the first place . . . or should I say . . . second place.

No, it was you and your strange fixation with my cute socks, which led to your investigating up my legs and using the kitchen counter for purposes it was never intended for . . .

Well, they were rather sexy—all red and fuzzy and calling to me.

My socks call to you? You’re deranged. Totally deranged.

Right now I’m rather giddy, I admit.

Where are you, Nat? I think I need you.

In my car already, my girl. Coming home to my family so I can kiss my wife and welcome our new blip properly. You have a picture for me? Are you okay to drive?

Yes, I have a pic and yes, I’m fine to drive. You’re okay with this? Liam isn’t even a year old. We hadn’t planned on more babies yet.

Chefgirl, I’m ecstatic. I’ll show you how ecstatic as soon as I see you. Drive safely.

I love you.

So much, my girl. SO MUCH. Stop texting and come home to me.

A girl. We’re gonna have a girl. A baby Chefgirl. A Chefette?

LOL.

I love you. I love our daughter. Our son. Our family. Our life.

I love you, Nat. Are you showing off your new picture?

Yes. What a beauty she is.

She is half yours.

And half yours. I hope she looks just like you. A little mini Chefgirl running around. My little dumpling.

Nuts.

Only about you.

That never gets old for you, does it?

Nope. You tired?

Yes. Exhausted actually.

I’ll look after dinner—Liam and I will have a boys’ night and you can relax. Deal?

Deal.

I’ll be home early.

This news does not come as a shock.

Sass. Love you, Chefgirl.

I love you, Nat.

Nat?

You’re supposed to be resting.

How’s Liam?

He misses his mommy but his nana and pops are spoiling him. Sophie and Ian are on their way, too. How is my daughter?

Emaline is fine. She is all snuggled up here on my chest. I think maybe her eyes are going to be like mine. The irises look slightly different.

I already saw that. Perfect.

Nat . . .

Kourtney—she is going to be surrounded by love and I will tell her every single day how utterly perfect she is—like her mother. She will never ever doubt herself. She’ll never suffer like you did. I will make sure of that. I also plan on teaching her how to throw a good right hook, just in case.

I love you.

I love you, Kourtney.

Can you come back?

Already on my way, my girl. Liam is asleep and I have to be there with you—Claire laughed at me and threw me out. I’ll be there in about 10 minutes. And I have your frozen yogurt. I’m about to leave the store.

You remembered.

I remember everything about you, Kourtney. And I especially remember your desperate need for this after Liam was born. I figured better safe than sorry. And once I get there I’m not leaving you again until I bring you and my daughter home. Liam is anxious to meet his baby sister tomorrow. Nana is very excited, as well.

You take such good care of us. I’ll . . . we’ll be waiting.

You’re everything, Kourtney. See you in 10.

Everything okay, Nat?

We’re all fine, Kourtney. We’re having lunch. Auntie Sophie is here, too. How’s the meeting going?

It’s okay. They want me to stay on in some capacity, so we’re trying to hammer it out.

Told you they wouldn’t want to lose you. Are you sure about this?

Yes. I want to be home with our children. Especially now that #3 is on the way. If we can work it out that I can work a little and write some articles at home, then it works.

As long as you’re happy.

I am, Nat. Always.

I am attaching a photo. Remember how to look at it?

Yes. Got it. Um, what am I looking at?

LOL. Our fencepost in the nursery, Chefgirl. I measured the kids for the first time. See the blue and pink lines?

Oh.

Chefgirl? You okay?

I’m good.

I don’t believe you. What’s wrong?

They’re growing too fast, Nat.

Don’t cry, Kourtney. Please.

How did you know?

I know you.

It’s the pregnancy hormones.

No. It’s you. It’s your beautiful heart. I love you, Chefgirl.

I love you. I’m coming home. I’ll finish this tomorrow.

We’ll be waiting. Drive safely.

Nat—where are you?

I’m on my way back. Nana and Pops have everything under control. Waiting in line for your yogurt. Do you need anything else?

Only you. Did you kiss them for me?

Three times. And I took pictures for you.

Caitlin is sleeping.

My little cupcake.

You and Liam are outnumbered again.

We’re good. #4 will even it up again.

Um, Nat. I gave birth 5 hours ago. I am not ready to talk about #4.

Fair enough. We’ll discuss it tomorrow.

Good luck with that.

Next week, then. I have no objection to continuing this process until we have a nice even number—maybe a dozen.

Nat?

?

Now you have shared this information with me, you and your ninja-sperm filled penis are never coming anywhere near me again.

People are looking at me, Chefgirl.

Why?

Because I’m standing by our car, laughing so hard over your use of the words ‘ninja-sperm filled penis’ via text. I’m so proud.

Nuts. You are still nuts.

About you—yes, I still am. Always will be. I love you, Chefgirl.

I’m so lucky.

In the car now. Thank you for my daughter. You were magnificent today. Again. Thank you—for you, our family, our life.

Stop. Now you’re making me cry.

Then I’ll come and kiss away the tears. On my way.

xx—I love you Nathan.

I love you, Kourtney—always.