"Oh my Natasha... I don't know what to say..." said Chloe as she looked at Natasha, her eyes wide.
Chloe was delighted when Natasha informed her that she would be coming over to her house today. She was excited, for one, she and Natasha barely hung out together except when they were at the office, and secondly, she hadn't seen Natasha the entire weekend, neither heard from her. Just as she was getting worried, Natasha called her this morning to inform her that she would be coming over.
Chloe was happy, she decided not to go to the office today so she and Natasha could do some catching up, and oh boy did they catch up.
"You mean...Oh goodness... that's why you were so quiet last weekend." said Chloe.
"I can't believe you've had to go through such terrible things." said Chloe as her heart went out for her friend.
Of all the things Chloe thought that they would discuss today, she had never imagined that Natasha would trust her enough to tell her some really personal things about her life and about her struggles.
"I am at a loss for words..." said Chloe as Natasha only smiled, she didn't seem to take it as seriously as Chloe was reacting, but she knew that it was truly a lot to take in.
"Well yes, last weekend was just a lot for me to handle." replied Natasha as she chuckled and Chloe looked at her almost with tear filled eyes.
"Oh Natasha, I'm so sorry, I should have called when I first started to get worried, I should have checked on you. You were going through such a difficult time in your life, and I claim to be your friend and yet I wasn't there for you when you needed it most." said Chloe as Natasha only smiled.
"Oh Chloe, that's so sweet of you, but you don't have to feel bad, if I didn't tell you it meant that I didn't want you to worry, besides, you've been more of a friend to me than I can explain." said Natasha as Chloe still looked sad.
"I just can't believe that someone who calls herself your friend would be able to do such a terrible thing to you." said Chloe with a look of disappointment on her face as she shook her head.
"I still wonder about it sometimes... but you never really know how people truly feel about you." replied Natasha with a sigh.
"Oh I just want to give you a hug." said Chloe as Natasha laughed and stretched out her arms as Chloe hugged her.
Natasha had felt better over the past few days, and she had slightly neglected her work, so she knew that she owed Chloe an explanation, and that was when it hit her. Chloe wasn't only her employee or co-worker, she was her friend, and she really needed someone to talk to.
Natasha trusted Chloe with her life. It wasn't the type of blind trust she had for Lia before, this time she knew Chloe's intentions and she knew that she truly only meant well.
"So if you don't mind me asking... how are things with Dom?" asked Chloe as she broke their hug and Natasha looked at her rather calmly.
"Well, I know it sounds weird but... things are normal, or at least as normal as they can be in the type of relationship we have." said Natasha as Chloe nodded, even though she could not even begin to imagine how difficult it was living in the same house with the person who caused you so much hurt.
"I can only imagine Natasha..." said Chloe as Natasha chuckled, she could see that Chloe was really trying to understand her situation, it was adorable seeing her be so gentle in weighing her words.
"Yes, but anyway, it is what it is." said Natasha as she chuckled and Chloe chuckled as well as she heard the backdoor of the kitchen open and close with an unintended thud.
"Ethan, is that you?" shouted Chloe as she waited for a reply.
"Yes mom." replied Ethan as he shouted back.
"Oh okay, welcome back." replied Chloe with a smile.
"Hi mom." replied Ethan as he got himself some juice from the fridge.
"Before you attempt to take anything out of my fridge take off your uniform and fold it neatly in your wardrobe, and then take Pluto out to do her business, she's been whimpering all morning, you must have fed her something that didn't agree with her stomach last night." said Chloe.
Ethan frowned, of course he should have known that as soon as he got home he wouldn't even have a chance to relax.
"Alright fine." replied Ethan with a sigh as he closed the fridge and called for Pluto.
"So are you going to stay for lunch?" asked Chloe as she turned to look at Natasha who smiled.
"Thanks for the offer but no I can't, if Ethan is already here then it means Joy must be at home now." said Natasha.
"It's alright, maybe some other time." said Chloe as she smiled.
"Thank you Chloe, I'll see you tomorrow at the office." said Natasha as she stood up and smiled.
"See you tomorrow." replied Chloe as she smiled and Natasha closed the front door behind her.
...
Natasha walked to the front door of her house as she opened the door and stopped walking when she heard the giggles of Joy accompanied with a host of other voices coming from the living room.
"Joy?" called Natasha as she walked to the living room and Joy rushed out to give her a hug.
"Hello mommy." said Joy as she giggled and gave her a hug.
"Hello my darling, how was school?" asked Natasha as she smiled and Joy stopped hugging her.
"Good mommy." she replied.
"Who were you talking to darling?" asked Natasha as she walked into the living room only to be surprised to see Ernest, Ernest Jr and Margaret sitting down, as if they were waiting for someone, most likely her.
"Oh grandfather... uncle, aunt, it's such a surprise to see you here." said Natasha as she looked at them and they looked at her.
"Oh hello my dear, how are you?" asked Ernest with a smile.
"Fine grandfather, and how are you?" asked Natasha as she smiled.
"Well, well." replied Ernest as Margaret asked how she was and she responded.
"Mommy I am going to change out of my uniform." said Joy as Natasha looked down at her and nodded.
She had only just gotten back from school, she too was surprised to see her grandpappy and grandparents both here. She just thought that maybe they were here to see her mother and yet she was not here so she decided to entertain them for a while as they waited for Natasha to return.
"Alright darling." said Natasha as she smiled and Joy rushed out the door as the four of them laughed, she was always just so energetic.
"Oh Natasha, I am so sorry that we came over here without informing you, I tried to call you but your number was unreachable." said Margaret as Natasha brought her phone out of her back pocket and tried to switch it on.
"Ahh, I see why, my phone died." said Natasha.
"But that's alright, you know that you are always welcome here." said Natasha as she smiled and Ernest and Margaret smiled.
"So is there a family meeting scheduled for today?" asked Natasha as she was confused, she was surely not informed that there would be a family meeting today.
It was one thing for Grandfather to be over here since he liked coming here occasionally to check on them over here, but both Margaret and Ernest Jr hadn't been here in a long time.
"Actually no Natasha, there is no family meeting today." said Ernest Jr as he spoke up.
"There isn't?" asked Natasha as she was even more surprised, she was unsure of what to expect next, this whole situation made her feel as if there was something going on that she did not know about.
"I am here to apologize to you." said Ernest Jr as he cleared his throat and Natasha looked at him with wide eyes.
Of all the things she had expected him to say, she was certainly taken back by him saying he was here to apologize to her. It was easier for him to say whatever he wanted to say over the phone.
There was no need coming all the way over here just to make an apology to her, that was why she was surprised.
Now she was starting to wonder if Grandfather was already on his way over here and Ernest Jr and Margaret decided to come along, or maybe it was the other way around. Or maybe they all just decided to come together.
Regardless of however they decided to come here, she really didn't think that it was necessary at all.