Crain's Landing (42 page)

“MS. REID, I AM CERTAIN
I speak for the entire Board when I say this meeting is a formality.”

It was hard to believe I had completed my first year. I had been reflecting on all the changes my life had gone through since I arrived in Crain’s Landing. When I first set out to do this job, I could only think about what I could do for this town. I never considered what I would learn from it.

I once read a quote that said, “If you want to make God laugh, tell him what you have planned.” That was exactly what I had done when I took this position. I planned to do my job and raise my daughter. The last thing I wanted was to fall for some cheap lines, some small town boy would whisper sweet nothings to me, just to get into my pants.

But there he was, waiting patiently for me to get my bitterness out of my system. He filled my life with such joy and the desire to achieve more.

“Mr. Davis, if I may correct you, it’s Mrs. Crain now.” I smiled at Maybelline, who had interrupted the meeting to correct the director. “You were at the wedding as I recall, though I’m not certain you remember much of it.” Maybelline mumbled the latter under her breath. I had to giggle as I clearly remembered Beauregard attempting to bump and grind on several of the older ladies in attendance.

“My apologies, I stand corrected, Mrs. Crain.”

Grant had completely surprised me when he brought home dozens of bridal magazines and his calendar with all the dates he could comfortably get away from the office. I returned the surprise, when I showed him the plus sign on the white stick I held in my hands. As much as Grant had regretted aggressively taking me in the bathroom at his parents’, it did create the baby I was carrying.

“Natalie, are you sure?”

I smiled with watery eyes that matched his, as I happily nodded my head. It wasn’t in our plans to have a child this soon, but, again, it wasn’t my plan to fall in love with Grant.

“No apologies necessary, but I disagree, this is more than a formality. I want to be treated like any other director, questioned about my achievements and what I have planned. Despite the smallness of our community, the world outside is growing every day. I have a new program I would like to provide you with, regardless if you choose to keep me on as director.”

Morgan had approached me because he had a number of his players who he was concerned with. He told me he was worried about the ones who struggled all year with keeping their grades up. Some of the parents had been hit hard by the economy and could not afford summer school. I made some calls and came up with a solid plan, as long as the Board agreed.

“Natalie, your achievements speak for themselves. This meeting would be over already if we were not sold on your abilities. I am however, excited to hear your newest venture.”

I had sat down with Grant one evening after Peyton was in bed. I showed him the statistics of graduating students and actual college placements. I was saddened to see that less than sixty percent of the students who enrolled in high school in this county, enrolled in any college. Furthermore, thirty percent never made it to graduation. With the shrimping industry just hours from here, it was easier to head up north and make money, instead of attending college. Most stayed local during the off season.

I had this information placed nicely in a PowerPoint and asked Maybelline to dim the lights. I shared the statistics I had and watched as Beauregard, and the rest of the Board, looked solemnly at the pie charts.

“Natalie, I can’t see how we can help with any of this. We can’t change how generations have done things.”

This angered me. He was far too quick to throw up his hands and call it a day, instead of using what we already have to our advantage.

“Well, Mr. Davis, I’m glad my husband didn’t try to talk me out of this. Sit back and let me share with you my plans.” I switched to another file on my laptop. I showed him the issue with Morgan’s players and how the adults we had that were working for the shrimping boats could benefit.

“I contacted several of the boat owners, and they all agreed that the off season is the summer months. The same is true for the football players. Coach Crain doesn’t have his players play in the heat of the day. They practice early and then are released to go home.” Morgan had further agreed that if my plan was accepted, he would make attending my program mandatory participation in order to play football.

“I also contacted the school and got a list of the top twenty-five academic students. I contacted them, as well as their parents, and received overwhelming support for what I am about to show you.” I clicked my mouse and a picture of all twenty-five students stood smiling at the Board.

“The school system is financially broke. They have no money for extra teachers, much less tutors. However, every student you see here has a 4.0. They will all graduate and, hopefully, go on to college. They have all volunteered to tutor a class this summer and work one on one with any struggling student. Ten of the twenty-five have summer jobs, but are willing to come in during the evening to help, as well.”

I leaned back in my chair as I watched Maybelline smile and Beauregard also grin and shake his head. “So how much is this going to cost us Natalie?”

I smiled knowing I had him.

“Nothing really.” I shrugged. “We are already open during the hours the volunteers are available, so no additional moneys will be needed. It may even benefit us, as they may be hungry and need a pastry or cup of coffee.”

With a unanimous vote, the tutoring project was created.

Six months later

“Natalie you’re a solid six centimeters, it won’t be long now.”

My water broke while snuggling into Grant’s side. I had never seen a man jump so high and as fast as he did. With all of his medical training you would think he would be calm, but no, he was a wreck. He ran around the room, pulling at his hair, talking to himself. He drove past the hospital entrance twice, and then forgot to turn the car off. Too bad I was in too much pain to get it on film.

When Peyton was born, I was alone and terrified. This time I had a wonderful husband who would do anything for me. An extended family that was supportive and close knit. A town that waved good morning and looked out for each other.

Grant and I had chosen to not find out what we were having. This had made certain members of that close knit family not too happy with us. But Grant was firm and didn’t let them upset me about our decision.

Peyton had taken the role of older sister to its limits. She had already sectioned off certain areas in her room that the baby could play and certain areas that were off limits. She’d even volunteered to change diapers, until Grant informed her there would be poop in some of them. She then decided to give the new baby more space to play in her room. Peyton would sing bedtime songs to her little brother, as she was convinced we were having a boy.

“Do you remember what I promised you on our wedding day?” Grant had finally calmed down and was keeping me laughing.

“You promised me a lot of things, Dr. Crain, one of them is the reason we are in the hospital right now.”

He smiled his warm smile and kissed my nose. “Besides great sex, my love. I promised to make you smile every chance I got.”

My mind drifted off as I remembered dancing close to my husband under the soft lights of the reception hall. The soft keys of the piano played as he slowly swayed with me around the floor. The feel of his fingers caressing my back and the way his neck smelled so sweet. How the smile I saw when I first began to walk down the aisle, never left his face.

“I promised to fall more in love with you every single day.” I turned my head to find his waiting.

“I like that one the best.”

“Okay, Natalie, one more push and you will meet your baby.” Labor had progressed quickly for me. It had been less than four hours since my water broke and I was pushing already.

“You are amazing, Natalie.” Grant hadn’t left my side for a single second the entire time. He was holding me together during the worst of my contractions.

“It’s a girl!” The sounds of a sharp baby cry resounded in the room. One of the nurses wished our daughter a happy birthday as she placed her on my chest.

“Look at her Grant, she’s beautiful.”

Even with her blotchy skin and angry cries, she was still the most beautiful baby.

“She has your nose, my love.” I could tell Grant wanted to hold her as badly as I did. When the nurses began to clean up the area, I handed her over to her dad.

I watched as Grant carefully wrapped her in his arms and sat in the rocking chair in the corner. He began speaking to her in hushed tones, promising her the world, I was certain.

“She is beautiful, but what do you plan to name her?” I looked over to the nurse, who was laying a clean blanket across my lap. Grant and I had a number of conversations about baby names. It took us months before we agreed. Peyton wanted to name the baby Popsicle and Marshmallow. In the end, an ad on television had given us the perfect name.

“Chloe Elizabeth Crain.”

Grant looked up from his daughter’s face to wink at me. Carolyn and Martin had taken Peyton to a movie one evening and we got into our pajamas and watched movies. Grant was about to change the channel when an advertisement for Chloe perfume came on, we looked at each other and began to smile. Grant insisted she should have my middle name and so the name was set.

“Oh, that is beautiful! Not a popular name anymore, classic.” I couldn’t agree more. I hadn’t heard that name in several years and wouldn’t have to worry about there being five of them in her class when she started school. Chloe began to fuss and Grant carried her back to me.

“I’m going to let everyone know that Chloe has arrived.” Grant gave several kisses to Chloe’s head and then a few to mine. I had just gotten Chloe settled when Grant came back in with Peyton in tow.

“Now remember, we have to be quiet.” Grant took her over to the sink and helped her wash her hands. Peyton had a big smile on her face as she climbed on the bed beside me.

“Mommy, what did we get?” I had Chloe on my right and Peyton on my left, with Grant at the head of my bed, like a protective watchdog.

“I want you to meet your new baby sister, Chloe.”

Peyton’s eyes got big as the first signs of tears began to well up. “A girl? Mommy, I wanted a boy! Pwease, take her back! I don’t wanna sister.”

At the harsh sound of Peyton’s voice, Chloe began to cry. I tried to calm the baby down, while Grant had to console a now sobbing Peyton. “I’m sowwy, Daddy. I made her sad. I made the baby cry.”

Grant held Peyton to his chest, but Peyton couldn’t take her eyes off Chloe. She very gently ran her index finger over her forehead as she quietly informed her of the rules of playing in her room. It took everything I had not to laugh.

Once Grant had Peyton under control, he gently placed her back on the bed. “I’m sowwy, Chloe, I didn’t mean to make you cwy. I love you, honestly, I do.” I looked to Grant’s face as we both tried to control our giggles.

Once we had our bonding time, the rest of the family piled into the room. Carolyn was jumping with excitement and I was a little nervous to hand the baby to her. Martin had gone around the hospital handing out bubble gum cigars to announce he was a grandpa again. Lily began to lay it on thick to Morgan that they needed another one, as Autumn announced they would soon be switching places with us.

Once we got home, Ashley and Drew brought over their little guy, Devon. He had a head full of dark hair just like his parents and his legs and face were so cute with all their chubbiness. Ashley had decided to only work a few days a week after Devon was born. She was too afraid to miss anything. Grant and I were still discussing my return to work.

Once all of the company was gone and the kids were fed and asleep in their beds, Grant snuggled with me on the couch. I could tell he’d had something on his mind the entire day. I also knew he would tell me when he was ready.

“Baby?”

“Hmm?”

“I got some news today I wanted to share with you.”

I pulled back to look into his eyes.

“Good or bad news?”

He closed his eyes and encouraged me to snuggle back into him.

“Good for us, bad for the person it’s about.”

I closed my eyes and settled back into his side.

“The Dean at Dartmouth called me today. It seems they had an official board review of Tiffany Garrison.” She had done so much damage to our family; I didn’t even want to show a reaction to her name. “He advised me that the Board voted to revoke her internship. She won’t be able to finish her training.”

Neither one of us said anything for several minutes. “You know I find it ironic. I came here to take my career by the horns and build something great. Having a man in my life was the last thing I wanted. Tiffany, came into town with her career in her hip pocket and all she wanted was a man in hers.”

Grant turned off the television and we both lay there holding each other silently. I must have drifted off to sleep, because the next thing I knew Grant was holding a screaming Chloe out for me to nurse. “I can give her a lot of things, but breast milk isn’t one of them.”