Stained Red Chapter One
Natalie ran a hand through her long brown hair and sighed as she sat at the kitchen table. She was looking over the divorce papers she had just gotten in the mail from her husband, or well soon to be ex-husband Isaac. She hadn't wanted their marriage to come to this but she could understand why it was. It wasn't like he had really even loved her when they got married ten years ago.
Standing from the table she picked up the papers and headed into the home office, putting them on the desk. She would make a mental note to sign them and take them to his lawyer's office herself. She wouldn't contest what he wanted. She had never fought him on any decision he had ever made in their marriage.
As soon as she had laid the papers down she smiled hearing the cry coming from upstairs and she checked her watch. Ten-thirty in the morning. Audrey was on time as usual with her morning routine of waking up.
"Mama is coming," Natalie muttered to herself as she left the office and walked a ways before reaching the stairs. Taking them two at a time she was glad when she made it upstairs in record time. If there was one thing Natalie hated it was leaving a crying child waiting. She had sometimes been called too motherly by Isaac before and she had always laughed, but, in a way, she knew he was right. She was a mother hen.
Walking down the hall to Audrey's nursery she went inside and walked to the crib. Looking down at her crying child she picked her up and kissed her cheek, "Hello my sweet pea," she said as she held Audrey on her hip. Audrey was only four months but she already had Natalie wrapped around her tiny fingers.
Making a face as soon as she had Audrey in her arms, Natalie knew she would have to change her daughter, "I think you left mommy a present huh?" she asked carrying Audrey over to the changing table and laying her down.
Bending down she grabbed a clean diaper and then stood back up. Smiling as she looked down at Audrey she felt her heart warm as Audrey smiled up at her too. Audrey was the spitting image of her.
"You little stinker bug," Natalie laughed as she changed Audrey's diaper quickly and then threw the dirty one away. Once she was done she picked Audrey up again and left the room almost colliding into a running child.
Stopping she just shook her head seeing a blonde head going down the stairs, "No running in the house Henry," Natalie stated as she walked down the stairs. She was trying to be stern but she could never be stern with any of her children.
"But I want to hurry and get to grandma's so I can see Theo again," Henry who was four smiled up at his mommy once he made it downstairs.
Natalie shook her head, "I'm sure Theo will be just as thrilled to see you as well," she mused as she thought of her ten year old son. Theodore was the reason she had married Isaac. Isaac had decided to be honorable and he married her when she had been five months pregnant with Theodore.
Henry smiled at her words and went to the couch, "You said we could get him once Audrey was awake."
"I know what I said Henry," Natalie said as she smiled down at her son. He was the spitting image of Isaac, minus the blue eyes which he had inherited from Isaac's mother.
Bending down she held Audrey on her hip firmly and she picked up Henry's shoes. Holding them in her free hand she gave them to him and smiled when she watched him put them on. He was such a hoot at times to her. He out of all of her children had the most energy and it amused Natalie.
Going to where Audrey's baby carrier was she picked it up and took it the couch where she put Audrey in and made sure that Audrey was in good. She was always cautious on making sure there was no possible way her children would get hurt. She was over-protective to a fault. Probably because all of the mistakes she had made in her life. She didn't want her children to make them and she thought that being over-protective would stop it.
"You ready?" Natalie asked as she looked at Henry and saw that he had his shoes on. When he nodded she motioned for him to stand up and once he had she picked up the baby carrier. Heading for the door she grabbed the keys off the key rack that hung beside the front door. Opening the door she went outside towards where her blue mini van was parked. It wasn't her idea to get it. Isaac had bought it when she was pregnant with Audrey. He had said it was probably for the best if they had a bigger vehicle besides the small two door one that they owned.
Getting to the van, Natalie sat the baby carried down and opened the back sliding door. Seeing Henry get inside in a hurry Natalie rolled her eyes playfully before bending down and grabbing the baby carrier. Putting it and make sure it was secure she shut the door and walked around to the driver's side.
"Are you buckled up?" she asked Henry and as she watched him shake his head through the rearview mirror, Natalie smiled before starting the car. She was sure that he much like Theodore was growing up entirely too fast. She hated how time was flying and both of her boys were becoming little men.
As Natalie pulled out of the drive way she reached over and turned the radio on. She relaxed some as the country music that she loved filled the car. Isaac always had hated country music and whenever he was in the car he would change it to some oldies station or some station that played a mix of the eighties, nineties, and today.
"Is daddy going to be at grandma's today too?" Henry questioned from the back seat as he kicked his feet.
Natalie frowned at her son's words. She knew he was missing Isaac. She knew Theodore was missing Isaac too. He had after all been gone from the house for the past month. After an argument that had went too far. An argument that Natalie now regretted.
"I doubt it baby," Natalie said trying to hide the sadness in her voice. She would have to try calling the studio and getting in touch with Isaac. He couldn't go any longer without seeing his children.
Henry looked down sadly and stopped kicking his legs, "I miss him mommy," he said as his voice broke when he spoke.
Natalie frowned more as she heard Henry's voice crack. She was sure if she wasn't driving she would have broke down in tears too. She hated when her children were plainly hurting so much.
"I miss him too," Natalie nodded being honest. She did miss Isaac and after ten years she had grown accustomed to having him there for her. She had come to feel for him over time. She had come to rely on him. She was sure this divorce would wind up hurting her more than she figured it would.
As she drove the rest of the way in silence, Natalie felt a little relieved when she pulled into the drive way of Isaac's parents house. At least she wouldn't have to keep riding in a car with a sad child.
Turning her car off she got out and went around to the other side of the van. Opening the door she watched as Henry unbuckled and got out way before she had anytime to get Audrey out. He seemed to be in better spirits now that he knew he would be seeing Theodore. Natalie was also sure just a bit of his enthusiasm was because he would also be seeing his nana. All of the children liked seeing their nana.
Smiling as she got Audrey out of the van she held the baby carrier with one hand and shut the van door with the other. Beginning to walk towards the front door she smiled as she saw Diana standing in the already open door.
"Hello Natalie," Diana smiled as she greeted her daughter-in-law.
Natalie plastered a smile, "Hello Diana," she nodded as she passed her as she went inside. "I hope Theodore wasn't a bother last night."
Diana shook her head as she shut the door, "Theodore was perfect," she smiled as she walked over to Natalie and took the baby carrier from her. "I was glad that he wanted to spend time with me and his grandfather."
"To be honest I was glad too," Natalie smiled as she watched Diana take the baby carrier. Diana was such a natural at spoiling all of her grandchildren. "It was a much needed break with one less kid around," she said knowing that by herself it was always harder watching all three children. She had hated tour time for that very reason but this wasn't tour time. This was her marriage falling apart time.
"I'm sure it was," Diana laughed as she sat the carrier on the couch and then got Audrey out. Holding her youngest grandchild on her hip she sat down on the couch. "Isaac called last night," she said as she watched Natalie's reaction.
Hearing Diana, Natalie raised an eyebrow as she sat down on the couch, "Oh?" she asked surprised by that. She was at least glad to know he was keeping contact with his family and not ignoring them like he was doing her.
"Yeah," Diana nodded. "He wanted me to tell you that he was going to come by and see the kids tonight once he got done at the studio."
Natalie exhaled loudly as she heard her mother-in-laws words. To say they had taken her by surprise would be the truth. Well at least she wouldn't have to call Isaac at the studio now.
When Natalie stayed silent, Diana continued to talk, "I hope you two can fix things," she sighed sadly. "I know the kids have to be suffering from all this."
"They aren't suffering," Natalie replied probably more harshly than she should have. "They are sad but not suffering," she said shaking her head. "As for us fixing thing, I..I just don't think it's in our cards," Natalie shook her head not wanting to tell Diana yet about the divorce papers. It wasn't the time to do that nor was it her place anyway.
"You never know," Diana smile as she stood up from the couch and held Audrey. "Things can always change," she shrugged before heading into the kitchen. It was almost lunch time and she wanted to feed the kids before they had to leave.
Once Diana had left Natalie sighed and watched as her bangs blew up slightly. She hated that Diana seemed so sure that things would work. When a marriage had been based on a lie and for all the wrongs reasons Natalie was sure that it was bound to do like her and Isaac's had done. It was bound to crumble.
Natalie ran a hand through her long brown hair and sighed as she sat at the kitchen table. She was looking over the divorce papers she had just gotten in the mail from her husband, or well soon to be ex-husband Isaac. She hadn't wanted their marriage to come to this but she could understand why it was. It wasn't like he had really even loved her when they got married ten years ago.
Standing from the table she picked up the papers and headed into the home office, putting them on the desk. She would make a mental note to sign them and take them to his lawyer's office herself. She wouldn't contest what he wanted. She had never fought him on any decision he had ever made in their marriage.
As soon as she had laid the papers down she smiled hearing the cry coming from upstairs and she checked her watch. Ten-thirty in the morning. Audrey was on time as usual with her morning routine of waking up.
"Mama is coming," Natalie muttered to herself as she left the office and walked a ways before reaching the stairs. Taking them two at a time she was glad when she made it upstairs in record time. If there was one thing Natalie hated it was leaving a crying child waiting. She had sometimes been called too motherly by Isaac before and she had always laughed, but, in a way, she knew he was right. She was a mother hen.
Walking down the hall to Audrey's nursery she went inside and walked to the crib. Looking down at her crying child she picked her up and kissed her cheek, "Hello my sweet pea," she said as she held Audrey on her hip. Audrey was only four months but she already had Natalie wrapped around her tiny fingers.
Making a face as soon as she had Audrey in her arms, Natalie knew she would have to change her daughter, "I think you left mommy a present huh?" she asked carrying Audrey over to the changing table and laying her down.
Bending down she grabbed a clean diaper and then stood back up. Smiling as she looked down at Audrey she felt her heart warm as Audrey smiled up at her too. Audrey was the spitting image of her.
"You little stinker bug," Natalie laughed as she changed Audrey's diaper quickly and then threw the dirty one away. Once she was done she picked Audrey up again and left the room almost colliding into a running child.
Stopping she just shook her head seeing a blonde head going down the stairs, "No running in the house Henry," Natalie stated as she walked down the stairs. She was trying to be stern but she could never be stern with any of her children.
"But I want to hurry and get to grandma's so I can see Theo again," Henry who was four smiled up at his mommy once he made it downstairs.
Natalie shook her head, "I'm sure Theo will be just as thrilled to see you as well," she mused as she thought of her ten year old son. Theodore was the reason she had married Isaac. Isaac had decided to be honorable and he married her when she had been five months pregnant with Theodore.
Henry smiled at her words and went to the couch, "You said we could get him once Audrey was awake."
"I know what I said Henry," Natalie said as she smiled down at her son. He was the spitting image of Isaac, minus the blue eyes which he had inherited from Isaac's mother.
Bending down she held Audrey on her hip firmly and she picked up Henry's shoes. Holding them in her free hand she gave them to him and smiled when she watched him put them on. He was such a hoot at times to her. He out of all of her children had the most energy and it amused Natalie.
Going to where Audrey's baby carrier was she picked it up and took it the couch where she put Audrey in and made sure that Audrey was in good. She was always cautious on making sure there was no possible way her children would get hurt. She was over-protective to a fault. Probably because all of the mistakes she had made in her life. She didn't want her children to make them and she thought that being over-protective would stop it.
"You ready?" Natalie asked as she looked at Henry and saw that he had his shoes on. When he nodded she motioned for him to stand up and once he had she picked up the baby carrier. Heading for the door she grabbed the keys off the key rack that hung beside the front door. Opening the door she went outside towards where her blue mini van was parked. It wasn't her idea to get it. Isaac had bought it when she was pregnant with Audrey. He had said it was probably for the best if they had a bigger vehicle besides the small two door one that they owned.
Getting to the van, Natalie sat the baby carried down and opened the back sliding door. Seeing Henry get inside in a hurry Natalie rolled her eyes playfully before bending down and grabbing the baby carrier. Putting it and make sure it was secure she shut the door and walked around to the driver's side.
"Are you buckled up?" she asked Henry and as she watched him shake his head through the rearview mirror, Natalie smiled before starting the car. She was sure that he much like Theodore was growing up entirely too fast. She hated how time was flying and both of her boys were becoming little men.
As Natalie pulled out of the drive way she reached over and turned the radio on. She relaxed some as the country music that she loved filled the car. Isaac always had hated country music and whenever he was in the car he would change it to some oldies station or some station that played a mix of the eighties, nineties, and today.
"Is daddy going to be at grandma's today too?" Henry questioned from the back seat as he kicked his feet.
Natalie frowned at her son's words. She knew he was missing Isaac. She knew Theodore was missing Isaac too. He had after all been gone from the house for the past month. After an argument that had went too far. An argument that Natalie now regretted.
"I doubt it baby," Natalie said trying to hide the sadness in her voice. She would have to try calling the studio and getting in touch with Isaac. He couldn't go any longer without seeing his children.
Henry looked down sadly and stopped kicking his legs, "I miss him mommy," he said as his voice broke when he spoke.
Natalie frowned more as she heard Henry's voice crack. She was sure if she wasn't driving she would have broke down in tears too. She hated when her children were plainly hurting so much.
"I miss him too," Natalie nodded being honest. She did miss Isaac and after ten years she had grown accustomed to having him there for her. She had come to feel for him over time. She had come to rely on him. She was sure this divorce would wind up hurting her more than she figured it would.
As she drove the rest of the way in silence, Natalie felt a little relieved when she pulled into the drive way of Isaac's parents house. At least she wouldn't have to keep riding in a car with a sad child.
Turning her car off she got out and went around to the other side of the van. Opening the door she watched as Henry unbuckled and got out way before she had anytime to get Audrey out. He seemed to be in better spirits now that he knew he would be seeing Theodore. Natalie was also sure just a bit of his enthusiasm was because he would also be seeing his nana. All of the children liked seeing their nana.
Smiling as she got Audrey out of the van she held the baby carrier with one hand and shut the van door with the other. Beginning to walk towards the front door she smiled as she saw Diana standing in the already open door.
"Hello Natalie," Diana smiled as she greeted her daughter-in-law.
Natalie plastered a smile, "Hello Diana," she nodded as she passed her as she went inside. "I hope Theodore wasn't a bother last night."
Diana shook her head as she shut the door, "Theodore was perfect," she smiled as she walked over to Natalie and took the baby carrier from her. "I was glad that he wanted to spend time with me and his grandfather."
"To be honest I was glad too," Natalie smiled as she watched Diana take the baby carrier. Diana was such a natural at spoiling all of her grandchildren. "It was a much needed break with one less kid around," she said knowing that by herself it was always harder watching all three children. She had hated tour time for that very reason but this wasn't tour time. This was her marriage falling apart time.
"I'm sure it was," Diana laughed as she sat the carrier on the couch and then got Audrey out. Holding her youngest grandchild on her hip she sat down on the couch. "Isaac called last night," she said as she watched Natalie's reaction.
Hearing Diana, Natalie raised an eyebrow as she sat down on the couch, "Oh?" she asked surprised by that. She was at least glad to know he was keeping contact with his family and not ignoring them like he was doing her.
"Yeah," Diana nodded. "He wanted me to tell you that he was going to come by and see the kids tonight once he got done at the studio."
Natalie exhaled loudly as she heard her mother-in-laws words. To say they had taken her by surprise would be the truth. Well at least she wouldn't have to call Isaac at the studio now.
When Natalie stayed silent, Diana continued to talk, "I hope you two can fix things," she sighed sadly. "I know the kids have to be suffering from all this."
"They aren't suffering," Natalie replied probably more harshly than she should have. "They are sad but not suffering," she said shaking her head. "As for us fixing thing, I..I just don't think it's in our cards," Natalie shook her head not wanting to tell Diana yet about the divorce papers. It wasn't the time to do that nor was it her place anyway.
"You never know," Diana smile as she stood up from the couch and held Audrey. "Things can always change," she shrugged before heading into the kitchen. It was almost lunch time and she wanted to feed the kids before they had to leave.
Once Diana had left Natalie sighed and watched as her bangs blew up slightly. She hated that Diana seemed so sure that things would work. When a marriage had been based on a lie and for all the wrongs reasons Natalie was sure that it was bound to do like her and Isaac's had done. It was bound to crumble.
