"Hey!" Nathan smiled as he opened the back door to Scarlett's Ford EcoSport to place a tired Dylan into his booster seat, his stuffed rabbit still clutched in his hand.
"Hi. Do you need any help?" Scarlett questioned, looking at Nathan through the mirror.
"Nope, I should be fine," Nathan responded, double-checking Dylan was strapped in before folding up the buggy and placing it in the car's boot.
The ride was filled with the pair talking about anything that came to mind. The radio offered no comfort to the silence, as it was turners off when Nathan put Dylan in his seat, neither wanting to calm a sobbing three-month-old from the front seat.
"So have you decided where we're going?" Nathan questioned. Looking back in the mirror as a smile crept on his face.
"Nowhere in particular. It's just been a while since we've hung out together. Considering you abandoned me when Sophie came." Although Nathan couldn't see her face, he could tell she was hurt.
"I'm sorry, okay. I didn't think you would feel that way. Your not the only one who was abandoned, you know? Do you know how it felt to be alone? To be separated from the only friend I've had? When I got kicked out, I felt more alone than I had in years."
"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have snapped," Nathan apologised; as he cast a concerned look once again in the rearview mirror.
"It's fine. You're under a lot of stress right now. I can't say I'd be any different in your shoes." Scarlett smiled at Nathan, before turning her attention back on the road.
They spent the last twenty minutes of the ride in comfortable silence.
Getting out of the car, Nathan set up Dylan's buggy before he took his sleepy child out of Scarlett's hands.
"Are we tired, Bud?" Nathan cooked, placing his son's dummy in the baby's mouth; watching Dylan with a smile on his face as the child attempted to grab his father's jacket., the boy's rabbit still in his arms.
After placing his son in his buggy, the boy too focused on sucking his dummy to notice the action.
"Are you ready?" Nathan questioned, watching as Scarlett grabbed her bag from the back seat.
"Yep!" Scarlett replied cheerfully as she walked towards the exit of the car park. Nathan placed the hood of the buggy over his son before he followed Scarlett.
Nathan couldn't deny shopping with a child was difficult. Having to deal with his son's constant cries for attention and changing the boys nappy every half an hour. By the time they were finished, Nathan had around five bags, filled with toys and essentials for Dylan. Despite spending over £200 of Scarlett's money, Nathan only had one bag of clothes for himself.
Despite arguing with Scarlett, saying he just wanted to take Dylan home; Scarlett insisted on them coving over to her house, reminding the teen on countless occasions that her parent's wanted to see Dylan as they were at work most days when the baby was over.
The young father couldn't think of anything worse than returning there. He knew it would bring back old memories, bring back one of his worse regrets.
Nathan knew he would be nervous walking into that hours again. He didn't think it would be that bad. Palms sweaty, Nathan followed Scarlett inside the mansion: as he suspected, memories of better times followed through his brain.
"Mum, Dad!" Scarlett shouted, giving Nathan an apologetic look as Dylan began crying.
The hallway was exactly as Nathan remembered it. Even though it had only been a year, Nathan felt like it was years ago. At the side of the glass doors leading to the driveway, beside the door there were two shoe racks, filled. A table stands at the side of the door leading to the living room, on top of it a bowl filled with the families keys.
"Shh Buddy... it's okay," Nathan soothed, rocking his boy. This continued when Scarlett's father walked through the door from the kitchen into the hallway.
Dread filled in Nathan's stomach when he saw them. To his surprise, Ryan smiled at him.
"It's been a while since I've seen you, Nathan. I hope you're doing well." Ryan said happily.
"I'm doing well, Sir," Nathan replies respectfully, relaxing after Dylan had calmed down.
"So this is Dylan?" Ryan questioned, walking towards the boy and smiling at Nathan when he passed him the baby.
"Where's mum?" Scarlett questioned, smiling at her dad.
"She's making dinner, are you staying, Nathan?"
"He is," Scarlett instantly replied, smiling at Nathan who nodded in agreement.
"Nate, do you want me to put Dylan down in the living room to play? It's still attached to the kitchen so we can see him," Ryan questioned as Dylan began squirming in his arms.
"Sure, thank you," Nathan responded before following Scarlett into the kitchen.
Like the rest of the house, the kitchen was extravagant, marble counters lined the front, with a breakfast bar facing the stove. Double glass doors led out into a large garden with a pool. Beside the door there was a grand table that fitted the length of the room, having more than enough seats to fit them and their extended family.
"Hi mum," Scarlett smiled, hugging her adoptive mother.
"Hello, sweetheart. Hi Nathan," Erin smiled when she saw the teen.
"Is it okay if Nathan stays for dinner?" Scarlett questioned, taking the cutlery and began setting the table. Out of habit, Nathan helped her.
"Sure! You're a guest now, Nathan! You don't have to do that!" Ryan spoke, entering the room and kissing Erin's cheek.
"It's a habit, Sir," Nathan responded happily, smiling at the older man.
"Nathan. Can I talk to you for a second? I'm sure Scarlett or Rachel will keep an eye on Dylan," Ryan questioned after dinner.
"Sure." Nathan rose from his seat and followed Ryan into the hallway.
"I'm going, to be honest with you. I never wanted to kick you out. If I knew where you would be placed, I would never have let you leave."
"It was my fault... I shouldn't have hurt Erin. I'm sorry... I know it's no excuse, but I was angry. You had every right to kick me out."
"Your right, you shouldn't have done that. I know you've already apologised, and she forgives you. I have to be harsh. I don't doubt you've changed. Anyway, I know it's none of my business, but Scarlett told me about your problems with work..."
"She told you?"
"Having Scarlett looking after Dylan every other day, I kind of guessed it myself."
Nathan just nodded, letting the man continue.
"Are you still taking that writing course..." Ryan continued when Nathan agreed. "I have an offer for you. I have a friend who's a professional writer. I'm willing to talk to him and get you an apprenticeship with him if you want that."
"You would do that?" Nathan questioned, his eyes wide.
"Of course I would. I'm sure he's willing to pay you equal to what you earn now or more for fewer hours. As far as I know, you'll be checking his work before he sends it to his editor and gives him opinions of work. You might write some chapters of your own to give him some ideas."
Nathan's eyes grew even wider as he felt like he couldn't breathe. "I would love that!" Nathan exclaimed, unable to contain his smile.
"I'll call him tomorrow and see what I can do. It's getting late. Do you want me to drop you off at home?"
"If you wouldn't mind," Nathan responded before walking into the kitchen and saying goodbye to Scarlett and Erin and grabbing Dylan and placing him once more in his buggy.
After double-checking he had everything, Nathan pushed his tired son through the door or their attached garage and smiled when he saw Ryan had already placed Dylan's booster seat in his BMW. After strapping his son in, he got into the car, his thought occupied with his future.