I Forgive You, Dad.

Natalie sat by the window side to have a cup of coffee, after Lina and Christopher left.

Catherine went straight to bed after the wake was over, so the only company Natalie had was that of her husband's, who was having dinner at the dining table.

As he ate, he gave Natalie a few glances, and he could tell that she was disturbed. 

After he had his last bite, he took his plate to the kitchen sink and washed it, then went to seat with Natalie by the window side. 

He took the seat in front of her and reached for her hand that was rested on her thigh, the whole time.

'You need to rest, hon.' Nathan muttered. 

'I don't feel too tired.' Natalie said. 

'Come on, hon. You worked all day.' Nathan countered.

'You really need to get some rest now, or you will break down.' He added.

'I know, it is hard that we just buried mom and with the hassle that came with the funeral, I totally understand how you feel. But, we all need to stay strong now.' He went on.

'I don't know what I'd do if you fall sick at a time like this, Natalie.' He concluded. 

'Honey,' Natalie muttered. 

'Yes!?' Nathan replied and lifted her hand, then planted kiss on it.

'Where did we go wrong with Lina?' Natalie asked.

'What do you mean?' Nathan asked, feeling uncertain.

'Nathan, don't play dumb with me right now. You know exactly what I mean.' Natalie blurted. 

'Can we talk about Lina, tomorrow? You need to get some rest.' Nathan said to convince his wife.

'No.' Natalie refused. 

'We are going to talk about her now.' She sputtered. 

'Our first child no longer come home to us and even now that she's here, she is acting like a total stranger.' She started.

'She is not even bothered about starting a family of her own and we both know how much she loved to her own kids, when she was much younger. Lina used to loved children and today I saw her staring a Sammie, her own nephew, like he was just a piece of furniture in this room' Natalie went on.

'Lina used to connect well with every kid, so why not her own nephew? She didn't try to pick him up the way she normally would to toddlers back in the days.' She blurted 

'And now, she prefers to bury herself in her work, rather than living the kind of life she has always wanted. She is sad and absent-minded, and I am worried.' Her voice wobbled. 

'Natalie....' Nathan muttered. 

'I am disturbed, Nathan. We all are, except.....' Natalie's voice trailed off, when Nathan shot her a tense glance like he knew what she was going to say.

'Except you.' She said eventually.

'No, Natalie. You know so well that I am worried about her.' Nathan said in his defence.

'Then, why is it that you never called her?' Natalie queried. 

'You don't even bother to send her a text to check up on her or talk to her whenever she calls to tell us, she's doing okay.' She added. 

'Natalie, you know she never takes any of my calls.' Nathan said.

'She hardly reply my messages too, and at some point, her number was no longer connecting.' He added.

'And you couldn't have been bothered?' Natalie fired.

'Everyone of us seemed to find a way to reach out to her, except you, Nathan.' She said.

'Are you trying to say that I do not care are about my own daughter?' Nathan blurted. 

'That is not what I said, Nathan. But, if the cap fits, Nathan, wear it.' Natalie said.

'Natalie!?' Nathan spewed in disapproval.

'Do not raise your voice at me, Nathan. All I am asking is for you to be more concern for our daughter. Your daughter.'

'I am concerned.' 

'Of course, you're not.' Natalie said. 

'You never were.' She added.

'Have you even tried to speak to her since she arrived here.' She went on.

'You both have been under the same roof for days, but you still don't see eye-to-eye.' Natalie fussed.

'Don't tag me a bad father, Natalie. You know I am doing all I can to keep my family together.' Nathan got up from his seat.

'Aren't you tired of always fighting about this, Nathan?' Natalie asked. 

'I am only asking you to be more observant of Lina, and show that you truly care about her.' Natalie said. 

'How else am I going to show that, Natalie? Sojourn back with her to the middle east?' Nathan fired. 

'How fancy of you to say?' Natalie got up on her feet too.

'I'm sorry. I should have said that.' Nathan exhaled and said to his wife.

'Well, I am only asking you to have a conversation with her as her father, that you are.' Natalie said almost raising her voice at him.

'Talk to her like you always did back in the days.' She muttered now.

'She listens to you.' She added. 

'Listened.' Nathan muttered and took a few steps away 

'Why are you trying so hard to avoid our daughter, Nathan?' Natalie moved closer to her husband. 

'Why don't you want to talk to her?' She asked.

'Do you have a reason for that?' She added 

'She wouldn't listen.' Nathan replied and turned to face her.

'Or maybe you are avoiding her on purpose.' Natalie said.

'And why would I be avoiding my daughter, purposely?' Nathan asked.

'I should be the one asking that, since you were the last person she spoke to before leaving for the middle east fifteen years ago.' Natalie blurted and Nathan went mum.

'I can still recall her bloodshot eyes as she walked out of your office.' Natalie went on.

'Proceeded to pack her things and then disappeared from our lives. At least, she used to return occasionally for Christmas, until seven years ago, when she decided not to come back.' She added.

'Is there something that I need to know, Nathan?' She asked after a couple minutes of silence.

'What do you mean, Natalie?' Nathan blurted with beads of sweat forming on his forehead. 

'Are you the reason why our daughter decided to go far away?' Natalie snarled.