I Forgive You, Dad.

'Do not blame me for Lina's choices, Natalie.' Nathan spoke eventually, after thinking long and hard.

'I have no idea why she's acting this way.' He went on defending himself. 

'Okay.' Natalie rolled her eyes at him.

She was going to walk past Nathan but he reached her arm, hindering her from leaving.

'Honey, you need to believe me.' Nathan said.

'I wouldn't do anything to hurt either of our kids. You of all people should know this.' He added.

Then he lifted his hand to one side of her face and stroked it calmly.

'I know Nathan, but I am so worried about our daughter.' Natalie said. 

'And seeing that you're giving just little or no effort at all, makes me even more worried.' She added.

'I'm sorry, and you're right.' Nathan replied. 

'I'd try to have a conversation with her, so we can iron things out.' He added and Natalie's eyes curved into a smile.

'Really, hon?' She muttered. 

'Of course, darling. I'd do anything for you and our family.' Nathan said and Natalie wrapped her hands around him instantly. 

'This is the happiest I've been in two weeks.' She whispered. 

'Thank you so much.' She added.

'I love you.' Nathan said and planted a kiss on her forehead, as he reciprocated her hug.

'I love you too.' Natalie replied, grinning from ear to ear.

The next morning, Lina arrived at her grandmother's house, as early as she could.

She walked in to see that Catherine was the only one awake, so she help her with the morning chores. 

They were almost done cleaning the living room, when Natalie joined them downstairs. 

'You're here so early?' She expressed her awe to Lina.

'Yes, good morning mom.' Lina replied.

'Trust you had a good night rest.' She added.

'Pardon me, darling. Good morning to you too.' Natalie replied. 

'A good morning to you, mom.' Catherine blurted as though she was declaring her presence in the living room.

'Good morning, baby.' Natalie said to Catherine.

'Did you get enough rest?' She asked.

'Of course, mom.' Catherine replied. 

'You shouldn't have gotten out of bed so early after the tiring event last night.' Natalie said. 

'I'm fine, mom. I feel okay.' Catherine replied. 

'Alright, then. I'd make breakfast.' Natalie said and headed to the kitchen. 

Shortly after they were done cleaning, Lina went out of the house to throw out the trash when she saw Christopher approaching the house.

'Come on, Chrisy. You should have stayed back at home to get some rest.' Lina said to her brother. 

'If you can come down here all the way from the cities of Bentonville, then I can do the same too.' Christopher countered. 

'You should spend time with your family.' Lina said.

'You have been busy all through the week.' She added.

'Vivienne doesn't mind.' Christopher said as he wrapped his arms around Lina's shoulders, and walked her back into the house.

'Plus you all are my first family, so it's a win-win.' He added and Lina smiled.

Breakfast was made after a couple of minutes, and everyone sat by the dining table to have their meal.

As Catherine set out the dishes, Nathan joined them downstairs too for breakfast.

Lina's stomach tilted that she felt she could have thrown up if she had eaten anything. 

But, if she left the table her mother would grow suspicious. 

The upset worsen after her father said hello to her, and she flustered uncomfortably. 

'H...., hello.. sir.' She stuttered. 

'Uhmmm hmmm.' And cleared her throat. 

Then she gulped her cup of coffee quickly and decided to leave the table.

'I'd be in nana's room.' She informed her family.

'And when you all are done with dining, we can all sort her clothes.' She added and got up.

'Wouldn't you eat first?' Natalie asked. 

'I'm fine with the coffee, and I'm not really hungry.' Lina replied. 

'This is so unlike you, Lina.' Natalie said. 

'I don't understand.' Lina puzzled. 

'You never missed breakfast for any reason back in the days.' Natalie said. 

'Oh!!' Lina chuckled nervously.

'Well, I don't eat breakfast often these days. Except, if I woke up hungry.' She said.

'Hmmmm. Okay....' Natalie muttered.

'I will carry on now. There's no time to waste.' Lina said and turned to leave.

'What's with the rush, though?' Catherine blurted and Lina's paused.

'We have the whole month, before heading back home. Christopher lives here, in the country side and dad took a break from work to be here for the month, so why are you impatient?' She asked.

'Actually, I do not have a month break and I need to get back to work.' Lina said. 

'I'm going back to Istanbul next weekend, and I need some of nana's things with me.' She added. 

'You're going back?' Catherine asked.

'Of course, I just said I was going back to work.' Lina replied. 

'Lina, I wasn't aware you were leaving next week.' Natalie said.

'I planned to inform you today.' Lina replied. 

'I haven't even said anything to my team yet. I thought to inform my family first.' She added.

'Why do you have to go back?' Catherine fired.

'My team needs me, Catherine. The girls need me.' Lina said. 

'But, we need you too.' Catherine blurted. 

'We just lost grandma and we need our family to be back together as whole' Her voice broke.

'Cathy, I need to get back to work. It's important.' Lina moved closer to Catherine's chair and squatted beside her.

'My girls would suffer without me.' She added.

'Your work is important?' Catherine muttered, with tears welling up in her eyes.

'Yes, Cathy.' Lina said.

'And we, your family are irrelevant to you?' Catherine fired.

'Oh no, Catherine. You all are the most important to me.' Lina said. 

'But, I really need to go.' She added. 

'It's for the best.' She muttered. 

'The best for whom?' Catherine said with tears rolling down her cheek.

'For you?' She spat.

'For everyone.' Lina said after her gaze met her father's. 

'You shouldn't have come back if you were just going to leave again.' Catherine said and got up from her dining table. 

'Cathy.' Lina said. 

'You no longer have the right to call me that.' Catherine spat.

'Go to your girls and don't ever come back.' She blared and stormed off.

'Cat.' Lina faltered as she watched her sister walk away. 

And then, it dawned on her that Catherine wasn't picking on her from the start. 

She was hurting.