Chapter 365 Sleeping Together
The next morning, Aurelia was awakened by a phone call.
She opened her eyes and found herself lying on something hard. Upon closer inspection, she realized it was an arm.
Startled, Aurelia quickly sat up, her sleepiness completely gone. Nathaniel was also awakened by her sudden movement. The two had chatted late into the night, and when the kids got sleepy, Aurelia had gone in to put them to sleep and ended up falling asleep herself.
Nathaniel had been swatting mosquitoes all night and finally couldn't take it anymore, so he crawled into the tent. He only dared to lie on the edge, not daring to get too close. In the middle of the night, Aurelia had rolled into his arms, and he naturally held her.
Aurelia now held her phone, looking bewildered.
Nathaniel's arm was almost numb. He sat up, rubbing his arm, and quickly explained, "You rolled over to me. I was lying on the edge and didn't move."
Aurelia licked her lips, trying hard to remember but couldn't. She only felt that she had slept particularly well, dreaming of the time shortly after they got married. Back then, there was no Chelsea, and there were no misunderstandings; everything was beautiful.
Aurelia looked down at where they had slept. Indeed, Nathaniel was almost pushed out of the tent, while she had originally been sleeping next to the kids. Rationally analyzing, she was the one who had crossed the line.
The phone rang again, and Aurelia didn't answer, still in a daze.
Nathaniel sat up and adjusted his shirt collar, kindly reminding her, "The phone."
Aurelia snapped back to reality and answered the call.
"Aurelia, it's the weekend. Do you want to bring the kids over to my place?" Ulysses had invited Aurelia several times, but she was always busy.
This weekend, she had no plans, and since she would soon be returning to Coral Bay, she decided to take this opportunity to gather. Who knew when they would meet again?
"I'm on the mountain right now. I'll pack up and come over once I get back."
"Alright, see you at home."
After Aurelia hung up the phone, the two kids woke up. It had been a wonderful night for them, camping on the mountain with their parents, counting stars and watching the lights. They would have plenty to brag about to Livia in their class.
Aurelia asked, "Did you sleep well, my darlings?"
This stay on the mountain was a last-minute decision. They hadn't brought any change of clothes, and the kids were still wearing what they had come in. Aurelia was worried about the cool mountain air, so she had them sleep in their clothes.
The kids quickly responded, saying it was a wonderful night.
Dorothy said, "Mommy, can we sleep in the tent again tonight?"
Jacob added, "Mommy, I like it here."
Nathaniel sat nearby, smiling. Although the kids still didn't want to call him "Dad," they were clearly enjoying the family time together.
He increasingly felt that such activities should be held more often to strengthen family bonds.
Aurelia tidied her messy hair, "Dorothy, Jacob, there's no place to bathe on the mountain, and we can't cook. We can only come occasionally. After counting the stars, we have to go home. If you want to come again, we can come next time when the weather is good, okay?"
The kids didn't say anything, clearly reluctant to agree with their mom.
Nathaniel cleared his throat and said, "How about this: we'll move the tent back home and set it up in the living room. If you still want to sleep in the tent, we can sleep in it tonight."
The kids were thrilled, clapping their hands in agreement, "I want to sleep in the tent."
"It would be great if there were Mickey Mouse in the tent."
A few seconds later, Dorothy thought of a serious question, "Mommy, can Daddy sleep in the tent with us when we go back?"
This question made Aurelia hesitate. She wasn't confident about not rolling into his arms again while asleep, which would be embarrassing.
Nathaniel wholeheartedly agreed with Dorothy's suggestion, quickly responding, "Of course, Daddy and Mommy will both sleep with you. Now, do you agree to go down the mountain?"
"Yes!" The kids jumped up happily.
The kids were settled, but Aurelia's expression froze. When Nathaniel finally noticed her, she gave him a stern look.
He was clearly using the kids to get closer to her. It was one thing to spend a night together on the mountain, but to continue at home?
Aurelia packed up with a cold expression. It wasn't convenient to explain things clearly in front of the kids; she would talk to him later.
Nathaniel called Ted, asking him to send someone to pack up. The family of four got ready, packed up the tent, and soon Ted's people arrived.
Jacob saw the cable car down the mountain and wanted to try it, so the four of them took the cable car down.
Back at the villa, Aurelia first took the kids for a bath. After bathing Dorothy, it was Jacob's turn. Nathaniel volunteered to bathe his son.
Jacob protested vehemently, "I want to bathe myself!"
He didn't want Nathaniel to bathe him, fearing he would use it as leverage for something else.
But his protest was in vain; Nathaniel picked him up and carried him into the shower.
Jacob looked utterly defeated.
Boys' baths were simpler than girls', so Jacob was quickly done. When Nathaniel brought him out wrapped in a towel, Aurelia was blow-drying Dorothy's hair.
"I'm taking the kids to Ulysses' place later. I'm going back to Coral Bay next week, so we're gathering this weekend."
Nathaniel helped Jacob get dressed and continued the conversation, "Alright, I'll drive you."
Aurelia paused with the hairdryer and asked, "Isn't that too much trouble?"
Nathaniel was more worried about Marcus, that lunatic, showing up. "It's no trouble."
Aurelia changed into clean clothes and took the kids out.
Nathaniel was in the yard on the phone. He had originally bought this villa as an investment and never thought he would live in it. Looking at the overgrown yard, he felt it was time to tidy up.
"I want it white, and have it done by this afternoon. Make sure to clean up the dirt; don't leave it everywhere."
After giving instructions, he saw Aurelia and the kids coming out. He opened the car door and got into the driver's seat.
Nathaniel wasn't working today and had changed into casual clothes, making him look more approachable than when he wore a suit.
Nathaniel knew the neighborhood where Ulysses lived and didn't need GPS. He drove there easily.
He had planned to drop off Aurelia and the kids and then wander around until it was time to pick them up. But when he arrived, he saw Oscar sitting in the yard in ill-fitting pajamas, looking dejected.
Oscar had broken ties with his family the day before and couldn't even pay his phone bill. It seemed he had found someone to support him and wasn't even going to work.
Seeing Nathaniel was like seeing an ATM for Oscar; he couldn't let him go. "Nathaniel, can you lend me some money?"
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