Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 511

Natalia’s POV

When we finally reached the house later that day, Max bolted inside before I could even get the stroller up the front steps. I heard his footsteps pounding up the stairs, followed by the slam of a door.

I stood there in the foyer for a long moment, just staring at the empty staircase. Jane looked up at me uncertainly.

Grace suddenly appeared from around the corner, wiping her hands on a dish towel. “Jane!” she exclaimed, smiling. “You’re just in time. I really need your help with something. Think you could do that?”

“What is it?” Jane asked, perking up.

Grace ushered her toward the den. “I need you to organize the books on the shelf.”

“How? By letters? Or maybe colors?”

“However you like,” Grace laughed. “Just make it look good, okay?”

“Okay!”

Grace returned a few moments later. I was still standing there, holding onto Hope’s stroller. Grace’s face softened, and she gently lifted the sleeping Hope, then settled her into the sling across her chest without waking her.

“Wanna come garden with me?” Grace whispered.

I nodded and followed her out the back door. The garden was exactly what I needed right now; the smell of warm soil, freshly dampened, filled the air. The sunshine was balmy against my skin and several of the planter boxes were already full of sprouts. It was quiet and peaceful.

Grace and I knelt down by one of the boxes. I helped her tend to the young tomato plants, carefully checking them for damage or disease and binding small stakes to some of the taller ones. We worked in silence for a while.

“I saw Isaac today,” I finally said as she gave me a handful of dried beans to plant.

“I know it’s what you need the most.”

“Yeah. I do.”

We worked in silence for a while longer. I finished planting the row of beans, then moved on to tending to the strawberry pots, which were already stuffed full of runners. I carefully moved some of the runners to fresh spaces, then took a watering can and doused everything.

It was nice to just work with my hands for a while. And Grace’s presence, firm but quiet, was always a comfort. We worked until the sun reached its zenith, and by then, it was time to start thinking about dinner.

That evening, I decided to make dinner for everyone. I wanted to make Max’s favorite, but I also wanted to thank Damon and Grace for everything. I spent an hour in the kitchen preparing chicken parmesan with garlic bread and a salad. Grace offered to help, but I told her I wanted to do it myself. She understood, and left me to my devices.

When everything was ready, I set the table. Damon helped me carry the food out, and Grace went upstairs to get the kids.