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Natalie

N atalie was in her room—well, Sven’s room—getting ready.

“Are you ready to go to the airport?” Sven asked, poking his head in. “Sydney is here to stay with Winnie.”

She gave herself another once over in the mirror. “Yep, let’s go.”

“I can’t believe I’m about to meet Mr. Roper,” Sven said excitedly. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m nervous. Not to see my granddad—I’m excited about that—but for everything else.”

“Both the foundation and Hillary think it’s a good idea.”

“I know, I do, too, but I’m still nervous.”

He stepped into her space and slid his arms around her before dropping a sweet kiss on her lips.

It had been one week since the story broke. It had been a rough week, but they were hoping this would put an end to it.

Natalie grabbed her phone and her purse, and they headed out the door to get her granddad.

After a hug for both Natalie and Sven, they left the airport and headed to the center. Hillary and some of the PR at the foundation had set this up.

“This looks really nice,” said her grandfather as he came into one of the meeting rooms at the center that had been turned into a little set. “Are you ready, Natalie?”

She was nervous, but she was ready.

“Thank you for doing this, Granddad,” she said barely above a whisper.

“I’m glad to do it. For you.” He booped her nose like he always used to when she was a kid. “And to stick it to the book banners,” he said, grinning down at her.

“We have the book on the table ready for you. I thought you could read it and then maybe you and Natalie can talk about it,” Hillary said nervously.

“But I mean, I’m not sure what direction I can offer THE Mr. Roper. You know what to do.”

“Thank you kindly. You’ve done an incredible job here.”

“Thank you,” she said, blushing. Natalie didn’t think she’d ever seen Hillary blush before. Natalie loved to watch the effect her grandfather had on people. It wasn’t everyday people got to meet a national treasure and realize he was just as kind as compassionate as they hoped he would be.

“Are you ready, darlin’?”

“Let’s do it.”

Mr. Roper and Natalie went to sit on the chairs in front of the cameras.

“Hello, friends. It’s been a long time since I talked to you. I brought a very special friend with me today. This is my granddaughter, Natalie.”

Natalie waved at the camera and part of her felt like a kid again on her grandfather’s set.

“What are we reading today?”

“ But My Family is Different ,” Natalie said, holding up the book.

She sat next to her granddad as he read the book.

When he was done, he looked right at the camera and took a deep breath, just like he always used to. “What an important book that is,” he said in his soft compassionate voice.

“Because it’s true. All families look different. Some families have a mommy and a daddy. Some have two daddies, like in this book, while others have two mommies. Some only have one mommy or daddy, and some people live with grandmas and grandpas. The only thing you need for a family is love. Isn’t that right, Natalie?”

“That’s right,” she said with a big smile, shining up at her granddad.

“But there is something else I want to talk about today. Now we all know and agree all you need to be a family is love and love comes in all different ways, but there are some people who think there is a right way and a wrong way to love. There are people who think this book is scary because it challenges their views on what love should be, on what family should be. But I’m here to say there is room for all of us and who and how we love. We are all welcome. What do you think, Natalie?”

She smiled up at him and looked into the camera. “I agree. There is no wrong way to have a family. That is why I read this book to my kindergarten class in October.”

“Did you know there are people who are banning books like this? They are taking them out of schools and libraries because they are so scared about being different.”

He paused and looked right into the camera.

“I’m here to say there is nothing to be afraid of. Love is love, and it is okay if it looks different. I am opening a division of the Roper foundation to fight book banning. It is important for people to see themselves in books. We need that representation. We all deserve love, and we all deserve to see that love reflected back to us in the stories we read.”

Natalie’s mouth dropped open as she turned to her grandfather, who smiled warmly at the camera.

“What you ya say, Natalie darlin’? Wanna join me in the fight to keep these books and fight hate?”

“Yes.”

“There will be links in this video so you can get involved and help to keep these important stories in your community.”

He sat up. “So, like I always say, read a book today and tell someone you love them. Now, please help us in our fight to save these stories.”

“And cut,” said a voice behind the camera.

Natalie looked up at her granddad with the awe and respect she always had. “What did you do?”

“I did just want I said. I opened a new branch of the foundation to fight book banning. I would love you to be a part of it. But if you would like to continue teaching, I totally understand that, too.”

“Thank you so much, but I’m not sure if I can be a teacher again.”

“Natalie,” he said as he put his arm around her. “Darlin’, the first thing I’m doing is making that awful school take it back, so you can be a teacher again.”

“Are you serious?”

“Of course I am. Next time, don’t go through the organization. Come straight to me.”

She hugged him and breathed him the smell of laundry detergent and peppermints. “I will,” she said, her voice muffled in his cardigan. “I love you. Thank you.” She pulled back from him and wiped the tears that had started pooling in her eyes.

“It looks like your gentleman over there is patiently waiting to talk to you. He seems like a nice young man.”

Natalie chuckled. “Well, I’m not sure if he’s a nice young man or not, but I’m crazy about him.”

“Well, why don’t we go back to your house and meet his sweet little girl and have the dinner he promised?”

“I’d like that.”

Later that night, once her grandad was back on a plane to Alabama and Winnie was all tucked into bed, Sven and Natalie settled into bed together.

“It’s been a crazy week,” he said, holding out his arm for Natalie to settle down into.

“It has.”

“Your granddad is incredible,” he said, rubbing her arm.

“Yeah, he really is.”

“Do you think you’ll be able to teach again?” Sven asked.

“I hope, but I’ll have to get a license to teach in New York.”

“Yeah, you gonna stay?” he said, biting back a grin.

She sat up and looked at him. “You aren’t getting rid of me that easily, Sven Olsson.”

“Good, I never want to get rid of you.”

“I wish you didn’t have to go on a road trip tomorrow,” she said.

“The videos up,” he said, showing her the phone.

She watched it with a smile on her face. Her granddad was incredible, and she was so proud to be his granddaughter. She scrolled through a couple of the comments. There were a few trolls, but for the most part, they were supportive.

“I don’t think I ever thank you for what you did for me that night at Conner’s house,” she said softly.

“Baby, you never have to thank me for fucking you.”

She pushed him and rolled her eyes. “You know what I’m talking about. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to get all my anger out like that. It felt really good.”

“I’m glad. I meant what I said that night. I love you, Natalie. I want you here with me and Winnie always. However that looks.”

She smiled. “I want that, too. Honestly, I’m not sure what things are going to look like. I’ll go back to teaching eventually, but it might be nice to work for my granddad a little on this. I think it’s really important.”

“I agree. I’ll support you no matter what you do.”

She leaned up and kissed him before pulling back and taking a deep breath. “What about your dad?” she asked cautiously.

He sighed and ran his hand through his blond waves. “I meant what I said that night there, too. I don’t want him to be in my life anymore. He’s been nothing but toxic and abusivemy entire life.”

“Are you okay with that?”

“Not really, but I will be. I have Winnie to think about... and you.”

“I love you, Sven.”

He pulled her down into bed and pulled the covers over them. “I love you, too.”

“Do you?” she asked with a playful glint in her eye.

“Do you doubt me?”

“I do.”

He pulled back to look at her but smiled when he saw the look on her face.

“I think I might need you to remind me how much,” she said, pulling him down to her.

“Oh, do you?” he asked as he started pressing kisses to her neck.

Her giggles turned into moans. “I do,” she said, running her hands all over his body.

“Don’t worry, baby, I’ll remind you all night long.”

And he did just that.