Chapter 1

Nathan was lying on the couch relaxing. Keith walked into the room and stood by the couch.

"Hi Daddy," Keith said.

"Hey Keith," Nathan said.

"What are you doing?" Keith asked.

"Lying down with my feet on the arm of the couch," Nathan replied.

"Why?" Keith asked.

"Because Daddy just got back from Atlanta and he's tired," Nathan said.

"I missed you Daddy," Keith said.

"I missed you too little buddy," Nathan said.

Nathan kissed his son on the forehead.

"Jamie and Sophia left with Amber this morning," Keith said. "They're going to be gone for 3 months. I miss them already."

"I do too," Nathan said. "How does Lydia feel?"

"She's okay," Keith said. "She's in her room talking to Sawyer on the phone."

Nathan sat up.

"I think I'll go say hi to her," Nathan said. "I missed her when I was in Georgia too."

Nathan got up and Keith sat on the couch.

"Don't get too comfortable son," Nathan said. "I am going to want my couch back."

"Okay," Keith said.

Nathan walked upstairs where Lydia's door was wide open. Lydia was lying on her bed talking to Sawyer on the phone.

"Jonathan and I are very happy Sawyer," Lydia said. "We've been dating for 6 months now. Oh, and guess what. He asked me to the school dance tomorrow!"

Nathan walked into the room, grabbed the phone, and held it to his ear.

"And I told her she can't go!" Nathan said before hanging up.

"Dad!" Lydia shouted.

"I'm sorry Lydia," Nathan said. "Dating Jonathan is one thing, but going to a dance with him is another."

"It's a PTA sponsored dance," Lydia said. "There are going to be so many parents there."

"You're not going," Nathan said.

"The price of admission is a canned food item," Lydia said.

"You are not going," Nathan said.

"Why not?" Lydia asked. "Do you think I'm going to have sex?"

Nathan didn't say anything.

"I am definitely not ready for that," Lydia said. "I just turned 14."

"I was 14 my first time," Nathan said. "I married your mother at 16."

"Well first of all, gross," Lydia said. "Second of all, I'm not ready to do that and neither is Jonathan. So can I please go to the dance?"

"You never went to the dances in middle school," Nathan said.

"Well in high school, they're kind of a big deal," Lydia said.

"Lydia," Nathan said. "I really don't want you to go."

"Mom already said I could," Lydia said.

"She did?" Nathan asked.

"Yes I did," Haley said walking into the room. "I think it's nice that Lydia wants to go to a dance."

"You do?" Nathan asked.

"Yeah," Haley said. "I trust her 100 percent."

"She's chaperoning," Lydia said.

"Oh," Nathan said. "Why didn't you just say so? Have fun at the dance Lydia."

Nathan walked out of the room, downstairs, and into the living room where Keith was lying on the couch.

"Up," Nathan said.

Keith got up and Nathan lied back down on the couch.