Chapter Forty One:

Not very long after they got back from their two day honeymoon, Ainsley began to hear suspicious scratching and even squeaking from the bedroom walls.  She was not amused to spot a mouse running out of that hole in the baseboard.  It was late and dark, which is probably why the little rodent thought he could make a dash for the kitchen.  Ainsley pulled out her cell phone to text Rhea and complain.

 Mice weren't the only problem in the aging apartment either.  Nathaniel had a go at fixing the sink, but they had to get Rhea in to look at the switchboard when the power went on the brink.  When you're a landlord it's handy if you also happen to have electrical training.  Although not quite certified, Rhea had taken on an apprenticeship with her sparky ex-boyfriend for two years.

 Nathaniel was doing very well at work.  The staff were finally beginning to trust him now and he was no longer considered the "new" doctor.  He still had a lot to learn, but his colleagues gave him those exasperated looks far less frequently.

Even Emmett settled into his schoolwork, with a lot of encouragement from Nathaniel.  He would get to play for a certain time after school, as long as he came back by five thirty for dinner and homework.  Emmett loved the monkey bars and the basketball court.  At this time, Ainsley was often at work, but she was still invested in her stepsons education too.

So things weren't too bad in the fledgling family's little home.  The main thing that could make them unhappy was Ainsley's failure to conceive.  As a year rolled around and another hot summer had them all in as little clothing as possible, Ainsley began to worry.