Page 107 of Gideon's Gratitude

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because they never liked Thea—”

“See?”

“—and you are the opposite of Thea. You’re warm and funny and…well, frankly, I think you care about me.”

His eyes widened. “Of course I do.” He grasped my hand. “You mean everything to me.”

We hadn’t used the L-word yet. Didn’t mean I wasn’t tempted. All the time. What I shared with Thea had been mutual admiration born of a desire for professional and financial success. Gideon didn’t give a rat’s ass about my money. Or my status. In fact, he’d spent a considerable amount of time trying to get me to cut back on work. Not for any selfish reasons, but because he worried about the health scare. We’d been eating carefully, and Dr. Tenisha had been pleased to announce my blood pressure was down to a more acceptable level.

Good news I happily shared with the man I held responsible for all the substantial changes in my life.

The doorbell rang.

Before I could react, the door was flung open, and a bunch of people piled in. One rugrat tried to make a run for it, but Cherry grabbed the little one’s collar and yanked her back.

“Shoes off, first.”

Some general grumbles ensued.

I moved to greet her and her crew while Gideon slipped out to the kitchen.Okay, let him go. Hopefully once I make introductions, his nerves will settle.The family was large, to be sure, but they were also welcoming and loving. They’d embrace Gideon. Some of them might even see the wounded soul he was. That being said, he grew stronger every day.

Don, Cherry’s husband, had barely wrangled coats and boots off the kids before they toddled off into the house, their mother in tow.

My parents stepped into the house, having hitched a ride with Cherry and her brood.

“Lovely home, my dear.” Mother kissed me on the cheek. “It’ll be stunning come spring with all the flowers in bloom.”

“A lot of leaves to rake.” Dad removed his coat.

I hung it in the front hall closet. “I’ll deal with that. In a year.” Trust my father to be pragmatic.

I hoped to introduce my parents to Gideon, but the door burst open again.

Channing and Chelsea stepped in, corralling Charmaine’s daughter Adrienne, as well as Chuck and Tally’s two.

Lewis, a very mature six, had a grasp on his younger brother Lansing—a very precocious two.

I met Chelsea’s gaze.

She whispered, “Tally’s throwing up.” To my cocked head, she said, “Morning sickness.”

Oh, good God. And with Chad’s Pia being pregnant, that meant at least two of the women attending were expecting.

Charmaine and her husband Robert entered next, supporting a very green-looking Tally.

I pointed to the powder room, and she made a beeline.

Chuck entered, carrying several bags.

Chelsea made a grab for them. “I could’ve done it.”

“Well, I have now.” He eyed the closed powder room door and winced.

Our sister punched him playfully in the gut. “You’re such a lightweight.”

“I don’t enjoy seeing my wife suffer.”

---