Page 48 of The Awakening
Once I was settled, Gavin laid Ben in my arms. “They’ll just let us leave with him?” I whispered.
“What else are we supposed to do? Stay here forever?” He chuckled and rolled me out of the room and down the hall toward the exit.
“Maybe until he walks?” I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing as we went through the doors to the truck Gavin had rented for the drive home. “He’s so little.” I looked down at him once more before Gavin took him from me and buckled him into the car seat. “Wow, you look like you’ve been practicing.”
“Kate gave me a lesson a few weeks ago when the car seat arrived. Poor TJ wasn’t impressed with me.” Reaching for my hand, Gavin helped me up, and I walked to the truck and gingerly climbed in.
“Ready?” Gavin asked as he jumped into the truck and turned it on.
I nodded, but I wasn’t ready for anything. How was I supposed to be a mother? Navigating everything with Gavin was going to take a lot of work. What if this didn’t work? Could I be a single mother?
“Hey, stop. You’re going to be a great mom. You’ve got a community of people rooting for you and willing to help,” he said.
I grimaced at the use of the word community.
“Sorry.” Gavin cringed. “A village? Is that better?”
“Not really.” I shuddered and shook my head.
“How about a family? You aren’t going to have a moment’s peace. Mom already wants to move in and help until you’re back on your feet. Dad is already shopping for a pony for Ben.” Gavin looked ahead and pulled out of the hospital entrance. Navigating the city streets with precision, he took my hand as we pulled out on to the highway. “And you’re stuck with me too. I know we have a lot to talk about, but the one thing I can say is that you’ll never have to doubt my love for you or Ben again.”
Gingerly reaching over, I put my hand on his leg. “I never did question it, Gavin. I was confused, yes. But I knew you would have to deal with a lot of emotions. And honestly, I have to admit, I thought the freak-out would have come earlier. Fromthe moment you saved me in Montana, I never questioned your feelings.”
He grabbed my hand and steered us toward the hotel.
“Tyler and Rob flew home this morning, and Dad is checking out now. I couldn’t talk him out of driving home with us.” Gavin looked at me and smiled.
“I don’t blame him. He probably won’t get any time with Ben once we get home and your mom, Kate, Jessica, and Addison get their hands on him.” I couldn’t help but feel at ease with the amount of love my son had from people who had no blood relation to him.
The drive back to Texas took three days. Gavin was determined not to make me sit in the truck for hours at a time. At one point, as we crossed into Oklahoma, I was begging to just keep going. I wanted to be home, and I longed for my own bed.
As we drove under the ranch sign, I breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m home,” I whispered, not thinking anyone would hear me.
“Yes, you are, my dear. There’s nowhere else in the world you belong more than here.” Brian reached over the back of the seat and patted my shoulder.
“Thank you,” I said.
Through tear-filled eyes, I watched the main house come into view. There were blue balloons adorning almost every part of the front of the house. A large Welcome Home sign was strung from pillar to pillar across the entrance.
The entire family was waving wildly as we parked. Tyler opened my door and helped me out of the truck. “You look worse than you did in the hospital.” He said as he helped me up the stairs.
“Well, thanks a lot, I missed you too.” I gave him a big smile. I didn’t dare laugh for fear of doubling over in pain.
“Brian Morton, you get out of that truck and hand over my newest grandson.” Sandra hollered as she knocked on the window.
Brian opened the door and handed Ben to his grandmother. Kate and Jessica rushed to her side to get a glimpse of the newest Morton. “He’s absolutely perfect.” they cooed.
“Enough standing out here. Let’s get in the house. Ellie looks like she’s about ready to fall over.” Brian said. “Come on dear. Let’s get you settled somewhere comfortable. You can even have my spot on the couch. It’s the best place to nap.”
I sighed and leaned on Brian as I moved toward the house. The first time I had entered this home, I was scared, alone and worried I wouldn’t be accepted. Today, as I crossed the threshold, I knew I was loved like a daughter, and accepted as part of the family.
“The town was in constant vigil when word got out that you were gone,” Sandra said as she sat down beside me. She never once took her eyes off Ben. “They were so relieved when the news got around that you were coming home.”
“I will have to do something to thank everyone. There is no way I can ever repay their kindness for being worried about me.” Tears pricked my eyes and I looked at the ceiling and blinked faster.
Chapter Thirty-One
Ellie
