Page 13 of The Awakening
“I—I don’t drink.”
“Sorry, I should have asked first.” Jessica took the glass away and poured a glass of juice instead. “Here, try this. We are here to give you all the advice you’re going to need. Too bad you can’t have the champagne to take the edge off. You’re braver than I was. This isn’t an easy family to break into. We’ve all had rough starts, and we wanted to pull you aside because we want you to have a better experience than we did.”
Jessica sat in one of the chairs and raised her eyebrows at me while she patted the arm of the one beside her.
Kate sat across from us on the couch. “Tell us all the juicy details. How did you meet Gavin?” She took a sip of her drink and waited for my reply.
Dread rose from the pit of my stomach. Gavin and I hadn’t fully discussed what we were going to say. It was only the first question, and I was already being raked over red-hot coals. On the plane, Gavin had told me that the best course of action was to tell enough of the truth that it made sense, but that we should avoid making up too many additional details so we didn’t have to remember them all.
“He saved me from a bad situation, and…and well, we just hit it off.” I hoped that would do the trick. The women leaned forward, like they were expecting more than I’d offered them.
“And we’ve been inseparable ever since.” I’d left out that it had only been a couple of days.
“Gavin told Tyler that your family didn’t approve. Is that right?” Kate questioned.
“That’s an understatement if I ever heard one.” I didn’t mean to speak so off the cuff, but I was tired of my family being the discussion everywhere I went. “I suppose I should say they were surprised at the speed at which Gavin and I moved.” That was as close to the truth as I was willing to get for now.
Kate smiled at me warmly. “We were a little surprised also, but I think it’s wonderful. Gavin has been lost for a while. I thinkthis marriage is exactly what he needs.” Jessica paused on her way to the food table. “Also, this takes care of the caveat that comes along with the ranch. What a load off that was for all of us.”
“Caveat? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh!” Jessica filled her plate with a few things and hurried back to her seat. “When Tyler was on the brink of turning forty, the boys found out that there was a stipulation in Sandra’s father’s will. In order for Brian to keep the ranch, the boys all had to be married by the time they were forty.”
Kate looked over at Jessica and frowned.
Why wouldn’t Gavin have told me about this? It wouldn’t have changed anything between us—a fake marriage is a fake marriage, no matter the reasons behind it. In fact, it might have made me feel a bit better had I known he was going to benefit from it. Still, it made me uneasy that he’d kept it from me. He had no reason to. Apparently, he was a closed book about more than just his family.
Jessica opened her mouth like she had more to say, but Kate was glaring at her, although she seemed oblivious to it.
“Do you both work on the ranch?”
Kate smiled and glanced over at Jessica. “I do. Tyler and I own the adjoining ranch. It’s my family’s ranch.” She beamed with pride as she talked.
Jessica shook her head. “I own an event planning company. It keeps me busy, but I help out when I’m needed. Did you work on your ranch? Rob said your family owns property near the Montana ranch.”
“They do, but they aren’t ranchers. It’s set up more like a self-sustaining community. It’s complicated. My life back home was complicated.” I ducked my head and took a sip of my juice. I hadn’t explained most of this to Gavin yet, so I hoped they’d get the hint and drop the subject.
“Complicated is fairly normal around here.” Both women laughed, and I smiled, thankful that they didn’t press for more details. They were offering their friendship, and they didn’t know me. But maybe they were the kind of women I could eventually lean on. Maybe one day I’d open up to them about it all.
Ugh. Fake marriage, Ellie, remember?
It’s. A. Fake. Marriage.
Chapter Eight
Gavin
“She’s pretty,” my father piped up from his chair.
“Pretty young.” Rob chimed as he walked by me. My middle brother always spoke his mind and saw life through a narrow lens. There wasn’t room for error in his eyes. He managed Morton Ranch, and his business habits had a tendency to spill over into his personal life. Since they’d gotten married, Jessica had done a world of good for him, but deep down, he was still Rob.
My returned from the kitchen and handed me a drink. “I wasn’t aware you were serious with anyone. Not that I mind, but I would have liked to host the wedding. Or at least attend it.”
“Thanks mom. The justice of the peace was quick and efficient. Ellie is shy and a big ceremony wasn’t really her thing.”
“Or yours.” My mother replied, arching her brow.
She was right. The last time I had been subjected to a lavish party, my world collapsed. I’d lost my business that night, and since then, I avoided them at all costs.
