Page 38 of Gideon’s Gratitude (Love in Mission City #5)

Chapter Twenty

Archer

B y the time the twenty-fifth of December rolled around, the house was complete. I’d shuttered my practice until the new year, and everything was set.

Gideon was the problem. Well, not Gideon per se, but the man’s nerves.

Nothing I said or did would alleviate the stress.

I’d hoped to christen my new bed the previous night, but, reading Gideon correctly, had happily agreed to stay in his smaller house.

There’d been a call with the kids the night before as well.

My gift to my boyfriend was a new computer with a fantastic quality HD screen.

The relic in the basement wouldn’t even be worth the effort to rehome.

Nope, come Boxing Day, the beast was heading to the electronics-recycling store.

I didn’t even feel guilty about it. Gideon deserved the best. He might not always agree with the sentiment, but he was slowly warming to the idea.

Maybe if I repeated the words often enough, the stubborn man might actually listen.

Gideon perched on the living room couch of my new home. The warm chocolate-brown fabric only emphasized his pallor. “They’re going to hate me.”

I placed a soda next to him on the side table. “They’re going to love you.”

“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.”

Charmaine hugged me and whispered, “Me, too,” into my ear.

Good Lord, that made three.

At the rate this family was expanding, the grandchildren would soon outnumber their parents.

The crew dumped their boots into the closet and hung up their coats.

Lewis grabbed Lansing’s hand and clearly followed his nose toward the kitchen.

Tally emerged from the powder room just in time to see her two wander off.

Chuck placed a protective arm around her shoulder.

“Sorry, Archer.” Her cheeks were high with color.

“All part of the package.” I eyed the rest of the family as Cherish and her brood piled in. The extra-long dining room table wouldn’t fit everyone.

Pia and Chad were the last to arrive. Chad’s grin was positively infectious as he wrapped me in a huge hug.

Some of my worry dissipated as my younger brother smiled.

“We have more news to share.”

Cherish perked up. “We having a gender-reveal party?”

Pia snorted. “Not hardly. No cannons or cakes.”

Chad placed a protective hand on her belly. “A girl. Everything looks healthy.”

“Fantastic.” I offered a prayer it continued to be so .

“Son, where are the canapés you promised?” Dad emerged from the kitchen, rubbing his belly. “After that long drive, I’m starving.”

“Yeah, me too.” Cherish’s eleven-year-old son Rogan’s contribution.

His sister Richelle looked distinctly disinterested. Eight, and she already had an attitude.

“There’s a second fridge in the wok kitchen.” I hung up the last coat. “Get Gideon to show you.”

“Your mother’s grilling him on his color preferences.”

I stilled. “Why?”

“She’s planning your wedding.”

Crap.

Should have seen that coming.

“Excuse me.” I pushed past Cherish’s wife Maris, who smacked my ass. As encouragement, no doubt. She’d always been in my corner.

I arrived in the kitchen to find all the kids at the table eating food meant for dinner, Cherry and Charmaine serving drinks, Chuck retrieving the trays of hors d’oeuvres from the extra fridge, and Gideon hunched over, facing my very determined mother.

In other words, the expected pandemonium.

Except instead of feeling irritated at my family, elation overwhelmed me.

After seeing what Gideon was going through with his kids, I appreciated how lucky I was.

And while I’d never had children of my own, I couldn’t help but see how blessed I was.

Oh, having kids with Thea would’ve been a disaster, but now I could envision myself taking on a bigger role with the kids in my life.

All the kids in my life.

The oven timer binged.

Gideon barreled over to it. “You all should, um, sit down at the dining room table.” He set about removing the roast, the chicken, the mashed potatoes, and the roasted vegetables, and then stirred the gravy on the stove.

The kids had already dug into their pizza, hot dogs, and carrots.

The older ones would eat the healthy food as well, but today was about filling bellies, not worrying about diets.

Amazingly, no one in my family had allergies.

Food preferences? Certainly. Was anyone going to keel over from anaphylaxis? No.

Channing was the first to head to the dining room. At eighteen, he was just grateful he wasn’t stuck with the kids. Several siblings and spouses followed, all carrying out food and drinks.

Organized chaos.

Apparently, Charmaine drew the short straw, so she was stuck with the kids.

Ha, her husband Robert didn’t offer to help. That oversight might cost the man later.

Gideon and I were the last to enter the dining room, and the cacophonous roar overwhelmed even me.

Gideon winced.

Damn, I didn’t think this through. Of course the noise will be too much.

My boyfriend rallied, placing a plate of warm rolls—baked by Rainbow, no less—and he sat in the second-to-last remaining seat. At one end of the table. The head remained empty, waiting for me. In my mind, I’d planned to keep Gideon close at hand, but apparently my family had other plans.

Roll with it.

Gideon sat next to Dad, who gave him the once-over.

The older man pronounced, “You’ll do,” before shoveling in a mouthful of roast smothered in gravy. For all that my father was a famous attorney with a thriving practice, he also understood that if one didn’t eat fast in the Chamberlain household, one was liable to be left with mere scraps.

Leftovers were rarely a thing.

I caught Gideon’s gaze.

He smiled. A genuine smile that lit his eyes.

My heart soared.

Food was consumed at a record-breaking pace, and Cherry was rising to help organize dessert when my phone pinged.

Mother glared, Father snorted, and Cherish laughed. “Christmas Day? Seriously?”

I ignored them all and checked the message. I’d hoped, but I hadn’t let myself believe. Yet here was proof. I rose.

“Gideon and I have to go over to his house for a bit.” I surveyed the room. “Channing, you’re in charge.”

Channing pumped his fist while every other Chamberlain howled in protest.

Gideon rose unsteadily but headed my way.

“What’s going on?” He hunched in on himself. “I thought I was doing okay.”

I pressed a kiss to his temple and pulled him in for a hug. “You’re doing amazing. They love you. But I have a special gift for you that won’t wait.”

“I don’t need anything.”

A protest I expected.

“I know you don’t. Except this is something you do need. Trust me?”

“Of course.” Quick and sure. No hesitation.

I hope this sentiment will carry us through the next few minutes, and you’ll forgive me if I made a mistake.