Page 18 of The Awakening (The Morton Family Saga #3)

Chapter Sixteen

Gavin

N ew Year’s Eve had become a special night for my family over the last few years. Mom had taken to hosting a gala to raise money for different projects in the community. My usually levelheaded mother buzzed around the house like a queen bee raking her hive.

Tonight was the big event, and everyone had their instructions, but the ball didn’t start for a few more hours.

There was a knock on the door, and Tyler ran to get it. When he came back into the room, his face was ashen. Our uncle stepped through the door just behind him, wearing a scowl.

My father stood from his armchair. “Adam, what brings you here? Surely this is classified as slumming it for you.” He walked over to Uncle Adam with his hand extended. Adam brushed past him linking his thumbs in his belt loops.

My mother’s brother hadn’t darkened the door of this ranch in at least a decade. A sinking feeling in my stomach told me I was probably the cause of his visit.

“Good to see you, Brian.” He turned to my brothers and me and nodded.

“And you too, boys. Color me impressed that you’ve all managed to marry off on the brink of forty.

That’s why I’m here. To see Gavin’s marriage certificate.

Tyler’s marriage was odd, Rob never could stay away from Jessica.

But you, Gavin, you’re the wild card. You always have been. ”

The sinking feeling turned into a thud, but I wouldn’t let him ruin the night for us.

“Adam, I’m sorry, but we won’t be entertaining this today.

It’s New Year’s Eve, so whatever business you think you have here will have to wait.

” I walked up to the man, never breaking eye contact, and waited for his response.

“Gavin, are you telling me you’re refusing to produce a marriage license so I can see the legitimacy of your nuptials?”

I cringed internally at the use of that word. Maybe it wasn’t so much the word but the way it dripped like venom off his tongue.

My father stepped between us. “Adam, come say hello to Sandra. I’m sure she’d love to see you.” He led Adam to the house but looked over his shoulder and gave the three of us a look that screamed fix this or else.

“What are you going to do?” Tyler asked when my father had gone inside.

“I don’t know,” I replied, rubbing my palm against the scruff on my face.

“Go get the marriage license. Simple as that.” Rob looked between Tyler and me. “Guys, it doesn’t matter how Gavin got to the altar, just that he did. Adam doesn’t need to know that you only got married to keep Ellie safe.”

My father appeared seemingly out of nowhere.

His eyes were dark, and I could almost see the wheels turning in his head.

“Your mother is making Adam feel welcome. Why? I’ll never understand.

” He turned and headed out of the room again.

When he got to the doorway, he turned and waved for us to follow, then continued without waiting for us to comply.

The second he was out of earshot, I turned to my brothers. “Look, no matter what happens, he doesn’t find out about why I got married. Deal?”

They both nodded, and we followed Dad out of the main house and over to Rob’s.

“Close the door, Gavin.” Dad’s words were short. It was winter. Did he really think I would just leave it hanging open?

“Gavin, I need to know. Is this marriage on the up and up?”

“Absolutely, Dad.” Lying through my teeth didn’t usually work out well for me.

But it hadn’t been going too badly over the past month.

Ellie and I were getting closer. What had started out as a lie was feeling more like the truest connection I'd ever had with a woman. That had to hold some promise, didn’t it?

“I’ve made a few calls. Why is it that nobody ever saw you and Ellie together? Not even late-night meetups at the cabin. If she’s due in May or June, you would have had to be together in September.” He walked over to the couch, sat, and waited for a reply, never taking his focus off me.

“You had someone watching the cabin? The entire time? You never trusted me, did you?” Walking over to him, I crossed my arms and waited. The deflection was a Hail Mary, but I had to try something to get the focus off my relationship.

“Of course I trusted you, but as much as I hate to admit it Adam’s right about you being a wild card. You weren’t completely reliable after you lost your business. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t going to impact my business.”

“So you didn’t trust me to keep Montana afloat? Thanks for that vote of confidence.” I headed into the kitchen. I didn’t know how long I could keep this up, but I hoped to give myself a few minutes to regroup.

Tyler followed me. “Gavin, I don’t think it was because he didn’t trust you. He was just looking out for his assets after a few bad decisions were being made.” Tyler chimed in and turned his back to dad. “Go with it.” He mouthed to me.

“Well, I guess I should thank you all for telling me how you really feel. Making sure I know no one here trusts me. What am I doing now that gives you cause for concern?” That might not have been the best question.

“Nothing. I’m more than happy with the work you’re doing here. You are more focused after marriage than these two jokers were.” Dad stepped into the kitchen and pointed at Tyler and Rob.

“Thanks, I think.” I shook my head while my brothers tried to hide their grins. “I’ll run home and get the marriage license.” I put my boots on and stepped to the door, but with my hand on the knob, I turned back. “Did you actually have me watched?”

“No. Well, for a month, yes. But you were doing so well. I knew I didn’t need to continue keeping tabs on you.” Dad looked at the floor and scuffed his foot over the hardwood. “Gavin, there’s nothing I need to know?”

Shaking my head, I replied, “Nope.”

“Okay, I’ll deal with Adam.” He nodded, and I walked out the door heading for home. “Find the certificate and come meet us in the den.”

Somehow that had worked. I’d never been great at lying, especially to my dad, but he’d believed me—or at least decided to go along with the ruse.

I hadn’t seen Ellie all day. She was busy getting ready for the gala. This wasn’t her forte, but Jessica had insisted it was the best way to get money out of people was to make them feel special and do something out of the ordinary. A New Year’s Eve Gala was always a wallet opener.

When I got to the house, I walked in quietly.

I didn’t want to disrupt Ellie’s nap, and I had a few hours before I needed to get ready.

As her pregnancy progressed, it was taking more and more out of her, and she’d taken to napping at least once, if not twice a day.

I needed to deal with Adam and send him on his way so he didn’t have any chance to ruin Ellie’s night.

Ellie was sitting at her vanity when I tiptoed into our room. She yawned and stretched, like maybe she’d just woken up. Her red hair was cascading down her back, the ends loosely curled. Her green eyes studied me in the mirror, appearing more emerald with her makeup done.

“Is it that bad?” Her voice was quiet and filled with disappointment.

“What? No. Ellie, you’re stunning.” I moved behind her and placed my hands on her bare shoulders to get a good look at us in the mirror. She always looked stunning, but I’d only been gone for a few hours, and it was as though I’d come home to a completely different version of her.

I’d thought she looked like a goddess the very first day we met, but she was looking even more stunning.

Nothing held a candle to my wife when it came to beauty.

“I wish we didn’t have to go to this thing.

” Bending low, I nibbled at her ear. “The only thing I want to do is take you to that bed and have my way with you.” She tipped her head, allowing me access to her neck, and I blanketed it with kisses.

“Okay, that’s enough.” She laughed and swatted the hand I was snaking down her shoulder to the top of her breast.

“I’m serious, Ellie. I want to worship you tonight.” I planted kisses on her neck and gently sucked on her earlobe.

She let out a sigh. “Would Jessica be mad if we didn’t show up?”

“Furious. We’d never live it down.”

“I guess we can’t disappoint her then.” Ellie turned on her stool and pressed her lips to mine. Breaking the kiss, she asked, “What are you doing home anyhow? I thought you were going to be busy all afternoon?”

“My Uncle Adam showed up.” I needed more space between us if I was going to behave myself, so I backed up and sat on the bed.

“Oh, is this the guy you planned to fool when you tricked me into marrying you?” The grin that spread across her face was infectious, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Yes, that one. He wants to see our marriage certificate. Do you have any idea where it is?” Relaxing back on the bed, I propped myself up on my elbows.

Ellie stood and walked to the dresser. She opened the top drawer and shuffled through papers, then pulled out the certificate.

“Here,” she said, holding it out as she stepped up close to the bed.

“If he needs a copy, just ask your mom to do it. I don’t want that out of our hands.

I don’t trust a man who’s more than ready to pull the rug out from beneath his family. ”

“Thanks.” I stood and kissed her again. Brushing my hand over her, I pulled the edge of the towel that she had wrapped around her, then I broke our kiss and backed up, watching the towel fall to the floor.

“Oops.” If I couldn't have a taste of her before we left for the gala, I needed a look to remind me what I was in store for when we got back home.

Scanning her body from head to toe, I lingered on her breasts. I wanted to assault them with my mouth while my hands roamed the rest of her body. But I’d have to wait. I took a deep breath. “Guess that will have to do until tonight.”

Adam had found his way to the wet bar by the time I returned, and it sounded as though my mother had been making sure he knew how angry she was at him.

In my entire life, I had only heard my mother raise her voice a handful of times, but she didn’t seem shy about laying into her brother.

The arguing stopped the second I stepped through the door, and all eyes turned to me.

“Here.” I shoved the copy of our marriage certificate at him—I’d made sure to stop in my father’s office to make the copy, because Ellie was right. I didn’t trust him with the original. Crossing my arms, I waited.

He frowned and studied the document, then shoved it back at me. His eyes narrowed as he stepped into my space. “This is all a little—”

My mother cut him off. “Adam, you’ve worn out your welcome.

How dare you come in here questioning the relationships of my boys.

What happened to you? You were the best, most protective brother growing up, but you’ve become a money-hungry old man.

Mamma would be so disappointed. You can leave.

” She walked to the door and opened it, giving him a pointed look.

Adam’s mouth hung open and he walked out of the house.

“Now, all four of you men need to go get ready for the gala. If you aren’t on time, you will be the next ones out that door,” she said firmly before she stepped out of it herself and headed back toward the main house.