by Marie Force
“I can’t wait for year two.”
“I’m looking forward to all the years.”
“Mmm, me, too.”
“How much sex do you think is happening in this barn tonight?” Charley asked Tyler.
“A lot.”
“The elixir you injected me with before I left on the trip has worn off, and I have to spend all day tomorrow with my siblings. I think I need another infusion to ensure family unity on Christmas.”
Tyler’s low rumble of laughter made her smile. Three days and two nights without him had made her realize she was even more dependent upon his presence in her life than she’d previously believed. And that was saying something.
He turned so he hovered above her, looking down at her with the fierce, sexy look that let her know every day that she was the center of his universe. “I’m always happy to tame you, as long as you know I love you just the way you are.”
“That’s why I’m here. Because you get me.”
“I get you, and getting you is the best thing to ever happen to me.”
She reached for him, bringing him into her embrace. “Merry Christmas, Ty.”
“Merry Christmas, Charl.”
“Is she asleep?” Gavin asked when Ella finished feeding baby Sarah.
“I think so.”
“Should we put her in the bassinette?”
“Probably.”
“You don’t want to?”
Ella gazed down at the tiny face that had taken over her life in the span of twenty-four hours. “I want to hold her all the time.”
“Didn’t the books say we’re not supposed to do that?”
“Yep.”
“So…”
“I want to hold her all the time.”
Gavin laughed and put his arm around her so he could hold her while she held the baby she’d wanted for so long. “Are you still hurting?”
“So bad, but it was worth it. She’s perfect, isn’t she?”
“Almost as perfect as her mommy.” He kissed the top of Ella’s head. “Now let’s put her down so you can get some rest. She’ll be awake again in a couple of hours.”
“I can’t wait.”
Smiling, he got up, took the baby and settled her in the bassinette. “Are you sure she doesn’t need a blanket?”
“No, the sleeper is her blanket. We don’t want anything else in there with her.”
He bent to kiss the baby’s forehead. “Sleep tight, little one.” Leaving her to sleep, he slid into bed with Ella and brought her head to rest on his chest. “Are you comfortable?”
“Uh-huh, but I just realized I never got to finish your Christmas present.”
“Yes, you did. She’s sleeping in her bassinette.”
“I made something else for you, but it’s not done.”
“No worries, sweetheart. I’ll still love it whenever you get a chance to finish it.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I love everything you’ve ever given me. You saved my life with your big love, my sweet Ella, and gave me the most beautiful little girl. You don’t ever have to give me anything else again.”
“I feel guilty.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m this happy when so many other people aren’t.”
“Enjoy this moment you’ve waited so long to have. This, right here and now, is all there is.”
Since he knew of what he spoke, she decided to take his wise advice.
Chapter Twenty-One
“In the end, the love you take is
equal to the love you make.”
—Paul McCartney
Linc was about to call it a night when Max came downstairs, poured himself a glass of the whiskey he and Elmer had opened and sat with them in front of the fire.
“Everything all right, son?”
“Sure, everything is great. I think all my siblings are currently having sex while I’m sitting here with you two.” Max took a big sip of the whiskey. “But yeah, I’m good.”
Elmer rubbed a hand over his mouth as if trying not to laugh.
“You’ll find your person, Max,” Linc said. “I have no doubt about that, and when you do, it’ll be a love affair for the ages.”
“Any time now.”
“You’re not ready yet,” Elmer said.
“How’s that?”
“You’re only twenty-three.”
“Mom wasn’t even twenty-three when she married Dad.”
“Touché,” Elmer said. “You’ve got all the time in the world. Look at Hunter. He was thirty-five or -six when he settled down with Megan.”
“I’m not waiting that long,” Max said. “That’s an eternity. I’m already sick of being alone.”
“You’re never alone in this family,” Linc reminded him.
“And I’m incredibly grateful for that, but you know what I mean. I want what they have.” He gestured randomly behind him, referring to his siblings, who were all in bed with their partners.
“You’ll have it,” Elmer said. “I have no doubt about that whatsoever. You, my dear boy, are meant for a great love.”
“When?”
“When the time is right.”
“How will I know when the time is right?”
“When you meet someone you can’t live without. Until that happens, enjoy being single and have some fun.”
“I have a one-year-old.”
“And plenty of babysitters,” Linc reminded him. “You never want to ask for help, but we’re always willing to give it.”
“Mom watches him all day while I work. That’s the last thing she wants to do at night.”
“Mom loves every second she spends with him, and so do I. If you hadn’t asked her to watch him while you work, she would’ve offered. In case you haven’t noticed, your mom loves kids.”
“Still… I don’t want to take advantage.”
Elmer leaned in, elbows on his knees, his expression intense but loving. “Listen to what your dad is saying, Max. They like helping with Caden. They would say so if they didn’t. So stop manufacturing issues that don’t exist. Put your son to bed, leave your folks in charge and go out and have some fun. You’re only going to be twenty-three once. Enjoy your life. The time for serious and permanent will come. When it’s the right person.”
“You promise?”
“I promise, and I’ve never broken a promise to you yet, have I?”
“Nope.”
“I’m not going to start now.”
“Thanks, Gramps. You’re the best.”
“Aw, thanks, but you should know I’m not going anywhere until every one of you kids is happy and settled, so take your time. Keep your favorite old man around a little longer.”
“I’ll do that. In fact, I may never get married if that’ll keep you here forever.”
“Nah, don’t do that. I want you to have what I had with my Sarah and what your dad has had with your mom, even if I wanted to kill him at first.”
Linc rolled his eyes. “Don’t listen to him. It was love at first sight between the two of us.”
“Sure, it was,” Elmer said, laughing. “The impertinence of him showing up holding my little girl’s hand.”
“The ridiculousness never ends around here.”
Listening to them had Max laughing when only a few minutes ago, he’d been bummed out at the realization that he was once again alone in a sea of happy couples. Leave it to his dad and grandfather to snap him out of the funk.
“I’m off to bed,” Max said after downing the last of his drink. He’d love to have another, but Caden would be up early, and he didn’t need to be hungover on Christmas.
“Walk me up, my friend,” Elmer said. “I’ve forgotten which room is mine, and I’m terribly afraid to walk into the wrong room up there and see something that can never be forgotten.”
Linc and Max laughed.
“Probably a good idea,” Linc said.
“Come on, Gramps. I’ll get you settled with no tra
uma.”
“Appreciate that. Linc, I’ll see you in the morning.”
“See you then. In the meantime, I’m going to snuggle with your daughter.”
“Impertinent ass,” Elmer muttered.
Max laughed. “That’s just a rude thing to say to your father-in-law, Dad.”
“I know. Why do you think I said it?”
“You see what I’ve had to deal with all these years, my boy?”
“I see, Gramps. It hasn’t been easy being you with those two to deal with.”
“Not easy at all.”
Late on Christmas Day, after presents had been exchanged and a ton of food consumed, Ella asked if she could have everyone’s attention before they all went their separate ways.
“As long as I don’t have to move, I’m all yours, El,” Colton said from his post on the floor, stretched out next to the Christmas tree, Lucy leaning against him. The guys had spent two hours after dinner snow-blowing and digging their cars out so everyone could go home later.
“You don’t have to move,” Ella told him. “Gavin and I had planned a little surprise for today, not knowing we had our own little surprise about to arrive a couple of weeks early.”
“What’s your surprise?” Charley asked, smothering a yawn as she snuggled with Tyler on the sofa.
Ella looked to Elmer. “Gramps? Are you ready?”
“Ready, willing and able, my love,” Elmer said as he pulled himself up and joined Ella, who held baby Sarah, and Gavin in front of the fireplace.
“What’s happening?” Molly asked.
“Just a little wedding,” Ella said, smiling up at Gavin.
His mother, Amelia, let out a happy shout and hugged her husband, Bob, and then Molly and Linc. “Here we go again,” Amelia said, beaming as another Guthrie prepared to marry another Abbott.
“We wanted to do it while everyone was together,” Gavin said. “We had no idea we’d also have our daughter here.”
“She just makes it perfect,” Ella said, kissing her daughter’s forehead.
“Are you two kids ready to say ‘I do’?” Elmer asked.
“I am,” Ella said, smiling at Gavin.
“Hell yes,” Gavin said.
“Charley and Hannah, will you be my attendants?”
While she waited for her sisters to join her, Ella saw Amelia wiping tears.
Hannah hugged Ella, and then Charley did the same.
“Thanks for asking us,” Hannah said for both of them.
“There’s no one else I would’ve asked.”
“Will and Hunter,” Gavin said, “we’ve been friends for as long as I can remember, and since my own brother can’t be here to stand up for me, I’d appreciate if you guys would.”
Hunter put his hand on his heart as he stood to join Will and Gavin. “Honored, brother,” he said when he hugged Gavin.
“What he said,” Will added.
Ella couldn’t help but note that her handsome, smiling groom bore no resemblance whatsoever to the devastated shell of a man he’d been a few years ago. Their life together had helped to put his pieces back together, and while he’d never be the same person he’d been before he lost his brother, he was a new, stronger version of that person, and Ella loved him with her whole heart and soul.
“Ella and Gavin wanted to write their own vows, so I’m only here to tell them what to do and when to do it,” Elmer said, beaming. “Ladies first. Ella?”
She handed the baby to her mother so she could focus exclusively on the love of her life. “I’d bought a dress and was going to do something with my hair, but then Sarah arrived and it snowed and here we are, in sweats and flannels at our wedding, and somehow that’s exactly how it should be. I’m never more comfortable than I am when I’m with you, Gav. It seems only fitting that I should be at my most comfortable when I finally get to marry the man I’ve loved for so long, I can’t recall a time when I didn’t love you.”
Gavin released one of her hands to wipe his eyes.
“For a while there,” Ella said, “I didn’t think you and I were going to happen. I didn’t think we’d get our happily ever after. It took a while for you to come around…”
Gavin laughed as he contended with more tears.
“But when you did come around, when you finally saw that my way was the right way, you made me so, so happy. I can’t wait to see what’s next for us and our little family. I can’t wait to add to our family, although maybe not right away,” she said with a grimace and a laugh. “I can’t wait for everything with you. I, Ella Abbott, take you, Gavin Guthrie, to be my husband. To have and to hold from this day forward, forsaking all others, to love and honor all the days of my life.”
Elmer dabbed at his eyes and turned to Gavin. “Gav?”
“Whew,” Gavin said. “Not sure how I’m supposed to follow that.” He wiped his eyes again and made an effort to pull himself together. “To say I was in a bad place before you, Ella, is putting it rather simply. I was a wreck. An emotional disaster area. The ultimate fixer-upper. But you, my fearless, tireless, relentless love, you only saw the potential, not the mess. You stuck with me through all the hard times and led me through the darkness back into the light that shines all around you.” He tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and caressed her face. “You are, quite simply, my lifeline. You’re the reason I get up in the morning, the reason I continue to try when I used to think it wasn’t worth the bother. You’re the reason for everything. You and our Sarah and the family we’re building together have put me back together and given me love and hope and the kind of comfort I didn’t know I needed until I had you. Thank you for never giving up on me when anyone else would’ve quit. I love you so much, Ella. I, Gavin Guthrie, take you, Ella Abbott, to be my wife. To have and to hold from this day forward, forsaking all others, to love and honor all the days of my life.”
Everyone in the room was dealing with tears by the time Elmer handed Ella’s ring to Gavin.
“I give you this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity,” he said as he put it on her finger.
Elmer handed Gavin’s ring to Ella.
She slid it onto his finger and looked up at him. “I give you this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity.”
“By the power vested in me by the state of Vermont,” Elmer said, “I declare you beautiful kids husband and wife. Gavin, you may kiss your wife.”
Gavin put his arms around her and stared at her for a long moment before he kissed her and then hugged her carefully, which she appreciated. Every inch of her hurt, but her heart… Her heart had never felt better or been more full.
“I’m pleased to introduce, for the very first time,” Elmer said, “Gavin and Ella Guthrie.”
Their family cheered for them as Sarah woke up and let out a lusty, angry cry.
It was the most perfect moment of Ella’s entire life.
For a long time after everyone had gone home or to bed, Linc stared at the fire and thought about the remarkable few days they’d had. What was supposed to have been an ordinary holiday-season weekend had turned into anything but, and now the horrible breach with his family had been bridged, and his sons- and daughters-in-law had gone all-out to create a special Christmas for their family. Not to mention the arrival of a new grandchild and a wedding. It’d been a week he’d never forget.
He was truly blessed, and all his blessings began with Molly, who’d turned in hours ago, exhausted as always after the crush of Christmas. He got up, worked around the sleeping dogs to secure the fireplace and went upstairs.
In the hallway, he looked around at the various bedroom doors now standing open and gave thanks for the gift of waking that morning to everyone back in the barn for one memorable night.
He got into bed and was careful not to disturb Molly, but she stirred, nonetheless.
“There you are,” she said, sounding sleepy.
“Here I am.”
She snuggled up to him, and he wrapped his arms around her. “Was about to send
a search party for you.”
“Your dad got the whiskey out. It was downhill from there.”
“How many times did he use the word ‘impertinent’?”
“Only four or five.”
“So it was a good night.”
“It was a great night.”
“I’m glad he agreed to stay tonight, too, so he could have a nightcap with you.”
“Me, too. I think he wanted to stay close to make sure I’m all right, which I appreciate so much.”
“He loves you.”
“I know, and I love him right back.”
She smothered a yawn. “Did you get a chance to read the Christmas letter from Joseph and Keisha?”
“I did! Jalen is going to be a judge. That’s incredible.”
“And Jasmine being the national president of an accounting organization.”
“I’m glad Keisha finally talked Joseph into retiring at the end of the year.”
“Maybe now we can get them back up here for another visit.”
“Or meet up with them somewhere.”
“That sounds good, too.”
He ran his fingers through her hair. “I still can’t believe what Cam and the others did while we were gone.”
“I know! I was so thrilled. I’d been trying not to think about how I was going to pull off Christmas after being gone the extra day. They made it so I didn’t have to worry about a thing. Best Christmas ever.”
“It really was. Our amazing kids fell for some equally amazing people.”
“They sure did. And just think, it all began at a bus station in Mississippi.”
“Best day of my life.”
“And mine. Do you still love me more than the Beatles?”
“Always and forever.”
“Sing me our song.”
In a soft whisper, he gave her the opening notes to the song that had gotten them through the best and worst of times. It had become especially poignant after the split with his family, when Molly and her family had opened their arms to him and welcomed him into their fold. “When I find myself in times of trouble…”
Let it be.
Let it be.