Ella wanted to be part of this world, he reminded himself, and she would be.
* * *
Gerald slept in his old bedroom after being fed encouragement from every member of his family. He never realized how worried his mother had been knowing he was suspect in the abductions and murders of those women. She knew he wasn't involved, but she worried that someone, who thought he was, would harm him.
Family. He'd been part of that clan his entire life. He'd protected every one of those people who rallied around him, but until then, he hadn’t even realized they’d rallied around him—and so had Ella.
She'd lost her job being so focused on what was happening to him. She'd gone nearly gone mad over his caring for Lydia. The past few weeks had stripped her of everything she'd worked so hard for. There had to be a way to make it up to her.
Gerald tucked his hands under his head and looked up at the shadows on the ceiling.
He knew what to do. Ella would have everything she ever wanted. He could prove to her that he was in it for the long haul and give her the family she'd always wanted to be part of.
Chapter 31
The old red truck had been sold to a rancher fifty miles away, and Gerald thought it had been a fair deal, even if he'd wanted more out of it. The point was, he wouldn't fear for his life in the old, reliable beast. For the first time, he had a comfy ride. Big Blue was what he would call the Ford F10 with every bell and whistle that he could get added. There were going to be a lot of miles put on that truck if he lived in town and drove to the ranch every day.
The shiny Airstream had been hauled away as well. Eric had seen to that on Gerald's request, and he'd picked out a lovely house to build there, but he'd get Ella's approval first. Even if they had two houses, he wanted her to be comfortable, but he wanted to build on his acreage. He just had to.
Gerald had met Abe for lunch and got some first-hand information on what had happened at the law firm. Though Abe had been apprehensive at first to discuss everything, Gerald found that plied with one lousy beer, the man would tell all.
From what he'd gathered, Ella wasn't the kind of lawyer that went for blood, and that was what they were looking for. She had a conscience about her that didn't always please the partners. Gerald assumed that Abe fit that same bill.
"I told her that if she left the firm, she needed to take me with her," Abe offered as he pushed up his glasses and then took a sip from his beer.
While he was in town, Gerald stopped by the reception hall to check on Todd. The atmosphere wasn't the same without Lydia's energy, and Todd looked petrified sitting behind her desk.
"She has to come back. This is not my kind of job," he admitted as he shuffled orders for beer, bread, and canned fruit. "We have a wedding here in a week. It's all laid out, but what if I mess it up?"
Gerald leaned against the doorjamb, crossing his arms over his chest, and he laughed.
"Photographer space is open huh? When did they move out?" Gerald asked.
"Last week. It was in the plans. I guess. I suppose it falls on me to find a replacement for that space."
"I'll bet Tyson and Pearl could work on that," Gerald offered, and Todd nodded.
"Right. My sister owns this building. She should be doing this and not me."
"She'll help, I'm sure," Gerald offered encouragement. "What about that little space on the end?"
"The office space?" Todd shrugged. "Tyson said he talked to Ella about it, but that's all he said."
Gerald gave that some thought. Perhaps he'd find Tyson and get some specifics.
Ella had taken two weeks to fill herself with family. She realized in those two weeks just how hard Glenda Walker worked to keep her children in each other's lives.
Ella had stayed at her parents' house, had arranged for her sister and family to visit, had cooked meals, and even organized an outing to the zoo for the kids. It had all been her doing, though everyone enjoyed themselves.
Part of not having a family like the Walkers fell on her too, she realized as she stood at baggage claim waiting on her suitcase.
She hadn't made herself available to her family, and they did their own thing. Glenda Walker made sure her boys were part of one another's daily life so much that it was the norm. Dinners. Lunches. She was a genius. They probably didn't even know they'd been trained.
Ella looked down at her phone to make sure the text to Gerald had gone through. She had expected to see him waiting for her, but he wasn't there. She'd get her luggage and call him outside.
Once her suitcase appeared, she moved to grab it. When she turned around, he was standing behind her, a bouquet of roses in his hand.
"They simply don't compare," he said gazing at her.
Tears stung her eyes. She'd missed him so much the past two weeks, but looking at him standing there, she knew it had been the right thing.
"These are from your mother's garden, aren't they?" she asked as she took the flowers and inhaled their fragrance.
"Best roses in all of Georgia." Gerald took her suitcase handle and laced an arm around her waist. "I've missed you," he said as they walked toward the exit.
"I missed you, too. Thank you."
"For what?"
"Giving me my space. I needed a moment to clear my mind."
"Well, I left the dishwasher full of dirty dishes for you just in case it didn't go well."
Ella laughed as she tipped her head to his shoulder as they walked.
They stopped at a brand new blue pickup truck, and Gerald put down the tailgate.
"Whose is this?"
"Mine," he said as he hoisted her bag in the back. "Couldn't drive around in the red one any longer. I've taken these two weeks to make some other changes, too."
He opened the door for her, and she climbed into the truck and admired its many features.
When Gerald climbed in, he immediately pulled her close and kissed her hard on the mouth. "We good?"
She smiled, her lips still pressed to his. "We good."
The two weeks she'd been gone, the entire town seemed to have changed. Fall was beginning to take over the colors of summer. Though it was still ungodly hot, the signs in the windows of the stores boasted back-to-school sales.
When Gerald missed the turn to her house, she glanced at him. "Did you forget where you were going?"
"No. I have something I want to show you."
He drove into the center of town and down the street toward the Bridal Mecca. She was surprised to find that her heart hammered in her chest at just the sight of it—the sad sight. Lydia wasn't there tending to her many businesses, and that broke Ella's heart.
Gerald pulled up in front of the bank of stores and turned off the engine. "I've been here before. What will surprise me?"
"C'mon," he teased as he climbed out of the truck and she did the same.
Taking her hand, Gerald led her to the end unit, the one she'd known to be empty, as per her conversation with Tyson on their drive home.
Gerald took a key from his breast pocket and unlocked the door.
"You have a key?" she asked, and he smiled handing it to her.
"No. You do."
Gerald stepped inside, and Ella followed. The same sweet smell of roses which he'd given her at the airport filled the space. She noticed the bouquet on a desk, and on the front of that desk was a plaque that said Ella Mills-Walker - Attorney at Law.
Ella pressed her fingers to her trembling lips. "What is this?"
"I took the liberty of adding a name." He mused as he picked up the plaque and looked at it before setting it back in its place.
"Okay, but what is all of this?" She scanned a look over the dark space.
"It's yours. It's your office if you'd like it. I talked to Tyson, and he'd like you to be here too. He thinks you have a lot to offer the fine business people of the town, mainly him and his sister."
Ella laughed. "My own office? Gerald, I don't know if I can do that on my own."
"You don't have to.
Look on the desk."
Ella walked closer to see a piece of paper laying there. She picked it up and realized it was a resume for Abe.
"He wants to be where you are," Gerald offered. "I told him, if it all worked out, you'd be here."
Tears stung her eyes. He believed in her, he truly did. He would have believed in her all those years ago too, and she'd let herself think that by chasing her dreams it would have cost him his own. What she hadn't taken into consideration was the fact that maybe his dream was to see hers through. The sentiment was alarmingly sweet, and she swallowed those tears and took a breath.
"I don't know the first thing about owning my own business."
Gerald moved to her and took her hand. "No, but Pearl does. Lydia does. Gia does. Audrey does."
She laughed again and wrapped her arms around his neck. "I get it. I get it. I'm surrounded by good company."
He pressed a kiss to her lips. "You can do this."
"I think I can."
Taking a step back, he walked around the desk and pulled open one of the drawers. From it, he retrieved a set of blueprints which he unrolled on the top of the desk. "There's more."
"In the two weeks I was gone I played board games and went to the zoo. What did you do? Take over the world?"
He chuckled as he reached for her. "I want you to look at these."
Ella looked down at the prints. "These are a house."
"And here is the rendering."
He showed her the photos of what would be a two-story home with four bedrooms, a family room, an office, and a beautiful kitchen. The master suite alone would put any fancy hotel room to shame.
"This is your house?"
"Ours."
She lifted her eyes to meet his. "You want to build this, on your piece of land?"
"I do, but only if you'll live there with me and fill those rooms. I know it's a drive, but…"
"But multiple members of your family make that drive in or out every day. It's not that much to ask of me, Gerald. Not when you've gone through this much trouble to secure me a place of my own to work. You really believe in me?"
He lifted his hand to her cheek. "I always have."
Ella lifted herself on her toes and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Thank you."
"I have one more thing."
Ella stepped back and laughed loudly enough that it echoed through the empty space. "What more could you possibly have?"
Gerald opened another drawer on the desk and pulled out a long, black jewelry box. "I already gave you the ring, but I felt as if you needed a much better proposal than the one you got." Bending down on one knee, Gerald opened the box to reveal a beautiful diamond bracelet. "Ella, for the very last time, will you marry me?"
Tears rose in her throat as she knelt to face him. With her hands cupped around his face, and her eyes wet with joyful tears, she smiled.
"For the very last time. Yes, I will marry you."
Epilogue
December air swirled around Gerald's beautiful bride as the photographer took pictures of her in the frosted field near the Bridal Mecca. Waiting for them at Lydia's reception hall were nearly a hundred loved ones who had come from all over to see them exchange vows.
Leaned up against his pickup, in his tuxedo, Gerald watched Ella play to the camera, and he swore he only fell deeper in love with her.
"Your turn," she called to him. "Get over here."
He wasn't one to flaunt in front of a camera like she was, but he would oblige a few photos.
"You look beautiful," he said as he stood next to her. "I didn't think it was possible, but you get more beautiful every day."
"You don't have to flirt to impress me anymore, Mr. Walker. You caught me."
"Mrs. Walker, I'm going to flirt with you even when we're old and wrinkly. I don't ever want you to forget how I feel about you. How I've always felt about you."
She batted her eyes and tucked her lips between her teeth. "Don't make me cry again. Your vows nearly ruined my makeup and Bethany had to fix me."
"All of those promises were true."
They posed as the photographer instructed them to do. His smile was genuine, and the love in his heart filled him to the brim with happiness. Finally, Ella was his wife. Their house was nearly complete. And she and Abe were building a business she could be proud of.
"Okay, I think we're done here," the photographer said. "Let's get to the party. I saw the cake. I must say you have some fine taste."
Ella laughed. "It looks like satin and pearls, doesn't it? I can't wait to taste it."
"You mean wear it?" Gerald teased.
"I swear if you shove that cake in my face, I won't talk to you again."
"Oh, yes you will. Every day for the rest of our lives."
She nudged him as they walked to his truck.
He knew by the end of the night it would be decorated with crepe paper and shoe polish. It would be a sight when he drove Ella to the hotel, where he'd reserved the bridal suite for them to start their honeymoon.
* * *
Music from the hall poured out as they opened the door to their party. Ella smiled so widely that her cheeks hurt when it was announced the Mr. and Mrs. Walker had arrived. Their friends and family cheered and applauded their entrance. Immediately she zoned in on Gerald's mother wrapping her arm around her mother's shoulders and both women wiping tears from their eyes.
They shared their first dance as a married couple and drank champagne.
Reluctantly, Todd walked to the center of the dance floor to vie for the garter with the other single men, only to have it land right at his feet.
Ella's bouquet was caught by one of the young associates she used to work with, who immediately pulled Todd to the dance floor for a dance.
Gerald didn't smash the cake in her face, as she'd been afraid he would. Instead, he fed her icing from his finger. He'd never cease to amaze her.
"Hey," Todd called for them as they worked their way around the room visiting with guests. "Someone wants to talk to you," he said waving them toward the office in the corner.
As they walked in, Todd closed the door behind them. On the computer screen was Lydia.
"Oh, don't you two look like bridal Ken and Barbie," she mused, and Ella began to cry again. "Don't go crying. Bethany will have a fit if she has to fix your makeup."
That brought laughter as they sat down in the chair, Ella on Gerald's lap.
"You look terrific," he told Lydia who's eyes were bright. "I've never seen you with hair that long."
Lydia scooped her fingers through the hair that now hung just below her chin. "I hate it. When I get out of here, it's coming off."
It had been five months since Lydia had chosen to work through her ordeal by going into seclusion at a hospital. Her eyes were bright, but the scar on her cheek would remain a constant reminder. "How are you doing?"
"I'm good. I'm really good. In January mom and I are headed to Hawaii. Todd seems to have everything under control there, and he said to take as long as I need. I've done nearly as much therapy as I can possibly take in one lifetime being here, and now I'm ready for the most overdue vacation ever."
"We miss you," Ella said, and Gerald squeezed his arms around her. "We all do."
"I miss you all too. I'm sorry I missed your wedding."
"I'll save you a dance with the groom for when you get home," Ella offered.
"I'll take it. Well, you two get back to your party. When I get settled in Hawaii, I'll check back in. You both look beautiful."
"So do you," Gerald added. "So do you."
A moment later, Lydia's image was gone from the screen, and the Walkers sat alone in the office.
"She made the right choice," Ella said, looking at her husband. "She looks good."
"She does. In no time she'll be back here bossing everyone around and avoiding Phillip."
Ella laughed as she stood and pulled Gerald out of the chair. "I can hear Queen playing. We have to go dance some more."
>
"Whatever you wish, Mrs. Walker."
"I'm never going to get tired of hearing you call me that."
"I'll never tire of saying it."
About the Author
Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie is known for building families readers want to be part of. Her series The Keller Family has graced bestseller charts since its release in 2011. Since then she has authored and published over thirty-five books. The married mother of five sons promises romances with a Happily Ever After always…and says she can write it because she lives it.
Obsessed with the art of writing and the business of publishing, chronic entrepreneur Bernadette Marie established her own publishing house, 5 Prince Publishing, in 2011 to bring her own work to market as well as offer an opportunity for fresh voices in fiction to find a home as well. Bernadette Marie is also the owner of Illumination Author Events which offers industry education as well as smaller intimate author/reader events.
When not immersed in the writing/publishing world, Bernadette Marie and her husband are shuffling their five hockey playing boys around town to practices and games as well as running their family business of carwash locations. She is a lover of a good stout craft beer and might be slightly addicted to chocolate.
We hope that you liked this release from 5 Prince Publishing, LLC. Please enjoy the following excerpt, available now at 5PrinceBooks.com
Masterpiece
Book 10 in the Walker Family series,
by Bernadette Marie
* * *
A small heater under the desk kept Todd's feet warm as he went over the schedule for the upcoming week. He'd been thrown into the position of managing Lydia Morgan's reception hall business, and he was doing a fair job, but he missed his mornings on the Walker Ranch watching the sunrise over the acreage.
Walker Defense Page 14