Come on love, wakey, wakey!" The coach steward shook Millie's shoulder a little to wake her up,
and
Millie jolted awake, "Oh, sorry. Er right, we're here?" She flustered
"Yes love, is t
"Nick, hey c'mon, we'll sort it," Gabriel stroked Nick's hair as he rested it his chest. "Do you think this is true?" Gabriel was not going to beat about the bush in this situation; he needed to know. They both needed to know, especially as Nick was always one to brush things aside if it was going to cause him trouble."Do you think she's your daughter?"He felt Nick screw his eyes up, wrinkle his nose as if he didn't know what to say. Gabriel pushed Nick's head away from his chest so that he could look in his eyes."Is she yours?" Gabriel cocked his head in question as Nick slowly raised his eyes to look at him."If the letter her mother wrote is true then," he shrugged. "Probably...yes." Nick's voice cracked, and he closed his eyes in resignation."What letter?"Nick shuffled the papers on the table and pulled the letter from his ex-girlfriend. Gabriel scanned it. Hmm, that sounded promising. Why write to your ex to tell him you were pregn
Walter Bear parked his black Hummer on the promenade and looked through the window towards the B&B where he was going to spend the next few days. Such a car was unusual in this sleepy little town, and he had attracted some attention from a few young boys and their dads.He had already done a recce by driving slowly past, not that he could see much. The lights were on in the front room of the house, and maybe it was a lounge or the dining room, it did seem very quiet at the moment. In the upstairs room, the light was on, and the windows were almost floor to ceiling, giving an exceptional view of the beach and sea.Just as he was about to get out of the car, someone stood in the window; she looked out first at one side and to the other side towards his car. She flicked her long dark hair back stared at the sea.Walter checked the photo on his phone, yes that was her, that was Amelia. He watched as she drew the curtains across,
Amelia washed her tears away and turned the TV off. Her stomach was rumbling, and it seemed a really long time ago since she had been in the cafe that morning. Perhaps a walk along the front, and find a place to eat. She slipped her shoes back on and grabbing her bag and her coat she picked up the key to her room and went out into the hallway.She was locking the door when she heard a noise behind her."Good evening."Amelia looked up and up. "Oh," this man was huge, his dark chocolate coloured skin gleamed in the in lights. "Good evening."The man smiled his teeth blindingly white, "Walter Bear, but you can call me Smokey" he said, holding his hand out for her to shake. "I'm in the next room to you, so I must apologise for any noise that I make. I wouldn't want to disturb you.""Amelia Ashton pleased to meet you" She shook his enormous hand. He was so gentle in shaking it. "Please don't worry
Amelia sat in the back of the car, she was so shocked that they would greet her by kissing her like that, not that it wasn't lovely, but it led to so many questions that she hadn't got a clue how to answer.Thinking about Nick kissing her, just the way he had held her, and not given her any choice in the matter made her heartbeat as if it was going to burst through her chest. Her whole body felt alive, as it had never felt that way before. But that was only the start, the soft, gentle kiss from G
From where Amelia was sitting, she could see Gabriel's hands on the steering wheel. His fingers were long, and his palms were huge. Amelia couldn't stop staring at them. His forearms were bare; his shirt sleeves rolled up. Those arms had held her tonight; he was gentle with her, but she got the impression of an underlying force that was the real Gabriel. Nick was a forceful man, dominant, and he made his feelings known immediately., Gabriel was more gentle on the outside, but she knew he had meant it when he whispered in her ear. It sent tingles up her spine, and she got goosebumps.Turning her attention to where they were going, she noticed lights far away on the horizon, that must be a ship, meaning the sea was on one side of the car and fields on the other side. She closed her eyes and listened to the classical piano music rolling through the car. It wasn't long before Gabriel turned into a village, he drove straight down the high street, and then
When Amelia finally awoke on Tuesday morning, she felt utterly rested. Though when she swallowed, her throat was a little sore, she knew that she had slept deeply, which was most unusual. Opening her eyes, the room was still quite dark, no point getting up yet, so she closed her eyes again and stretched her legs to the cool part of the bed and turned over.After breakfast she would take a walk on the front, she hoped Eric cooked as good a breakfast as the man in the cafe. Then, she would buy a local newspaper and look for a job and somewhere more permanent to live. She could also go and find the h
Rubbing her eyes with the heels of her hands, she finally opened them. It was light now, and the first thing she saw was the light fitting hanging from the ceiling. She blinked, why had she never noticed that before? It was different, that wasn't the same light fitting she saw when Eric showed her to her room, that was a pretty little chandelier, this one was brass coloured, a large ring with two other rings wrapped around it with little LED lights embedded into the metal.Amelia turned her head towards the window, or where the window was supposed to be. She never managed to look more than a foot above the pillow. Sparkling blue eyes and a sweet smile considered her confusion.Gasping in shock and horror, Amelia shot her head to the right to see Nick resting his head on his crooked elbow and showing a broad smile.Amelia turned scarlet, she looked again from one man to the other, and if she were standing up, her jaw would have hit the floor.
Nick left the room, and Gabriel stroked his hand over her back. He gentlyeased some of the quilt from her grasp, but she still clung on to some. She wasn't ready to face him yet. Huh, maybe in fifty years she might be able to look at a picture of them!"Amelia, it's okay, please don't cry, you will make your throat hurt again."
Christmas Eve"You disgusting little horror, I've never known anyone smell like you, Not even your handsome big brother." Nick held Aria Henderson-Swan at arm's length and took the stairs two at a time. "You gorgeous beautiful stinkpot, what are we going to do with you?""Shh, I've just got Arlo to sleep," Gabriel whispered, he sat in one of the two rocking chairs with his tiny son over his shoulder gently patting his back. "You'd better be quick, one of her legs has turned a strange mustard colour."Bloody hell what has your mother been feeding you?"Same as she has been feeding this one, Google says breastfed babies have mustard pooh.""Great." Nick sighed, "Oh my
"What do you think?" Millie twisted around to look over the back of the wedding dress in the full-length mirror. The twins shook their heads, "Looks great at the front, you can hardly see the bump, but the back is a mess, far too many frills. I'll go and have a look, see what I can find. Pearl and Ruby wandered off. "What do you think, Mum? Rene shook her head, "No the girls are right, it's too much,""It looks as if you have a crumpled bed sheet attached to your bum," Lucy said. "Lucy!" said Claire, try not to upset the bride.""We are not having our gorgeous step-mum, looking like a complete clown, she can hardly see her feet, nevermind her bum. She needs us to tell the truth."Millie went back to the changing room and waited for the next dress, Pearl and Ruby came barging in."Try this Millie, I know its not the right colour, but the style is perfect."Millie wasn't going to argue, right now she was so fed up with trying frocks on, she w
Millie lay on the bed, as the ultrasound technician covered her tummy with gloop. The room was in semi-darkness, and Nick and Gabriel stood at the bed's side, Nick holding her hand and Gabriel's hand lay on her thigh."Just let me do my measurements, and then I'll show you the baby," Said the sonographer wielding the ultrasound wand over Millie's lower tummy.It only took a few minutes to get her measurements."Well, this is interesting," she said, "Which one of you is the father?" the sonographer asked."We don't know yet," Millie said, "and we don't mind all our family will love the baby.""I apologise, I thought you were a surrogate for these two gentlemen."Millie laughed, "No, we're just a very unusual family, and there is plenty of love for our children.""Do any of you have twins in the family?" The men shook their heads, "I have twin sisters" Millie said."Well, you're having twins, let me
It was so wonderful to be home, and Millie revelled in Nick and Gabriel taking care of her. Nick could hardly bear to let her out of his sight. He followed her around like a lost puppy, especially on that first evening.Claire brought Katie home after work. Katie glanced into the sitting room and realised Millie was there, "Mama"! she yelled running into the room and throwing herself onto Millie's lap.Millie breathed a sigh of contentment, how could she have abandoned this sweet little girl because of her hurt feelings. How ridiculous she was.Katie held tight to Millie's neck, "I'm sorry for leaving you, Katie," she whispered in her ear, "I'll never leave you again."Millie put Katie to bed after dinner, and they all sat and talked about the things they had been doing."So How are you doing Millie?" asked Claire.Millie glanced up at Nick and Gabriel. They were smiling at her like Cheshire cats.&
Jess and Lucy stared wide-eyed at Amelia's message, they both let out a sigh, "Thank god for that, so, shall we call Smokey?""No, let's ask Gabe if he will take us, Millie will need someone to be with her. Someone who loves her."Lucy said, "Not like we love her.""Okay, what about Dad?"
"Tell me what Angus said again?" Nick could hardly believe what Gabriel had told him, that he was suffering morning sickness, it was unbelievable, he'd never heard of this before, he didn't have this when Jess's mum was pregnant."He doesn't think there is anything wrong with you, he said to look up Couvade Syndrome, you read it yourself, Nick." Gabriel was holding on to his patience,
Three Weeks Later.Millie lay in her bed. She had left the curtains open, and from her position, she could see the trees across the river. The birds were tweeting and doing aerobatics among the branches, and the sun was shining. For the first time in weeks, everything was peaceful. Millie sighed, a feeling of contentment rose within her, and all she needed now was... No! She could not think of them. The lump in her throat stopped her breath, and her eyes stung with unshed tears. Jumping out of bed, she marched to the bathroom, determined that she would carry on with her new life. She leaned over the bath and turned the shower on, no massive shower with a million jet streams here. She would be lucky if the hot water lasted until she had washed her hair. The agent had promised they would repair the thermostat as soon as, but she hadn't heard from him for two weeks. God another Monday morning on the phone to him, She had never had any trouble in London with repairs t
The cottage was idyllic, it was a fairytale cottage, with a drystone wall at the front and garden full of flowers. If the inside were as pretty as the garden, Millie would take it. The Derbyshire hills surrounding the picturesque village were beautiful to look at, and just across the road, the river Derwent rolled peacefully along.The peace that Millie felt was incredible, and no one would bother her here. All she could hear was singing of the birds. The cottage was on a back road in the village, the only people who would come down this road were the people who lived in the other four ho
Gabriel watched the girls cook tea. He enjoyed being with them. They were funny, and they both explained many things to him about his life."Gabe, would you like to go and tell Nick dinner's ready please?""Do you know where he'll be?" he said, standing and stretching."Up two flights of stairs, first door on the left. That's your bedroom. He's probably sulking."Gabriel sighed, "Does he often do this, sulk, I mean?"Lucy rolled her eyes, "What you have to remember Gabe, is that although my brother is the outwardly dominant member of this family, you are usually in charge. Nothing happens in this household without you saying so and giving it your approval."Gabriel's navy blue eyes opened wide, "Are you sure?"Both the girls nodded their heads. "He just talks and shouts a lot," Lucy said. "But you are the one we all go to, and especially Nick. If you didn't realise it, Nick has said something to Millie, not meaning to hurt