Chapter 36
Chapter thirty-six
“Maybe we should tell my family next weekend.” I stare at the door to my grandparents’ house. Isabelle muffles her laughter against my chest.
“You survived telling my family, so I think you’ll be fine telling yours.”
“This is a lot of excitement for you in one day.”
“I feel fine.” Isabelle shrugs. “I really don’t want any secrets with Beth and Caleb. I’m relieved they weren’t mad at me after finding out we’re together.”
“If anything, I think they’d be mad at me. They definitely like you more.”
Isabelle presses her chest against mine, wrapping her arms around my back as she looks up at me. “Good. I don’t want to have to fight anyone for liking you the best.”
“Liking?” I raise an eyebrow.
“Loving,” she murmurs, and I reach down to brush my lips against hers.
I’d love to take it further, getting lost in her body is peace and unrestricted pleasure, but the front door is pulled open, followed by a squeal from my grandmother.
“Stop hiding your girlfriend from me, Gage.”
I blow out a breath and drop my forehead against Izzy’s. “Here we go,” I say softly.
She brings a hand up between us, extending her pinky out to me. “We got this.”
I hook mine around hers, then bring her hand up to kiss her knuckles. “We got this.”
Grams snatches Isabelle away from me as soon as we cross the threshold, leading her through the front foyer and into the kitchen at the back of the house, where the rest of my family waits.
Beth and Lex are seated at the breakfast nook. My sister instantly lights up when she notices Isabelle has arrived and pulls her down to the table with them. My sister loves her family, there’s no doubt about it, but I think Caleb and I finding girlfriends brings her just as much joy as it does us.
I don’t know what it’s like to be the only girl in a family full of guys, especially a family that is so revered by the general public for our wealth and influence in the business world.
Thank goodness for Mum, Grams, and Aunt Hettie for showing Beth how to be loyal, graceful, and intelligent in this world.
Beth never backs down, and she does it with a confidence that should be respected.
I should tell my sister more often how much I admire her. Everyone in my family, really.
“Isabelle, can I get you something to drink, dear?” Grandpa says from the kitchen.
“Water would be lovely, thank you, Mr Heart.”
Grandpa tuts. “It’s Cyrus or Grandpa, nothing else.”
Isabelle’s cheeks flush as she gives him a nod.
“Beth, Lex, how are you going for drinks?”
“All good, thanks.” Beth raises her cider at him.
“Me too.” Lex smiles as she sips from a glass of whiskey.
Caleb is sitting on Lex’s other side, Mason is perched on a stool at the counter, while Mum and Grams line up dishes along the benchtop. “Aren’t you gonna ask if I want a drink?”
“Ladies always come first, Gage,” Grandpa says.
“Ugh.” Dad scrunches his nose as he walks inside from the back patio. “What did I just walk into?”
Mason snorts. “Payback.”
Dad places the tray of food he must have cooked on the barbecue on the bench along with the rest of the food. “What are you talking about, payback?”
“Remember that time we went to Aspen, and you guys didn’t realise your bathroom wall was shared with the lounge room?” Mason explains with big eyes and pursed lips as he recounts a time I’m sure no kid wants to remember about their parents.
Caleb and Beth groan.
“Why would you bring that up again?” Beth whines, throwing her head back on her seat rest.
“Dinner’s ready,” Mum says, her voice cracking as she wipes the back of her hand against her forehead.
“You have four children, it’s not like anyone is under the impression you’re not active.” Grandpa smiles, clapping Dad on the back.
“Please stop,” he says, while I watch Mum throw back the rest of her wine.
Everyone grabs a plate and starts serving their dinner. If it weren’t for these stupid crutches, I’d be able to do Isabelle’s, but I’ve got another three weeks with them, at least. So I follow behind Isabelle as she asks me what I want, and she carries both of our plates to the dining room.
I sit in my normal spot at the end, with Grams at the head of the table beside me and Isabelle on my other side.
“How do I have two new sisters, and I’m still stuck sitting next to Mason?” Beth grumbles.
“What’s wrong with me?” There’s a kebab stick halfway to his mouth.
“You chew with your mouth open. Who wants to eat next to that?” Beth fires back.
Mason keeps his eyes narrowed at her as he tears a piece of chicken off his stick with gusto. He looks over at me, waving his stick around.
“Gage looks like the steak personally offended him, and he got a girlfriend. Besides, the right person won’t have a problem with how I eat.” The last part makes him smirk.
“Actually, he looks kind of nervous,” Beth adds, looking at me.
“Are you worried Isabelle might find me the more charming brother?”
Isabelle squeezes my thigh. “I think he’s just nervous to tell you all that I’m pregnant.”
Cutlery clatters against china as the table falls silent.
“What?” Mum’s eyes are shining as she whispers the word.
I put down my fork, placing my hand over Isabelle’s. Beth was right when she said Isabelle has bigger balls than me. I adore how brave and daring my girl is. “Izzy and I are going to be parents.”
A sob catches in Mum’s throat as she reaches over, pulling both me and Isabelle in for a hug. Her head sits between us, chin resting on my shoulder. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks, Mum.” I rub her arm a few times before she pulls back with a beaming smile.
The rest of the family abandons their dinner, each taking their time to congratulate us.
I can see Isabelle taking her time with Beth, but my sister is a blubbering mess.
Every time Isabelle tries to meet her eyes, Beth just pulls her back in for a suffocating hug.
I’m on the verge of telling my sister to be fucking careful of my babies, but Isabelle looks so happy, I try to let go of the gnawing feeling to protect her.
“So is Heart Assets running a dating service now or something?” Mason asks Caleb, pointing a finger between Lex and Isabelle. “I’d say your success rate is quite high.”
Beth laughs. “Perhaps we need some new recruits at Two Hearts.”
“Oh no,” Mason balks, “I don’t mix business with pleasure.”
Caleb wraps a hand around Lex’s stomach, pulling her into his chest and nuzzling her neck. “Maybe you should try it.”
We slowly make our way back to our seats, resuming dinner.
“Beth, dearest, put your phone away and eat,” Grams says.
“I would, but look how cute these Burberry booties are.” My sister is a puddle as she flips her phone around to Grams, showing a pair of tan checkered shoes.
Mason leans over her shoulder, chewing with his mouth open, and she turns the phone to him. “Man, those are tiny.”
“Babies are tiny, Mason.”
He looks at me, his eyebrows spiked. “Gage’s arms are gonna crush that baby like a nut.”
Beth gasps, holding the phone to her chest. “Don’t talk about our baby like that!”
“Our?” I question.
She puts her phone down on the table, picking up her cutlery again.
“Who do you think orchestrated all this? I kept inviting her to The Wayside.” She points at Isabelle with her fork.
“I forced you to go to Thistle Theory when I knew Iz was volunteering there. And, I convinced her to be my plus one for the charity ball.”
“What?” I freeze in disbelief. Has my sister really been pushing us together this whole time?
“I could see there was something between you two since Royal Harbour. Isabelle folded like paper, but you took a little more coaxing.”
“Paper is a little easy.” Isabelle looks over at me, running the stone of her necklace up and down the chain. “Cardboard, at least.”
“Babe, you folded like wet paper,” Beth states.
“Speaking of Royal Harbour,” Caleb says. “What exactly happened that weekend?”
“Oh yes, I want to know too,” Mum says. “How long have you two been canoodling in secret?”
“Mother, don’t say canoodling. They were totally fucking.”
“Beth.” Dad sighs, dropping his face in his palms.
“We were not.” Isabelle’s words come out high and squeaky. “Not since then, anyway. Feelings yes, but things really changed, I guess, after that brunch I had with you and Tenley.”
When Isabelle raises an eyebrow at my sister, it’s like there are words unsaid, especially when my sister splutters on her cider. I definitely want to know more about this brunch they had.
Grandpa clears his throat, redirecting the conversation. “When can we expect my first great-grandchild to be here?”
That’s another thing that has made Isabelle feel truly heaven-sent. I look at her now, and I don’t think there’s any denying the stars I have in my eyes just for her.
“Early October.” I brush Izzy’s hair over her shoulder, leaving my hand at her nape, caressing the back of her neck.
It used to be a time of the year I’d dread, marking the anniversary of when I lost my best friend. Now, it’ll be the time I celebrate the life of my child.
It makes me wonder if I’ve ignored other signs August might have sent me before now. Helping to guide me onto new paths of happiness, or was he waiting until I was ready to be led, ready to be the man they needed me to be? The man I wanted to be.
Five years ago—hell, even a year ago—would I have entertained the idea of sharing a life with someone? No. I would have pushed them away, scoffed at the remote possibility of letting someone into my mind, my space, and definitely my heart.
I watch as Isabelle talks easily with my parents, smiles at my brothers, and laughs with Beth, proud that my journey has led me here.
A man who has dragged himself out of the shadows and welcomed the opportunities of life. Accepting that things don’t always go your way, no matter how hard you try to control them, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still have a good life.
August should’ve had more time. He should’ve had a full life. But I still carry him with me everywhere I go, honouring his memory and living for both of us.
A rough exhale passes my lips as I try to picture what August would do if I told him I was going to be a dad. What he might look like now, what his life would be.
“Are you alright, angel?” Grams puts her hand on mine, and I nod.
“Yeah. Just thinking of August.”
The table falls silent, and I know it’s because I never talk openly about him. I see it now, how much I’ve hidden him along with my grief, and that needs to stop.
“Isabelle, how have you been feeling with your pregnancy?” Lex asks.
“A little more tired than usual, but mostly fine.”
“They offer prenatal yoga at the studio Caleb and I go to. If you ever wanted a buddy to go with, I’d be happy to join you.”
“Oh, thank—”
“Wait, wait, wait. I’m sorry, Lex.” Mason snorts. “You and Caleb do yoga together?”
Caleb leans forward, glaring around Lex at our younger brother. “Yeah, so what?”
“Oh, nothing,” Mase says on a wheeze. “I’m just imagining you doing something like downward dog, and looking so—”
“Stupid,” Beth finishes, and Mason throws his head back and laughs.
“Actually, that’s one of my favourite positions.” The smug way Caleb says that makes me think there’s more to that comment that I definitely don’t want to know.
“Yoga sounds like fun. I’d love to do that together. Maybe Gage will join, too.” Isabelle rests her head against my shoulder. Ugh, I don’t want to do yoga. I’ll definitely look like an idiot, but if Isabelle’s going, I’m quickly understanding there’s nothing I won’t do to keep her happy.
“I’ll come!” Beth is quick to invite herself, and it’s got nothing to do with supporting Isabelle.
Mason looks around the table, realising he’s now the odd one out. “Me too.”
“You’re not invited,” Caleb snaps at Mason.
“I take it back, you don’t look stupid.”
“Too late.”
I watch my siblings bicker, feeling warmth spread in my chest. My family have been there for me in my darkest days, never pushing, just being a quiet pillar of strength that I knew I could lean on.
When Caleb looks over at me, he does a double-take.
The side of his mouth pulls up in a smile as he looks between Isabelle and me.
If it weren’t for Isabelle’s constant presence, and I guess Beth’s secret matchmaking, I wouldn’t have discovered it’s a whole lot nicer to be vulnerable with the right people instead of shutting everyone out, thinking you’re protecting them.
Your army is stronger when you fight together, and I’m tired of doing it alone.