Chapter Thirty-Six
In the sectioned-off area of Troy’s party, Ella dressed in the white-silk gown left for her by the vendor who would be in the booth next to her. The virgin theme didn’t really fit in with her pregnancy, but she liked the fabric of the dress and the lack of undergarments. She boiled with all the hormones raging through her system, and she stewed over the secrets Derek and Garrett kept from her.
She opened the curtain and walked out barefoot into the open…and empty room? She turned around and peeked back into the dressing room. Troy walked in and smiled. “Hey, partner.” He kissed her cheek. “You look extremely fuckable.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re pushing into the creepy zone.”
He chuckled. “When those yahoos get on your nerves, come on over. My door is always open to you.” He placed his hand on her bare back above her ass where the dress draped in a low U showing the tip of her butt crack. “Everyone is waiting on you.”
“Where are the other vendors?”
“This is a private party,” He guided her forward toward her regular white booth in the corner.
She gathered the white silk curtains to where her display was supposed to be and opened them. She stepped forward, seeing Garrett and Derek in gorgeous black suits with baby-blue shirts and ties. Then she stopped as her gaze took in the room.
Three rows of chairs covered in white linens, gathered and tied with big, white-satin bows in the back filled the space between her, Garrett and Derek, Cade’s and Derek’s parents dressed for cocktail hour, and Cade wearing a black tux at the very back of the room facing her.
Oh my God. Cade and Garrett are getting married. They’re getting married. They’re going to be a couple. Her heart stopped beating. “This can’t be happening.”
“It is happening,” Garrett said.
Pappy stepped forward toward her, wearing a black suit and tie. “Welcome to your first official McGregor-Winthrop-Jackson Family Intervention. It’s Cade’s turn to host, but because he’s a part of this, I get the privilege of hosting tonight.”
He took her hand and led her forward past family dressed in evening wear to the front where the man she loved and lost stood. His face seemed stricken with sadness, dark circles surrounded the most handsome brown eyes she’d ever seen. Her big, powerful man had lost weight, leaving him still broad and strong, but not nearly as brawny and confident as he’d been.
“Ella, please listen to Cade. He needs to talk to you. Be honest with him. Then, we can move on to the next phase of the intervention.” Pappy took one step back and stopped.
The brown eyes she’d longed to see locked on her.
Her body trembled. I can’t handle you marrying Garrett. I can’t handle that. I want you to love me. I want you to marry me. She held her belly, unable to speak.
“I’m so sorry. Please forgive me for not knowing about Felicity. Please. I…I’m sorry I left. I didn’t believe Derek. I didn’t believe it when I asked my doctor about it. I’ve assumed positive all these years meant there were no sperm swimming in the cup. But I was wrong. I even went to France and talked to the doctor. It was one big fuck up. But I’m so happy to be having a son with you.”
“There’s nothing to forgive,” she whispered. Your heart loves who your heart loves. “Felicity wasn’t your fault. I never blamed you.”
The misery in his eyes seemed to lift a little. “I love you, Ella. I don’t want to spend another day without you. I’ve missed you. I can’t live without you.”
But you have been by your own choice. She swallowed hard. “What about Garrett?”
He bent down on one knee. “Will you…” he shook his head “…Wait. What about him?” He glanced over at Garrett. She glanced over at Garrett.
Garrett shrugged. “What about me?”
“You love him more.” She burst out crying. “You called him. You never called me back. You never called. You didn’t even text.”
“I told you,” Kyle shouted. He stood up and crossed his arms over his chest. “I told you to call and give her notes. Not just the notes. I know what I’m talking about.”
Pappy walked forward. “That was my fault. I told him words don’t mean much. It’s all about actions.”
“Are you kidding me?” Mamma Louise said. “Pappy, I told you she needed gifts and love notes, but you should have told him a call means the world to a woman when they can’t see each other.”
Cade pulled Ella onto his knee and hugged her. “I love you. Marry me, Ella. I’ve messed up, but I love you.”
“But you love him too,” she whispered.
“I love him. I do. It’s weird. But, it’s you I want to marry. I want you in my bed every night,” Cade’s voice soothed her fears, eased her anger, and calmed her nerves. “Tell me you’ll marry me right now.”
“I love Garrett and Derek too,” she said.
“We’ve worked it out. The three of you will live with me. You will spend your nights with me, but you can join them whenever I’m out of town or… I’m okay with your relationship with them.”
She gazed at her men over her shoulder. They nodded and grinned.
She turned back and found Cade’s honest gaze. “I’m not ready to get married.” I love you, but are you going to leave me again when I have Derek’s child growing inside me one day?
He held up a black velvet box and opened it.
She closed her eyes. He’s really proposing. She opened her eyes and stared at the beautiful engagement ring.
He took her hand. “Ella, you’re ready. I’m ready.”
“But I’m not done having children, Cade. Derek and I want more children. Maybe three more children.
“Definitely three,” Derek said.
“I know. I want more too.” He slid the ring onto her finger. “But I want you to have my last name. Derek and Garrett are already moved in to my house. Everything except the bedroom, but they’ve got a temporary bed until Garrett has time to take his down and move it. We’ve worked it out. I’ve asked Jason, Kyle, and Colleen for your hand in marriage. All I need is you, Ella.”
“You have us too,” Pappy said. “Everyone in our family is supportive of the four of you.”
“And you know you have us,” Derek’s mom said. “We have grown to love Cade and his family as much as we do you and Garrett.”
“Marry him,” Garrett whispered from behind her. “He loves you. He likes having us around. Don’t make us have to move again. Derek is a nester, and I’m tired of moving. I’ve done it too much in my life.”
“Are you going to leave me when things get hard, Cade? Marriage is hard work,” she said.
“I’m never leaving you again for as long as I live.”
“Pappy, get the judge,” Derek said. “Ella needs to sign the papers, and we can have the ceremony.”
“Ella O’Brien Winthrop,” a man said nearby. “Do you take Cade Daniel Jackson as your husband?”
“I do,” she answered. I’m really getting married.
Cade slid a wedding band on her finger as he held her.
“Cade Daniel Jackson, do you take Ella O’Brien Winthrop as your wife?”
“I do,” he answered. He handed her a band, and she slid it onto his finger.
“By the power vested in me…” The judge continued talking as Ella found herself lost in Cade’s handsome face.
“…Pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Cade Daniel Jackson. You may kiss your bride, Mr. Jackson.”
He kissed her lips. Electricity crackled and rushed through her system, making her shiver.
“Cade,” she whispered breathlessly. “Is this real?”
“That is what I call a successful intervention,” Pappy said. “Welcome to the family. You’re hosting the next one. Take your wife home.”
Momma Louise pushed a clipboard into Ella’s hand. “Sign.”
Ella stood up. She took the pen from the clip, inhaled deeply, and signed the legal document binding her life to Cade’s.
“Now, go celebrate,” Momma Louise said.
Cade swept her up off her feet. “Let’s go.” He strode forward and stopped. “Come on, Garrett and Derek. Let’s show my wife her new home.”
Garrett led the way out of Troy’s house, and they all climbed into the back of Garrett’s black limo.
Sitting on her husband’s lap, she relaxed against him. “So, how is this going to work?”
“There are two adjoining doors to our rooms. One goes to their room, the other to the nursery,” Cade explained. “You sleep with me unless you’re sleeping the night with them. I promise you, I’m okay with your relationship with them, and they are comfortable with mine with you. They’re welcome to come and get you from my room or bed, and I can do the same. We’ve been working on logistics while I’ve been in France. Before I found out you were carrying my child, I was planning a way to make this work.”
“With some help from me,” Garrett said.
“Really?”
“Really,” Cade said.
Garrett placed his hand on her knee and slid it up under her dress between her legs.
She opened her legs for more of his touch.
Cade lifted the hem of her skirt up over her belly and watched Garrett dip a finger into her pussy.
She rubbed her lips together and let her bent knees fall open. She leaned back against Cade’s arm. “You’re okay sharing me?”
“I’ll get you to myself tonight,” he whispered. “Yes, I’m okay sharing you with them. But make no mistake, Ella Jackson, you are mine.”
“I am,” she whispered. “I love you, Cade Daniel Jackson.”
“What about me?” Garrett asked.
“Me?” Derek asked.
“I love you guys too,” she said. Life is almost perfect. “What about us all sleeping in the same bed?”
Cade laughed. “Me and you in my bed.”
“We should all celebrate tonight,” Garrett whispered. “We all do need to sleep.”
“Maybe,” Cade mumbled. He placed his hand on Garrett’s thigh. “We’ll have to see.”
“Once the twins are born,” Derek said. His hand covered Cade’s under her dress. “Believe me, we’ll all fall in bed together at some point.”
Ella pushed down the top of her dress and uncovered her breasts. She placed Derek’s hand on one and Cade’s on the other while Garrett’s fingers played with her pussy.
“I’m married to Cade, but all of you are my husbands. All of you have my heart, my soul, and my body. Equally. Forever.”