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Gramps set Ellie down and her cheeks were a beautiful rose color. She smiled up at him and I swear he swayed a little. I knew right then and there she had bewitched him just as much as she had me.

Ellie turned to face me and gave me a wink. “I see where you get it from now.”

I placed my hand on her lower back and brought her over to Grams. I thought I felt a shiver go through Ellie’s body. As we got closer to Grams I thought I saw tears in my grandmother’s eyes. What was that all about?

“Ellie this is the most important woman in my life, I adore her and I know you will also. Grams…….this is my Ellie.” I could hear my heart pounding in my ears. I looked around to see if anyone else could hear it also.

Grams walked up to Ellie and handed her the daisies. Ellie’s smiled grew bigger and she told Grams that daisies where her favorite. Grams threw her head back and laughed and told her she had heard that from a little fairy. Grams placed both her hands on Ellie’s shoulders and looked her over. Her smile was all I needed to see to know she already loved Ellie. She brought Ellie in for hug and whispered something into Ellie’s ear as well. Ellie didn’t laugh like Ari did. She pulled back and looked at Grams shocked and then turned to look over at me.

“Trust me Ellie darlin’, trust me!” Grams said with a wink. Ellie smiled as Grams linked both Ari and Ellie’s arms into hers and walked them into the house. Both girls started laughing at something Grams said to them. Ellie turned back around and gave me a smile. I returned her smile along with a wink as she turned her attention back to what Grams was saying.

Watching her walk into the house for the first time with Grams almost made my heart burst into two. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her retreating body. Just has the door shut Gramps slapped Jeff and I both on the backs.

“Well I’ll be goddamned! Holy fucking shit boys how the hell did you two luck out with those beauties?” Gramps said with a loud laugh.

“You lucky sons of bitches! Now, let’s head down to the barn and find Drake, I think I need a beer or ten. I’ll get Dewey to bring the girls suitcases up to their room.”

Jeff and I both looked at each other and smiled. We walked with Gramps to the barn while he got us caught up on all the work he had in store for us while we were there. Jeff leaned over and whispered in my ear.

“I don’t care how many goddamn fences need mending…I just want to see Ari in a fucking bikini.”

I let out a laugh and shook my head. No way was I going to admit I wanted to see his sister in one also.

Jeff gave me a wink and slapped my back…..Bastard already knew I was thinking it though.

“Let’s go boys…we have some catching up to do.”

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE

E llie……

After Gunner’s grandmother gave us a tour of the house and her garden, she showed Ari and me the bedroom we would be using. I was falling more and more in love with Emma. She had a tiny frame but looked like if you pissed her off she could haul off and knock the shit out of you. She absolutely adored Gunner and he adored her. The way he introduced her made me swoon and I couldn’t help but fall for him even more.

When she whispered in my ear how happy she was Gunner was finally in love I almost passed out from pure shock.

“Ari, what did Emma whisper in your ear when Jeff introduced y’all?” I asked as Ari was unpacking her suitcase.

Ari started to laugh again and looked at me.

“She just said ‘Stupid bastard will admit how he feels about you, don’t worry!’”

I lost it and started laughing. “WOW! Looks like Emma has some kind of super power. She told me she was happy Gunner was finally in love!”

Ari dropped her flat iron on the floor and just stood there looking at me.

“W…What did she say? Did Gunner tell her he was in love with you? OH. MY. GOD! Has Gunner told you he LOVES YOU and you didn’t tell me YOU BITCH!”

“Jesus, Ari calm down! No….I’m pretty sure Gunner has NOT told her that, and NO he has not told me that. But…..” I left Ari hanging as I got up and started to unpack my things.

“BUT? But what Ells holy shit….don’t leave me hanging here!”

I looked at Ari and then jumped on her bed. I had been dying to tell her but was afraid I had just taken it wrong.

“Okay well I’ve been dying to say something to you but I thought it was just the alcohol and all of that. The night of Brad’s birthday party when Gunner and Jeff got so drunk, I helped Gunner to bed right?”

“YES, YES…I know all of this….fast forward please…..”

I laughed at Ari and shook my head. “Well, as he was falling asleep he might have said something like I love you Ellie…..I don’t really remember exactly what he said because I was in shock.”

Ari sat there stunned. Her mouth slowly started to drop open as she just stared at me. I reached over and used my finger to shut her mouth but it fell back open. I let out a giggle as she just kept staring at me.

“You trying to catch flies with that mouth open like that?”

“Holy shit….Jesus, Mary and Joseph Ellie……how….why in the fuck have you not told me this before now?”

I just shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t know. I guess because he was drunk and all. I mean a lot of people say shit when they are drunk that they don’t really mean. I guess I’ve just learned to ignore what drunks say because of my mother. He might have just been saying it because I was helping him to bed or something.”

“Or something! He might have been saying it because he actually DOES love you! What the fuck is wrong with you and your brother? You both can’t see what is in front of your faces. Drives me crazy Ells.”

I let out a sigh. A part of me wanted to believe that Gunner was in love with me but the other part…the other part that knew better.

Y ou will never be wanted by anyone…….

“Ari listen, we’ve not even been together long enough for Gunner to fall in love with me. And three weeks of that time we were not even speaking to each other. It’s way too soon for him to be feeling anything like that for me. Way….. way too soon.”

“Whatever Ells, you may not notice it but I see the way he has to catch his breath when you walk in a room. Or the way he can’t keep his eyes off of you for a single minute. The way he smiles at you even makes my ass swoon. I don’t care what you say Ellie Johnson. Drew Mathews loves you.”

I tried to give Ari a smile. I really wished I could believe her, but something was holding me back.

The rest of the day was spent helping Emma cook dinner. We learned how to make Chicken and Dumpling’s as well as Emma’s super secret apple pie. I was in awe of Emma. She was everything I would have ever wanted in a mother. I was falling in love with her as each minute passed.

Ari never ceased to amaze me. I sat there and watched her as she moved around this country kitchen like she grew up here! The way she interacted with Emma like she was Emma’s granddaughter and had known her her whole life. A part of me was envious that Ari got to have such a normal childhood growing up. A mom and dad, grandparents……. the whole thing and all I got was a drunken mother who told me every chance she got how worthless I was.

You will never be wanted by anyone………….

I must have been lost in my thoughts because I never even saw Emma walk over. She cupped my face with her hands and looked deep into my eyes and for some reason, my eyes started to tear up. What the hell? She really did have magic powers!

“Ellie, let go of the past sweetheart. Just let it fall away from you and look at what you have surrounding you right now. Look at the people who love you and want you to be happy.”