CHAPTER 59: CHAPTER 59: FAMILY

I looked down at Michelle and tightened my arm protectively around her. Her youthful, sleeping face made my heart crack. What a horrible thing for a young girl to go through.

Her tough exterior made so much more sense now. She had such a tough start in her life, and that gave her major trust issues. I was honored that she seemed to trust me.

I gently stroked her black hair. I wished that I could take away all her pain. She shouldn’t have to deal with a burden like that.

In her sleep, Michelle leaned into my touch, snuggling closer to my side. A lump developed in my throat.

“I’m grateful that Michelle has you,” I said to Gareth as I gazed down at the young girl’s sleeping face.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

I looked at him and smiled. “It’s amazing that you took her in when you didn’t have to. You take such good care of her.”

“It’s what anyone else should have done for family,” Despite his dismissive words, a pleased expression crossed his face. “I couldn’t do nothing, not when I could stop Michelle from entering the foster system. Family is supposed to stay together.”

“I agree.” I thought of my father in prison and my mother living half a life without him.

We were quiet after that, but this silence wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable. Like we were actually husband and wife, driving our daughter home from school.

When we arrived back at their mansion, I shook Michelle gently awake. She opened her eyes halfway and stared up at me groggily.

“Are we home?” she asked.

“Yes, let me help you out of the car.” I helped her out of the door that Beta Kevin had opened.

“Thanks, Mom.”

When she realized what she’d said, Michelle froze, a flush spreading across her face.

“You’re welcome, honey,” I replied, not missing a beat.

I was flattered that Michelle held me in such high regard. It showed that she trusted me.

When I didn’t react badly to her slip-up, a wide smile crossed her face.

“I made a good choice when I chose you to be my pretend mom.” Michelle hugged my side. “Didn’t I, Dad?”

Gareth’s face remained stony. “Don’t push your luck, Michelle. You’re already grounded for a week for lying. You don’t want to make it two, do you?”

As we walked into the house, Michelle pouted, hearing her punishment, but wisely chose not to argue. She probably knew she got off lightly.

“You can choose any activity you’d like for tutoring today,” I told her, trying to cheer her up.

The younger girl tapped her finger against her chin while she thought.

“Gymnastics!” she said in excitement. “I could use the exercise after a day like today.”

“Have fun, ladies.” Gareth grinned.

His smile made my heart skip a beat. Even though these past few hours were pretty tense, I enjoyed being a family with them. It would have been even better if Isabella had been with us, too.

Too bad there wasn’t any way that I could actually be Michelle and Isabella’s stepmom.

***

Elliot watched Isabella fret over every dish as the cooks made dinner. He was in the Laken’s large kitchen, sitting at the counter.

“Why are you trying so hard to impress someone for one dinner, babe?” Elliot asked as his fiancée let out a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

“It’s not just one dinner.” Isabella stood over the head chef, watching him sauté mushrooms in a pan. “My cousin from overseas is coming to stay with us. I want to make sure everything is perfect. Including his welcome dinner.”

“Everything will go off without a hitch,” Elliot said encouragingly. “You’re the best hostess I know. Your cousin will have a great time with you in charge.”

“Thank you, honey.” Isabella shot him a grateful look. “Do you want to see a picture of him? His name is Axel. Axel Laken.”

She pulled out her phone and showed him a picture of a younger Isabella with her arm thrown around a smiling teenage boy. Their features were so similar—the same brown hair, dark blue eyes, and sharp bone structure—that they could be easily mistaken as siblings.

Elliot noted that Axel looked like a younger version of Gareth.

Isabella sighed wistfully as she looked at the picture. “Axel and I used to play together when we were kids. We would run through the backyard, playing tag, climbing trees, and driving my dad crazy. It seemed like we never ran out of energy back then. When I visited his family on vacation, Axel and I would have the best time. I can’t wait to see him.”

“Why does his family live overseas?” Elliot asked.

“Axel’s mom belongs to a pack that lives in Germany.” Isabella shut off her phone and put it back into her pocket. “Axel’s dad—my Uncle Nathaniel—met his mate when she was here visiting. Instead of having her move and leave her family behind, Uncle Nathaniel moved abroad.”

“Do you see your uncle very often?”

“No, it’s hard when he lives so far away,” Isabella answered sadly. “When he moved, my grandma was so upset. I don’t think she’s ever truly forgiven him for leaving.”

Elliot nodded and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I promise you that I’ll treat Axel like my own family because I can tell that he’s important to you,” he told Isabella, who smiled widely. “Soon, after we’re married, Axel will be my family.”

“Thank you, babe,” Isabella said gratefully and pressed a quick kiss to Elliot’s lips.

Elliot bit down on his cheek to stop a smirk from crossing his face. It was so much easier to deal with Isabella rather than Jasmine. Why couldn’t Jasmine be as easily pleased as his future wife? Then, he would have an easier time controlling the two women in his life.

Elliot and Isabella shared another soft kiss, but it was interrupted by the doorbell ringing.

Isabella squealed and clapped excitedly.

“He’s here!” she said and then ran from the room to welcome her cousin Axel.