A Forever Family (Forever #6) Read Free Page B

and special without his family there,” I spoke as my heart ached something fierce.
    “He was very selfish,” Connor chimed in.
    “Wow, Dad. I think the two of you are the ones being selfish right now.”
    “Julia, we’re hurt. Why can’t you understand that?” I spat.
    “I do understand, Mom. But you know what? You can’t control everything that happens in life. You of all people should know that. Collin is a man who made an adult decision. He’s not your little boy anymore.”
    “He’ll always be my little boy, just like you’ll always be my little girl.”
    “Think long and hard about this before you do any more damage to the relationship with your son and daughter in-law. I have to get Brayden home. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
    She took Brayden from the playpen and walked out the door. The tears that I’d held back came rushing forth and spilled all over Connor as he held me tight and I buried my head into his chest.
    ****
    Connor
    Once Ellery and I calmed ourselves down, we grabbed a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses and climbed into bed.
    “We should call them,” Ellery said as I filled her glass.
    “Not tonight. Everyone is upset and we all need to calm down.”
    “How could he just up and get married like that, Connor?”
    I looked into her sad blue eyes and placed my hand on her cheek. “He’s my son, Ellery, and we both know that he inherited more from me than he did you. I would have married you right there on that beach in California the night I proposed to you. I didn’t want to wait, and if you recall, I kept pressuring you about setting a date. But being the stubborn girl you were, you wouldn’t hear of it until we got the results back from your final treatment. I know how Collin feels because I still feel that way about you today.”
    “And I still feel that way about you, my love.” Her lips softly brushed up against mine. “But still, Connor. Our son got married without us.”
    “I knew something was off with him today. I even asked him about it this morning and he said he was fine. He was acting nervous and I found it odd. I never dreamed in a million years he would have gotten married.”
    “I bet he hates us now,” Ellery pouted.
    “He doesn’t hate us, but he’s probably really pissed off and hurt.”
    “So is Julia. Can you believe she talked to us that way?”
    I chuckled. “I do because she’s your daughter, Ellery.”
    I grimaced at the light smack against my chest. “Can you believe both our children are married? It seems like yesterday I was holding Julia in my arms.”
    I sighed. “I know, baby. Where did the years go?” I took the wine glass out of her hand and set it next to mine on the nightstand.
    “What are you doing, Mr. Black?” Her eyes gave off a glimmer of light.
    “I’m going to make sweet love to you before we go to sleep and then, when tomorrow comes, we’ll talk with Collin and Amelia and apologize for what we said.”
    “But—”
    I brought my fingers to her lips and softly pressed against them. “No buts. If things were different and you weren’t sick, we would have done the same thing and you know it.”
    “I suppose you’re right.”
    “Of course I am.” I smiled as I kissed her soft lips.
    “Don’t push it, Connor.”
    I hovered over her and held her arms above her head. “Oh I’m going to push it, Elle, and it’s going to be hard and deep. That I can promise.”

Chapter 5
    Collin
    I took off my pants and sat down on the edge of the bed, cupping my face in my hands. Amelia emerged from the bathroom and sat down next to me, placing her hand on my back and rubbing it softly.
    “Are you okay? I hate seeing you like this.”
    I turned my head so I was facing her as my elbows stayed planted on my knees. “I’m fine, I guess. I knew they were going to be pissed, but to call what we did ‘stupid’ was crossing the line.”
    “They’re in shock, Collin. They need time to process it all. You know people say things