Hell, I imagine I may be the same way when Branson grows up and leaves me. I don’t even want to think about it though. He’s only three months old.
“Mrs. Wellington,” I start, but Knox wrenches his arm out of my grasp, rising from the couch, pointing a finger, and shooting daggers at his mother.
“You are way out of line. You may not know Amelia, but I do. I trust her. More than that, I fucking—” He pauses, turning to me. “Think this calls for the emphasis, babe.”
I shrug. He’s already got one mother in the room.
His gaze goes back to his mother. “I fucking love her. If you love me, you’ll love her, too. You’ll respect her as my wife, as the mother of my child, or we’ll walk out the door right now. Your call.”
I gasp. Not only because our wedding is being held here in two days, but this is his family. He can’t just walk away from them. Not for me.
Just as I’m about to put my two cents in, Kate’s laughter bubbles up and echoes throughout the room. And then Knox’s father, Mr. Wellington takes this moment to enter the room.
He darts his gaze around the room, from his wife to Knox to me, then back to Knox again. Noting his stance, Knox’s dad lifts his eyes to the heavens, then sets them on his wife. “Katherine. What did you do?”
Knox beats her to answering. “She insulted the mother of my child. My wife. For the first and last time.”
Even though I’m not really happy to be the source of this family conflict, it’s pretty hot that he’s defending my honor against his mother. Because, again, she doesn’t know me, so I don’t hold it against her for questioning my intentions. But Knox with his hard, muscly chest all puffed up, his arms crossed so his biceps bulge just a little more than usual underneath his t-shirt, and his jaw rigid? It’s incredibly sexy.
Mr. Wellington rolls his eyes. “Darling, we discussed this.”
“You talked. I pretended to listen,” she replies, eyeing her nails and not her husband.
Okay, she may be wary of me, but I like this woman.
Kate crosses the room, and Knox goes rigid beside me when she takes my hands into hers. “Darling, I know who you are. I’m his mother. As if I wouldn’t have you checked out.” She winks. “I know you don’t need his money. And even if you did, I wouldn’t assume that’s why you’re with him. I can see it in both your faces that this is a love match. It’s just a lot of fun watching him get all riled up. I’ve never seen him so protective of someone before.”
Okay, I don’t just like her—I love her.
“What do you mean you know who she is? How do you know she doesn’t need my money?” Knox asks, his arms folding in irritation.
Kate’s eyes flash with amusement. “You mean he doesn’t know?”
“Doesn’t know what?” Knox demands.
I wince at Kate and then say to Knox, “I’m kind of an heiress.”
Knox’s mouth drops open in surprise.
“Um… Did I forget to mention that?”
“Kind of?” he asks.
“Okay, I am. My great-great-grandfather was British aristocracy. He was a second son, so once his older brother had an heir, he moved to America where he met and fell in love. She was the daughter of a shipping and railroad tycoon. He went to work for her father, eventually taking over the business, as there were no sons. Long story short, the family amassed more wealth than they knew what to do with. When my parents died, my father’s inheritance went to me. And when Grams passes, well, the same will happen. Not for a long time, of course. But that money is so far removed from me I barely give it a passing thought.”
His lips twitch. “You could’ve told me this sooner. What do I need Wellington Enterprises for when I have you?”
His father chokes.
“Kidding, Dad. Promise. I’m not going anywhere,” I insist before turning to Amelia.
“That’s cool, babe. It changes nothing.”
“I wouldn’t expect it to.”
He leans down, about to press a kiss to my lips, but then Kate takes my arm and plucks me out of his. The incensed expression on Knox’s face is worth missing the kiss.
“Did Knox ever tell you about his ancestor who came over from England?” she asks. “He wasn’t aristocracy, of course. Quite the opposite actually. He’s how the family got the Wellington name.” She sighs. “It’s such a dreamy story.”
“I’d love to hear it.”
We spend the next two hours on the back patio, enjoying wine spritzers, the fresh air, and the occasional baby cooing while Branson rests in a portable crib. Kate’s a fabulous storyteller and I can’t wait to hear all the tales she’ll one day make up for Branson.
“I’m so glad he found you, Amelia. I’ve never seen him this happy. Knox has always had his life figured out. So rigid, so stubborn. Nothing could change his path. What he needed the most was a wrench thrown into that.”
“I’ve never been likened to a tool, but I’ll take it,” I tell her, unsure if it’s the wine or her easy acceptance that makes me say what’s on my mind.
“The Knox I knew a year ago would’ve had a conniption if he found out he had a son he didn’t know about. With Branson? Not a single hesitation. And that’s because of you. Any other woman, I honestly believe he’d be there, providing for his child, but I don’t think he’d be so quick to offer marriage. He only did it with you because he loves you.”
“I love him, too. I never thought I’d be here. I wanted Knox to know. I truly did. But after the letter went unanswered, I lost hope. When he showed up in the hospital, I thought I was having a dream.”
She smiles. “That letter. His father and I should’ve asked him. We just naturally assumed the letter was written to my Knox. What woman would write my son at the company when she could’ve easily found him on campus? Oh well. It all ended just as it should. And here we are. A new daughter-in-law and grandbaby. I’m so happy our family’s expanding.”
“As am I.”
Kate leans forward and pats my hand. “I would never presume to take the place of your parents, but I hope you know I’ll always be here for you. Whatever you need. Even if you need to vent about my son being an ass. Knowing how he takes after his father, I’m sure that’ll happen quite often.”
I laugh and wipe away hot tears at the same time. “It already does. And I love him for it.”
“It’s Wellington magic. They can piss you off until you’re seething and then fix it all in the next breath. It’s rather annoying, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
I have a feeling, twenty years from now, my sentiments will be the same. I just hope Knox and I are blessed enough to give Branson siblings to grow up with. The thought of more babies twists my stomach into knots. I’m still in awe at how much my life has changed in the last year.
I’m getting married.
Branson grasps my hair and tugs as if he’s emphasizing my thoughts. I gaze down at my son in disbelief that this is my life.
This is our life.
How the hell did I get so lucky?
I fixate my gaze on Amelia as she walks down the makeshift aisle in my parents’ backyard. She’s a vision in white lace, her long, blond hair flowing down her back in curls I can’t wait to wrap my hands in.