It's Only Love

“Interesting.” He leaned in closer to her. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

Ella wanted to purr from the satisfaction of knowing they’d have time alone together later to talk, among other things. Her sister Charley came into the kitchen, her eyes widening when she saw Gavin standing so close to Ella.

Charley and Ha

“Hey, guys,” she said. “Gavin, nice to see you here.”

“Nice to be here.”

“Someone has been keeping secrets from her sister.”

“It’s a relatively new development,” Ella said, leaning into Gavin because she could.

“I’ll expect a full report at work tomorrow, if not before.”

“I see how this is going to be,” Gavin said, his tone inflected with amusement.

“You have no idea,” Charley said before moving on to greet her parents.

“She scares me,” Gavin whispered.

“She scares all of us.”

That made him laugh, and Ella discovered that she quite liked the sound of laughter coming from him when he was usually so somber. He hadn’t had a lot to laugh about lately. She would make sure he had plenty to laugh about going forward.

Elmer Stillman came in, his face red from the chill of the mid-November air, his smile stretching from ear to ear as usual. No one loved Sunday di

“I brought wine,” Elmer said. “One of every kind.”

Molly greeted her father with a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks, Dad.”

“Hey, Gramps,” Ella said, returning his hug and kiss. “How are you?”

“I’m wonderful, and you?” He eyed Gavin suspiciously, and that was when Ella knew for certain that he too was fully aware of her ongoing affection for Gavin.

“I’m fantastic.”

“Gavin.” Elmer extended his hand.

Gavin shook hands with him. “Mr. Stillman.”

“Elmer. ‘Mr. Stillman’ makes me feel old.”

“We can’t have that,” Gavin said.

“No, we can’t. Nice to have you here.”

“Nice to be here.”

Ella’s aunt Ha

Grayson was as handsome and polished as ever. His dark blond hair was neatly trimmed, and he wore a white dress shirt under a navy V-neck sweater that looked like cashmere. He’d done well for himself as a lawyer in Boston, but Ella wondered if he was truly happy.

He hugged her and shook Gavin’s hand. “Long time no see, Gavin.”

“We missed you at Will’s wedding,” Ella said.

“I hated to miss it,” Gray said. “I was in Europe for work, and there was no way I could get out of it. They didn’t give us much of a heads-up before they got married.”

“No, they didn’t.”

“Speak of the devils,” Gavin said as the newlyweds came in wearing the big smiles that never seemed to dim now that they were officially married. They were so, so happy.

Ella adored her new sister-in-law, who fit right in with the Abbotts like they’d known her forever.

After they greeted Will and Cameron, Nolan came over to them and shook hands with Gavin. “What brings you to di

Gavin nodded his head toward Ella. “I was invited.”

Nolan looked from Gavin to Ella and then back to Gavin again. “Oh. Oh! Wow, well, that’s cool.”

Ella laughed at her new brother-in-law’s lightbulb moment.

“Hey, did you get the invite to Dylan’s wedding in Turks later this month?” Nolan asked Gavin.

“Yeah, I got it. Are you going?”

“I don’t think we should, but Ha

“She’s not even six months pregnant, Nolan,” Ella said. “She can still travel for a couple of months yet.”

“But is it safe? What if something happens while we’re there?”

Ella pinched her lips together to keep from laughing in his face.

Nolan scowled at her. “I can see you trying not to laugh.”

“Take your wife to the Caribbean, Nolan. Have a second honeymoon. Your lives are about to get crazy. Take the time for yourselves while you can.”

“What she said,” Gavin said, pointing to Ella.

“Are you going?” Nolan asked Gavin.

“Probably not. Hard to get away from work.” To Ella, he said, “I’m going to hit the bathroom. Be right back.”

After he walked away, Nolan lowered his voice and said, “He never goes to Sultans things anymore unless they’re here. Austin and Debra’s wedding was the one exception, but that was because he had to go as the best man.”

“Why do you suppose he doesn’t go?”

“I think it’s too hard for him without Caleb. He thinks of them as Caleb’s friends, but they’re his friends, too. Every bit as much his as they were Caleb’s.”

“I’ll talk to him and see if I can convince him to go.”

“That would be good. He always has fun when he’s with them, but he’s been weird about it since Caleb died. It would mean a lot to Dylan to have him there.”

Ella’s youngest brother, Max, came into the kitchen, looking tense and out of sorts.

“Hey.” Molly smiled up at her son as he kissed her cheek. “What’re you doing here? Thought you were spending the weekend in Burlington.”

“Yeah, so did I. Don’t ask.” He grabbed a roll from a basket Molly was filling and continued through the kitchen to the dining room.

“What’s up with him?” Ella asked her mom.

“Trouble in paradise with Chloe, apparently,” Molly said, her brows knitting with concern. “I’m surprised he’s here with the baby due any minute.”

“He told me last week she doesn’t want him around,” Nolan said quietly.

Molly pounced on her son-in-law. “When did he tell you that?”

“When he brought his car into the garage for an oil change.”

“Oh Lord,” Molly said with a sigh. “The poor guy. This has to be eating him up inside.”

Ella felt for her brother, who would soon become a father. He and his girlfriend, Chloe, hadn’t been together long when she got pregnant. Max had tried to stand by her during the last few months, but Chloe hadn’t made it easy.

Gavin returned to the kitchen and came over to her. “What’s up with Max? He seems kinda wound up.”

“Troubles with the baby mama, apparently.”

“Oh damn. That’s too bad.”

Lucas and Landon came into the kitchen, pushing and shoving each other the way they had since the day they were born. They always brought the comedy with them, and Ella adored them, even if she wanted to knock their heads together half the time.

“Knock it off, you two,” Molly said sternly.

“We haven’t even done anything yet,” Landon said.

“Preemptive strike,” Molly replied. “It’s only a matter of time before you do something.”

“We are so misunderstood,” Lucas said to his twin.

“Seriously.”

“You are absolutely understood,” Ella said, “which is why Mom feels the need for preemptive strikes.”

“And here we thought you were on our side, El,” Lucas said. “You’re one of the nice ones. Usually.”

Gavin laughed when her charming brothers planted kisses on their mother’s cheeks.

“Hi, Mom,” Lucas said with a shit-eating grin.

“Get out of here, the two of you, before I break out the rubber spatula,” Molly said, smiling despite herself.

The threat sent the twins scurrying toward the dining room.

Ella’s brother Wade came in, dropping a kiss on her forehead and then shaking hands with Gavin. “What brings you to di

“Ella did.”

“Oh. Is that right?”

“Uh-huh.” Ella gave Wade a little shove. “Now mind your own business and move along.”

“I’m an Abbott. Since when do we mind only our own business?”