Page 87 of Fourteen of a Kind

“Hi.” Ella walked over.

“Aunt Dorinda, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Dr. Ella Kind.”

“Your girlfriend?” Her brow arched. “You didn’t mention that either. It’s nice to meet you, dear.” She extended her hand.

“It’s nice to meet you too.” Ella placed her hand in hers.

“You have a very lovely home. What type of doctor are you, dear?”

“I’m a cardiothoracic surgeon, neurosurgeon, and trauma surgeon.”

“Excuse me?” My Aunt Dorinda cocked her head. “You must be all of what? Twenty-one?”

“I’m twenty-two.”

“Ella is a very gifted person, Aunt Dorinda.”

“A genius?” she asked.

“Yes. She’s a genius. Can I pour you a glass of wine?”

“That would be lovely. White if you have it.”

“We do.” I walked over and grabbed a wine glass from the cabinet.

“Dinner is ready,” Ella said.

“Are you living here, Graham?”

“Practically.” I smiled. “Ella and I spend every moment we can together. I’m very much in love with her.”

Ella set dinner on the table, and we sat down.

“Do you have any family here, Ella?”

“Yes. I do.”

“Ella comes from a large family, and they all live on this beach, including her parents, siblings, uncles, and cousins.”

“Wow. How nice.” Aunt Dorinda smiled.

We made small talk. My Aunt Dorinda talked extensively about her cases and a man she started seeing.

“I’m happy for you,” I said. “He sounds like he’s a nice guy.”

“He is. You can meet him when you decide to visit me in New York.”

After we cleaned up, I inhaled a sharp breath because I needed to tell her I had told Ella everything. I needed to confront her to put the past to rest.

“Let’s go out on the patio. It’s a beautiful night,” I said.

I knew outside would be a safer place to tell her.

“Is that your family, Ella?” Aunt Dorinda pointed to the bonfire.

“Yes. That’s them.”

We took our seats in the lounger.

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