Page 57 of Convincing Him
“It just seems a little odd,” persisted Dotty. “They should be here. Adriana’s family is.”
Gabe glanced over to see a pained Parker trying to make out what one of Adriana’s uncles was saying. Parker looked confused, no doubt by the heavy accent the man had. Parker’s thin bride sat beside him, poking at something on her plate with the wrong fork. Next to the Ramesly family, Adriana’s family looked underdressed. However, they seemed to appreciate the food and beverages. One of them stood to make a long and rambling toast in their native language.
Parker was in for an interesting life, Gabe reflected. Whether his brother’s temperament could handle it, Gabe didn’t know. Gabe could also see his aunt Mary puckering her lips in distaste at the display. While the uptight Mary had married the laidback Oliver Ramesly, she herself was a stickler for propriety and standards.
“Mom,” gently admonished Marshall. “They’ve ordered trays in their rooms for supper. I guess it’s supposed to take hours to get ready, but they are managing on a much smaller time frame to accommodate us. I offered to help but was turned down. My bride has it all under control.”
“I am happy for you,” Dotty hastened to assure him. “I worried a little bit about Parker but after having a chat with the lovely girl he’s chosen, all my fears were laid to rest. Adriana will do nicely.”
“I’m sure Parker would be pleased to hear it,” Gabe said a little dryly. He had some doubts about the whole thing, but Parker could make his own decisions.
“Gabe, are you certain Britney won’t be coming?” Dotty tentatively asked as she gave Gabe a hopeful look. “I do like the girl and she comes from good family.”
Gabe swallowed down his own unhappiness with the situation, understanding his mother was disappointed as well. “Britney is a wonderful person. I’m hoping to change her mind, but it is not going to happen today.”
“It is okay dear,” Dotty patted his hand wistfully. “It was nice of you to give one of the other couples a chance to marry today.”
Gabe nodded. “Is Dad going to be at the sendoff tomorrow?”
“He needs to rest up, but your father assured me he would be there,” Dotty smiled fondly. “The man can’t seem to sleep anywhere but his own bed. Plus, he gets so tired these days. We thought it best for him to skip tonight and the breakfast tomorrow. He’ll be here for the sendoff.”
“That’s good,” murmured Gabe.
He decided he needed a little fresh air. Excusing himself, Gabe made his way through the lobby, down the stone steps and out into the street. It was cold and he wished he had brought his jacket, but dinner had been less formal and he had taken it off, setting it on the back of his chair. Gabe breathed in the crisp winter air.
It was quiet for the city. Construction had blocked off this road and everyone had to go around it. Other than the doorman, Gabe had the street to himself. He dragged in a deep breath and looked over to see the sun, starting to set between the buildings.
She wasn’t coming. He had lost his job. He had very little savings. All he had was a list of ideas to try to win her heart.
There was a gaping hole in his life. If Gabe were honest with himself, the hole was where Brit should be. He had been so concerned with keeping himself safe he had lost something precious. A hollow feeling permeated his chest.
Maybe he was in love with her. Wasn’t that the irony? Brit had been in love with him all this time, had fallen out of love with him, and now finally Gabe could admit he loved her to himself.
He loved her.
The thought brought only misery. Not of the risk he had left himself open to, but the regret of what might have been if he had only tried. Well he was going to try even harder now. The question was, would Brit respond, or would she just do as he had done all these years by ignoring her?
“Everything okay?” asked Max. “I saw you talking to our not so favorite FBI agent earlier.”
“Who?” Gabe dragged his thoughts away from his failed relationship with Britney. “Oh, right. Kepler wants all our passports by tomorrow morning before the family breakfast.”
Max frowned. “Seriously? I doubt anyone brought theirs. Why would he want them?”
“Something about how there was a new break in the investigation and none of us are to leave the country,” sighed Gabe.
“That guy really does take the cake,” Max shook his head. “Maybe Bree can talk sense into him. She seems to be friends with Kepler somehow. I wonder why he would tell us he wants our passports so long in advance.”
“I think he told me so he could see who tries to flee,” snorted Gabe. “The guy is playing games. I vote we don’t even tell anyone he wants the passports.”
“Do you think someone would make a run for it?” frowned Max. He looked at Gabe in concern. “Do you know something I don’t?”
Gabe sighed. “I hope not. We did have a break in at one of the labs in our hospitals. Parker has been leading the investigation. It might have been Gerrit.”
“Why would you think that?” Max frowned.
“There was video evidence,” admitted Gabe. “It was grainy, but Parker thinks it was him. A drug was taken. I can’t understand why Gerrit would go through such trouble to steal a cardioplegia concoction.”
“What is the drug used for? Do you think Gerrit has an addiction?” wondered Max.
