The Outsider Series: The Complete Omnibus Collection

Chapter 3

Chapter Three

When Brad parked the truck back at home, there was a black Mercedes with a rental company sticker on the license plate parked beside Jed’s brown truck. Emily glanced at Brad. Trevor was buckled into his car seat in the back.

“Your mom and dad are here,” she said.

Brad reached over and touched Emily’s cheek. She leaned into his hand.

“The gang’s here,” he announced. “Are you ready?”

Emily grabbed his wrist and shut her eyes, needing to take a breath. She loved his mom and dad, but when Jed showed up she felt all stirred up and couldn’t put a rational thought together. Maybe it was because of the way he had caught them earlier; locked in her soon-to-be husband’s arms, and carrying on like two love-struck teenagers.

Brad tucked a strand of Emily’s wavy brown hair behind her ear. “What’s wrong?”

She unbuckled her seatbelt and slid over to Brad, who pulled her onto his lap. “I don’t know what’s the matter with me. When your brother showed up, I couldn’t pull it together. What must he think of me? And I just, I can’t catch my breath. I’m nervous.”

Brad wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head. “You were embarrassed because I was kissing you silly on the front porch and we were busted by my brother.”

Emily sat up and looked at him. “You’ve taken me way out of my comfort zone, and, at times, I don’t know how to handle it. Sometimes…” She rubbed her soft, rounded belly and gazed up. “And the wedding... I just want everything perfect.” She gazed out the window at the heap of broken vehicles. “Like this junk here.” She shoved her flattened hand toward his window. “Couldn’t you move this for the wedding? I don’t want everyone showing up and seeing it. I want everything to look nice.”

Brad opened his door, grabbed Emily, and lifted her down. Then he reached into the back and pulled Trevor out. Wrapping an arm around Emily’s shoulder, Brad turned her towards the house. “So the tarps not working for you?” he asked.

A giggle burst out of her mouth, which she covered with her hand.

“I’ll take that as a no,” he said with a sigh as they stepped onto the front porch. “I’ll get Jed to help me move it all tomorrow.”

“Thank you,” Emily replied, turning to him. Standing on tiptoe, she pulled his head down and kissed him.

Voices drifted out from the house, making Brad smile wickedly. “You know, I can send Trevor in, and then you and I can finish what we started out here when my brother interrupted us.”

Emily’s jaw fell open and she swatted his shoulder. “I don’t think so.”

Brad chuckled, a deep rumble, as he led her into the house.

In the living room, Katy was sitting on the floor with another guy who resembled Brad and Jed. He had darker hair, and was dressed more conservatively in a green sweater and neatly pressed blue jeans. The man lifted Katy in the air and made a buzzing sound like an airplane, making her giggle over and over.

Emily stopped. Trevor let go of Brad’s hand and raced into the kitchen.

“Oh, there’s my grandson. Give me a hug!” Becky’s sweet voice drifted in from the kitchen, followed by the sound of chairs scraping back and footsteps clicking on the floor as everyone poured into the living room.

Brad’s father, Rodney, who was an aged version of his son with gray hair and wise old eyes, strode over to her. “Emily, you’re looking good,” he said, giving her a hug and kissing her on the cheek.

“It’s good to see you, too. How was your flight in?” she asked.

“Long, but Neil here made it entertaining as he flirted with the stewardesses, arranging a date with both.”

The sharply dressed man who had Katy flung over his shoulder strode over, flashing a brilliant smile with straight, white teeth.

“I knew the moment you walked in that you had to be Emily, you gorgeous thing. I’m Neil, the middle child, and your future brother-in-law, at your service my dear.”

Neil lifted Emily’s hand and kissed it, making her blush.

Brad tightened his hold around her waist. “Get your hands off my wife and stop flirting with her,” he said, shoving his brother on the shoulder just as he set Katy down.

Neil grinned wickedly. “Ah, but she’s not your wife yet.”

Katy chose that moment to yank on his sweater, squealing, “Up, up, Uncle Neil, airplane.”

“Ha ha, I’ll take this one,” he shouted, lifting the little girl up, and twirling her around as she giggled.

Before Emily could say anything, a short gray haired woman, dressed in a light brown sweater and tan slacks, pushed past Rodney and pressed Trevor into his arms. It was Becky, Brad’s mother. She gave Emily a big hug.

“Oh, Emily, you’re looking so good,” said Becky. Stepping back, she lowered her soft brown eyes, which were filled with such deep love, to the pregnant woman’s stomach. “May I?” she asked.

When Emily nodded, Becky pressed her hand to the round belly, just over the baby. Pushing Brad aside, she placed an arm around her future daughter-in-law and guided her into the kitchen. Emily could hear Brad laughing behind her as they walked.

Becky directed her to a chair. “Sit down,” she said. “Let’s leave those men in there to look after the kids.”

As she spoke, Emily noticed Jed standing quietly in the doorway, and he nodded her way. For a moment the air was awkward between them. He said nothing and then strode into the living room.

Emily darted her big eyes back to Becky, who was filling a teapot. She’d taken over the kitchen, but Emily wasn’t bothered, considering that some wonderful scent was coming from the oven and she was being waited on. Becky placed a mug in front of her and filled it up. “It’s white tea, very good for you. Now tell me what I can do to help,” she said.

Emily blinked as every thought, plan and list that had plagued her mind, of all the things she had to accomplish in the two days before the wedding, vanished from her head. She let out a sigh and leaned back in the chair. “I haven’t a clue.”