Betrayed

Everything is too perfect

With everyone's help and support the first week of Emily's life went on without a hitch. I went on a few emotional roller coasters and woke up soaked in sweat a few times at night. But in all I couldn't ask for a better baby. Emily was easily content, sleeping most of the day and only waking for feeds and diaper changes.

My mom took on the role of grandmother very well, she rocked, washed, and cooed at Emily every chance she had. Janice cooked up a storm for everyone staying with us and froze several meals for when we were on our own again. Lane and I spent most of Emily's feeding time in my bed going over wedding details and ideas.

"I trust you, Lane" I told her for the millionth time, "do whatever you want!" Lane took a deep exasperated breath and let it out slowly, gently stroking Emily's head.

"Fine, I will," she said and dropped the subject.

Matteo showed up with his wife and kids on friday, though he was staying at a nearby hotel, he made sure to stop by our place first. The boys went out onto the back yard to help Lane with some of the decor while the women gathered in the living room cooing over the baby. I felt like I was living a dream, everything had been too perfect recently. I was surrounded by all of my closest friends and family, about to marry the love of my life.

Panic crept up my throat making it difficult to breathe, I was sweating and fidgeting with my fingers. My vision got blurry and I realized I was crying. I discreetly walked up to my room trying to take deep breaths and be in the present moment, but nothing was working. I paced my room trying to stop the tears. Gabriel entered the room suddenly giving me a sad pensive look, grabbed my hand and led me out the back of the house. We walked down a slightly beaten track in the woods behind the house. His presence helped calm me a little, but I had no idea where he was leading me. Finally we came across a clearing where a tiny little stream was flowing. Gabriel didn't stop at the edge of the forest but pulled me over to a wooden bench about 6 feet from the stream. He sat me on the bench and kneeled in front of me, holding my face in his hands.

"Talk to me Harper" he said, his brown eyes boring into mine. I took several deep breaths.

"Everything is too perfect," I said plainly. A smile etched across his face.

"That freaks you out?" he asked intuitively. I nodded, unable to voice my concerns. "It's okay, you're allowed to be happy and have things go right. You've had a rough life, baby, but I'm going to do everything in my power to make your life as easy and smooth as possible. We will face whatever obstacle comes our way together, you won't have to do it alone anymore baby, I'm here for you" he finished, squeezing my hands. I nodded again, getting a grip on my emotions.

"I'm so sorry, I'm really emotional this week" I said.

"You have every right to be'' he chuckled, capturing my mouth with his, kissing me gently and wiping all of my worries away. I took a good look at our surroundings, it was a perfect place to come lay in the sun and have a picnic. Gabriel gave me a crooked smile as I looked around. "I thought you might like a little escape from everything, I know how much you liked going down by the river at the worksite" he rubbed a thumb across my lips. "It was going to be your wedding gift," he smiled up at me.

"It's perfect, Gabe, thank you" I said, taking it all in. He explained that he was planning on setting up a little shelter with sofas for me to come read when I needed to escape and that he would build a proper path with solar lights leading from the house to the stream. Delighted, I kissed him several times while I imagined what the place would look like next spring. We spent a few quiet minutes sitting side by side, Gabriel's hand around my shoulder before walking back to the house hand in hand. My breasts were heavy and achy from spending the few extra minutes away from my baby, and I immediately grabbed Emily from Janice then headed up to my bedroom for the feeding and a nap.

Lane was in my room bright and early the next morning as she had been all week. She watched as I fed Emily and Gabriel groaned when he realized she was in bed with us.

"You're a fucking weirdo, Lane" he said groggily, pulling the covers over his shoulders.

"Good morning to you too, brother in law," she replied in a chirpy voice.The two of them had become quite close since Lane's visit in August and neither one of them missed the opportunity to tease the other. "As soon as Harp is done feeding the baby, I need her undivided attention so you're on babysitting duties" she announced.

"I'm the dad, I don't babysit" he said, annoyed.

"Whatever, you take care of the baby, we have hot girl shit to do!"

"Language!" he scolded.

"She's a week old, Gabriel, get over it" Lane huffed. Gabriel reached a hand over me placing it over Lane's face and gently pushed her back. Lane slapped at his arm while I lay between the two trying to protect my own face and the baby. I gingerly slid off the bottom of the bed once I was done, wearing nothing but my maternity underwear while Gabriel rolled over and cradled Emily in his big arms, kissing her forehead and admiring her.

"Good morning my little princess," he cooed at her. He was goddamned perfect!

Lane dragged me into the bathroom and shoved me in the shower. I spent hours sitting on a chair while she did my hair and makeup, being interrupted once by Gabriel and a fussing Emilly. I once again fed the baby before she was plucked from my arms by one of the house guests. As I was about to step into my dress, Gabriel's head popped around the door to say goodbye. Sam, Matteo and him would be getting ready at the hotel and meeting back in the backyard around 11.

The dress fit me comfortably and was very flattering even in my postpartum body. I complimented Lane on the great find and quickly removed it before getting it dirty. Janice was preparing breakfast downstairs while my mom rocked Emily under Axel's watchful eye. We ate and talked until 10:30 when Lane announced it was time for me to get ready in my room. I heard a truck pull up in the driveway and craned my neck to see Gabriel and Matteo getting out of Gabe's truck. I didn't have much time to register what Gabriel was wearing before Lane rushed me up the stairs.

Though our bedroom overlooked the backyard, Lane had forbidden me to look out the window. She had pulled all the curtains to ensure I didn't peek. Loud heavy metal music was playing and I could hear faint voices of the guests that had arrived.

"Are we having a biker wedding or something?" I asked Lane, only slightly concerned.

"Heavens no! Gabriel insisted he got to choose the music for the day. If I had known he would be playing this awful screeching music I would have insisted more". We both looked at each other in mock concern. I couldn't care less what sort of music was playing, I was still in shock that I was about to marry my beautiful man. I think most people that knew Gabriel well were also shocked that he was getting married; the larger than life serial dater was settling down!

A sudden knock on the door pulled me out of my reverie as Chrissy walked in with Hendrix.

"Hawper looks like a pwincess" Hendrix marvelled transfixed by my dress and the pearl tiara in my hair. I crouched down, holding my hands out to him and he ran to me wrapping his little hands around my neck. I kissed his little cheek and he returned the kiss in the same fashion.

"You look so handsome, Hendrix" I said, holding him at arm's length to admire his cute outfit: a pair of black pants, white shirt, brown suspenders and a bow tie.

"I'm weawing the same fing as gwumpy" he said. I laughed at his nickname for Gabriel, not having mastered the R sound we had all started calling him Grumpy and the name stuck. I think Gabriel preferred being called Grumpy over Grampy. "Where is baby Emmy?" he asked, looking around the room and spotting the bassinet. He quietly walked over and peeked at the sleeping baby while Chrissy watched on. Lane finished getting me ready and I grabbed the still sleeping Emily from her bassinet. We all walked down the dining room and waited for everyone to get settled in before my big entrance.