THE MORTON QUADRUPLETS

CHAPTER 27 - ELLIE

The evening of the wedding we all sit down for a dinner Lorna prepared. Her cooking skills are as good as her organisational skills. She runs this island with great care. It is amazing to see the things she gets done without being able to quickly run to the store.

Ava and Adrien look so comfortable together. They sit next to each other and look like a couple that has been together for all this time. There is nothing awkward or strange between them. They hand each other things without asking for it. They communicate with each other by merely giving each other a look. They are very connected.

On the other side of the table Bailey looks absolutely awkward next to Brandon. She looks like she wants to run out of the room. She fakes a smile every time she notices someone looking at her. Her smile would fade whenever she looks down at her plate of if the conversation shifts to someone else.

It is difficult to watch her because I know she wasn't always like this. She used to have all the confidence in the world. She could talk easily in awkward situations. She was able to look comfortable even if she found herself in company that unsettled her. Now, seeing her next to Brandon, she looks small and shy.

Rachel and Ryan don't look much better either. Rachel looks guilty for some reason. She would turn her face away from Ryan whenever she finds him looking at her. She picked at her food and didn't seem to really enjoy the evening.

It is easier to notice that the brothers have not been out of contact in the last ten years. Their conversations are of more recent events than what the girls talk about.

After dinner we all move out to the porch that Lorna had decorated with fairy lights and white flowers. The girls all gather around a table where we drink wine and the guys stand to one side, gathered in a group and talking quietly to each other. I do not want to alarm the other girls but I can bet on it that they are discussing their mother.

"I will have to get back to my job the day after tomorrow. Which means I will have to leave here by tomorrow." Bailey states quietly. Rachel nods while she is speaking.

"I will go with you. There is a lot of things I need to sort out this week. My life is a bit of a mess at the moment." Rachel says when Bailey finished.

Both of them seem a bit eager to get off the island. Ava doesn't seem to want to go all that much.

"I haven't discussed with Adrien when we will be leaving. I will talk to him tonight. I put in leave notice for the entire week." Ava adds to the conversation.

"You are all more than welcome to stay as long as you like. Greyson and I have not made any plans to leave in the next few weeks. I love it here and Greyson feels that we are safe here also." I tell the girls.

I look at Greyson to find him looking at me. He has a tender loving look in his eyes. I feel overwhelmed with emotion. My entire life has changed into what it would have been had Marcella never intervened in our lives.

The men join us and I update Greyson on the departure arrangements of the girls. Ryan and Brandon say they will be leaving with the girls.

"Well in that case we will leave also. I will not let my brother accuse me of gate crashing his honeymoon" Adrien laughs and slaps Greyson on the back.

After a few drinks and some light conversation everyone bids each other goodnight and return to their separate rooms.

Greyson slides his arm around my body and pulls me into a tight hug.

"Mrs Morton, may I take you to bed now?" Greyson whispers in my ear. I laugh a little and nod.

We walk slowly down the small pathway that stretches to our cottage. The night is dark but I feel safe walking next to Greyson.