Not Us 3: Odette & Ford

Chapter 20

Ford's POV

I walked my parents over to the pool house shortly after dinner. Mom said she was exhausted after all the traveling. They had a connecting flight then a woman with two kids who she couldn't seem to get calmed down for two hours on that flight. Mom said she had a headache and needed rest. The kids said goodnight to her and I noticed it again. She tried to keep it off her face, but it was there. The questions, the anger. It was annoying. They were quiet as we walked. I tried to start a conversation about what we had planned for the week, but I didn't get much. Just one-word, maybe five-word answers if I was lucky. I carried her bag so Dad only had to worry about his bag. I showed them around the place a little bit so they'd have their bearings somewhat. When they didn't say anything else, I was about to walk out when Dad stopped me.

"Son."

I turned around. Both he and Mom were leaning against the island in the kitchen and looked like there was something on their minds. "We wanted to talk to you about something." He looked down at Mom as she held his hand, squeezing it and nodding. Whatever this is...they're standing together on it. I didn't much care for the way it felt they had to wait to tell me this when I was alone with them though. It felt like a trap. Or a setup. Something similar.

"What?" I asked, suspicious as hell of them.

They looked uncomfortable under my gaze, so Mom took charge as she usually did when something was difficult for them to say. Meaning, that when there was something that she deemed needed to be talked about and Dad was either on the fence about it or he didn't want to get involved, she would speak up.

"Honey, we get that you think you love her. And that, that little girl, is yours. But the little boys...I mean...honey, are you really going to throw your life away for two kids who aren't yours to begin with?"

What? I looked at both of them like they had two heads. They...hmm...they did not just say that about my kids.

"Excuse me, Mom. I don't think I heard you correctly just now. What did you say about my sons?"

"See. There you go calling them yours. They're not. You don't even have to fulfill the will. You could just co-parent the girl until you find someone who you do love, who's not tied down with all these kids."

"Because they are. They are mine. All four of them. Mack died Mom. He's gone. You know as well as I do. There is no one to raise those kids. And those are his kids, biologically. They are mine to raise now. Mine to love and teach how to grow up to be good men. I love them. I love Odette. I love Sutton, no more, no less, than her big brothers. So, I ask again. What did you say, about my sons?" I started off, leveling with her, but I was ice cold by the end of it.

"It's just—"

"It's just that you have three grandkids, Mom. Dad. Three. Two boys and a girl. If you can't come to grips with it, and fucking fast, you can leave. I did not ask you here for this. I thought all this time you two had been understanding and fucking happy for me! I have loved that woman since the day I met her two years ago, and somehow managed to pick out her favorite flower by complete coincidence! I have loved my daughter since the first time I laid eyes on her sleeping next to her brothers. I have loved those boys since I met them. They are mine. Mack asked me to care for them. They are my sons. Sutton's brothers. You accept it or get out. Find a hotel. And don't come back until you accept them. That's," I pointed in the direction of Odette's house, "That's my family."

I walked out. Pissed and ready to get back to my girl to tell her everything.

Odette's POV

I had walked out to the pool house as it had been a while since Ford walked his parents there, and because Archie made them an angel to go on top of their tree at their house. I was about to knock on the door when I heard Ford practically shouting at his parents.

"Because they are. They are mine. All four of them. Mack died Mom. He's gone. You know as well as I do. There is no one to raise those kids. And those are his kids, biologically. They are mine to raise now. Mine to love and teach how to grow up to be good men. I love them. I love Odette. I love Sutton, no more, no less, than her big brothers. So, I ask again. What did you say, about my sons?" He sounded downright murderous. He was livid with whatever they said, but it had something to do with my children. I was pissed.

"It's just—"

"It's just that you have three grandkids, Mom. Dad. Three. Two boys and a girl. If you can't come to grips with it, and fucking fast, you can leave. I did not ask you here for this. I have loved that woman since the day I met her two years ago, and somehow managed to pick out her favorite flower by complete coincidence. I have loved my daughter since the first time I laid eyes on her sleeping next to her brothers. I have loved those boys since I met them. They are mine. Mack asked me to care for them. They are my sons. Sutton's brothers. You accept it or get out. Find a hotel. And don't come back until you accept them. That's," he paused, "That's my family."

He stormed out of the pool house and charged for Briggs's house, probably to let them know the pool house may be empty soon. I turned and went in the doors. I had to hustle to make it home around the same time he did. I knocked on the door and let myself in.

"My oldest son, Mack's eldest, Archie, made this for your tree for tomorrow. He's hoping you'll be his new grandparents since his Daddy is your son. However. If you ever speak of my children like that again, I'll make sure you never see them again. It'd be best if you leave if you can't accept them into your hearts." I glared at both of them. Making sure they both knew what I thought of what I'd heard.

I turned and walked out, closing the door quietly. Dad always said you could drive the point home louder with quiet movements than slamming doors. I hope I drove that point all the way home. I walked in my sliding door as I heard the front door close. I looked up and saw Ford. He looked confused as to why I was coming in that way.

"I heard. And I spoke with them also. But I don't want others to hear." He nodded and we headed upstairs to talk, quietly in our room, about his parents. I knew we'd have to tell my parents and get them to help us with distracting the kids if they chose not to show up for anything and return to Texas.

"I left it up to them, but I told them that if they can't accept the boys too, to not come back."

"I said the same thing." I smiled at him. He smiled at me. We were both sitting on the bed, looking at each other. I flopped back, having had enough drama for one night. I closed my eyes and felt the weight of the bed shift.

"Open your eyes." I did and saw him directly over top of me. He was hovering over top of me. He stared down into my eyes, then at my mouth. I leaned up, wrapping my arms around his neck while I captured his lips with mine. His hands held me close as he leaned down into me.

"Can you be quiet?" I nodded and he smiled.

"I love you, Odette. I have since that day at the airport. I want to show you. I want to make love to you."

"I love you too, Ford," I whispered to him as I kissed him, pouring all my emotions into it. I loved this man. No question. And seeing him stand up to his parents for our kids...without a doubt the sexiest thing I'd ever seen him do.

That night, we made love, over and over.

It was the best night of my life.