You Are My Sunshine

Chapter Thirty-Six: Relaxing by the Pool

Making sure that Elena was covered in enough sun-screen, Gabriella couldn't help but smile and be glad that she had agreed to come here; it was nice to be away from England where it was apparently raining. 

It had come as a bit of a surprise to Gabriella that she had been welcomed by the other women, they were a lot friendlier than the other women at the club had ever been to her. 

Elena babbled happily as she splashed her little arms and legs into the pool, a smile on her face as she did so; she was carefully sat on her mother's lap so she couldn't fall in. 

They were sat on the edge of the pool steps enjoying themselves while the pool area was quiet, it was a lovely hotel and Gabriella was sure that things would work out well. 

Tomorrow the group would travel to watch England play against Slovakia and to support their men in the final group match; it was going to be a tough one but she was sure it would end well. 

Gabriella couldn't help but wonder what Joe would have planned for them that summer, she knew he wanted to take a holiday but she wasn't sure where he planned to take them. 

"She's so cute," Coleen said sitting down next to Gabriella, she had Kit with her and she was glad that Gabriella seemed to be enjoying herself. 

Kai and Klay were close by and Coleen was glad that they were enjoying themselves, she was sure that they would be thrilled to see their father again soon. 

"She looks like her father," Coleen mused admiring Elena, she was slowly starting to develop the blonde hair that her father was well-known for; it would be a couple of shades darker than her fathers. 

She definitely had her mother's brown eyes and Coleen could imagine how beautiful Elena was going to be when she was older; she was sure that everything would work out for the couple.

"She does... Joe doesn't see it though," Gabriella replied with a shake of her head, she loved the blonde tufts of hair that sat on Elena's head; she adored her little girl and she knew that Joe felt the same. 

They had done so well in the past few months and the last thing that Gabriella wanted was to throw all that away; she wanted nothing more than to protect what they shared. 

"What's on your mind?" Coleen asked spotting the look on her face, she was sure it was something big if it was bothering her now; they were meant to be enjoying themselves right now. 

Chewing on her lip, Gabriella sighed knowing that she needed someone to talk to and she hoped that she could trust Coleen; she felt so unsure of herself these days when she thought about the future. 

Both her mother and Joe's had tried to reassure her that getting married now would be okay and Gabriella wished that she could dismiss her fears so easily. 

There was nothing that she wanted nothing more than to marry Joe but Gabriella wanted to be sure that things were going to be okay after everything that had happened before. 

"I'm worried about the future," Gabriella replied nervously, she looked down at Elena and she was sure that in time things would work out. 

Coleen raised an eyebrow at Gabriella, she was curious about what was going on and she knew that while things had not been easy at the start that Joe was a lot happier with Gabriella and Elena than he had been in his entire life with anyone else. 

"When Joe was injured in April... he asked me to marry him," Gabriella whispered for only Coleen to hear, she didn't want this getting out and she hoped for some advice. 

Coleen blinked staring at Gabriella, she certainly hadn't expected to hear this when she had asked what was on her mind.

It seemed strange that Joe had asked Gabriella to marry him in such a way and Coleen guessed that things were going to change rather quickly for the couple; she couldn't help but peek down at Gabriella's hand to see if there was a ring sitting there. 

"He doesn't remember it... concussion and all, but I worry he plans on proposing soon," Gabriella mumbled feeling embarrassed that the idea of marrying Joe was scaring her a little bit; she was worried it would turn out like last time. 

The last thing that Gabriella ever wanted to do was compare Joe to Adam especially since she loved Joe so much more; but she had thought she'd marry Adam one day and it hadn't worked out. 

Gabriella was frightened that if she said yes to Joe that the same would happen again, she wasn't popular with his friends or their spouses and she worried that would work against her in some way. 

Coleen nodded her head, she had an idea about what was going on and she didn't blame Gabriella for being worried; they had only been dating for six months and it was all moving so fast. 

"I worry if we rush into this then we'll do something that we will come to regret," Gabriella continued looking out over the pool, everything that had happened so far had seemed so easy until this. 

They had Elena to think about and they couldn't rush into things that would affect her as well as them; she needed her parents so much and they had to consider what would happen if they ruined things between them. 

"You love Joe?" Coleen mused wishing to make this simple for Gabriella, everyone would have their own opinions on what they should do and it wasn't going to go away just because they thought Joe and Gabriella were perfect together. 

There was every reason for them all to worry about the future and marriage was a big step; Coleen had heard about how Gabriella was dumped at the altar and to take that step a second time would be scary for anyone.

"More than anything," Gabriella said with a smile, she didn't know what she would have done without him and she wished things could have started off better for them; even if she did adore Elena, it hadn't made things easy for them. 

People still talked about how Joe had cheated on his then fiancée with Gabriella and it was doubtful that would ever go away as long as they were together. 

"Then focus on that," Coleen reassured her, she wished that she had more to say and to help but it was for the best and she hoped that they wouldn't screw this up. 

They had everything to live for together and Coleen knew that Gabriella couldn't let her fears of the past take this from her; she would be a fool to lose Joe after everything that had happened. 

"You love Joe and you are going to have a future together, that is what matters," Coleen continued with a smile, she remembered the times when she had wondered about her relationship with Wayne; especially when he had cheated on her. 

It had taken a lot to convince her to fight for what she wanted and she had warned him that she wouldn't give him another chance if he was to mess up again; they had three sons now and they were everything to them. 

Gabriella nodded her head, she felt a little better having talked to Coleen about this and she guessed she could count the other woman as a friend now. 

"Just take it one step at a time... getting engaged is just another step and you don't have to get married straight away," Coleen said shifting Kit on her lap, she kissed her son's head and she hoped that Gabriella would do what she felt right. 

It was going to be strange and Coleen knew that if they did get married in the near future that a wedding would be a little way off; they wouldn't rush into that completely if Gabriella was unsure. 

They could take all the time in the world and one day Gabriella would be Mrs Gabriella Hart.