You Are My Sunshine

Chapter Forty-Five: Family Gathering

"You look amazing," Catherine gushed hugging Gabriella, she was pleased that they were all gathering together; she couldn't remember the last time that they had been together like this. 

The new season was about to start and the family wanted to get together to enjoy the summer before Joe was too busy with Manchester City to spend any time with his family. 

Gabriella smiled and hugged her mother back, it had been a little while since they had last seen one another and she had missed her; she was sure that Catherine would be thrilled to hear that Joe and her were engaged now. 

Joe tried to settle a fussy Elena, he held onto his daughter knowing that it was going to be a big day and he hoped that everyone would be thrilled with their news. 

Not only would they be revealing their engagement today but Joe hoped to break the news to their families that they were expecting another child together. 

"There's my favourite grandchild," Charles Evans greeted moving to take Elena from her father, he fussed over her pleased that they were all able to be here today. 

Elena babbled softly, she clutched at her grandfather and cuddled into his arms; she pouted at Joe, who smiled at her and he was sure that she would settle sometime later. 

"You two look so happy," Louise greeted coming over to greet the couple, she hugged her son hoping that everything was alright; she knew that he had been a little concerned about Gabriella turning him down after everything. 

It had worried her when he had expressed his intent of asking Gabriella to marry him after only a couple of months of dating but looking at him now Louise had no doubts that an engagement might be announced soon.

***

"You look so happy," Catherine said sitting down next to her daughter, it had been a lovely evening and she had enjoyed having the family together; it would be Christmas before this happened again and that seemed like such a long time away. 

Gabriella nodded her head, she sipped on her fruit drink and she couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen when she told her parents that she was engaged. 

She had been so worried about repeating the past and Gabriella had no doubts now that Joe would never hurt her in the way that Adam had done. 

"I take it that everything went well on holiday," Catherine continued wanting to hear all the gossip, she was sure that there would be some juicy details about the holiday. 

The pictures that she had seen in the papers had looked amazing and Catherine was glad that Gabriella had her head screwed on right; she couldn't imagine what would have happened if Gabriella had taken Adam back a few weeks ago.

Catherine had never liked Adam and the man made her uncomfortable, he didn't seem the right fit for her daughter; he would have ruined the tight-knit family that they had now. 

"It did... Joe and I are engaged," Gabriella revealed with a smile, she tried not to look towards her mother waiting for her to catch on to what she had said. 

Catherine nodded her head before she stopped, her eyes quickly moving to Gabriella and a squeal of excitement falling from her mouth as her eyes landed on the engagement ring on her finger. 

Everyone seemed to turn and look towards Catherine who was excitedly hugging Gabriella; it didn't take much for anyone to figure out what the celebration was about.

Chloe smiled at her brother, she wasn't surprised that he hadn't wasted a moment in asking Gabriella to marry him; he'd had his heart set on it for a while and they were in a pretty good place right now. 

Louise hugged Gabriella while she smiled at her son, she was so happy for him and she was sure that there was some interesting story about how he had popped the question to Gabriella while on holiday. 

"This is a cause for celebration," Charles Evans announced appearing from the kitchen with a bottle of champagne, it had been a long time coming and he couldn't have been happier when the situation that they had found themselves in. 

Joe walked over to his fiancée and wrapped his arms around her, he kissed her cheek and held her close knowing that everyone was thrilled with the idea that they were going to be married. 

"How long have you had that ready?" Charles Hart teased helping the other Charles hand out glasses for everyone, he was surprised that the other Charles had this ready for this moment. 

Louise sat down next to Catherine and started to talk about the wedding; they were both excited and this couldn't have come at a better time. 

"Since Joe asked for my blessing," Charles Evans replied with a grin, he had been knowing that this was coming and he hoped that this would all work out. 

He couldn't believe that his daughter was going to get married and he was sure that it would be a beautiful day; Gabriella was good at organising weddings and there was no doubt that her own wedding day would be perfect. 

"I can't have any," Gabriella revealed when Charles Hart tried to hand her a glass of champagne, she couldn't help but smile at the confused look that her future father-in-law gave her. 

It was hard to think that things had changed so much and Gabriella had no doubts that their second piece of news that they were going to share.

"She just can't," Joe said shaking his head, he couldn't hide the smile that formed on his face at the idea that they were going to have a second child; he was excited about the news and he was sure everyone else would be. 

Charles Hart furrowed his brow and wondered why Gabriella couldn't have any champagne, they were celebrating right now and one glass couldn't hurt. 

The couple shared a look before Joe gently rubbed Gabriella's stomach, he stared at his father waiting for him to catch on; it didn't take long for Charles Hart to realise what was going on. 

"You're joking..." Charles Hart whispered and a smile formed on his face, he adored Elena and she was everything to him; he couldn't imagine having another grandchild. 

Joe shook his head and he held Gabriella close knowing that he couldn't have been happier with the news that they were going to be parents for the second time. 

Catherine and Louise looked up from where they were talking, both of them pausing at the scene before them; they hadn't caught on to what was being said. 

"Elena is going to be a big sister in March," Gabriella confirmed looking over at her daughter, she wasn't sure how Elena would take the news when she understood what was going on but Gabriella hoped that the news would go down well. 

The garden was silent for a moment at the news that Joe and Gabriella were expecting another child together, it almost didn't seem real that they were going to have another child together so soon. 

Elena was perfect and they all remembered how that pregnancy had gone, they could only hope that this was going to work out better; they didn't want any more drama ruining this for them. 

Charles Evans groaned before walking over to Catherine and handing her money, she grinned glad that her little bet had paid off; she had known that this would happen before Elena was even a year old and she couldn't wait for her second grandchild to be born.