Chapter 180

Chapter 47 (Chelsea POV) I was at the stove spinning the sauce when my two favorite arms wrapped around me from behind. And just like that, the tension of meeting his great grandparents, Sabastian and Clara was gone. “You’re gonna pay for that little snapshot sweetheart,” Gabriel whispered. Voice husky and deep. His lips right above my mark, the sauce I was stirring long forgotten. “Goodness boy, stop molesting the poor girl,” a bright and chirpy voice said with thick Italian accent, to my right and it came from an older woman. Standing next to her, an older version of Gabriel. I would be blessed when he aged as I was blessed now. “If I have to,” Gabe answered, pulling away a bit. “Later,” he whispered. Spinning to face, “Promise?” I challenged, not sure where all this bravery was coming from. The woman barked a laugh, “Mi piace questa ragazza, il mio ragazzo.” Her words bringing a small shy smile on Gabe’s face. (I like this girl, my boy.) “Chelsea, this is my Nonno Sab, and Nona Clara,” he turned to them, “Nonno, Nona, this is my Chelsea.” I did the polite thing and put my hand out but Nona Clara ignored that, shoved Gabriel out of the way to envelope me in her arms and her body was shaking. My eyes flashed to Gabriel, wide and unsure of what was happening. Awkwardly, I patted her on the back. “There, there.” I said when I realized she was crying, and it was different that when Gabe or Ava did. I knew how to comfort them, but this was just bizarre. “Caro rilascio la ragazza,” Sab said pulling his emotional mate away from me, leaving room for Gabriel to step right in. (dear release the girl) “Bambino spiacenti,” Clara spluttered out, “cidispiace bambino mi perdondi.” (Sorry child forgive me) “Nessun problema,” I answered quickly. “You speak Italian?” Gabriel asked with a wicked grin. “Among other languages,” I replied off handedly watching older Gabriel… I mean Sabastian. “Later,” Gabriel said once again and Sab let out a deep laugh. “Piu tardi, piu tardi. Questo in dopo sara piutt osto qual cosa?” Sab teased us. (Later. Later. This later will be quite something) but his smile dropped when he saw my left hand and instantly I was on the defense. When Sab saw me stiffen he explained, “Gabriel drew this ring when he was a boy, do you remember Zuccherino? He said he had a dream and the girl was wearing that ring. I knew Maggie wasn’t the right one,” he said, accent thick like his mate. “Children shouldn’t pay for their parents down falls and mistakes,” Clara said cooly. Geez… these had mood swings faster than I could blink, rocky temperament. Wiping her face Clara sighed, “We got off on the wrong feet, I was just so overjoyed. We spent three days with our daughter, Camilla. What you did… seeing now and knowing you are the one that brought her that pure joy…” she shook her head again trying to fight her emotions. Sabastian just stood by her side, nodding his head. Appraising me, “You are very good for my Zuccherino,” Clara said beaming at her great grandson, but it’s not like Gabriel would notice. All his attention was focused solely on me, probably making sure that I was okay. When at home, in this house, away from his family I believed that Gabriel was completely different, than when he was around others. “You have a beautiful home, well what our Zuccherino showed us,” Clara started. “Thanks, well… let’s eat, everything’s ready,” I said hoping food would prevent us from talking too much. I could see that some parts of Sabastian were nothing like George. He lacked an obvious bitterness that George wore on his sleeves. “Oh good, Zuccherrino said you were a better cook than his mama,” Clara praised, Gabriel blushing red, I on the other hand didn’t know how to response. I was all tied up. “He also tells us, that you are an accomplished painter and you are dancing lead in the winter show,” Sabastian said surprisingly as he dished out his food, his wife following in his footsteps. We sat, and ate comfortably, yet I was still on edge, my stomach churning waiting for them to bring up Gabriel leaving, me killing Maggie and Leo last night, anything dealing with those subjects but they never once brought it up. There was no animosity, and after ten minutes I finally relaxed minimally. . . . “Gabriel, Zuccherino, why did you not want your mothers help with your wedding?” Clara asked and her mate shot her an annoyed look, and Gabriel eyed his Nona cautiously. Too good to be true. “She knew that Chelsea was my mate-” he answered dismissively. “Of course she does…” Clara interrupted him but he wasn’t deterred. “She knew when I was a young boy. She met with Anya, you already know this, but she lied, made me forget about it. Then time after time, she pushed Audrey on me. There are just too many secrets over there.” Clara nodded, “But there is so much to plan-” “And I have it all covered,” he stopped her. “Zuccherino… this is a big deal-” “One that I have covered, under complete control,” Gabriel turned to face me, smiling, with a bit of uncertainty. “Every one of our dates, meal, design, everything is an option for our wedding and reception. From the moment I decided to walk away I had a plan, all the center piece arrangements, the color schemes, everything Chelsea, if we want to have the reception outside we can decorate a larger tent decorated exactly like that date. If you want to get married outside, near where we went hiking, that is available for the date I set, if you want we can have the reception where I proposed. Every meal, will be available, well not the bad sandwiches, but all else. Even our first date, when we went to look at the writing on the canvas, I had them print out the different fonts, place them on different solid colors, options that would be our wedding invitations as well as place cards,” he spoke, and I fell in love with him a bit more, smiling widely, I sighed. I wondered what the hell we went to look at those things for. But now everything made sense… he had been actively giving me options, all we had to do was pick. I was speechless, overwhelmed that… I looked down at my lap, having a battle in my head, the smile dropping. Leo’s words and Gabriel’s actions. Polar opposites. One had to be right. I was either worthless or worth the effort. “Worth the effort,” Gabriel said a loud. My head snapped up, had I been saying that out loud? I peaked at his Nonno and Nona, they looked at me sadness in their eyes, true compassion. Guess I did then. They both put their eating utensils down. Great! Chelsea Hobbs, appetite reducer. “He’s gone Chelsea. He tried to break you. Break you so he could rebuild you into a sociopath like himself. I have killed many people but I’ve never hurt a child. He did so with you with no remorse or empathy. He did what he did and would visit with the pack topolino. Come back and drink at your fathers table, buy gifts for his other children all while he abused you. Don’t you see? He was a very sick man. Real men don’t prey on children,” Sab said seething upset.