Forbidden Secrets

Chapter 4 – Family Ties

Gabe’s POV

I woke up early, as I always did. The ache in my jaw only marginal, but the thick lip a little obvious. I got showered and dressed in my favourite stonewash jeans, and light grey cable knit sweater, gabbed my brown dress shoes and threw my trainers, sweatpants and a hoodie in my rucksack.

I liked to dress smartish for church, but later I had no doubt the kids would want me in the garden to play footie or tag or something equally raucous, in which dress shoes and expensive jumpers were not suitable.

I picked up the homemade cherry pie I had baked last night, from the side and went straight to the car. Yes, I bake. I am a terrible cook, if truth be told, when it was my turn to host dinner, I tended to buy it, have it catered at Thia or Zeke’s place or book us all in at the local carvery and pay for everyone.

However, I could bake, I found it relaxing and I enjoyed it, and more than that, people loved my baked goods and selfishly I liked that they did. I placed the pie on the back seat, threw my rucksack behind my seat and got ready to leave.

I rang Jada on the way, to check she was still coming and ready, I hadn’t had a chance to call her yesterday and had hoped she wasn’t going to bail on me.

‘Gabe!’

‘Hey, sorry I didn’t call yesterday, was a little busier than anticipated. You still coming?’

‘Yes! I’m ready. I had hoped it was still on’ I could hear her relax knowing I was on my way, and then the excitement in her voice ‘I’m really looking forward to it!’ and then I worried perhaps I should have prewarned her about what today was all about.

Still, I decided against and thought I would accept the punishment for keeping her from it if it came to that!

‘Great, I’ll be with you in ten’

I hung up, and when I arrived, she immediately buzzed me in, and I drove straight to the door. When I stepped out of the car, she was at the door. She looked cute in a knee length fitted skirt, cashmere sweater and boots.

‘Your face! What happened?’

I touched my lip, having momentarily forgotten, ‘Oh, nothing, a disgruntled customer’

She accepted without further question, ‘You look…. different’

My lip curled up as I tried to hold back my smirk ‘So do you’

‘Touche!’ a wry smile forming on her lips ‘No Archer?’ she asked, eyebrows raised a little.

‘He has Sunday’s off. No Henry?’

‘Sunday’s off!’ she smugly pursed her lips.

‘Good. Sundays should be a day of rest. Shame you will never want me for your husband Jada, you and I would have made a good team’ I joked.

‘Yes, It’s a shame you aren’t a hot woman. But still, I will take a hot friend instead’

I laughed ‘Count me in. Come on, I don’t want to be late’

‘Late for what?’

‘You’ll see. Just promise me, you won’t pass judgment until the end of the day’

‘Judging is not something I do Mr. Mathews’

‘Good, because I have been very guilty of it in the past, and I have no right to ask something of you, I have failed to do myself, but I do hope you have a good day. This is the highlight of my week’

‘Don’t be so hard on yourself. There is always time to see the error of your ways and learn from it, starting now. I am intrigued and looking forward to what you have in store… I think’ she laughed, and I opened the car door for her.

When we pulled up in front of the small traditional, English stone church set in the Oxford countryside that I had been attending almost without fail every Sunday for the last 11 years, I suddenly felt a pang of nerves. I had never shown anyone this side of me, outside of my family, that was.

The light shone on the stain glass windows, and it was a glorious sight. Jada’s eyes widened lightly as she peered at me through a sideways glance.

‘Church? You are taking me to church?’

‘Yes, I haven’t rarely missed a service in 11 years, but if you are uncomfortable, we can leave?’

‘No, no, I used to go with Daddy when I was little. I just, well, I wasn’t expecting this! In all the magazines, never have I heard you mention religion!’

‘Or politics. It’s bad for business. But I take my faith seriously, even if I am somewhat of a disappointment to Him upstairs. I’m even a part of the church committee’

She laughed ‘Seriously?’

I laughed myself, I knew it was difficult to believe ‘Yes! Seriously’

‘Wow, okay then. Let’s go’

I got out the car and opened the door for her and as we walked through the car park, I saw Zeke arrive, I had no doubt Thia had already rang him and told him about Jada and my fat lip.

‘Come meet my brother’ I grabbed Jada’s hand and pulled her towards his car. Ezra, Zeke’s husband got out first.

‘Gabe! Hey, and this must be the lovely Jada, we are honoured’ he smiled brightly and shook Jada’s hand ‘I’m Ezra, Zeke’s husband’

Jada looked a little taken a back and I was beginning to regret not pre warning her that my entire family were going to be here ‘Nice to meet you Ezra’ she shot me a look and I gave her an apologetic shrug followed by a small smile, hoping she would forgive me.

‘He didn’t tell you about us, did he?’ Zeke had now joined the party.

‘No. You must be his brother?’

‘Yes, and this here is Isla and that one over there, Obi, our kids’

‘It’s nice to meet you both’ she smiled ‘And you too Isla, you must have your hands full with all these men around!’ Jada winked at Isla, and she giggled.

‘Yeah, but it’s okay’ she whispered ‘I usually get what I want’

Jada chuckled and whispered back ‘I may need some tips!’

‘I got you covered’ Isla winked and held onto Jada’s hand, and we started to walk to the church as Zeke tried to chase down Obi and catch him, that kid had more energy than a red bull!

A car horn beeped, Thia and Freddie were here.

Jada turned, as we all did, as the car pulled into the carpark.

‘Your sister?’ Jada asked.

‘Guilty’ I pursed my lips.

‘Gabriel Mathews, did you not think it was worth mentioning any of this?’

‘Oh, come on! If I had, would you have come?’

‘And encroach on your family day? No way!’

‘Exactly, you need this, it will be fun, chaotic, but fun! Trust me’

‘And I was told you were a ruthless bastard’ she teased.

‘I am, usually’ I was deadly serious.

I don’t honestly know why I was being so nice to an almost complete stranger, maybe it was because I really did like her father, and as her mother had already passed when Jada was little, she was alone. I did know though, whatever the reason, I wouldn’t be making a habit of it.

Isla dragged Jada over to the car, and we all followed as Freddie and Thia got out. While the kids got out, Isla introduced Jada as Uncle Gabe’s pretty friend Jada, which she took like a pro. I had no doubt she hadn’t spent much time around children before.

‘Jada, it’s lovely to meet you’ Thia gave me a nod of approval and I know Jada did not miss the unsubtle gesture ‘This is Hallie my eldest, and Coby and Cain the twins, Freddie my husband is the one trying unsuccessfully to reign the boys in’ she chuckled.

Now that Obi was with Cain and Coby, the fun really started. They were already causing mayhem and we hadn’t even made it inside yet!

‘Any luck finding a Nanny?’ I overheard Thia asking Zeke and Ezra.

‘No! It’s been a nightmare’ Zeke professed.

‘You are too fussy!’ Ezra lightly scolded.

‘I am allowed to be fussy when it comes to the welfare of our children!’ he retorted.

‘Now now boys, settle down, we are about to enter the house of God’ I teased ‘but seriously, if you want me to do some background checks on anyone, just let me know’

Zeke shot me a look ‘That won’t be necessary thanks Gabe, I’m not that paranoid, we are going through an agency, they do all that, I just want to find the right fit, that’s all’

We all piled into church and quieted down as we listened to the sermon. It was a beautiful place of solitude and peace, and I always enjoyed the quiet contemplation. It was the one day in the week I didn’t feel like a complete asshole.

When the service was finished, we all headed over to Thia’s and threw all the kids out into the garden immediately! All except Hallie, who at 11, thought she was an adult and far to mature to be left with the little kids.

‘Uncle Gabe is Jada your girlfriend?’ she asked, and everyone’s ears perked up just a little.

‘No, she’s just a friend. She doesn’t like boys that way’

Everyone looked mildly disappointed, and I thought Jada was going to slap me ‘Gabe!’

‘What? It’s true, you are amongst friends here and believe me when I tell you, telling them now is better than waiting for them ALL to hound you about being in a relationship with me later, because they would have’

‘It’s true, Mum’s the worst!’ Hallie snickered as she grabbed the tablecloth ready to set the table.

‘Hallie, I am not!’ Thia scolded.

‘Baby, you really are…’ Freddie wasn’t quick enough and Thia managed to get in a good whack upside the head ‘Owww’ he rubbed the back of his head and we all laughed.

‘Need some help?’ Jada asked Hallie and she nodded, I guess making a hasty exit was Jada’s next move.

As we all sat down to eat together, it was like Christmas dinner! Noise, chatter, and laughter filled the air, and I breathed it all in. It was crazy and insane, but heart-warming and it made my incessantly belligerent and aggressive working week bearable. Although, if I was completely honest, a part of me loved what I did, or I wouldn’t be doing it!

‘UNCLE GABE’ the cries of four screaming children from the garden…. It was time. We had barely finished eating, and hadn’t even had the cherry pie yet, but it seems I was required!

‘Any of you lazy bastards coming to join me?’ I asked.

Jada looked lost ‘Join you where?’

‘Oh, it’s way more fun to watch’ Thia chuckled ‘We can sit here with a cuppa and enjoy the onslaught’

‘Yeah, I’m in’

‘Me too’

‘Freddie? Don’t be the only loser’

‘Fine! Count me in, but I want to be on Ezra or Zeke’s team, they are WAY fitter than you, and all the kids like attacking you for some reason’

This was true. Apparently, it was funny to attack Uncle Gabe. I quickly got changed and as I entered the garden room ready to go out and play, Jada nearly choked on her tea.

‘What?’

‘And I thought what you were wearing this morning was casual, Billionaire Tycoon Gabriel Mathews, in sweatpants! I never thought I would see the day!’ Jada laughed so hard she was practically crying.

‘Wait to you see me in 15 minutes. Tell anyone and we won’t be friends anymore!’ I grinned and went out to join the others.

After an hour of, well it was more like attack and playfight with Uncle Gabe than it was football, we were all exhausted and ready for pie. When we all piled into the dining room, Thia, Jada and Hallie were already setting plates for everyone, and the rest of us went to wash up.

Before long, it was time to make a move. I could only imagine how hectic it was, getting three kids’ school stuff ready, not to mention themselves prepped for work. Both Thia and Freddie had busy and stressful jobs, so we left and let them have their home back, to get ready for the upcoming week.

‘Are you okay?’ I asked, as we got into the car and took off on the hours journey back to London.

‘Yeah, you didn’t say you made the pie, I thought you bought it!’

‘I have many hidden talents’ I raised my brow ‘Thia didn’t pry too much?’

‘I like your sister, actually, you are very lucky, you have an amazing family. Thank you so much for inviting me here today, I’ve had a great day’

‘Good. I’m glad me and my crazy family haven’t put you off us! Maybe, you would like to come again some time?’

‘I would love too’

I dropped Jada home and made my way back to my penthouse. All too soon my day was over, and tomorrow, the start of a new week. When I woke up tomorrow, the hard and solemn persona would return, and all remnants of the man I was today, would be gone, for another 6 days, anyway!