Chapter 14
Mac stood watching everyone talking to Gerald and Adel, she wondered what it might like to be a part of this ever growing family and if any of them knew that Trevor wanted her to join their ranks. She could tell how much they all cared for one another and worried that someone with her upbringing could ever fit into their tight knit group. She had always wanted to be a part of a family and now that the possibility was before her she dared to dream that it might finally come true. Maybe she would talk to Trevor about it when he called later that night.
Harm and Sturgis were the first to leave the gathering because they both needed to be court shortly. Slowly the others drifted away until only AJ, Akaliiani, Adel, and Gerald remained.
"How soon are the two of you leaving for Texas," AJ asked.
The newlyweds quickly looked at each other and Gerald was the one that answered, "Tomorrow. We were able to get seats on an afternoon flight."
Overhearing the conversation between the two men Akaliiani gasped, "Tomorrow Pops?!"
Apologetically he answered, "We wanted to get our new lives started, baby girl."
After a moment she nodded and said, "I understand, and you will both be back in a few weeks for our wedding."
Giving her a big hug, Gerald said, "Yes we will, baby girl."
When AJ's phone rang and he went to his desk and answered it Gerald told his daughter that he and Adel were going to the house to pack up what he would take to Texas with him, but that they want to have dinner with Akaliiani and AJ that evening.
"But Pops, it's your honeymoon!" Akaliiani protested.
"We will have plenty of time to honeymoon in Texas, Liiani. Tonight we want to spend time with the two of you. Remember, Adel hasn't seen her brother in a long while."
"Okay," Akaliiani agreed and hugged her father and new stepmother good-bye.
All AJ could do was wave at the couple as they left because he was still tied up on the phone. Akaliiani walked over to him and waited for him to give her a bit of his attention before whispering that she was going to leave as well. Giving him a kiss on the cheek, she took her leave.
Mac sat in her office knowing that she should be going over the file that was open in front of her, but instead all she could think of was the close knit happy Benet family and how she would ruin it if she and Trevor actually got married. She hated that she was always so down on herself, but with her history she just couldn't see herself fitting into this amazingly happy family.
In the middle of her self-recriminations, she looked up at the sound of a knock on her door jam. From the waist down a man stood there, however, the top half of the man was hidden by a large bouquet of flowers. "Sarah Mackenzie?" came a voice from behind the flowers.
When she confirmed that she was and signed for the bouquet, Mac waited for the delivery man to leave before reaching for the card. 'To the most brilliantly lovely woman I have ever met. Love, Trevor'. Mac took the card and pressed it to her heart, as a single tear rolled down her cheek.
At Gerald's place he and Adel worked on packing the clothes and few personal items he wanted with him. The plan was to pack up more when the two of them came back for Akaliiani and AJ's wedding. There were a few kisses shared but they didn't want to let themselves get carried away because of the planned dinner with AJ and Liiani.
Akaliiani had suggested Callisto's for the family dinner that night because after AJ had introduced her to the restaurant it had become a favorite of hers as well as his. AJ smiled at her and said that while he loved Callisto's he thought that the newlywed couple deserved something better for their wedding dinner.
He suggested that they go to the Willard hotel where the restaurant is on the top floor and much fancier than Callisto's.
Akaliiani walked over to him and taking hold of his tie, she pulled him down so she could plant a heated kiss on his lips. "You are the sweetest man alive!"
With a grin he told her, "Well I don't know about that, but I am glad that you think so."
To be continued…..