Free Blood Lines, The Utley Tribe: Part I by Andie Lea Page B

was
     
simple, yet sophisticated. I tried to ignore my screaming
     
bladder as Gabriel began speaking about mine and
     
Collin’s journey together as a couple…past and present.
     
He talked about our son Matthew. Even though Matthew
     
wasn’t biologically mine, Collin and I took him under my
     
wing to raise when Gabriel didn’t have the strength. I
     
was known as Sapphire back then, but I am slowly
     
starting to remember.
     
I looked over at my parents and smiled. Seeing those
     
two always filled my heart with so much joy. I wanted
     
my marriage with Collin to be just like theirs.
     
“Samantha Emilia Utley, do you take Collin William
     
Utley to be your lawful wedded husband?” Gabriel
     
asked, breaking me away from my thoughts.
     
My eyes danced while staring at Collin. “Of course I do.
     
Do you honestly think I would have this huge belly right
now if I didn’t?” sliding the ring on his finger and
     
grinning from ear-to-ear.
     
Collin agreed to take me as his wife while sliding the ring
     
upon my finger. His lips quickly pressed into mine
     
before Gabriel had the chance to announce us husband
     
and wife. The both of us smiled as we kissed, oblivious to
     
everyone.
     
****
     
Our reception somehow managed to be twice the size as
     
our wedding ceremony. I guess practically everyone in
     
town must have heard the news…us Utley’s now how to
     
throw a kick-ass party!
     
My father and I danced together for the father/daughter
     
dance. As much as my hormones tried to make me cry, I
     
kept a straight face while we moved together.
“I am so proud of you sweetheart. For a while there,
     
poor Collin was beginning to think the two of you were
     
never going to get married.” He smiled as he whirled us
     
around. “Sammy princess, I have a surprise for you but
     
you have to promise me you won’t get mad. Promise?”
     
I could tell my father had been up to something. Instead
     
of questioning it, I nodded my head to play along.
     
“Alright. Now close your eyes.” He instructed.
     
Closing my eyes, I felt a much different pair of hands
     
take mine. These hands were softer and more feminine.
     
“Open your eyes Sammy.” My father’s voice spoke.
     
My eyes fluttered open and there she was, standing
     
before me with an innocent smile on her face.
     
“Congratulations on your big day Samantha.” My sister
     
broke the long silence. “I know you’re upset with me
over Gabriel, but I wanted to wish my big sister the best
     
of luck on her marriage.”
     
I stared at her for a few minutes, my face softening a bit.
     
“Is that a fat joke?” smirking as I took the lead in
     
dancing with her.
     
My memories of the past may be vague, but they showed
     
me that my sister was never at fault in any of this. Collin
     
was the one who started the pissing war with Gabriel,
     
marking his territory with me on the day I was
     
born…figuratively, of course.
     
“I’m glad to see the two of you finally getting along
     
again.” Evan danced close to us, his hands placed in
     
Maddison’s while they danced. “Sammy, I believe you
     
have already met my girlfriend. Maddison Callen.”
     
Kissing her hand with a boyish grin on his face.
     
My eyes widened in shock at Evan using the word
     
girlfriend and the fact she happened to be the mother of
our half-sister, Addison. How in the hell did he get our
     
father to agree to this? I knew my father well enough to
     
say he was one possessive ass.
     
Evan playfully rolled his eyes. “Before you even ask, the
     
answer is Emily. She was the one who believed we were
     
the perfect pair. The woman knows her stuff. I
     
imprinted on Maddie the second I saw her…and then
     
she switched the sprinklers on.”
     
“In my defense, it was late at night and seeing a man in
     
your lawn terrifies a woman who is helpless and alone.”
     
Maddison spoke. “What does this idiot do when