296 The Grant Farm 1

Sabrina and Ashton are in the car, on their way to meet Ashton's family. They plan to stay overnight.

Sabrina is looking at the vast land on each side of the road and thinking about the last few days.

Ashton accompanied her for a doctor's checkup. They confirmed that she is pregnant and that pregnancy is normal.

With miraculous persistence and luck, other than Max and Liz, no one else knows that Sabrina and Ashton are expecting a child. Sabrina wanted to meet Ashton's family before all the commotion on her side of the family starts, and here they are.

Ashton drove off the highway, through a small town, and then he took a left and continued on the dirt road… The car passed under a big arch that has a board: "The Grant Farm".

Sabrina is nervous. She is aware that Ashton's family is more traditional. The elders are respected based on their age. That is not something she is used to. The Anderson family is more of a democracy, where everyone is equal (children included). Sabrina is used to speaking her mind without the worry of punishment, and she is not sure that she will know how to behave properly. They are Ashton's family, and she does not want to offend them.

Ashton assured her that it's not a problem. "Just be yourself and don't stress about them. My parents are traditional, but also forgiving…" He knows that even if his parents are offended, they will not show that in front of Sabrina. He might get scolded for it, but not Sabrina. At least that is what he hopes because outsiders don't visit often.

Sabrina is grateful for Ashton's support, but she decided to stay quiet and to smile unless someone asks her a question. That seems to be the safest tactic of not offending people.

The car stopped in front of a wide one-story ranch-style house.

Sabrina held onto Ashton's hand, stepped out of the car, and took a deep breath, inhaling the unfamiliar heavy scent of dirt and grass mixed with something she could not identify.

"You are here!" A male voice boomed from the porch.

"My brother, Douglas. We call him Doug…" Ashton murmured to Sabrina.

"Don't yell, you will scare the girl…" A stern girly voice drifted in from the porch. The woman in her early twenties is petite, and her figure was completely blocked by Doug's body.

"My youngest sister, Holly…" Ashton said softly.

Ashton introduced his two siblings to Sabrina, and a man burly with gray streaks in his hair stepped out.

"Rina, this is my dad… Dad, this is Sabrina." Ashton said with a smile.

"Call me Don, short for Donald…" Ashton's father said, and Sabrina liked how his eyes crinkled at the edges when he smiled. Ashton has his father's eyes.

"What happened with your arm?" A woman's concerned voice came from the porch. She walked toward Ashton without removing her gaze from his left arm which is in a cast.

Ashton grimaced when his mother squeezed him, but he didn't want to say that his ribs are cracked as well.

"Wow! I thought that you went to the big city to study, but it seems you went to find a woman!" Ashton's brother Shane said jokingly when he approached them while Ashton was introducing his mom to Sabrina.

Ashton made a face. "Be polite in front of your future sister-in-law."

"Sister-in-law?" Holly asked with glee and her eyes drifted to Sabrina's left hand and a sparkly ring on it.

Ashton smiled and hugged Sabrina. "We are engaged."

Shane had no intention to stop teasing his brother. "Just as I said… you went to find a woman." But his comments were drowned in congratulations from the others.

Four more people joined the group, and Ashton introduced his sister Angela, his oldest brother Adam, and Adam's and Doug's wives: Cynthia and Leslie.

Ashton already spoke about them to Sabrina, so she knows that all of them live here together and work on this massive farm. When Adam married Cynthia, they built a separate house on this property, and Doug also got his own house when he married Leslie. Shane, Holly, and Angela live in the main house with their parents.

"They might be noisy, but they are good people. My family. And I hope yours." Ashton told Sabrina.

Sabrina was not sure how to respond because everyone was looking her way, so she smiled and nodded.

Adam smacked Ashton's shoulder. "You found yourself a nice girl. A bit skinny, but we can fix that with some real cooking."

Sabrina looked at Adam and blinked. Skinny? No one called her skinny so far. She glanced at the other women present and concluded that she is the leanest one, but the other ones are not fat either.

Holly giggled. "You are making her uncomfortable."

"I only said that we will feed her well." Adam retorted. "City folks eat small portions."

Cynthia looked at Adam (aka her husband). "You don't call out woman's appearance, especially not as soon as you meet her. She came here as your brother's fiancée. Did you get bored of me already?"

Adam smacked the back of Ashton's head. "Why are you making me bicker with my wife?"

It was not a big smack, more like fly-by which grazed Ashton, but Sabrina remembered that Ashton had a cracked skull and her protective instinct kicked in. She swiftly stood between Adam and Ashton.

"Don't hit him."

Adam was surprised by Sabrina's fierce glare and he took a step back. "I was joking."

Sabrina forgot about Ashton's family. She was totally focused on Adam. "You smacked his shoulder, now his head. What is next?"

"It's OK, Rina. I'm used to this." Ashton tried to pacify Sabrina. He remembered how she beat up Hunter in front of the Anderson family villa. As much as his family is easygoing, they will freak out if Sabrina starts kicking Adam around. And also, she is pregnant.

Sabrina turned to Ashton. "It might be a brotherly thing, but it's still a hit, and you are hurt already."

Shane's eyes were sparkling with amusement. "Beautiful, fierce… if she is rich, and from a good family, and I will marry her."

'SMACK!'

Shane's face contorted in a grimace when his mother slapped him on the back.

"What are you saying? Marrying your brother's fiancée? Where is your decency?" Debbie (aka Ashton's mom) glared at Shane and only when he took a step back she nodded victoriously before turning to Sabrina. "I apologize for my boys; I didn't raise them right. My boys were always rowdy and causing a ruckus and they forget that civilized people don't act like that."

"It's OK, Mrs. Grant." Sabrina said awkwardly. "I overreacted."

"Please, call me mom, or Deb… And you didn't overreact. Only by standing your ground, you can survive in this place. Thank you for protecting Ashton, he was always easy to bully. His brothers would wrestle a bull, and Ashton would stay inside with a book, and when someone stirred trouble, Ashton would try to find a peaceful way out. He is a gentle soul. Please, come inside. You must be tired from the trip…"

"Boys! Get the luggage in!" Mrs. Grant shouted before walking into the house with Sabrina. Holly, Angela, Leslie, and Cynthia followed inside, leaving the guys behind.

Mr. Grant went in. He is not needed to carry luggage and his sons will want to catch up.

Ashton popped the trunk open and Adam, Doug, and Shane looked inside. There was one suitcase and a number of fancy-wrapped boxes, obviously presents.

"One suitcase?" Shane asked with amusement.

Ashton confirmed the obvious. "Yes. We are engaged and living together."

Doug grabbed the suitcase and snickered. "Did you tell that to mom and dad? They have a separate room prepared for your girl."

Ashton pressed his lips into a line. "Take the suitcase to my room. I will talk to mom and dad."

"How did you manage to get such a hot girl?" Adam asked when he confirmed that Cynthia went inside. "And she defended you passionately, I was sure that she would hit me if I didn't back off. Can she fight? Or is she just talking smack?"

Ashton smiled. "Make sure not to provoke her, or she will hit you and you will not get up."

"Oho!" Doug exclaimed. "You found a pretty girl who can throw a punch! Now you can focus on your books in peace. She will defend you from the bullies."

"Rina is much more than a pretty girl who can punch. She is a successful businesswoman." Ashton said proudly and glared at Doug. "I hope that you keep your inappropriate comments for yourself."

"What did I say inappropriate?" Doug asked in disbelief.

Ashton didn't respond. He grabbed a few boxes. "Help me with the rest. Rina got presents for everyone…"

Ashton got inside and kept the boxes on the table in the living room. He followed the noise to the kitchen.

"Where is Rina?" Ashton asked when he noticed that Sabrina and Cynthia are missing.

Ashton's mom responded: "I said that the lunch is almost done, and the girls wanted to help, but then Sabrina said she is not well and asked where the restroom is, and Cynthia showed her the way. Is she sick?"

Ashton smiled and shook his head. "No, Rina is not sick."

Mrs. Grant stared at Ashton. "She is pregnant."

Holly and Angela screamed when they saw that Ashton's smile widened.

"What's with the noise?" Shane asked when he peeked in the kitchen.

"Sabrina is pregnant!" Holly exclaimed in excitement.

"Instead of studying, he found a woman AND made a baby…" Adam grumbled from behind Shane. He is married to Cynthia for five years, but they have no luck with getting pregnant. And now Ashton appeared with a woman AND a baby in one go.

With all the commotion, Ashton missed his mom who approached him angrily until it was too late to escape. She pulled his ear with a lot of force while scolding him: "How dare you make her pregnant before getting married! Is that how I raised you?"

"No, ma'am..." Ashton responded weakly.

"Are you sure they are not married?" Shane asked.

Ashton groaned when his mother pulled harder.

"You got married without telling us?!"

Ashton felt like crying. Of course, they are not married. But then he is back to making a baby before marriage.

"If I knew this is how you would welcome us... We would not come." Ashton said while tears swelled in his eyes.

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