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Not that the vigilance they took was without merit. In the past, the Romeros were victims of corporate espionage and a kidnap attempt. Besides, Romero was a Spanish name for protector. And Jules had no trouble living up to his surname, especially where his wife and child were concerned. Then another thought bit into Jules. Did this somehow have anything to do with Crystal’s biological father? He somehow hoped it didn’t. It couldn’t. Amber said the father was out of the picture. He decided he was going to respect her privacy until she was good and ready to tell him the truth. The last thing he wanted, as tempted as he was, would be to question her timing and go behind her back to dig up information on this dude. Amber said she would tell him soon enough. He would leave it at that for now.
Jules rubbed his stubble thinking about the explosive revelation his brother Carl discovered about his own wife, Venus. Oh, God, did all women have secrets and skeletons in their past?
There was a knock on his office door. “Come in,” Jules called, obviously distracted.
“Good morning, boss!” Brenda, his cheerful executive assistant, came in with some posters in her hand. She was a petite Asian woman with lovely shoulder-length, dark hair and a beautiful smile. She rarely frowned, no matter how hectic things got around the office. Jules was grateful to have her on his team. He had it in mind to promote her. She was excellent at handling many projects on her own and was well-educated and fluent in several languages. Oh, the wonders of overseeing human resources. No wonder Amber told him to slow down and relax and take a break once in a while. He was always working overtime—especially in his mind, thinking of his next strategies, promoting, organizing, delegating. It never stopped. But oh, last night was deeply relaxing. Jules thought of the intense, heated passion he’d experienced with Amber, and that mellowed him a lot. He was ready for everything. He couldn’t wait to be alone with Amber again, especially after last night when she opened up to him emotionally.
Amber. From the second he got into the office, his mind ran on her a dozen times in between meetings and business correspondence. He could not get enough of his wife.
“What have you got for me, Brenda?” Jules said, leaning back in his chair while Dion acknowledged her before getting back to reading his magazine.
“Oh, some good news, sir.”
“Good, I can never get enough of that.”
“Well, you know the Spring Magazine often nominates a few model families to be Family of the Year; it’s sort of a monthly thing to inspire and encourage other families.”
“Yeah, I’m familiar with Spring Magazine,” Jules responded cautiously. What was Brenda getting at? She seemed to have a wicked grin on her face.
“Well, news got around with your um…labor vows and how devoted you two were in having your baby and well, determined to get married and well…” Brenda hesitated, something she rarely did.
“Spill it, Brenda,” Jules said quietly with a grin on his face and a puzzled expression.
“Well, they’ve sort of nominated you, Amber and Crystal—after I submitted your name,” she added looking sheepish. “I have a friend who works in their art department. He told me the good news this morning. They’re getting ready to send you the forms.”
“Oh, no.”
“Oh, yes.”
“No, Brenda. I’m on the board of the Family Center.”
“And that’s okay. It’s not like that magazine has anything to do with us. The point is, boss, your wedding vows in the labor room thing was so hot when it hit the local news that day.”
Jules frowned. But that news story had been carefully edited to not include the identity of said parents—meaning Jules and Amber. The reporter, who happened to be a friend of his sister-in-law, Blue, a former reporter herself, had respected their privacy.
“I’ll need to get your answer,” Brenda added, “like, in an hour.”
“An hour? Why so soon?”
“Well, they’re running behind schedule. And…um…they told me that the couple they had slated for this month had just…um…filed for divorce.”
“They did?” Jules looked incredulous then sighed heavily. “Well, they might not be the only ones. Amber might want to divorce me, too, if she thinks I’m pushing her into the limelight.”
Brenda grinned and shook her head. She seemed amused by her boss’s wry sense of humor.
“I’m not sure if Amber will go for it,” Jules continued. “Besides, what would be involved?”
“Oh, nothing too inconvenient. Just posing for a family portrait.” Brenda unrolled some sample posters, with Dion’s assistance on the desk, and showed Jules.
“You see here. Look at all these wonderful hall of fame like portraits. We’ve had people at the center participate as well. Each one so different and beautiful.”
“I see,” Jules said, looking at the various family pictures. “Okay, I’ll talk with Amber about it, and if she’s good with it, it’s a go.”
Brenda beamed. “Awesome! I’ll talk to their PR department to get this set up. It will be just in time for our own Annual Family Center BBQ.”
“That’s coming up soon, isn’t it? Doesn’t leave us much time, does it?” Jules said. “Fine,” he agreed. “Let me confirm with Amber.”
“Great. You won’t be sorry.” Brenda gathered the material from his desk and whisked out of the office as quickly as she came in.
“Well, seems like you’ll be having your hands full, bro,” Dion commented with a grin.
“Yeah. Let me call Amber. And keep me posted on those developments.”
“Sure thing.”
Jules immediately called Amber after Dion left the office. Amber actually sounded pleased about the Family of the Month nod to her little household.
Over the phone, Amber told him it would be wonderful and that Crystal would have this to look back on. She couldn’t wait to break the news to her aunt, who was sitting close beside her at the café. Amber appeared to be in good spirits. That made Jules feel settled inside.
Well, as long as Amber was good with the Family of the Month recognition, Jules was good with it as well.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The following day, Amber was seated opposite her therapist.
“You’re doing very well, Amber,” Dr. Danye said, beaming. “Keep up the great work.”
“Thanks, doc. But I couldn’t have done it without your help.” Amber prepared to get up from her seat. She was finished with her session.
“Well, you’ve been doing all the work, Amber. I’m very proud of you.”
“The authorities wanted to see if I could give them a little more information to coincide with some new evidence. At least I’m remembering a little bit more now. It’s still hard for me, but the police were talking about using a hypnotherapist. I told them I was seeing you for my regular therapy, but I know that’s not your area of expertise.”
“Well, just go with your gut. You know how I feel about those sorts of things,” he said, adjusting his glasses on his nose. He got up again, grabbing his walking cane. “And don’t forget to bring your little one the next time you visit.”
“I will. Oh, and before I forget,” Amber said, reaching into her Coach tote bag. “Here’s a copy of a brochure my husband has been working on. I thought you might like to put it in the reception area for some of your patients. We’re having a barbecue at the family center. Of course, you don’t have to tell them it’s from one of your patients.” Amber winked.
Dr. Danye grinned. “I’ll put this up.”
Dr. Danye often displayed colorful family-friendly brochures and other freebies in his waiting area for people to peruse.
“Imagine that,” she said almost at a whisper. “Years ago when you first treated me, I didn’t have a family,” she continued, hot tears stinging her eyes. Her voice broke off with choking emotion. She was feeling overwhelmed again. But not in a bad way. She just couldn’t describe the miracle that captured her life after such horrible tragedy and rejection. Her appreciation to the universe was sincere and humbling. She never thought she would ever be “normal” again. She’d been rejected as an illegitimate kid, then orphaned, scarred for life emotionally and physically, feeling worthless, trying to compensate. And now…it would seem that she’d been given a second chance.
“Well, you deserve happiness, Amber. You really do.”
“Thanks, doc.” Amber glanced at her watch. “Oh, no. I better get going. I have an appointment at the hairdresser and then I have to pick up Crystal from my in-laws.”
“Well, I don’t want to keep you.” Dr. Danye smiled warmly. “Best of luck, Amber.”
“Thank you.”
Amber grabbed her tote bag and headed out the door, glancing around in the reception area as she walked out. There was no man in disguise. No one following her. Yet, an odd feeling crept into her stomach. It was just a bunch of nerves. Wasn’t that what the doc told her? She washed the doubt from her mind. She was going to focus on making Jules proud at the family barbecue. She felt like the First Lady of the Family Center! Image was everything. Her husband was, after all, the new owner.
