AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jules frowned, feeling her turmoil and her pain.
“I loved you so much but I was terrified that you’d be grossed out by my disfigurement.”
“I would never do that, you know that now,” he assured softly.
“I know,” she said. “Anyway, I met Rex after you and I broke off. I thought Rex and I would get married. Well, he turned out to be a real jerk and when he was no longer in the picture, I still had the burning desire to be a parent so…I went to the Mayberry Hill Fertility Clinic.”
Jules looked up, stunned. “What did you say?”
“I…I had IVF treatment to get pregnant. I didn’t want to go through that painful rejection again by a lover and I wanted to be a parent so badly.” Amber hugged herself looking out the window at the dark sky and moonlight.
Jules got up. “You what? You had in vitro? That’s your secret? That’s it?”
Amber nodded slowly. “Can you imagine the shame and disgrace if people found out? They would laugh at me and tell me that they were right about no man wanting me and having to go to a clinic to get pregnant. I know this is all probably in my mind but I’ve been dealt with such cruelty that I didn’t want to give any juice to the gossip mill. It wasn’t anybody’s business and I didn’t want people making fun of my daughter because she wasn’t conceived naturally. That she was a product of artificial insemination.”
“Oh, honey! But so many couples go that route. It’s nothing to be ashamed of, Amber.”
“Not if you’re voted the winner of most-likely-to-never-be-touched-by-a-man,” she replied.
“Ouch. I see your point, Amber. It’s nobody’s business, and you can’t let haters dictate the way you live your life.”
“I know. I’ve grown a lot tougher since then. But I never had an easy childhood, Jules.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.” He moved towards her and gently pulled her into his arms. “Our daughter will have a good childhood. Because she’s got us.”
“You know something, Jules?”
“What?”
“Let’s go forth with the annual barbecue. I still want to take part in it. For the families. I want to be an example that women can have babies naturally or not and it was all okay.”
He smiled. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“I can’t let haters dictate the way I live my life. Someone wise recently told me that. I’m going to respond to that comment and I want you to let them know that we had an IVF baby. So what if I got pregnant through IVF? Countless women have gotten pregnant that way for many different reasons. I’ve got love and your support, and that’s all I need, Jules.”
“Have I told you lately, how proud I am of you, Amber?” Jules lowered his head to hers and kissed her tenderly. Amber shivered with delight as his loving energy surfed through her body. Oh, that magical feeling again.
“I don’t mind hearing it again,” she teased him.
“Good. I love you, Amber.”
“I love you, too, Jules.”
Amber leaned into his chest and felt that feeling of warm love again. Maybe things would be okay from now on. Jules didn’t look down on her for what she had done. And that counted more than anything.
* * *
CHAPTER TWENTY
The following week, the garden at the Mayberry Hill Family Center was filled with hundreds of guests from the community. The energy in the air was electric. A live steel band played in the background as waiters dressed in white came around and offered refreshments to everyone. All families, regardless of how they came to be, were encouraged to attend.
This was another phase in Amber’s life. She was not only the first lady of the center but she now had complete control of the Murray Café and Jules had agreed to help her with some renovations on the café while keeping the staff paid through the temporary closure. Amber was going to have some major upgrades done, hire more staff and keep her family’s legacy and business going. She was so excited to begin this overdue undertaking. But right now, her thoughts were on the wonderful day celebrating the official first Family Annual Barbecue since her husband Jules took over the Mayberry Hill Family Center.
“You look beautiful, Mrs. Romero,” Brenda said, beaming. Amber still loved the sound of that. Mrs. Romero.
“Thank you, Brenda. You’ve all done a wonderful job.”
Amber had been thanking and mingling with tons of guests since midday. She looked around for her busy husband and when she spotted him, she couldn’t wait to make her way over to see him.
* * *
Dion Romero was glad to see things working out for his little brother, Jules, at the Mayberry Hill Family Center’s Annual Barbecue. He was happy that Jules had acquired this new property to add to his other businesses. And Jules and Amber looked so relaxed together. He sure was glad all that drama with Amber’s aunt was out of the way. Man, that woman was a real psycho in a dress!
“Congratulations, bro,” Dion added.
“Thanks, Dion. I couldn’t have done it without everyone’s support. It means a lot,” Jules said.
“Yeah, I know. And, congratulations again with Amber, too. Are you two planning on having a big wedding ceremony where Grandpa won’t be complaining every year on your anniversary how he wasn’t even invited to the original nuptials?”
Jules grinned. “Very funny. I don’t think he’d like the idea of being in a labor and delivery room. Besides, you saw how nervous the JP was. And he’s Grandpa’s age. When the time is right, we’ll have a big reception. Besides, why don’t you give him what he wants? You know he wants us all married off before he puts one foot in the grave.”
“A wedding? I don’t think so. You know I’m not a marrying man,” Dion felt uneasy. There went his heartbeat again. Pounding hard in his chest. Dion had done the engagement thing once before but caught his now ex with his BFF – backstabbing freaking friend. Currently, ex-friend. He knew then, betrothal wasn’t for him. It was a good thing they hadn’t walked down the aisle yet.
How could he ever trust that a woman wasn’t going to rip out his heart from his chest again after he figuratively handed it to her on a silver platter, with a diamond engagement ring on the side? “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for you, Lucas, Zack and Carl but I really don’t see myself tying the knot.”
“I know you had it rough, man. But really, when you meet the right one—”
“Jules, I’ve been down that road before. I’m not going there again. I dodged that bullet! It’s lucky that you and the others found someone special. And I say blessed luck! But I’ll continue to keep my relationships temporary, thanks. Physical, hot, and wild, nothing more. As long as I let the pretty ladies know up front I’m not a marrying man, they can take it or leave it.”
“Fine. You say that now…”
“And I’ll be saying that until my dying breath.”
Jules play punched his brother Dion. “Yeah, right. I’ll believe that when I see it, man.”
Just then his sister-in-law, Amber, showed up beside them. Dion excused himself and headed for the refreshments table. Another man walked over to where Jules and Amber were standing.
* * *
“Hi, honey,” Amber said when she got close to Jules.
“Hey, beautiful, have you met Mr. Jackson from the Regent Center?” Jules said, turning to the man beside him.
“No, it’s nice to meet you,” Amber said. Mr. Jackson took her hand and kissed the back of it.
“Your wife is very gracious and beautiful, Jules. Congratulations.”
“I know she is. Thank you.”
Amber was happy to see Jules in good spirits. It was a trying month for them.
When she pulled him aside away from the crowd, she couldn’t wait to tell him the good news.
“We’re having a baby?” He beamed.
She nodded joyfully. “I just got the message and couldn’t wait to tell you. It looks as if you’re okay after all, baby.”
“Amber, you don’t know how happy I am to hear that.” He wrapped his arms around her and practically picked her up.
“I can’t wait to share the good news.”
“Neither can I.”
“You said you wanted to speak with me tonight about some good news. Well, even though it’s not as good as mine.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Oh, come on. What could be more thrilling than us having a baby … together, honey?”
He leaned her against the wall and looked deeply into her eyes, hunger and passion filled his dark, sexy eyes. “Do you remember the ski accident I had?”
“Of course. That’s when the doctor said erroneously you couldn’t make babies.”
“Yeah, well, at that time, he also told me I could have my sperm surgically removed and stored and so I took him up on the offer at the time and then forgot about it.” A wicked grin touched his lips.
Amber’s heart fluttered hard in her chest, her throat closed up with emotion. “J-Jules…what are you t-telling me?”
“I didn’t want to say anything until I got the confirmation but…as it turned out, the lab staff accidentally took my sample and got a local woman pregnant with it. I should be totally pissed, but turns out, there’s more to it.”
