AllFreeNovel
Share Us
***
I decided to call Jacob today to see if he knew anything more about what was going on with Jess.
It was great being able to talk to my siblings, although I knew Jess and Jacob kept my calls a secret from our parents. Once my parents had known that I’d married a Marchiano, they’d declared me to be no longer a part of their family or the Società.
“Hi Jake.”
“Hey Juliana. How are you?”
After exchanging news of how we’d been since our last call together, I moved on to the reason for my call. “Jess won’t tell me what’s wrong. Do you know what’s going on with her, Jake?” Even if my parents no longer considered me family, I wasn’t ever going to abandon my brother and sister.
“I don’t know. I don’t think there’s any specific issue. My dealings with Rafael have been fairly limited. I tend to work more with Gabriel, so I’ve never got to know Rafael particularly well.”
“Yet Jess seems terrified. Do you think she’s terrified of him, or of getting married, or both?”
“I really don’t know. But I’ll keep an eye on her, I promise, and I’ll keep in touch with you about it.”
“Thanks, Jake. That will make me feel a bit better about it all. And Jake…”
“Yeah?”
“I…I just wanted to say sorry again—about what Marco did to you when he caught you trying to rescue me. I’m so sorry you got hurt.”
“It’s part of the job,” he replied unemotionally. Then his voice softened. “It was more than the job, actually—it was about you. And I would go through it all again if you ever needed me to.”
We were both silent for a moment, lost in our thoughts. Jacob turned the subject to me. “Tell me, how have you been?”
I’d already told him during our last phone call about the blessing ceremony; however, he hadn’t been entirely convinced that I was genuinely happy about it, no matter how much I had tried to explain things to him.
I also had something else to tell him today. “Jake, I’ve got some news.” I was nervous to tell him. I didn’t know why—actually, maybe I did know.
“Good news, I hope?”
After a slight pause, I spoke. “I’m pregnant—I’m having a baby.” I’d already told Marco a couple of days ago and he’d been over the moon.
“Dear God.” I could hear the shock in Jacob’s voice, even over the phone.
“No, it’s good news, Jake.”
“Is that why you went back withhimto Chicago and didn’t put up more of a fight?” he asked, not even being able to bring himself to utter Marco’s name.
“No, I didn’t know I was pregnant when I came to L.A. to see Jess. I went back with Marco because I love him.” I had tried to make Jacob understand this several times already, but I knew he still couldn’t get his head around it. “I’m happy now. I’m happy being married to Marco. And I’m excited about this baby.”
There was silence on the phone before Jacob spoke again. “Did you do the right thing, just tell me that?” he asked, quietly.
I didn’t have to hesitate before I answered. “Yes, I did.” I knew that Jacob and Jessica might never understand my reasons, but I also knew that I was now where I belonged and where my heart belonged.
“That’s all I need to know. Look, I have to go now, but I’ll keep an eye on things with Jess. She’ll still be nearby once she’s married, so if she needs anything I’ll be here for her. Just like I’ll always be here for you, Juliana. If you’re happy, then that’s all I want for you. I couldn’t bear to think of you as being unhappy or trapped with a man you didn’t love.”
“I’m not, I promise you, Jake.”
“You know I’m here for you if you ever need me, don’t you?”
“I know, Jake. And thank you. That means a lot to me.”
I knew my parents would never have me back. I was a Marchiano now: I’d slept with the enemy, married him, and was having his baby.
But I didn’t want to go back to L.A.
