Nate winked at Liberty and mouthed, I told you.
*
“All right, I’m ready for my niece,” Nate said, an hour later, when he walked into the nursery. His cousin, Martina, had set it up in one of the second-floor bedrooms at their grandparents’ home. Nick was in there changing his daughter’s diaper.
“I can’t remember the last time I saw you this happy,” Nick said, as he fixed Chanelle’s clothes and then handed her to Nate.
“What are you talking about?” Nate asked, planting kisses against the baby’s cheek and neck, eliciting a toothless grin from her. She was growing too fast. Soon she’d be crawling and getting into everything. “Chanelle, tell your daddy that I’m always happy.”
“Not like lately.” Nick washed his hands in the sink near the changing table. “I can’t help but wonder if a cute little project manager has anything to do with that constant grin you’ve been wearing.”
“Maybe.”
“You know what this means don’t you?” Nick asked, drying his hands.
“No, but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”
“If you end up walking down the aisle with the proposal queen, you’ll have me to thank.”
Nate frowned. “How do you figure that?”
“If it weren’t for me, you wouldn’t have agreed to do the proposal. And if we hadn’t gotten involved with LCA, you never would’ve run into your college sweetheart.”
“You don’t know that. I could’ve run into her at the movies or the grocery store. Quit trying to take credit for my good fortune.”
Nick laughed. “You ungrateful a—”
“Don’t be cursing around my goddaughter. She has delicate ears.” At that moment, Chanelle flashed a bright smile as if she understood Nate was talking about her. “God, she has to be the cutest kid alive.”
“She definitely is, and I can’t wait to have a ton more just like her.” Nick placed a kiss on top of her curly head. “Have you and Liberty talked about kids?”
“Nope. It’s too soon for all of that.” Despite his words, Nate knew in his heart, he had found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. It was only a matter of time before they started talking marriage. “We’re still getting to know each other,” he said to his brother.
“Maybe, but you might want to give her a heads up about you wanting six children. Women need advanced notice if you’re expecting them to have that many kids.”
Nate laughed. He would love to have a house full of kids, and he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t been thinking about that idea more. Not since college did he wonder what it would be like to procreate with Liberty.
“Speaking of Liberty, let me go find her. I’m taking Chanelle with me.”
“Fine with me. If she starts fussing, I’ll be in the theater room, but you can take her to Sumeera. She’s in the kitchen…I think.”
When they arrived on the first floor, they ran into their grandfather’s cousin, Dexter.
“What’s up, Dex?” Nick and Nate greeted the older man, each shaking his hand. Dexter, a former army ranger and construction worker, had run into some trouble a few years ago. It took him time to get his life back together, and lately he had started spending more time with family.
“I’m glad I ran into you guys. Follow me,” Dexter said. Nate and Nick gave each other a curious glance and let Dexter lead them toward an all-season room on the side of the house.
Before heading down the short hallway that led to the room, Dexter stopped and stepped to the side. They could see the people in the room without being spotted.
“See the woman sitting next to your mother? The one with the red highlights in her hair and almond-shaped eyes, and pretty lips. Who is she?”
Nate and Nick exchanged a look and laughed at the description.
“Who, my mother-in-law?” Nick asked.
The interest in Dexter’s eyes couldn’t be missed. He had good taste. Mona was a nice-looking woman, but Nick’s mother-in-law had recently moved to Cincinnati after walking away from a long-term relationship. Nate would be surprised if she was interested in getting into another relationship right away.
“Introduce me,” Dexter said to Nick, pushing him toward the room.
“I’ll catch you guys later.” Nate headed in the opposite direction. “Alright, baby girl. Let’s go find my woman.”
Chapter Nineteen
Liberty sat in the oversized sitting room with some of the women in the family. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten so much. Considering the family were big meat eaters, Liberty had been pleasantly surprised that they had prepared a number of dishes that she could eat. Everything from grilled vegetables, Thai rice noodle salad, to Liberty’s new favorite dish, stuffed peppers.
“Did you have enough to eat?” Christina asked. Wearing an off-the-shoulder, white, hippie-style dress with a floral wreath headband, Christina looked very much the free-spirited, flower-child Nate had described.
“I did. Thank you. Everything was excellent. I don’t think I’ve ever eaten this much in my life.”
Peyton walked in at that moment carrying her son on her hip. “Isn’t it scary to know that this family eats like this every week?”
Liberty laughed. “That is interesting, but you all look great. I’d be a thousand pounds if I ate like this weekly.”
“The secret is, we only eat like this on Sundays. The rest of the week, we stuff ourselves with salad and water,” Toni added and sat next to Liberty on the sofa. Today she wore a T-shirt that said Stay Calm, Master Plumber in the House.
“Dang, this family is being overrun by kids. They’re everywhere.” Martina scooped up her daughter who had fallen asleep on a mound of pillows. “Soon we’re going to have to get a few nannies to help with them during Sunday brunch.”
“There will be no nannies in my house,” Katherine Jenkins said from a chair near the windows. She stood and headed to the door. “I had seven kids. Me and your grandfather took care of them by ourselves.”
“Yeah, and look how they turned out.” Martina ducked when Katherine swatted at her while others in the room laughed.
They left, but others hung around. When Liberty and Nate first arrived, Nate stuck by her until one of his aunts assured him they’d keep her company. Once he was sure she was okay with that, Nate had made a hasty retreat. He told her he’d be in the lower level watching football if she needed him.
“You look lost without Zack Junior,” Christina said to Jada who was sitting in an overstuff chair near the other end of the sofa.
It didn’t take long for Liberty to identify the pretty, petite woman. Dressed in a stylish, floral sundress with red-bottom high-heeled sandals, Jada was perfectly made up with every hair in place. Hard to believe the fashionista was once a sheet metal worker. She had quit her job after marrying her husband, a former NFL running back.
“Little Zack is hanging out with his father,” Jada said, sitting with one leg crossed over the other, her sandal dangling from her foot.
Just then, her hunk of a husband walked in carrying the curly-headed three-month old in the crook of his arm as if the baby weighed nothing.
A stab of loss pierced Liberty in the heart. At thirty-four, she thought she’d be married to the love of her life with at least three children by now. But the moment she married Isaac, she knew that wouldn’t be the case. At least the love of her life part. It was when she’d gotten pregnant that she thought at least she’d have a child of her own to love.
“You changed his clothes?” Jada shrieked, catching Liberty’s attention. “What happened to his suit and his dress shoes?”
Earlier, the baby looked as if he’d just returned from church, though that hadn’t been the case according to Christina. According to her, not only did Jada keep the baby in the finest clothes, she dressed him up as if he was a miniature business man. Liberty had thought that funny. Now the baby was wearing a T-shirt, jeans, and the smallest Timberland boots Liberty had ever see
n.
“He was tired of the suit,” Zack said, his lips twitching as if trying to hold back a grin. Everyone else in the room was rolling laughing, except for Jada.
“I think you need psychiatric help,” Toni said to Jada while still laughing. “He’s a baby, not some CEO or baby doll. You’re the only person in the world who changes their child’s clothes three or four times a day for no reason at all.”
“And if that’s not enough, she has a diaper bag, bottles, pacifiers, and bibs to match every single outfit,” Christina said to Liberty and smirked.
Wow, Liberty thought. That did seem a bit excessive.
“You guys need to mind your own business,” Jada grumbled, but her facial expression changed when Zack put the baby in her arms. Liberty didn’t miss the love radiating in her eyes as she held her son. The little boy was a looker with tanned skinned, a combination of his African American mother and Caucasian father’s skin tone.
“Alright, leave my wife alone.” Zack bent down and kissed Jada lips. If she was mad at him, it didn’t show when she smiled and cupped her hand over his scruff-covered cheek.
Another stab of pain hit Liberty in the heart, and she diverted her gaze. All afternoon she’d been subjected to watching happily married couples who had the cutest kids. Even though she and Nate’s relationship was progressing nicely, she wondered if she would ever have anything close to what she was witnessing.
Having endured the loving couples and adorable baby moments all afternoon, Liberty didn’t know how much more she could take. Though being surrounded by people who clearly loved each other, even with the good-natured teasing, was refreshing. That hadn’t been the case with Isaac’s family. Toward the end of their marriage, Liberty hadn’t even bothered attending family functions. Not wanting to endure the constant criticizing or witnessing the holier-than-thou attitudes.
One by one the cousins started filing out of the room, only leaving Christina and Toni, who were standing near the windows discussing a project their grandmother wanted them to handle.
Liberty thought about going in search of Nate. Before she could stand, he stopped outside the entrance to the room, talking to a man whose name Liberty couldn’t remember.
Her heart swelled as she watched him cradle his niece. He was a natural. The love for her could easily be seen each time he stared down at the baby. If she and Nate ever discussed marriage, what would he think about her not wanting to try having another baby? Would he dump her?
“Hey there.” He sat on the sofa next to her and wrapped his free arm around her shoulder before he kissed her lips.
“Hey yourself.” She glanced down at the baby who had her tiny fist in her mouth as she stared up at Liberty. Dressed in an adorable pink dress with matching socks, Chanelle could easily be a pint-sized model for everything cute and frilly.
“Do you want to hold her?”
“Um, no. That’s okay. Besides, she seems very content in her uncle’s arms.” Liberty tried to smile.
Nate lowered his voice. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling okay?”
Perceptive as ever. Her first instinct was to say no, but she didn’t want to be the cause of them leaving the brunch early.
“I’m fine.” She glanced at the baby again and Liberty’s heart squeezed. Suddenly needing some air, it took everything within her not to get up and leave the room.
When Chanelle started to fuss, Nate lifted her against his chest and spoke softly, rocking her gently.
Liberty’s heart squeezed a little more. Their gazes met and held for a second before he narrowed his eyes.
“You sure you don’t want to hold her? You have a longing look in your—”
“I said no,” she blurted harsher than intended and wanted to kick herself when Nate raised an eyebrow. She didn’t dare look over at Christina and Toni.
“CJ, can you and Toni give us some privacy?”
“Sure.”
“Here, take Chanelle to Sumeera.”
Nate handed off the baby and then waited until they closed the door before he turned back to Liberty.
“You don’t like kids?”
“I love kids,” Liberty said quietly.
“Then why are—”
“Can’t you just drop it, Nate?” She started to move away, but he was quicker. With his long arm snaked around her waist, he pulled her close.
“I know something’s wrong. I hope you know you can talk to me about anything.” He placed a kiss on the side of her head. It was just as sensual as if he had kissed her lips.
Liberty felt like crap. Why did he have to be so sweet? How would she ever be able to tell him that though she loved kids, she would never try to have any again? A woman could only take so much disappointment. She’d had enough sorrow in her world to last a lifetime.
“Talk to me.”
“I don’t know, Nate. While we’re hanging out with your family might not be the best time to talk about this.”
“If something is bothering you, then this is the perfect time. Besides, it’s just you and me here.”
Liberty feared his reaction. She didn’t want to lose him.
“Tell me what’s wrong.” He held her hand, and that should have brought her comfort, but instead her anxiety increased.
Just tell him.
“Weeks ago, when we decided to give our relationship a second chance, you said no more secrets.”
His face clouded with unease and uncertainty built within her as seconds ticked by. She should’ve brought this up in conversation long before, especially since she knew how much he wanted a family. But at the time she hadn’t been sure they’d be able to rebuild their relationship.
“There’s something I didn’t tell you. I guess I wasn’t really sure how.”
“Just tell me, Liberty,” he said, an edge to his tone.
“Five years ago, when I was studying for the bar…I got pregnant.” His hand on hers went slack, but he didn’t release her.
“You…you have a child?” he asked confused. His dark eyes showing disbelief. “Where—”
“I miscarried at four and a half months.”
“Oh, man. Baby, I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around her and they sat back on the sofa. “I guess seeing all of the babies here today hasn’t been easy.”
“I had wanted a family, but had been resigned to the fact that it wouldn’t happen since I had married Isaac. He knew I didn’t love him, but since I agreed to marry him…”
“Was having a child part of the contract?”
Liberty nodded. “He wanted an heir. And to be honest, I wanted a baby. I tried to make the relationship work, especially early in our marriage. But according to Isaac, I couldn’t do anything right.” She paused. “I froze whenever he touched me, and I’m not just talking about intimately. I barely wanted him to look at me. He and I both knew why. I didn’t love him. I couldn’t fake that no matter how hard I tried.”
It had been emotionally painful to be with Isaac when her heart belonged to someone else. Even though Liberty thought she would never see Nate again, he was never far from her thoughts. Never far from her heart.
“We hadn’t planned to have a child until after I started my career. But since I hadn’t taken the bar, the timeline of starting a family kept getting pushed back. I eventually realized Isaac didn’t care about my career and couldn’t care less if I took the bar. But he did want a child.
“I allowed him and that stupid contract to control my life. I was so unhappy, Nate. In every aspect of my life. I felt like a complete failure. Even so, I tried to make the best of every situation. Isaac had helped my family, I owed him. I tried to be the dutiful wife by catering to his needs, accompanying him to events, smiling, when what I really wanted to do was cry. On the outside looking in, we probably looked like the ideal couple.
“Needless to say, I was shocked when I got pregnant since we used protection, and I had mixed feelings. We had been married almost eight years. The thought of bringing a child into a loveless
marriage haunted me to the point of sleepless nights and barely eating. But I wanted that baby so bad. I wanted someone to love.”
“Did your ex start treating you better once he found out you were pregnant?”
“He did for the first couple of months, but then one of their businesses lost a million-dollar contract, and his family blamed him. He blamed me. Isaac made my life a living hell. Our already dysfunctional relationship got worse when he reneged on part of the contract that involved my parents.
“What do you mean?”
“My father worked at a manufacturing company owned by the Culpeppers, and suddenly, his hours were cut in half. He struggled to pay rent on the house that Isaac owned. The deal had been that if my parents paid the rent on time each month, after ten years, Isaac would sign the title of the house over to me. I never told my parents about the contract.”
“So even after all those years, they never knew why you married Isaac or the requirement about the rent?”
Liberty shook her head. “The contract stipulated that I couldn’t tell anyone the details of our marriage. Besides, I never wanted them to know the real reason I married Isaac. It would’ve broken their hearts, and they would’ve insisted I break the contract no matter what would’ve happened to them.
“My father had picked up a part-time job, and my mother worked as a seamstress. It wasn’t enough. By the time I found out they had fallen behind on the rent, Isaac had put the house on the market. I knew he wouldn’t sell the house to me, so I gifted the money I had saved from working at the law firm to my sister. She financed the balance and purchased the home. All of this went on while I was studying for the bar. I was tired, stressed, and just…miserable. Not a good combination at any given time, but especially when you’re pregnant.”
“And you lost the baby.”
Liberty nodded. “Two days before I was supposed to take the bar.”
“Ah, man.”
“I was in a bad place, Nate.” She shook her head thinking about how she had mentally and emotionally shut down. She had stayed in bed for months, not caring about her job, life, or anything else.
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