by Taisha Demay
Chapter 9
When Jean-Luc got home later that day, looking exhausted, she decided not to mention the phone call, but still felt guilty about keeping a secret from him, albeit temporarily, nevertheless.
“How was your day? Dinner will be ready in a few minutes.”
“Very busy,” he replied, opening the refrigerator, removing a bottle of beer, twisting off the top and taking a swig. “You know that bread I told you about?”
“Yeah, what about it?” she replied, lowering the flame underneath the pot, turning to face him again.
“It was a hit. In fact, we took special orders on it,” he told her, before kissing her soundly on the lips. “What about you, how’re things at the shop?”
April shrugged. “Busy, for which I am very thankful.”
“I’m sure you are.” He glanced over at the stove. “Whatever you're preparing smells great.”
She smiled. “Why thank you, Sir. Oh, I almost forgot, we received an invitation to the Duke’s diamond jubilee happening two weeks from Saturday.”
“No,” he said at once.
She gave him a disapproving look. “Don’t you think you’re being unreasonable about this? I mean, people are already aware he’s your uncle; why keep tongues wagging by exacerbating the issue further not making an appearance?”
Jean-Luc knew she was right. People were already gossiping about him and Adrian; if he continued to avoid the man, it would only make things worse. “I’ll tell you what, I will give it some thought and let you know in a few days, how’s that?”
“Alright, fair enough. Now, get washed up, so you can eat.”
The evening of the ball, April chose a wintergreen, off-shoulder Valentino evening dress, her hair swept to one side and secured with a faux diamond crusted clip. Jean-Luc looked handsome in a charcoal tuxedo. Adrian greeted them both with a warm smile, but the look Jean-Luc gave him had been anything but friendly, April thought, watching them with sadness.
The ballroom was packed with famous faces, April recognized a few fellow businessmen and women and an assortment of royalty, politicians and other members of the Duke’s peers. She danced with a baron, a pop singer and a captain in the royal navy before Jean-Luc claimed his turn. It seemed all eyes were on them, and April felt her heart thud, mingled with pain and pleasure as she studied Jean-Luc, hoping he wouldn’t cause a scene. As if he could read her thoughts he said, “Don’t worry, I promise to behave.”
She gave him a small smile. “I’m glad to hear that.”
A strange thing happened when a server approached them with a tray of hors d'oeuvres, the smell causing April to experience a bout of nausea. Excusing herself, she hurried to the powder room and threw up. Rinsing her mouth with water, she popped a mint into her mouth, she gazed at her reflection in the mirror, checking her makeup before returning to the party. Aware of the cause, she was pregnant. Of course, she was, especially the way she and Jean-Luc were having sex and without protection.
A thrill of pleasure darted through her, and she smiled. She rejoined Jean-Luc, a concerned look on his face.
“Is everything alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she assured him. “Could you get me a glass of sparkling water?”
“Sure.”
While he was gone April glanced over at the Duke who nodded to her smiling. He seemed happy to have his nephew present at such a special day, and she was glad she managed to talk Jean-Luc into attending. Everything from his speech on down to the food was excellent, and it was indeed a night to remember. Finally, he returned, handing her the glass of water, and she took a healthy swallow.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
Knowing she couldn’t keep her secret for long, she decided to tell him. “I’m not certain but, I think I’m pregnant.”
His eyes lit up. “Seriously?”
“I think I might be,” she informed him.
“That’s the best news I’ve heard all day,” he smiled.
“Well don’t get too excited it might just be a false alarm,” April replied.
“Trust me, you are,” he said with certainty.
April laughed. “I’m glad one of us is sure.”
A week later, she paid a doctor a visit and confirmed she was indeed carrying Jean-Luc’s child.
“You’re pregnant, congratulations!” Donna gushed. “I know how much you want a family of your own. How’s Jean-Luc taking it?”
April laughed. “He’s been walking around with his chest stuck out since we found out.”
“That’s just like a man.”
“I don’t disagree with you on that. I can’t believe I’ll be showing by the time my wedding rolls around. I’m going to have to let the waistline out in my dress to make room for my stomach,” April replied sadly.
“ It’s going to be beautiful, you’ll see,” Donna assured her.
“Says you. With my luck, I’ll end blowing up like a balloon.”
“Now, why would you say that?”
“I was looking at an album Madeline found of Jean-Luc’s mom while she was pregnant with him and she was huge! So, if that's any indication, I’m going to be the same way.”
“No, you aren’t. Even if you do, I’m sure Jean-Luc’s not going to mind.”
“One thing I am happy about is the fact he’s making an effort to get along with his uncle. I suppose realizing the man doesn’t have long he needed to get to know him.”
“Now, that’s the best news if I ever heard one. Looks like you’re quite an influence on him.”
April shrugged. “If you say so.”
“I know so,” Donna replied with certainty.
“You know, I’m glad you’re my friend. I don’t know what I would do if you weren’t.”
“Same here, April. Same here.”
The following morning on a beautiful sunny day when April and Jean-Luc went for a drive, saying he had something he wanted to show her. Their wedding was three weeks away, everything was all set and she wondered what it might be. As he navigated a narrow road, that was when she saw it, the house was set lightly back from the road, the slightly neglected and battered stone structure had a ‘For Sale’ sign in front. Perhaps it had something to do with her pregnancy, April wasn’t sure, but she was overcome with the desire to restore it to what it had once been, to lavish love and care on it and bring it back to life.
He slowed down to a stop, turning to look at her.
“What do you think? It’s a two-hour drive from town?”
She glanced over at him. “Are you serious?” her tone was hopeful.
“I wouldn’t have brought you here if I weren’t.”
“Oh my goodness,” April sighed, before opening the door and getting out, she needed to look at what could possibly be their home. Jean-Luc joined her.
“I can put in an offer and hopefully we can get it, that’s if you want it.”
“Are you kidding me, of course, I want it,” she told him. “This would be an ideal place to raise our family.”
He smiled, it pleased him that she wanted a large family just like he did. “Then, it’s settled, I’ll contact the real estate company and go from there.” She immediately hugged him as much as her belly would allow. Jean-Luc chuckled. “You’re welcome, cheri.”
On the way back to town, April thought about all the ways she could make the house look like a home. Of course, they’d have to hire help, but just the thought that hopefully, it’ll be theirs was enough.
Donna and her husband Tim arrived a week early and when the men left them alone briefly, her friend remarked, “He’s not at all what I expected.”
“What did you expect?” April asked.
“I suppose I expected an arrogant playboy. It’s obvious he has money. His clothes and this apartment can attest to that. He doesn’t act like it though. When we were first introduced, I was ready to pick him apart, looking for reasons why you shouldn’t marry him, but he completely disarmed me with his smile and his charm.” She
gave her friend an assessing look. “He’s perfect for you.”
April watched Jean-Luc and Tim as they entered the room. He was listening patiently to Tim as he told him about the housing market back in West Lake. “Now that the economy is stabilized, it is as good of a time as any to invest in real estate.”
Tim Bailey was a tall, slender man with caramel-colored skin and deep brown eyes, who owned and operated a real estate firm back in West Lake. He and Donna dated in high school and all through college before they married.
“I agree. It would be a mistake not to.”
She glanced over at her friend. “I’m glad you approve, that means a lot to me.”
Donna reached out and squeezed her hand. “You know I’m always gonna look out for you; you’re like a sister to me.”
April just smiled.
In the evening, Jean-Luc insisted on taking her friends out to dinner at an out of the way restaurant. Since the Mini Cooper was too small to fit all of them, he drove his Jeep. Once they arrived at their destination, they enjoyed a delicious meal of beef bolognese. Donna complimented on his popularity with the customers, when they visited his bakery earlier. They thoroughly enjoyed the day, it was nice having her friends around.
Afterward, Jean-Luc dropped them off at the hotel where they were staying, and he breathed a sigh of relief as he pulled away from the curb. “For a minute there, I didn’t think Donna would like me. Especially since initially, she was giving me the evil eye.”
April laughed. “Believe it or not, she’s very protective of her friends, me especially.”
“That, I can understand. I want to protect you too; you mean everything to me, cheri.”
Back at their apartment, she removed her jacket and hung it up before starting toward the kitchen, “I need a cup of tea.”
Reaching out for her, he pulled her gently against him, his hands touching her belly. “I’ll do it, you sit down and put your feet up and relax.”
“Jean-Luc, I’m perfectly capable of making my own tea.”
“Nobody said you couldn’t. Just humor me and let me, okay?”
“Fine, go ahead.” When he released her, she stepped over to the couch and sat down.
It hadn’t been long before he returned with a porcelain cup of the hot beverage. “Here you are, cheri,” he said, placing it down on the table’s surface.
“Thank you,” she told him, picking up the cup and taking a sip.
“I was thinking, tomorrow we could show your friends around the city. Give them a little taste of Paris. Maybe have a picnic in the park, what do you think?”
“I think that’s a great idea,” she agreed. “Thank you for being so nice and welcoming to my friends.”
“It’s not a problem; your friends are mine.”
That made her smile. “How did I get so lucky?”
“You walked into my bakery,” he replied, and they both laughed.
Chapter 10
The next day they spent getting their friends familiar with the Parisian economy. After a stop at the bakery to check on things and to prepare their basket, they took a boat ride along the Seine; afterward, they wandered through various gift shops. Tim brought Donna a small, jade sculpture she admired, before heading to the park. It was an enjoyable day not discussing work, but the four of them spending a carefree day with food, wine and great company.
Jean-Luc amused them with stories of his escapades while in culinary art’s school. On the long drive back to town, he told them about the experiences he had with three different landlords when he decided to open a bakery, and he finally ended up enlisting his aunt’s help setting things up.
She learned more about his past that day than she realized. When they returned to their apartment after dropping their friend’s off, Jean-Luc made soft, sweet love to her, taking them on a long journey of the senses, and they arrived at their destination together.
During the next couple of days leading up to the wedding, they spent their free time seeing to the last details. April couldn’t understand why Jean-Luc wouldn’t give her so much as a hint as to where they were going for their honeymoon. But he did say she would enjoy it. So, instead of continually pressing him, she focused on doing business
and gaining new customers. He was essentially acting as if he hadn’t planned anything, and it made her wonder. Donna assured her it would be something she never expected and when April questioned her further, her friend told her she had been sworn to secrecy.
On the day of the wedding, the morning fog had cleared away, thankfully, leaving a golden day of clean air and sunshine. Donna and Madeline arrived early to assist April into her dress. A limousine arrived to transport them to the church where she and Jean-Luc would become husband and wife.
It seemed everyone who was anyone witnessed the American seamstress marry the French pastry chef and nephew of the Duke of Candor. As Adrian, who had insisted on being the one to walk April down the aisle, her eyes misted with tears, she noticed that aunt Madeline was crying as she walked down the aisle closer to Jean-Luc. She felt the baby kick and wanted to laugh.
As he slid the ring over her finger, her heart thudded. It was over, they were man and wife. The church bells pealed, music filling and swelling inside the small church. The elderly minister pronounced them man and wife, then Jean-Luc gave her a peck on the lips. Turning they walked up the aisle arm in arm, and as they stepped out into the sunshine, April laughed.
“We did it, Mrs. Reneau. We’re husband and wife.”
She glanced up at him and nodded, smiling.
After bidding her friends goodbye she and Jean-Luc began their lives as husband and wife, climbing in the limousine heading for the airport.
It turned out their honeymoon was to the Cayman Islands to a smaller island where he owned a villa in St. James.
“You tired?” he asked once they were alone inside the lavish home.
April shook her head, she was too keyed up to be tired “Not really, although I could stand to relax a bit.”
He helped her over to the couch where he removed her shoes, putting her feet up. And, much to her chagrin, she ended up dozing off. Waking up much later to find herself in an enormous king-size bed in Jean-Luc’s arms.
“You might have slept, but Junior’s been extremely active.” His fingers splayed possessively across the tautness of her stomach, warmth radiating into her body from them. She watched him registering the movements of the baby’s limbs; his handsome features softened into tenderness.
“Seems like he’s practicing for football,” he commented.
She sat up. “And, how do you know ‘he’ isn’t a ‘she’? Or, are you hoping it’s a boy?” April asked curiously.
He shook his head. “I don’t mind either way, as long as you’re both healthy. Once you’ve rested, we’ll go out and explore the island; do you think you’re up to it?”
“I believe I will.”
After lunch, they strolled along the beautiful white sand beach, the blue sparkling water just beyond. When they returned to the villa, Jean-Luc prepared a soothing bath for her. April enjoyed the relaxing water scented with lavender. Climbing out, she studied her reflection in the full-length mirror on the wall, smiling as her palm lovingly touched her belly, knowing she nurtured Jean-Luc’s child inside her.
Her breasts full, the nipples darker than they had been, she delighted in this pregnancy and hoped they would have a large family, something he’d wanted as well. There was a sense of completeness knowing she was going to be a mother, after suffering a miscarriage the first time.
Just as she grabbed the towel to dry herself, the door opened and Jean-Luc walked in, his forehead furrowed with concern. “April, are you alright. When you didn’t come out,
I started getting worried.” His arms locked around her, his lips moved softly over her skin. “You’re so beautiful like this,” he told her huskily, his voice thickening with emotion.
Taking the towel out of her hand he gently dried the water
from her skin. Leaving the bathroom, he then assisted her into her pajamas and then into bed.
She woke during the night to find him staring out the window. Tossing the covers back, she eased out of bed and padded barefoot over to stand beside him.
“Did I wake you?” he asked, putting his arms around her waist, kissing the top of her head.
“No, I actually got up because the baby’s leaning on my kidneys, and I have to pee.”
Jean-Luc chuckled, moving his arm. “Then, by all means, go.”
The days merged one into the other, the two of them enjoying the sun and the beautiful beach. Though Jean-Luc had brought some work with him, he still found time to spend with her. One of the local women came in to cook and clean. Sheila was robust and jolly and seemed delighted when she saw April. “Your baby is going to be beautiful,” she told Jean-Luc, and April smiled at seeing the proud papa-to-be beaming.
In the afternoon, Jean-Luc scuba-dived or swam while she sometimes joined him to paddle leisurely in the aquamarine seas. In the evening, they’d sit out on the deck in the moonlight enjoying the cool breeze blowing off the water.
“If you're too hot, why don’t you take off your shirt? The beach is private,” he suggested.
Gathering the hem, she lifted the top up and off, draping it on the arm of her chair. It felt great to feel the cool breeze on her skin.
“Now see, isn’t that better?”
“Yes, it is,” she replied, leaning back against him. “This is nice. I’m sad tomorrow’s our last day, and it’s back to the real world.”
“No, it’s the start of our life as a family once the baby comes. Are you planning to breast-feed?” he wondered.
“Yes, I think I am. They say it’s healthier, and I want our child to have a good start, don’t you?”
“If you don’t, you’ll be depriving it of a special bond,” he replied then added, “If you do, no doubt I’ll be jealous as hell.”