Chapter 42
FORTY-TWO
JUDE
Wednesday morning arrives quickly. The sun streams through the bedroom window.
This house is absolutely stunning. Fortunately, the snow didn’t cause a delay for my flight.
Landing at Boston’s Logan Airport a little after midnight meant there was no traffic to deal with.
My body aches from the lack of sleep and all the packing I did over the past few days.
It was all worth it, knowing I’d be staying just minutes away from Faith instead of thousands of miles away.
Last night, I texted Eve to tell her I arrived at the lake house and shared the address with her.
So, it wasn’t a surprise when the doorbell rang.
She must be here. I head over to open the door, and in rushes Maya, squealing and wrapping her arms around my legs.
She’s the most adorable little thing. Her pure joy and excitement are infectious, and I can’t help but smile as I pick her up and swing her around.
Thankfully, Eve came with her playpen and toys. As an only child, she’s good at entertaining herself.
We both settle onto the couch, exhaling deeply. She wears a mischievous expression.
“What’s all that?” I ask, making circles with my finger, gesturing to her face.
“I have some news, but that’s not why I’m here. You need a heart to heart with your favorite sister.”
I shake my head and laugh. “You’re my only sister, but yes a heart to heart sounds like exactly what I need.
” I decide to get right into it. “Initially, Faith argued that I live across the country, but I’ve taken care of that.
It’s a moot point. The bigger issue she told me about was that she may not be able to have children and that she’s scared I’m going to leave her again. ”
“Okay, that’s heavy. You’ve never mentioned wanting kids before, so tell me what you're thinking.”
“Eve, I never thought I’d be in a serious relationship, so I haven’t given it much consideration, hence my answer.
I told her we would figure it out,” I confess, my brow furrowed in thought.
“The only time it crosses my mind is when I’m with you, Erick, and Maya.
Watching the three of you together reminds me of what my life is missing—a sense of family.
” I pause, glancing at my niece in her playpen.
“She thinks it matters to me, and I told her we’d figure it out.
Then our time was over, she needed to leave, and we didn’t circle back to have an in-depth conversation about it. ”
“Wow! You’ve really been thinking about this,” Eve says, nodding as she watches the sincerity in my eyes.
“Since Faith brought it up, I’ve done a lot of reflecting.
It’s not a deal breaker for me. If she can’t biologically have kids, I’m okay with exploring alternatives—like adoption or surrogacy.
I’m staying open to hear her thoughts, too.
I’m kicking myself for not sharing more with her, but who knows?
It might not have even come out right and probably would have made the situation worse. ”
“I can tell you’re serious about this and her.”
“I have never been more serious in my life,” I reply with conviction, my voice steady. It’s crystal-clear to me what I want for my future.
I’m excited to spend time with my niece; I love watching her walk around and hearing her infectious giggles fill the room. Moving back home was the best decision I could have made, and a profound sense of contentment fills me. I’m that much closer to having everything I want in my life.
“Whatever happens, you’ll know you fought for her,” my sister says. “There won’t be any regrets or guilt like last time.”
“You’re right,” I reply, determination in my words. “I’m not giving up. When we were in Aruba, I knew with certainty she was made for me. She felt scared and worried. Now that I’m here, I can show her that, even though we don’t know how our story ends, it’s worth figuring it all out. Together.”
“Be truthful about what you want and how you’re feeling.
It sounds like you were open with her in Aruba.
Keep doing what you’re doing, bro,” Eve says as she wraps her arms around me in a hug.
Her eyes sparkle with excitement, and a wide grin stretches across her face.
“I have news to share,” she announces, her voice bubbling with excitement.
“And?” I can’t contain my excitement any longer, my legs bounce up and down in anticipation of what she has to tell me.
“I’m pregnant,” Eve announces, her eyes twinkling with joy.
If there were even the smallest doubt in my mind about this move being the wrong decision, it’s completely dispelled now. My sister’s pregnancy is all the confirmation I need, solidifying my belief that I’m exactly where I want to be, regardless of what the future holds.
I leap off the couch and wrap her in a tight hug. Two beautiful kiddos to love and spoil.
“Congratulations! This is the best news,” I exclaim, pulling back to see her glowing face.
“You do not know how hard it’s been to keep this from you,” she confesses, her voice tinged with relief. “Once I knew you were coming home, I couldn’t wait to tell you in person.”
“Well, I’m glad you did,” I reply, feeling gratitude swell in my chest. “When are you due?”
“September fifteenth,” she says, her voice tinged with excitement. “We literally just found out a couple of weeks ago. You, Mom, and Erick’s parents are the only ones that know so far.” Her eyes sparkle as she shared her secret.
I grin, leaning back in my chair with a contented sigh. “If I’m only ever an uncle, I’m so good with that. I’m going to spoil the shit out of them,” I declare with a playful glint in my eye.
“Tone it down, uncle,” she teases, a gentle smile tugging at her lips. She pauses for a moment.
I raise an eyebrow, sensing there’s more to come. Her sudden quietness hints at deeper news. “Okay,” I prompt, my curiosity stirring.
She takes a deep breath, her gaze steady and sincere.
“You might think this is weird of me to offer, but as your sister, who is healthy, happy, and still young, I want you to know that I’d be willing to be your surrogate, if that helps the conversation with Faith.
I mean, I wouldn’t start the conversation with that,” she adds hastily, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.
Holy shit, my sister is offering to carry a baby for me—for us. Shaken to the core and overjoyed she would do this, I’m in awe of her.
“That is a generous and selfless thing to offer.”
“I love you. You’ll be a wonderful dad, whichever route you both decide. And if you want to have kids, then this opens up another option for you.” She chuckles and leans back on the couch, folding her arms. “Alright, enough about us. When are you going to see her?”
I pull a small business card from my pocket, the edges slightly worn from handling. “Her best friend, Kendall, gave me her card,” I reply, tapping it thoughtfully against my palm. “The first thing I’m going to do after you leave is call her.”
We spend the rest of the morning catching up while enjoying lunch together.
The sunlight streaming through the large windows and deck warms the room.
Eve has a remarkable way of calming my mind and helping me process my thoughts.
As we wrap up the morning, she reminds me to take life one day at a time and provide Faith with the reassurance she needs as we figure things out on this journey together.
As Maya rubs her sleepy eyes, Eve glances at her watch and says, “Well, it’s time for this one to take her nap, so we’ll head out.
” Her voice is soft, yet decisive, as she gathers Maya’s things.
“Then you can make that call,” she adds, giving me a knowing look.
“Fill me in later.” With a final wave, they leave, and the room is filled with their absence.
I slide Kendall’s card out of my pocket and make the call. Thankfully, she picks up on the second ring. “Hello?”
“Hi, Kendall. This is Jude. Do you have a couple of minutes?”
“Jude, yes, what’s going on?”
When she handed me her card, my mind immediately jumped to one conclusion. At some point, I’d need her help. “Can I have Faith’s address?”
“And why would you need that?” she asks.
I take a deep breath and try to organize my thoughts.
“Well, where do I even start with that question?” I hesitate for a moment.
“I flew into Boston last night, and I’m renting a house over on Mirror Lake for the next three months.
My house in Colorado will go on the market later this week. Please don’t say anything to Faith.”
“Oh, that was fast. Holy shit, you’re here, here. Wow!” she shouts. “I want to talk to you about a few things, but first, why do you need her address?”
I shift my weight from one foot to the other, feeling the heaviness of my decision.
“I told her I’d take her on a date this Saturday.
She didn’t tell me not to come, just that she needed time to sort through everything.
We still have a lot to talk about. I knew if I didn’t come back home, she would think I wasn’t serious.
I love her with every fiber of my soul, and I want to figure life out with her—no matter what it takes.
I’m all in. As for the address, I was going to call my mom for it, but I thought you could help a guy out. ”
Silence fills the other end of the phone. “Kendall? You still…”
“Yeah, I’m here. Shocked, actually.”
“Kendall, no matter what doubts or concerns she has, we can work through them together. I will not leave her again, and that’s why it was so hard for me when she left Aruba,” I say without taking a breath.
“Awe. You are exactly how she describes you. And yes, there’s a lot to talk about.”
Not that I’m surprised Faith told her friends about me, but it cements my suspicions that her friends know a lot about us and our past. It sounds like she might help me, which I can use right now.
“I’m going to give you her address and some insider info,” she says conspiratorially.