Inseparable: A New Adult Erotic Romance (18 page)

Just when he thought the frantic pulses were slowing, she would squeeze or shift which drew him back into it again. At last he felt her begin to slow, her movements going from excited to exhausted as she clung to him, kissing his face and neck. Jack rolled off to keep from collapsing on her, lying next to her and running his fingertips along her stomach and thighs.

"Oh, Jack, I missed you." Julie reached over and patted him on his chest with closed eyes and a wide smile. Then she suddenly sat up and got a panicked look on her face. "Oh my God, it's like a swimming pool inside me." She kept her knees together and stepped carefully into the bathroom, trying to avoid leaking a mess on the way. "How long has it been for you?"

"Um, two full weeks. That's actually the longest I've gone since I was twelve. I was a little depressed."

"Damn, Jack, this is insane!" Julie called from the bathroom with a laugh.

"Yeah, sorry I was also a little quick."

"It was perfect for me, but seriously this is like a gooey waterfall. I'm going to have to shower again. Can you get me a pair of panties from my bag and my long nightshirt?"

By the time Julie got out of the shower, Jack had laid out her clothes, gotten dressed in his shorts and familiar white undershirt, and fallen fast asleep.

***

L
ate the following morning, Jack was frying up some bacon when there was a knock on the door. He took the bacon off the heat and crossed the living room to see who it was. As he looked through the peephole, he saw his priest from St. Timothy Catholic Church looking uncomfortable in the morning heat.

Julie came out of the bedroom drying her hair. "Who is it?"

"A priest from my church," he said with a shrug. "You may want to put on some clothes."

She grinned and shook her bare ass at him before shutting the bedroom door. When he opened the front door wide, he said, "Father Williams, what a surprise to see you."

The white haired man smiled thinly and said, "It's taken me a long time to track you down, Jack. I was worried about you."

"The last time we spoke you didn't appear all that concerned," Jack said with a growl. Sophie had the priest totally wrapped around her finger and their marriage counseling sessions with him had been a joke. "In fact, I believe you told me I wasn't trying hard enough."

He shook his head without appearing offended. "Jack, I'd still like to help if I can. May I come in?"

Jack stepped back and allowed him to enter. "Absolutely. I'm cooking breakfast. Would you like a cup of coffee?"

"That would be great," he said as he looked around the apartment. "Jack, I'll get right to the point. I'd like you to come back to counseling."

Jack put the frying pan back on the fire and chuckled. "Have you talked to Sophie recently?"

"Yes, she told me that you cut off all contact with her and the girls," the priest said, impressing Jack with his acting ability.

"What kind of game are you playing? Did she put you up to this?" Jack asked as he tried to control his temper. Just then Julie came out of the bedroom wearing shorts and a t-shirt with her running shoes.

Father Williams looked up in surprise and glanced between them. "Oh," he said as his face turned a shade of crimson. "I'm sorry, I've obviously made a mistake."

Jack chuckled. "Oh, you've made a mistake, just not the one you think. Julie, this is Father Anton Williams of the St. Timothy Catholic Church. Father, this is the woman who has been standing by me while Sophie guts me like a fish."

"Hello," Julie said with an extended hand. Father Williams shook her hand with a perplexed look.

"Julie, Father Williams was just telling me how Sophie is all torn up about me cutting off all contact with her and the girls."

Julie laughed and let his hand go. "That's a good one. Is there coffee?"

"Yeah, would you make a cup for Father Williams, too?"

"Sure," she said and brushed his back with her hand as he passed.

Father Williams wrinkled his forehead. "Are you saying she lied to me?"

"Hell, you'd be hard pressed to find someone she hasn't lied to," Jack said as he put the cooked bacon on a plate to cool.

Julie brought the priest a steaming cup and sat with him at the small table. "Cream or sugar?" she offered, but he only shook his head and took a small sip.

"Jack, I have to admit I find that rather hard to believe."

"Would you believe your own ears?" Jack asked brightly. "Julie, do you still have the voice recorder?" She nodded with a frown and went back into the bedroom to get it.

When she returned, she placed it on the table and pressed play. Sophie's voice provided the damning testimony of her plans to destroy Jack and ended with her saying, "Perhaps I'll hire someone to paint something like it in the girls' rooms so they can actually enjoy it."

Jack came over and said, "Would you like to hear the rest of the story?"

The priest stood as Jack led him down the hall to see the mural in the girls room. "Julie painted this for the girls because Sophie convinced me she was seeking dual custody. The recording was from the day after the court date where she sued for full custody and got me fired from my job," Jack said, allowing him to get a good look at the painting.

"I don't understand," he whispered.

"There's more. Come with me." Jack led him back to the living room. "Julie, will you scramble us some eggs?"

"Happy to," she said as she set the table for three.

Jack brought up the website for Baker Creative where Bonnie had posted pictures of the girls' room. "Look familiar?" Jack asked Father Williams. "By coincidence, Julie was subcontracted to paint these in the home of my old boss. The one Sophie left me for. The place where Sophie
really
lives with the girls." Jack watched Father Williams' face turn pale as he looked at the pictures.

"I don't know what to say," the old priest whispered.

"Would you like the address?" Jack offered with a laugh. "You can go see the room for yourself. I especially like how Julie painted us as the prince and princess. She even painted Sophie as the witch locked in the tall tower in the back. But my favorite part is the glow-in-the-dark paint that spells out
Daddy Loves You
in stars for my girls to see at night." Jack growled the last through tears as he struggled to keep control of himself.

"Oh, God have mercy," the old priest said and put his arms around Jack's shoulders. After fighting his embrace, Jack finally broke down and sobbed for a moment. When he composed himself again, Father Williams said, "I owe you an apology."

"No," Jack said after he swallowed his tears. "We're all victims of Sophie's plans to get ahead in the world, especially the girls."

"Let me look into this," he said. "She used my statements in court, which means I bear some blame in what's happened to you. I need to help make this right."

Julie put her hand over Jack's hand and said, "Thank you, Father Williams. We'll take all the help we can get."

T
he examination room in Dr. Gills office smelled like babies to Julie. Waiting for Doctor Gills with Jack on one side and Polly on the other made her happy, but the conversation didn't. The two of them spoke across her while she held Jack's hand.

"So can this Father Williams actually do anything to help?" Polly asked.

Jack shrugged and said, "I doubt it, but he's the first person from my old life who's been willing to listen to me. It was great to be believed for a change."

Julie squeezed his hand as Polly said, "Well, I hope I never meet her after hearing everything she's done to you. I wonder if she'll ever find the secret messages in the mural?"

The door opened and Doctor Giles appeared wearing pink scrubs. "Good afternoon, Julie. You're looking well."

"And I feel much better," Julie said with a grin. "You remember Polly, of course. I'd also like you to meet the baby's father, Jack Brousard."

"Congratulations and nice to meet you!" Dr. Gills said before flipping through a folder that was somewhat thicker than Julie remembered from the last appointment. "Well, I have good news all around. All the tests came back normal and we've estimated the due date to be September 5th. How have you been feeling?"

Julie felt relieved and happy as she answered all the questions. The physical examination was brief as Doctor Gill gently palpated her stomach, then measured it for her notes. She asked about breast changes, explained to Julie about controlling her weight gain, and finished by encouraging her to continue to exercise and live normally. When she asked at the end if there were any other questions, Jack cleared his throat.

"Is there any chance we can see the baby?" Jack asked with obvious enthusiasm.

"She isn't due for another ultrasound for a few more weeks," she said, but at his disappointed reaction shook her head and smiled sweetly at him. "I have a little extra time. Julie, why don't you lie back on the table for me and pull up your shirt."

Jack crowded in to hold Julie's hand as the doctor spread the gel over her baby bump. The cold gel and pressure from the wand made Julie squeeze his hand as they both stared at the small screen. "Oh my God, Jack, there he is," she whispered. The blob was definitely more baby shaped this time.

Just then the doctor moved the wand back and forth over one particular area. "What do we have here?" she mumbled to herself.

"What?" Jack asked in alarm, looking closer at the screen.

"It's a bit early to say, but I do believe that this is a boy," she said. After pressing a button to freeze the image on the screen, she pointed to a little bump in the shadows. "Right there is the evidence. Don't buy everything in blue yet, but I'd say it's a good bet."

"I knew it!" Julie cried as she grinned at Polly. "I told you!"

Polly just laughed and shook her head. "If you're printing out copies, Aunt Polly wants one, too."

"How about four so you have an extra just in case?" Doctor Gills said with a laugh before leaving the room.

Julie cleaned the gel off her stomach with paper towels Jack handed her. "Thanks," she said before blowing her nose with the last one. "Oh I'm so relieved."

Polly asked, "So what are you going to name him?"

"I wanted to name him Jackson," Julie said as she buttoned her shorts. "But that was before Jack came back. We haven't really talked about it yet."

Jack stepped closer after throwing the paper towels away and said, "I'd love to name him that." He pulled her close and kissed her hair. "Jackson Brousard."

"Since we're on the topic of names, Julie Brousard has a nice ring to it as well," Polly suggested with a grin.

Jack cleared his throat and Julie felt herself blushing. "Is it hot in here?"

"Sorry, I just figured if you're making a list of things to talk about..." Polly let the statement hang as Jack and Julie grinned at each other.

***

B
y Friday, Jack and Julie were still feeling like honeymooners. After Jack accepted the job offer with Deep Drilling Supplies on Wednesday, their stress levels dropped immensely. Jack called to thank his Uncle Charlie for his help and to resign from working on the rigs with relief. Julie made his lunch for his first day of work on Thursday and sent him out the front door with a kiss.

She still hadn't told anyone at Bigger Bounce about their baby, but she couldn't hide the new spring in her step all week. Cathy finally came up on Friday afternoon and said, "Okay, spill it."

"What?" Julie asked with a grin.

"You know what! You're practically glowing," she asked with a little shove.

"Jack started his new job yesterday."

"Yeah, but that's him. There's something about
you
that you're not telling me. Even Sharon said something to me about you." Cathy searched her face with squinted eyes. Julie looked around to see if anyone was looking their way, then grabbed her friend's hand and put it on her baby bump.

"I'm not showing yet, but you can feel him just under here," Julie whispered.

Cathy's mouth opened in shock and tears filled her eyes. "Oh my God, are you shittin' me?" Julie beamed and shook her head. "Congratulations! What did Jack say when he found out?"

The question made Julie wince. "Well, it slipped out the Saturday night before he left for the rigs the last time. At first he was mad I hadn't told him before then. When he left for work he never even said goodbye, but we made up again when he got back on Monday. He's really happy about it now. He even took me to my appointment on Tuesday and we got to see the baby in the ultrasound!"

"So you guys are getting serious?" Cathy asked. When Julie nodded, Cathy gave her a big hug. "I'm happy for you. What's going on with his kids and his ex?"

"She still hasn't called him back or responded to requests to schedule a visit with his girls through his lawyer. He's thinking about taking her back to court to see if he can reduce the child support and get dual custody again. Now that he's got a local job and things are settling down, he may have a chance."

Just then a disturbance near the front door drew their attention. Julie saw a shock of red hair and heard a shrill voice calling her name loudly. As she walked with Cathy towards the front, they saw Sharon blocking Sophie from entering the play area. Just before she arrived, Julie pressed the record button on the digital voice recorder in her pocket.

"You have to have kids to come in here," Sharon insisted while Sophie tried to push past.

"Where is that fucking white trash— There you are!" Sophie shook off Sharon's hands and stalked toward Julie with a scowl. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Who me?" Julie asked, feigning innocence.

"Don't you get smart with me," she hissed as she stepped closer. "I don't know what you told Father Williams, but if you're not careful I'll teach you to keep your fucking mouth shut!"

"Was that a threat?" Julie whispered with menace. "Sharon, would you please call the police?" Sharon nodded and stepped away to the concession stand.

"Oh, it's not a threat, it's a promise," Sophie growled. "If you screw up my annulment or custody, I'll make you
both
pay."