Nine

Jada was slightly perturbed that Brayden had made such a decision without consulting her first. She turned away from him in bed, not speaking to him.

He tried to get her to turn over, but she resisted him. “Jada, Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” He asked. She ignored him, tears gathering in her eyes. He heard her sniffing and realized she was crying.

Brayden jumped out of bed and ran over to her side of the bed, stooping down in front of her. “Baby…what’s wrong? Please talk to me. I can’t stand seeing you upset,” he pleaded.

Jada sat up, wiped her tears and blew her nose. Brayden sat down by her, putting his arm around her. “Tell me what I did wrong, and I promise, I’ll fix it,” he vowed.

Jada looked at him, pouting at him. “You made a decision about the two of us that should have been discussed,” she said, still upset with him.

“What did I…ohhh,” he said, suddenly realizing his faux pas. He leaned his head on her shoulder, holding onto her arms. “Jada, honey, I’m sorry. If you don’t want to stay here, we will move into the Old Mansion,” he told her.

“I wasn’t thinking. It worried me when Mom said she was having problems, and I just wanted to make her feel better. I’m sorry, sweetheart. Just please don’t be upset with me. I can’t stand it,” he pleaded, placing kisses all around her face.

“I’m okay to stay here for now, but the children are my responsibility. I don’t want to make my aunt be their caregiver. I have been a mother to them most of their lives,” she explained, looking into his eyes.

“Your mother is manipulating you, Brayden. She’s playing on your sympathy. I’ll go to the Old Mansion, and you can stay here with her and Daphne and Caleb,” she suggested.

“We can still see each other every day, but I don’t think I can be under the same roof as your mother and your ex-wife and her cousin very long,” she said.

“Oh no you don’t, little lady,” he said, pulling her over onto his lap. “We are a matching set. We are like salt and pepper shakers. You cannot split them up or pair them with another shaker, it won’t be right, they would be mismatched. We have to stay together,” he said, moving strands of hair from her face. “Where you go, I go,” he said, finally able to kiss her lips.

Jada hugged him and he sat holding her in silence, relishing the feeling of her in his arms. “I love you, Jada. I promise not to make decisions without talking to you again,” he vowed. “Are you ready to go to bed now, My Love? I’m pretty tired, aren’t you?” He asked. Jada nodded and he laid her down, kissing her goodnight.

Brayden woke up with Jada snuggled against him and he smiled, caressing her arm. It was good to wake up with her in his arms, he thought, kissing her forehead. He loved this woman more than anything in life, he thought, closing his eyes and holding her with both arms.

Jada woke up and remembered that she didn’t do the pregnancy test last night. She got up and went to the bathroom. She hoped for two red lines, but only one showed up. She was not pregnant. She came out of the bathroom and Brayden was sitting on the side of the bed waiting for her.

Brayden looked up to see the sad look on Jada’s face. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?” He asked. She ran over to him and crawled on his lap, sobbing. “I’m not pregnant,” she confessed between sobs.

“Well, that’s okay honey. We’ve only been married a few days. It takes time. And stress plays a factor. It will happen, don’t worry,” he assured her. “What if it doesn’t? I mean, what if I can’t get pregnant? Will you leave me?” She asked, looking at him tearfully.

“Jada, sweetheart, surely you know better than that. My love for you is not on the condition that you have a baby. I love you because of the wonderful person you are. No, I’m here with you to stay, My Love,” he promised, holding her close.

Brayden kissed Jada’s forehead and caressed her arm, holding her in his arms. “I love you, Pretty Lady,” he said. Jada looked up at him and told him she loved him too, caressing his jaw. The two kissed passionately.

Brayden laid her down on the bed and smiled at her. “Wanna make a baby?” He asked, leaning over her. She nodded her head and he proceeded to make love to her again.

They lay side by side, their heads touching under the breeze of the ceiling fan, smiling. Jada was getting used to their lovemaking now, and she enjoyed it as much as Brayden.

Their peaceful moment was disturbed by Marcy informing them that breakfast was ready. Brayden reached over and gave Jada one more kiss before they got up. He took a deep breath and blew it out. “Okay, let’s do this,” he said to encourage them both.

They quickly got dressed and Jada did a quick makeup and hairstyle before going downstairs together.

“Good morning, Son. You two are running a little late this morning. You know we have times for our meals, what held you up this morning?” Evelyn asked in a scolding tone.

“Mom, do you really want an answer to that question? You told me that was inappropriate to speak to you of such things,” Brayden teased her.

Evelyn threw her head up in the air, insulted by his insolence. “You are correct, I do not wish to hear of such things,” she told him.

Jada cleared her throat and spoke then. “I’m sorry, Evelyn, he was teasing you. What held us up, I took a pregnancy test. Unfortunately, it was negative,” she said.

“But I’m willing to keep on trying…. for you, Mom,” Brayden teased, grinning. “That will be enough out of you, Son,” Evelyn scolded.

“Oh, what a shame! What if she is unable to conceive and this whole marriage was for nothing,” Daphne said, harassing the girl.

“Shut up, Daphne, you speak to hear yourself talking. It’s really none of your business,” Brayden told her. “Besides, we have only been married a few days. It will happen, I’m sure of it,” he said, squeezing Jada’s hand to assure her.

“What is the urgency to have a baby? You two just got married. Enjoy each other. Babies will come in time,” Caleb assured them.

Daphne could not hold her tongue. “Caleb, this is not a love marriage. She signed a contract to produce a DeRoya heir. She was supposed to have artificial insemination, but I guess she talked Brayden out of that. She has wormed her way into his bedroom and apparently his heart. But once the baby is born and she receives her million dollars, she will be kicked out of the mansion. And I suppose if she cannot provide him an heir, the contract is broken and she will be kicked out anyhow,” Daphne said, giving Jada an evil smirk.

“Not a love marriage, huh?” Caleb said, giving Jada a sultry look and winking at her. Brayden gave Caleb a warning look that told him to stay away from Jada.

“This is no concern of either of you, but for the record, this is an actual marriage. The contract is null and void at this point, because I love my wife very much. Whether she produces an heir or not, she stays with me. Till death do us part,” he said, looking at Jada in confirmation.

His words rang in Daphne’s evil mind. “Till death do you part, huh?” She thought up an evil plan to get rid of Jada if need be. She would wait and see what Caleb could accomplish first.

“Enough of this talk!” Evelyn scolded them all. “This is highly offensive to discuss such matters over breakfast,” she said. “Bring our coffee into the living room,” she barked the order at Marcy.

“And no more such talk! I need to have my coffee and start my morning with peace. I already feel myself getting anxious,” Evelyn said, fanning herself.

“Mom, calm down, take slow deep breaths in through the nose, out through the mouth. Slowly in and out. That’s it, now you just drink your coffee and calm down,” Brayden coached. She held Brayden’s hand as he knelt beside her.

Daphne took the opportunity to go over and fan Evelyn while Brayden worked with her on her breathing.

Jada rolled her eyes and walked out on the veranda. She knew Evelyn was putting on a show for Brayden’s attention, and Daphne too.

Caleb came out to console her, rather took the opportunity to get close to her. He brought a light throw and placed it upon her shoulders.

Jada thought it was Brayden, and she put her hand on his that rested on her shoulder. As soon as she did, though, she realized that was not Brayden’s hand.

Jada spun around, facing the man. She got too close to the brick wall though and lost her balance. Caleb caught her with both hands on her arms.

Brayden walked out at that moment, catching the man holding his wife. He stormed over and jerked Jada unceremoniously away from him.

“Hey, Man, it wasn’t what it looked like. She almost fell and I caught her,” Caleb quickly explained, seeing the anger in Brayden’s eyes.

“Are you okay?” Brayden asked Jada. “Yes, it was just as he said. I spun around and hit the edge of the bricks and lost my footing. Caleb caught me as I was about to fall,” she told him.

Brayden believed Jada but wondered why Caleb happened to be close enough to her to catch her when she fell. He did not trust the man at all, especially not around his bride.

“Then, I suppose I should thank you, Caleb for preventing her fall,” Brayden said, holding his hand out to shake hands with Caleb. When their hands grasped Brayden gave him a warning squeeze, letting him know to stay away from Jada.

Jada put her arms around Brayden’s waist and hugged him. He hugged her back and kissed her cheek.

“I have to go in to work for a few hours, Pretty Lady, but I have an idea. There’s a place that gives several different spa treatments, and I’m going to drop you off there while I go to the office,” he said, smiling at her.

“I want you to enjoy the VIP package and have the whole experience,” he said. “Actually, see if Auntie is available, she can go with you,” he suggested. Jada’s face brightened at the idea. “I’ll call her. She will love it!” Jada said with excitement.

“Mom, I have to go to the office today to catch up on some work. I’m taking Jada out with me. Do you need anything?” He asked, taking her hand in his. “No, Son, I’m okay,” she answered, looking into his handsome face. She loved the attention she was getting from him lately.

“Perhaps Daphne could keep her company today,” Evelyn suggested. “Yes, that would be lovely,” Daphne said, dripping with artificial sweetness.

Jada looked up at Brayden with fear in her eyes, hoping he would not agree to such an offer. “Thank you, but she has plans to spend the day with her aunt,” he answered. Jada was relieved. She would rather be thrown in a pit with a rattlesnake than be alone with Daphne.