Chapter 50

JAYDA

^THE NEXT DAY^

Lilian was still fast asleep in her room when Jayda went to open the door for Roman. She had texted him the night before and pleaded for him to come over this morning, and she was glad he’d agreed.

“Why didn’t you tell me anything?” Jayda accused.

Roman rubbed his palms together and let out some air.

“Lilian and I trust you. We know you will always be there for us. I honestly don’t know why we never told you about it. I guess it was a shock to us, and we were trying to deal with it in our own way to avoid pity. Had I known the issue of a child would tamper with our relationship, I would have never said anything about it.”

“She said you really want a child, and she could see the desire in your eyes when you look at other people’s children.”

“I won’t lie, I do want a child, and if I can’t have one with Lilian, I would rather not have one at all.” Roman looked determined.

“The baby issue started when we stopped using protection when making love. I said I’d be happy if we got pregnant. I never knew she took my words to heart. The hardest thing was comforting her whenever she took a test and it came out negative.”

“She said wouldn’t agree to surrogacy or IVF,” Jayda said.

Roman let out a sigh. “Lilian is desperate, and whenever she’s desperate, she thinks of doing the unthinkable.

“I disagreed with the idea not because I’m selfish, but because I don’t want her to go through the trauma of another disappointment. I assured her that with time, we will surely get pregnant. She said it was easy for me to say that because I could easily pick up any girl, fuck her, and get her pregnant.”

“You know she doesn’t mean what she said,” Jayda justified.

“I know, and I understand things from her point of view. I also understand her insecurities. That’s why I said when she’s desperate and angry, she says and thinks of the unthinkable.” Roman shook his head.

“She’s afraid I will eventually get tired of her and run off with another woman who can give me a child. But what she doesn’t know is that it’s either I have my child with her or with no one else.”

“But I called you two nights ago, and you didn’t tell me she broke up with you,” Jayda accused.

“I was actually on my way to her place when you called. I had no idea she was going to break up with me.”

“But you know she didn’t mean to?” Jayda questioned.

Roman nodded. “I thought she needed space, that’s why she said all that she said to me.”

“You both don’t need any space. You need each other. Lilian needs you more than ever. She’s in her room. Please go talk to her, make her see things from your perspective, and assure her that you will never leave her or cheat on her.”

“How do I know she wants to see me?” Roman asked nervously.

Jayda gave him a serious look. “There’s only one way to find out. Go to her.”

***

JAYDA

While Roman sorted things out with Lilian in her room, Jayda occupied herself with her phone and soon enough, the doorbell rang.

As soon as Jayda opened the door, Aaron hugged her legs tightly.

“Good morning, Mama,” he greeted, then kissed Jayda’s belly. “Good morning, sissy. Big brother loves you.” He never failed to greet or talk to his baby sister every chance he could.

Jayda dropped down to Aaron’s height for a hug and a kiss on his forehead.

“I missed you, Mama,” he pouted.

Jayda smiled. “I missed you too, my love. Were you good to Daddy?” she asked. He nodded.

“Morning, babe!” Sebastian gave Jayda a hug and a kiss. He held up the bag of breakfast he’d brought.

“Let me drop this in the kitchen, and I’ll be right back.”

Sebastian settled Aaron on the couch and gave him his iPad to keep him occupied while he and Jayda talked.

“I’m here now. You can tell me everything.” Sebastian knew something was truly wrong, and from Jayda’s puffy eyes, he could tell tears had been shed.

Jayda told him everything!

“I’m a terrible friend. I made my friendship with Lilian all about me and didn’t bother to notice if everything was okay with her.” Jayda’s eyes brimmed with tears.

“I thought she and Roman were good. I didn’t know they were going through hard times.”

Sebastian caressed her tear-moistened cheek. “There was no way you could have known without her telling you. I’m close to Roman, and I didn’t know about it either.

“You’re not a terrible person or friend. You stayed with Lily overnight, and you made Roman see the reasons why he should fix things with Lilian.

“They have us and we will always be there for them,” Sebastian reminded her.

ROMAN

Roman quietly shut the door behind him when he stepped into Lilian’s room.

He approached her bedside and saw she was still sleeping soundly. He placed a soft kiss on her forehead before gently taking a seat beside her.

He caressed her hands until she opened her tired eyes.

LILIAN

Lilian thought she was dreaming when she slightly opened her eyes and saw Roman beside her.

She’d been so unkind to him when she broke it off that she never thought he’d forgive her. She’d been convinced Roman wouldn’t show up in her life again. She had lost him forever. This had to be a sad dream.

She shut her eyes to continue her sleep.

“Hey,” she heard that very familiar voice say and felt a familiar touch caressing her hand.

Lilian opened her eyes widely in shock. She wasn’t dreaming! Roman was truly here.

She sat up and looked everywhere except at him.

Roman sat on the edge of the bed and took her hands in his.

Before he could say anything, Lillian burst into tears. Roman embraced her, and she cried against his chest.

“I love you, Roman, please forgive me. I’ve been so scared of losing you that I said the cruelest things.

“I’m sorry for all the harsh words I said to you the day I broke up with you. I thought it would be easier to go our separate ways but honestly, life is hard without you. Please forgive me,” she cried.

ROMAN

Roman patted her back as she let it all out. He was very much aware she didn’t mean those silly words, and he would always forgive her.

“It’s okay, babe,” he whispered to her, trying to calm her down.

Lilian finally pulled away. Roman wiped her tears away.

“I’ll never leave you or walk away from you just because we don’t have a baby yet. My happiness lies with you, Lilian. You’re my life, you’re my everything.”

“I only disagreed to the surrogacy and IVF idea because I don’t want you to go through any trauma if it doesn’t work.”

“What if it ~does~ work? I’m trying to look at the positive side of things.” Lilian blinked her puffy eyes.

Roman exhaled. He caressed Lilian’s hands. “I want to make a deal and a promise to you. Which do you want to hear first?”

“The deal.” She sniffed.

“From now on, at least for the next couple of months, I want you to take your mind off the baby issue. I want us to live life as if nothing else mattered in the world to us. I want us to have faith that everything will be fine, and most importantly, spend time together and do the things that we love.”

She nodded slowly.

“If nothing happens after that, we will go with your suggestion for IVF, surrogacy, or adoption. Anything to make you happy. Will you do that for me?” he asked.

She nodded. “So, what’s the promise?”

“No matter what happens, I will never leave you. I love you so much, and I plan to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“You promise?” she whispered.

“I promise!” Roman said before pulling the love of his life into a tight hug. He kissed her forehead.

“Thank you for coming over to settle things with me.” She spoke against his chest.

“I’m not the only one you need to settle things with,” he told her sternly.

Lilian gave him a surprised look.

“Who else do I need to settle with?”

But even as she spoke, Lilian knew who he meant. She needed to talk to her best friend. She had to make things right between them.