Book One: Chapter 24


    Macey stirred. Her body was warm, enclosed in his strong arms. Julius breathed against her shoulder.


    Her muddled mind slowly pieced the night together causing her face to warm at the memory of her


    inhibition.


    God! He even licked her there!


    He had never done that before. His love making had always been tender and considerate but not…


    what should she even call it? She had no words for the things he had done to her.


    “What are you thinking about?” Julius groggily stirred.


    Macey stiffened. She wasn’t certain when he woke and she didn’t know how she could face him after


    “Macey?” he kissed her neck. “Baby? Did you not enjoy it?”


    “…I did. Very much.”


    He nuzzled her and his embrace tightened.


    “…You never did any of that before.”


    “For six years I’ve fantasized about everything I would do to you once I found you again,” he


    whispered.


    “You have?”


    “If you let me…I’ll take care of you all day and all night. Just tell me what you want. I’ll make all your


    wishese true.”


    Macey bit her lip. How long had she waited for those words? How many nights had she longed for his


    warmth, his touch? It had been so hard in the beginning with her pregnancy hormones running


    rampant. There were nights she couldn’t sleep at all. At those times Vicki was a life saver. They stayed


    up eating rocky road and watching her favorite movie on repeat while she confessed her heartache.


    She was not only a shoulder to cry on but a confidant. Vicki alone knew Macey’s whole story: growing


    up and falling in love with Julius, enduring her one-sided loveless marriage and finally leaving. Not only


    did Vicki listen but she became her number one supporter and cheerleader. Vicki seemed to always


    know when Macey needed a night in and when she needed to get out and feel normal rather than


    wallow in self pity. She never insisted Macey move on rather she said Macey needed to let her heart


    grieve and heal in its own time.


    Macey remembereding home after a failed blind date to find Vicki awake and ready to hear the


    details while the kids slept. She cried her eyes out that nightining how much it hurt to think


    Julius had moved on while she was trapped loving him. Most people told her to just forget him but Vicki


    had different advice: isir d''amour ne dure qu''un moment. Chagrin d''amour dure toute vie.[1] If you


    love him…love him. There is nothing wrong with that.


    But what if I always love him? What if I never get over him?


    Sweetheart, I am French. To me unrequited love is as natural as breathing. Your heart will heal when it


    is ready and will open itself to new love…and if it doesn’t maybe it is trying to tell you something. Le


    coeur a ses raisons que raison ne conna?t pas.[2]


    Was this what her heart had been trying to tell her? Julius hadn’t moved on as she thought he did. He


    had been trying to find her all this time hoping to bring their family back together. Could it be that


    somehow her heart knew that? Was this why she never could let him go?


    “Macey?” Julius stirred pulled her closer as he propped himself on his elbow and turned her so shey


    on her back looking at him. He was surprised to see tears seeping from her eyes. “Shh…don’t cry. Did I


    say something wrong?”


    Macey shook her head unable to formte the words she wanted to say. Instead she mumbled, “Just


    hold me…please?”


    His embrace tightened pulling her into his chest as he kissed her forehead and whispered, “As you


    wish.”


    Macey rxed in his arms, “You remembered my favorite movie.”


    “Of course I did. I remember everything about you.”


    She didn’t know how long shey there but eventually she realized they had to get up for the kids soon.


    When she decided to move she found she couldn’t. It seemed every part of her protested making it


    difficult to breathe.


    “What’s wrong?” Julius sensed her difort.


    “I…can’t move. Everything’s just so sore.”


    Julius chuckled kissing her, “I’m sorry. I was too eagerst night.”


    “It’s not funny. The kids will be up soon. What time is it?”


    “Six. Rx. We have time.”


    “Time to what? I can’t move.”


    “Don’t worry. I’ll fix it.” He chuckled before sliding out of bed. “Stay here…I’ll be right back.”


    “Stay here…” she snorted. “Like I have a choice.”


    Hisughter echoed back to her as he entered the master bath. Macey tried to sit but everything


    protested and brought tears to her eyes. A few momentster she heard him running a bath. Soaking in


    warm water did sound good but how was she supposed to get to the tub?


    “Okay beautiful. Let’s go,” Julius said as he returned.


    She looked at him but quickly looked away realizing he was very much naked. Her face reddened as


    she covered it with her hands.


    “What’s wrong?” Julius asked leaning over her.


    “Don’t you think you should put something on?” she mumbled.


    Julius burst outughing before gently prying her hands from her face to kiss her nose saying,


    “Considering where my mouth wasst night I think seeing little junior is the least of your worries.”


    Macey stifled a shriek and her face grew even redder, “Thanks a lot. I’d almost forgotten that!”


    Julius chuckled scooping her into his arms and carrying her bridal style, “Don’t worry about it after all


    we both belong to you, beautiful. We’ll do it all again tonight.”


    Macey continued to hide her face unable to meet his gaze as memories of their passionate night


    returned to her mind. There weren’t words for her level of embarrassment.


    Stillughing Julius carried her into the bathroom and carefully settled her in the warm water of the


    Jacuzzi tub. Macey gasped and sighed as the water enveloped her. It did feel good. A momentter


    Julius joined her pulling her into his arms so she rested against his chest. Fiddling with the controls he


    activated the jets and adjusted the speed. He sat between two jets allowing their current to swirl around


    her. Macey moaned rxing.


    “Better?”


    “Hmm.” She rested against him.


    Julius smiled enjoying her in his arms where she fit so neatly. How could he have been so stupid? If his


    younger self were in front of him now he would kick his ass. After a few minutes he grabbed a bath


    scrub and gently washed her kissing her shoulder.


    “Julius?”


    “Yes beautiful.”


    “Did you mean what you said?”


    “About what?”


    “About…taking care of me?”


    “Yes.” Julius kissed her temple. “Every word.”


    She sighed, “H-how is that supposed to work?”


    “What do you mean?”


    “Well…the kids and I have to go back to Paris. They have school. I havemitments…and so do


    you.”


    She felt him tense the moment she mentioned leaving but he slowly rxed again. Finally he


    answered, “That’s not a problem. I’ll go with you.”


    “You can’t just quite work.”


    “I haven’t taken a vacation day in almost ten years. I’d say I’m overdue,” Julius replied. “Besides dad’s


    wanted to break into the European market for awhile. Someone needs to be there to make it happen.”


    “So…you’d really just leave everything behind? Move to a new country where you don’t know anyone?”


    His embrace tightened and he kissed her again, “All I need is you and the kids. Nothing else matters.”


    “Julius.” Macey shifted to look at him.


    He smiled at her conflicted expression saying, “Just say the word. Whether we live here or in Paris or


    split our time between both…it doesn’t matter to me as long as we are together.”


    She wanted to say something but she didn’t know how. Instead she stayed silent cuddling against him.


    He held her content to have her in his arms…for now. Eventually she knew he would want an answer


    but she didn’t know what kind she would give him.


    * * *


    “Mister DaLair! We’ve been expecting you!” the owner of the tailor shop greeted.


    Julius nodded as he held the door for Macey and the kids. Though he was not one to reserve a whole


    store like his father Julius did prefer to alert shop owners when he nned to visit. It was the best way


    to ensure prompt service especially if he was in a rush. He was no stranger to this store as the owner


    knew him for years.


    Reagan was in his mid-fifties. His hair was thinning and he had put on some weight since his prime but


    he was the consummate professional weing more than a few of New York’s elite through his doors,


    particrly the DaLairs.


    Julius had always been a loyal customer and Reagan extended the red carpet treatment whenever he


    arrived but this was the first time he came shopping with a woman let alone kids in tow. The woman


    was quite beautiful with her vibrant red hair. Her look was mimicked in the energetic little girl who


    skipped into the store ahead of them. The boy on the other hand had a more serious look as he slowly


    took in his surroundings.


    “Hello Reagan,” Julius said, “we have a party to go to tonight. Me and my son need to look as good as


    thedies.”


    Caden wrinkled his nose at his father’s statement but was excited to finally do something his sister took


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    for granted. For once he would be the one trying on new clothes with his parent.


    “Your…son…” Reagan looked at the young boy again. There was definitely a strong resemnce. “I


    see. What kind of event are you attending?”


    “A grand opening for an art gallery,” Julius said taking out his phone to show him a picture he snapped


    at thest store. “This is what thedies are wearing.”


    The image showed Macey in an off-the-shoulder, forest green gown. It red just below her hips giving


    her more freedom of movement than her previous dresses though it stayed in the mermaid style which


    she preferred. Beside her Aria modeled a velvet green dress with poufy shoulders and a ckyered


    skirt. It had acey hem with beaded neck line.


    “So what do you think?” Julius asked. “You got something to help uspete with that?”


    Normally when Julius shopped for suits he was indifferent but today there was a distinct yfulness


    and eagerness in his attitude. Reagan had known the DaLairs for a long time and his mind slowly


    recalled fitting him for a wedding tux several years ago. Could this woman be that bride? And the


    children…


    Reagan smiled brightly saying, “Well, let’s see what we can do.”


    Julius scooped up Caden and carried him as they followed the shop owner into the store. Now he had


    a better view of the racks of suits in various colors: ck, white, gray, brown, green, blue…even pink.


    There were just as many racks of dress shirts also in multiple colors, styles and material. Along the wall


    were essories: boutonnieres, ties, tie clips, belts, hats, cufflinks, shoes, even sunsses among


    many things Caden couldn’t identify.


    “A gallery opening would be a ck tie affair so I think we should keep it simple with a basic ck suit,”


    Reagan said selecting one of the suits. “Now we have this. It’s simple but as you can see the material


    has a satin finish that adds a little extra.”


    “What do you think, Caden?” Julius asked as they felt the heavy material.


    “Will it be too hot?” Caden asked. Though he was excited to match his father his main concern was


    “That’s a good point,” Julius agreed. “We’ll be there all night so it should be breathable. Reagan?”


    He nodded like a wise sage sensing what his clients wanted. Leading them to another rack of suits he


    selected one that was lighter and softer but still fitted. Caden seemed to find this one eptable.


    “Ites in children’s sizes too, right?” Julius wanted to be sure.


    Reagan nodded. A salesperson brought a tape to take Caden’s measurements then selected a small


    range of sizes to see which fit best. A selection of shirts was also chosen allowing them to choose


    material best suited forfort. Then they retreated to the dressing rooms with a few essories to


    During this process Macey and Aria quietly wandered through the essories. Aria giggled at some of


    the choices and designs. She had never been to a men’s clothing shop before so it was a new


    experience and she had a hard time even identifying most things.


    “What do you think,dies?” Julius asked as he and Caden emerged from the dressing rooms.


    The pair strutted and turned as if on a run way. Somehow they had gotten a hold of matching


    sunsses and they wore them as if they were 80’s heartthrobs as they posed. Aria giggled at their


    father’s silliness. Macey chuckled. She knelt and straightened Caden’s tie. Like her, he was not a big


    shopper but he was smiling broadly losing most of his reserve. It seemed the more time he spent with


    his father the bolder he became.


    “I think you both look very handsome,” Macey said cing a green, silk handkerchief in Caden’s chest


    pocket. “There. The final touch.”


    Caden’s grin only got bigger. Now he really did match his mom and dad. Macey kissed his forehead


    and stood. Moving to Julius she fitted a simr handkerchief in his pocket. He caught her hands before


    she could pull away and kissed them. Her cheeks took on a faint blush which only made him smile


    more. Julius leaned his forehead against hers not caring if anyone saw him. After tonight everyone


    would know how he felt…and most importantly she would no longer have any doubts.


    * * *


    Outside the shop Katherine pressed herself against the window watching the scene as the foursome


    shopped. She had slept in her car expecting Julius to leave for work and give her the opportunity to


    confront the redhead. To her surprise they all left together heading for the shopping district. Confused


    she followed as he first brought them to dress shop looking for matching gowns for Macey and Aria.


    Katherine’s face burned with rage.


    How many times had she begged Julius to take her shopping? All she wanted was his attention and


    pampering but each time he shrugged her off. She thought it was because he hated shopping but he


    didn’t seem to mind it at all today.


    In fact he looked to be thoroughly enjoying himself even as the women tried on multiple dresses before


    deciding on the ones they wanted. She watched him wrap his arms around Macey and slowly spin her


    as if they were dancing in a ballroom. Laughing lightly Macey yed along much to the children’s


    delight. Why? Why did he show her so much care and attention?


    Now she watched them shop for suits so he and Caden could match as well. The way the pair strutted


    out of the dressing rooms wearing matching sunsses as they spun and struck poses showed how


    yful Julius could be. He was all smiles, rxed and happy as he took Macey’s hands in his and


    kissed them. It was clear he didn’t care who saw. Katherine gritted her teeth and clenched her hands.


    She was going to make that bitch pay.


    [1] The pleasure of lovests only a moment. The pain of lovests a lifetime. (French Proverb)


    [2] The heart has reasons that reason cannot know. (ise Pascal)