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Clearing the Air
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2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
The Surrogacy Secret Socks
Royal closed the door behind his mother who wiggled her eyebrows at him. The woman was crazy. He turned back to Famke. “Are you okay?”“Why wouldn’t I be?”“Mom can be a bit much,” he admitted as he studied her carefully, worried he’d gotten there too late. “Did she say or do anything to upset you?”“No.” She looked at him with confusion and then with understanding, “is that why you came up here? To make sure your mom wasn’t cornering me?”“She didn’t tell me she was coming up here. She snuck off while I was on a call with my assistant in my office. She left Dad and Jubi to get Precious dried off and into warm clothes and snuck up the stairs.” He approached her and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. “I was glad to see she was speaking softly and not yelling at you.”“Did she yell at Mindy?”“She usually cuts people to the quick with a harshly worded put-down. She has a sharp tongue. What did she want?”“To apologize and to tell me she was worried I’d exercise my m
The Surrogacy Secret Kara
Famke considered she had been to nightclubs with Nyx in the past, but they were nothing like what she was experiencing now. She had her phone out and was taking a quick video of the booth they were in to send to her best friend.“What are you doing?” Jubi was laughing at her as she leaned over the railing backwards making Famke’s stomach roll.“I’m sending Nyx a video.”“Nyx?”“My best friend from back home. She is working in New Jersey for a forensic accounting firm.”“Very cool. We should have sent Royal’s chopper to pick her up and bring her.”“She doesn’t love flying.” Famke shook her head as she also considered her friend would not mix well with the crowd here. Everyone was in designer dresswear and Louboutin heels. Nyx was more garage punk. She had to agree this was a bit out of her league as well.“Let’s get a drink,” Jubi tugged her deeper into the booth where Royal was talking to a man Famke didn’t know.“I’m not ready for a drink yet. I’m not a big drinker and if I have one
The Surrogacy Secret TMI
Famke was kicking her foot to the beat of the music when Jubi came back and looked around.“Where is everyone?”“Royal and Keshaun went to the bathroom about twenty minutes ago. Kara left with Ambrosia.”“Keshaun and Kara showed up?”“Yup. They had an argument when Kara called me the staff and agreed with Ambrosia how I was using Royal for his cash. Seems to be a popular opinion tonight,” she shot the woman a sideways glance. Jubilee had the decency to look down, chagrined. “I don’t care about his money, Jubi.”“I know. I’m sorry for snapping earlier. I was hoping you’d party with me and it’s clear you only want to be with Royal. It’s the first time I’ve gotten him out in months. I thought if you let loose, he’d let loose, and it would be like old times.” She sighed, “I just miss the old Royal.”“I bet. Everything must feel really different without Prince here.”“It sucks,” she admitted twisting a ring nervously around her finger. She took a breath, “did you ever know a secret you kne
The Surrogacy Secret Family
Famke was sitting on a high bar stool as she observed the way Royal and Keshaun commanded the room. Keshaun was avoiding all liquor, yet he was not letting it stop him from having a good time. Currently he was laughing it up with a group of men who were as immaculately dressed as he and Royal were. He had them enthralled in a story which had them roaring with laughter.Royal was talking to a couple of bouncers he had stationed at the door and the servers who were bringing more drinks in, and he was in control. He was making sure everyone was having a good time and the way he worked a room made her in awe of his personality.“Your boyfriend is gorgeous and funny!” a girl plunked down beside her. “You’re so lucky! Have you known him long?”“A few weeks.”“So not serious then,” the girl gave a look which immediately made Famke want to smack her silly.“Oh, it’s serious,” Royal appeared out of nowhere and interrupted the conversation. “I’ve never been more serious about anyone in my life.
The Surrogacy Secret Spaghetti
Famke was giggling like a fool when Royal was pulling her through the exit of the club. He had stopped to dance with her so many times she was surprised they were finally outside.“What about Keshaun and Jubi?”“Keshaun already promised me he would take her home. He’s going back to our place with her. Mom and Dad are there. They will put her to bed in one of the spare rooms. Keshaun has a room he always uses at my place.”“Where are we going?”“I’m hungry.”“You’re hungry?”“Yup.” He opened the back door of an oversized SUV, “your chariot awaits, madam,” he intoned in the worst English accent she’d ever heard.“Wow,” she froze and looked at him. “I finally found something the great Royal Robinson can’t do.”“What? My accent is impeccable.” He continued pushing her towards the back seat.“It is not impeccable.” She giggled as she got into the seat and yelped when his hand connected with her bottom. “Hey, you spanked me!”“I did.” His eyes mocked her, “making fun of my accent.”“Let me
The Surrogacy Secret Trust
She exhaled slowly. “Nyx is pro-Famke-getting-laid but anti-Famke-getting-married.”“Really? Why?” He appeared genuinely surprised.“Same reason as Bram I suppose.”“Bram doesn’t want us to get married?”“Hell no.” She gave a snort. “He knows I’m caught between a rock and a hard place, but he also knows a prenup could leave me in a situation with zero access to a kid I’m already head over heels in love with. Nyx is on the same page. She always wants me to have fun and loosen up. She’ll be the first person to complain about the number of hours I work but she also knows my stance on having children and marriage so she’s reminding me of this every step of the way.”“Your stance?”She shrugged, “look, I haven’t hidden my opinion about how I never expected to be a mother. I never felt it was in my best interests. Carrying Precious for Prince and Mindy was a gift and a blessing because I never thought I would ever do it for myself.”“You’re telling me you never allowed yourself to consider
The Surrogacy Secret Taking Advantage
Famke stared at Jubi across the kitchen table and tried not to laugh.“I’m never drinking again,” she whimpered with her cheek resting on the cool table.“Until next weekend?”“Maybe New Years,” she croaked as she lifted mischievous eyes at Famke who grinned in response.“Good morning Jubi!” Royal yelled loudly in his sister’s ear, making her jump and slap at him.Famke looked him over and struggled to not lick her lips. He was in a white t-shirt, basketball shorts and sweat dripped from every pore. He had crawled out of bed at five-thirty to go do a workout and she had burrowed deeper under the blankets and pillows to hide from his cheerful mood. When Precious had come to wake her up, the little girl had crawled in with her and they’d slept even longer. It turned out Precious liked to sleep as much as Famke did.Now she was playing under the table with her dolls, amazed Famke had told her she could have her breakfast there. Famke had even made a plate of fruit for the dolls to share
The Surrogacy Secret No Blessings Here
Royal climbed into the back of the SUV with Bram and Keshaun and tried to shake the uneasy feeling he had.Famke had not come downstairs when they were leaving, and he didn’t get to say goodbye to her before he left. Jubilee had been braiding Precious’ hair and from the look Jubi shot him, he had a feeling he was in shit with her too.“You fucked up,” Keshaun called him out the minute the car started rolling. “I’m glad you’re dropping me off at the hotel because I think I’d rather face my angry wife than what your torture from Famke will be when you go back.”“She’s mean when she’s angry,” Bram goaded. “I mean this is the woman who quit her job she’d been working at for four years because the boss tried to cut her hours. He even offered her hours back with a raise and she still walked. Spiteful.”Royal shrugged nervously, “I didn’t do anything wrong.” Even to his ears it sounded weak.“Sure, you didn’t.” Keshaun laughed loudly. “She isn’t one of your socialite money-grabbing bitches R
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The Surrogacy Secret Happily Ever Afters
“Happy birthday, Famke,” Nyx shoved a box across the table.Famke opened the package and took to laughing. “No way.”“Is that my face?” Royal asked his eyebrows meeting in the middle.“Remember when you went to the doctor, and you were complaining how the mood swings aren’t getting better despite the medication adjustments and sometimes you wanted to punch Royal in the face for breathing loudly? Now you can.” Nyx was proud of herself as Famke showed off the children’s version of a stand-up punching bag, she’d specially ordered with Royal’s face on it.Royal took the box from her and grinned, “it’s saying something about my ego isn’t it, when I’m proud of the fact I’ve been made into a toy?” The table laughed at his comment. “You don’t need this, baby girl. We can duke it out anytime you like. Wrestling would be preferred.” His inuendo wasn’t missed by a single adult at the table and he rubbed his shin as the toe of her shoe connected with it. “Or keep the punching bag.”“Mine next,” C
The Surrogacy Secret Blast From The Past
“Precious, come on, let’s go!” Royal bellowed up the stairs looking for any sign of the child.“Just a minute!” she screeched back.“Mommy is going to ring my neck if we’re late.” He looked up and groaned his heart in his throat as she climbed a leg over the banister and slid down the rail with a loud cackle, her Disney princess underwear flashing him the entire way down. He caught her before she hit the knob at the bottom and swung her squealing into the air. “You’re going to give me a heart attack.”She clutched his neck, squeezing it tightly. “Throw me again, Daddy.”Ever since he told her he’d gotten approved to adopt her, Uncle Royal no longer existed. It had been two months since he and Famke gained sole custody of her, and he was thrilled. He was Daddy all the time. His brother was probably rolling in his grave, and it made it even sweeter. He threw her up in the ai
The Surrogacy Secret Trial - 3
“So what?”“Those apron strings were hard to cut. You were angry when he married Mindy against your recommendations. Yet when he and his wife went through problems, he cried on your shoulder an awful lot, didn’t he.”“Yes. There’s nothing wrong with relying on your family.”“How many times did you say, ‘I told you so’ and make him feel badly for not following your advice?” He paused, “you would give him advice, correct?”“Yes, as any good mother would.” She partially answered the question.“Did you encourage him to take Mindy to Pittsburgh and source out a blonde, white woman to scam similar in size and posture to Mindy and steal their child from her?”“Objection!” the lawyer for Imani was on his feet and the judge agreed.The lawyer waved it off, “When did Prince tell you Mindy lied about being pregnant?&rdquo
The Surrogacy Secret Trial-2
Famke took her seat back next to Royal shaking with unbridled rage. The next several witnesses were the doctors and nurses and even the cop who once looked for Prince as a favor to his nurse wife on behalf of Famke. Yet she couldn’t stop the fury in her belly. Being accused of fooling around with a married man wasn’t sitting well with her. By the time the court recessed, she was a quivering mess. Royal pulled her to a quiet corner of the lobby and cupped her cheeks. “Breathe, baby girl.” “How fucking dare, he outright suggest, I was screwing around with Prince? Your mother put this nonsense into everyone’s head and it’s insulting.” “Yes, she did. We knew this shit was going to be thrown out there though. I know it hurts your feelings and your pride but they’re grasping at straws. They need to prove Mom wasn’t part of the kidnapping and they’ll fight dirty. I love you,” he didn’t look away from her. “No matter what the outcome in there is today, I love you.” “I love you too.” She
The Surrogacy Secret Trial-1
Famke sat with Royal behind the prosecutions side of the courtroom and bounced her foot nervously. Imani’s sister Amari was sitting across the aisle from them glowering at them.Cliff and Jubilee were sitting with Denny and Mary, Cliff’s parents on the other side of her and Royal and Cliff’s spine was straighter than steel.Famke was called to the stand as the first witness for the prosecution. After going through the spiel about telling the truth and reminding her she was under oath, the lawyer smiled gently.“Ms. Noor, can you tell me how it was you were first introduced to Mindy and Prince Robinson?”“Yes.” She cleared her throat. “My brother was at the Saint Mary’s hospital, in the specialized children’s ward undergoing cancer treatments ahead of a surgery. They were trying to reduce the size of his tumor with radiation and chemotherapy ahead of the surgery. I spent a lot of my time at the ho
The Surrogacy Secret A Day In Court
A month later they were sitting in front of a judge in a barely comfortable room after the room was called into session. The judge smiled at Famke, Royal and then nodded at Imani. Their lawyers sat beside them, but the rest of the room was empty per the judge’s order. The entire process had been rushed given Imani’s upcoming criminal case and her lawyers wanted it settled before her trial.“I had a lovely conversation with Precious.” Judge Ringer began. “She is a lovely little girl.”“Thank you,” Famke smiled nervously as Royal rubbed her shoulder softly.“She adores you,” the woman looked to Famke directly. “We shared a good conversation about boundaries today. I don’t know many five and half year olds who know the word boundary, let alone have a clear understanding of what it means.”“Therapy,” Famke couldn’t fight the smile on her face. “We’ve un
The Surrogacy Secret You Reap What You Sow
Famke and Royal were sitting in the dining room of Black Magic after their visit to the lawyer’s office, facing Jubi and Cliff. Royal gripped his ever-present refillable tumbler, filled full of his favorite coffee Keshaun poured for him and he was clutching it like a lifeline.Famke’s heart ached for the three people at this table. They were flipping through the scrapbook after Royal pointed out what the lawyer noticed when she was looking through the photographs in the book. Neither Jubilee nor Cliff spoke for quite some time and Famke knew they were trying to process their emotions.Cliff’s phone rang and he looked at it and then declined the call.“Mom?” Jubi asked softly.“Yes. She hid this from me.” He said his voice cracking. “She knew all this time. It meant she even lied when we talked to her the other day, and she said she knew at Thanksgiving. She knew long before then.”“I belie
The Surrogacy Secret Scrapbooking
Famke sat with Royal in the lawyer’s office feeling dumbfounded. “You’re telling us she has a chance?”“Not a good one,” the lawyer sighed. “Pennsylvania has law which supports rights for visitation for grandparents.”“Even if they’re unfit?” Royal asked, clearly as perplexed as Famke.“Can you prove she’s unfit?”He rubbed his forehead. “Her husband of forty years just left her because she’s off her rocker.”“He left her because she’s unfit?”“He left her because she’s tearing her family apart with this bullshit,” Royal countered, frustration marring his face. “I thought this would be a slam dunk. Famke is her biological mother. I was appointed her legal guardian when Prince died.”“Yet,” the lawyer waived to the papers she was served, “Famke, you said you never intended to be
The Surrogacy Secret The Last Straw
Famke paced while Royal was furiously staring at his mother’s face on the video call.“You’re suing us for custody?”“Yes. Famke doesn’t want her. She never intended to be her mother. You have banned me from seeing or talking to Precious. I have rights as a grandparent.”“As a grandparent. You forget, I was named legal guardian of Precious in Prince’s will.”“Yes, but it’s invalid because her biological mother is alive which means the legal guardianship is moot. My lawyer checked. Precious’s original birth certificate was registered at the hospital she was born. It lists her as the mother and him as the father. Your claim to Precious doesn’t mean anything since Famke is the listed parent and she’s alive and never gave up parental rights.”“Imani,” Cliff moved to stand behind Royal at the desk in the office. “You are tearing your family apart. Why? You are willing to go to such extremes to get your own way at the risk of losing Royal and Jubi? Me?”“There was a time this family stuck t
