Secret Love - Brenda Jackson [68]
Syneda was crying now, getting all emotional. So were all the other women. “Yes, Clayton and I told them before they left to return to Houston. They were very happy for us.”
“I can’t believe you’re pregnant,” a teary Kattie was saying. She was next in line to give Syneda a hug. “You and Clayton just got married eight months ago.”
“This is a planned pregnancy, and at least we waited until after the wedding,” Clayton said to his sister, playfully pulling one of the many braids on her head, and reminding her of how her situation had been.
“Tell Clayton to shut up, Raymond,” Kattie said to her husband as she gave Syneda a hug.
“Shut up, Clayton,” Raymond Barnes said teasingly to his brother-in-law. “So we goofed. Everybody isn’t as fetishistic about birth control as you were,” he added. “You’re the only man I know who kept a case of condoms in his closet.”
“Oh, Syneda, we’re so happy for you,” Traci and Felicia were saying together, giving Syneda double hugs.
Next came Lorren Madaris. She stood in front of Syneda for the longest time without saying anything. She didn’t have just a few tears, she had an entire bucket of them. And everyone in the room understood why. Lorren and Syneda were childhood friends who had grown up together in the same foster home. There was a strong bond between them. Through the years, they had always been there for each other and now by marrying brothers, they were blessed to be in the same wonderful family.
Lorren finally gave her dearest and closest friend a long hug and burst into more tears.
“You ought to do something before Lorren has us floating out of here, Justin,” Dex leaned over and whispered to his brother.
Knowing Dex was right, Justin stood and walked over to Syneda and Lorren, who were hugging and crying at the same time. Gently pulling Lorren into his arms, he handed Syneda over into Clayton’s.
“Congratulations, baby brother. Welcome to fatherhood,” he said to Clayton before placing full attention to consoling his wife.
Jake walked over to his nephew by blood and his niece by marriage. He cared deeply for the both of them and like everyone else, he was caught up in the happiness and the excitement of their news.
He shook his head. Clayton and Syneda had been the least likely two to get involved with each other, and had shocked the hell out of the family when they had announced that they were getting married. Now they were surprising everyone again with Syneda’s pregnancy. He thought they were the two least likely people who’d want to become parents, at least this soon. He’d figured they would wait at least four to five years. He had always thought they were more into escalating their professional careers than their family status. Now it seemed that starting a family meant a whole lot to them. There was no doubt in his mind that they would make good parents.
“Have you told your father yet, Syneda?” Jake asked.
Syneda looked up at Jake, smiling at him through her tears. “Not yet. Clayton and I are going to Austin as soon as we leave here tomorrow. We’ll tell Dad then. I can’t wait.”
“I wish Diamond was awake so she could share in your good news. She and I are very happy for you and Clayton.”
“Thanks, Jake.”
The card game forgotten, the other men stood and walked over to console their wives, who seemed intent on staying emotional.
Dex Madaris let out a huge chuckle. “Heaven help us all. That kid will be the most argumentative child on earth.”
“And one of the best-dressed,” Kattie piped in, thinking about Clayton’s and Syneda’s flair for fashion.
“Heaven help the future women of Houston if it’s a boy,” Raymond Barnes said, laughing. “Especially if he turns out to be a chip off the old block. You may want to put that case of condoms somewhere in storage.”
“And heaven help the future gents if it’s a girl,” Jake added, grinning. “She’ll have no pity on the opposite sex.”
Trask Maxwell pulled his wife into his arms. “I wonder what’s going to happen next,” he said. “With my and Felicia’s wedding