The Ultimate Chance-Chapter 160

Avery smiled and thanked her again. Although she already knew there was nothing to worry about with Mabella taking care of Angel, she still double-checked to make sure he had snacks for when he needed them and there was enough food in the refrigerator that Mabella would warm up for them to eat.

When she checked that her dress was alright for the third time, she sighed as she realized why she was so worked up. She wasn’t exactly looking forward to her picnic with Julie. It wasn’t because she didn’t want to spend time with her friend, but rather because she knew what was lurking. Julie hadn’t been feeling very well lately.

For the last few days, it had been her husband picking up Aubrey from school when before that, Julie would be the one to come whether it rained or shined.

Julie didn’t just call her to catch up. And when she arrived and only Julie and her husband were present, her stomach sunk. Her suspicion was confirmed. Julie had something to tell her and it was probably not something that should be celebrated.

Still, she plastered on her brightest smile when Julie opened the door for her. She looked more frail than she did the last time they saw each other, which was barely a few days ago. Avery had asked Damon how she was doing when he brought Angel over for a play date and his response had been vague, which was enough to let her know her friend was not in the slightest bit alright.

But, she couldn’t exactly share her thoughts. Julie already had enough to worry about. She didn’t want to be one more thing on her ailing friend’s list of worries.

Julie led her to her backyard where she had spread out a blanket under a parasol, and her husband was grilling bacon nearby.

"How come Aubrey isn’t here?" She wondered aloud as Julie struggled to set up a foldable table. It took all of Avery’s effort to not swoop in and take care of setting everything for the picnic. She knew Julie still wanted to feel in control and didn’t want people helping her with the slightest of tasks.

"She had a school trip." Julie lied, then instantly remembered she was talking to a parent whose son was in the same school and class as Aubrey, and it was Sunday when kids didn’t go to school. She cleared her throat. "It’s her friend’s birthday. Her friend’s mother invited her and a few other girls to go to the beach. You just missed her, actually."

Although Avery hadn’t known Julie for longer than a few months, sometimes a lie was way too obvious and this was one of those times. She pursed her lips and nodded as though she believed Julie’s elaborate tale.

The women sat on the picnic blanket trying to catch up, but the mood was way too somber. Avery tried to crack a few jokes and failed.

Eventually, Julie grew tired of trying to act like everything was alright. She took Avery’s hands in hers. "I wanted to invite you over to my family’s old lake house for a sleepover but I thought that would be too obvious. Well, this isn’t any less obvious, it seems."

"Are you okay?" Avery asked in a voice so gentle it was almost a squeak.

This time, Julie didn’t put up a brave face. She shook her head. She then turned to her husband who had just brought them plates of the bacon he was grilling, and had gone back to grill some more.

"Honey, do you mind bringing some wine from the cellar?" She offered him a sweet smile.

From the way he stiffened, Avery guessed he knew exactly what Julie wanted to tell her—probably something she didn’t want him to have to hear again.

When he left, Julie’s face fell. "I’m worried about him."

"What’s happening?" Avery forced herself to ask. Something told her she wouldn’t enjy finding out.

Sure enough, Julie sighed. "My doctor thinks my condition will only get worse. There’s no chance for a reasonable recovery."

She wrung her hands, trying not to stop. "I only have a few years at most. I don’t think I’ll be able to walk around and go on with my life for said few years and then drop dead when my expiry date comes."

Avery squeezed her hand to offer comfort. Julie hated pity and would swat her away if she said anything, so she let her finish.

Julie swallowed. "I’m worried about my daughter and my husband. And I know this is a lot to ask but..."

When she trailed off, Avery urged, "you can tell me anything, Julie."

This time, Julie’s tears fell. "It’s just...my family and I aren’t exactly exchanging Christmas cards. They hate my husband. They always will. And in extension, they don’t like my daughter much. I know they would take care of her but they wouldn’t love her. My in-laws are the kind of stuff you’d find in nightmares."

She looked up so her eyes met Avery’s. "When I’m gone, I know my husband will be a wreck. Can you please check on them once in a while? At least until he’s able to get back on his feet."

"Of course, Julie." Avery hugged her. "I’ll take care of her for as long as she needs it."

Julie blinked away the rest of her tears, trying not to overexert herself. "I don’t know what I ever did to deserve a friend as kind as you."

Avery patted her back. "I know you would do the same if the roles were reversed." Hell, Julie would adopt Angel in the blink of an eye if anything happened to her and Damon, and she would love him as much as she loved her child.

Which is why it hurt so much for someone as nice and kind as her to be suffering so much.

"Now that we have taken care of that, why don’t we enjoy our picnic?" Julie wiped her face with the back of her hands and forced a smile, trying not to dampen the picnic.

Avery smiled along. No matter what, she would never forget this kind angel.

_____

In Gabe and Mina’s house, Mina was sitting at Gabe’s desk while browsing on his computer when he came in.

"Are you playing a game?" He asked, because Mina wouldn’t work on a Sunday if her life depended on it. In fact, if too much was going on at Vaillant Telecommunications and everyone needed to work extra hours to catch up, she would rather work fifteen hours every day to make up enough time for full, uninterrupted rest on Sunday.

She looked up from what she was doing with a smile. "No, I’m just checking through some generators."

He walked over and peeked at the screen, wondering what she was talking about. What he saw made him smile. She had pulled up several tabs with long lists of baby names and had a small tab at one corner where she was noting down what he guessed were the names she liked.

"What about Michelangelo?" He asked, seeing the name on the screen that she was about to scroll past.

She raised a brow at him. "Michelangelo D’Aboville? That’s a mouthful."

"Not as much of a mouthful as Whilelmina Romano." He laughed, earning a glare that made him clear his throat. "Your name is the most beautiful on earth, sweetheart."

She smirked. He sure knew how to save his skin. He pulled her out of the chair so he would sit and put her on his lap, and they spent the next several minutes going through baby names and shopping for baby clothes and toys. They had already bought a lot but there was no such thing as too many clothes or toys.

Of course, there was no way Mina sitting on Gabe’s lap would stay chaste for longer than a few minutes. It wasn’t long before his hands snaked their way under her t-shirt. She’d been wearing his huge t-shirts around the house, with either tiny shorts underneath or nothing at all.

Currently, she was wearing nothing, and her lady bits had been rubbing up against his leg with each subtle movement. He pulled her all the way to his chest and kissed her neck before he parted her legs and ventured between them. His finger brushed against her folds and sunk into her, and he smirked at how wet she was.

It turned out his little wife was just as turned on by this as he was. He pushed the chair back and turned her around to straddle him as he caressed her luscious curves. Her skin was soft and sensitive as usual, making him ravenous.

Later, she wrapped her arms around his neck as he carried her to bed.

This was what had become of them. Their life had settled into a lull, where they would spend their days at the office and as soon as the clock struck four, they would be hurrying out of the office like Cinderella whose magical gown and carriage would fade. Except for them, the clock striking four would mean time to see each other again and they couldn’t waste a second of it.

As soon as they were both in the house, there was no keeping their hands off each other.

At the same time, they were becoming more aware of the little one in Mina’s belly with each day that passed.

They considered their life perfect.

But you know what they say about all good things.