Responsibilities All Mine

III

"Hey baby" cooed Arron as he pulls Jude into a tight embrace.

His familiar scent fills her nose and she immediately relaxes into his embrace. "I need to tell you something" she mumbles into his neck.

"Can it wait, my ma really wants to see you!" his smiles, happy. Her heart stings and she swollow the lump that forms in her throat. Jude solemnly nods her head with a nerve wreck like smile

"This way m'lady" says Arron as he escorts her threw their mansion that she's been in so many times to 'study'

Emotions are building, happiness, nerves, feeling of dread and hope all mixed into a million little butterflies flutters in her tummy.

"What'd your parents think about me going to Harvard, I bet they love me even more now don't they?" he smirks over his shoulder.

"Not as much as they already do" she smiles

"Judith! You look lovely" sings Mrs Amily Frazer dressed in a beautiful silk baby blue dress, and her chocolate brown hair flowing down her back in waves, her skin radiant.

"No Mrs Frazer, you look absolutely stunning, I feel almost under dressed!" gapes Jude while settling into Mrs Frazer embrace.

"Your too kind!" she chives with glee. "Come, everyone is in the backyard" she hurriedly picks up a platter of refreshments. "OH you shant miss Maddys performance later tonight."

Before she even dares to say she wouldn't, they step into the back yard she's seen countless times before – yet tonight stole her breathe. Japanese lanterns float in the trees, fairy-lights like serpents tangled up the tree trunks. There was no tacky sign that read 'congrats for getting into Harvard' making it even more tasteful. People dressed in summer formal wear drifted about holding champagne classes filled with sparkling drinks. The natural environment so green and lavished, giving a tasteful backdrop to the otherwise pastle colour fest.

"Beautiful"

"Come let's go see my dad" announces Arron as he pulls her along introducing her to administrators at Harvard, his father's friends, his mother business associates, everyone under the same fairylight lit sky they share. When they finally do make it to Mr Frazer, Jude is exhausted but has a radiance to her that many have complemented her on tonight.

Do people really notice the pregnancy glow? Does it even exist or is it just sweat? No time to dwell she though as she gives Mr Frazer, a tall man, lean built, dirty blond hair and a stern face a sturdy hand shake like always. She gives Maddy, Arron's sister who looks almost identical to her brother a quick hug.

"Did Amily tell you that Maddy will be playing the violen for us this evening?" question Mr Frazer, "She is one of the youngest people ever to play in a symphony-" Jude respectfully tunes him out as she's heard all of this before. Nod and smile.

"Ladies and gentlemen" announces Mrs Frazer just on the first step of the large back porch, "Maddy, will play a piece in honor of her older Brother"

Maddys music was background noise as Judes nervers were getting the better of her. She's twitching. "Ju, are you okay?" Whispers Arron by her side, once and a while giving a smile or two at people that are expecting to see his reaction to his sister's violen serenade.

"No, I have something really important to tell you. Literally life changing!" she grits threw her teeth with a smile on her face.

"Shoot then"

"No Arron. This, this is something you speak in private" Arron's eyebrows furrow as he looks down at her with curiosity, but a shade of darkness in his eyes.