Damon glared at Jared.
Curtis chuckled, "Debbie, take it. Damon will need your husband's help in the future."
And that was when Debbie realized that they were being nice to her because of Carlos.
Since they were urging her to take the gift, she decided to accept it. She took the sandalwood box and said, "Thank you, Damon. We're good."
Damon grinned, "Open it."
Worried that she might be tired from standing too long, Carlos put his hands on her shoulder gently, indicating she should sit down. Slowly, she opened the red sandalwood box, revealing a piece of jade inside. It was fine, glossy, and flawless.
Debbie took the stone from the box. It was the size of an adult's thumb. She thought it looked familiar, but she wasn't sure. "Is this White Jade?" she asked.
An image was carved into the White Jade—a Buddha holding a lifelike lotus.
Rubbing his chin as he nodded, Damon explained, "It's the best kind of jade. In ancient times, only emperors and generals and ministers could wear them. But this is not just any White Jade. It's a historic treasure from the Song Dynasty, during Tiansheng's reign."
'Tiansheng! That means this thing's nearly a thousand years old. It's priceless!'
Debbie gaped in shock.
Curtis had seen the item before Damon gave it to Debbie. He thought about it for a moment and stated, "In Buddhism, the blooming of the blue lotus flower stands for enlightenment. If a Buddhist follower acquires the wisdom and realm of the blue lotus flower, they find Buddha. The lotus flower starts out in the murk, but it rises and blooms above it, so it stands for purification. The mud is suffering. The Buddha is born into a world of suffering, but isn't bothered by it. And let's not forget rebirth. The flower also means that. After a person dies, they are reborn in another body."
It sounded like the meaning of the lotus flower was profound.
Debbie closed the box and handed it back to Damon. "This is too much. I can't take it. Give it to Adriana."
Damon pursed his lips. "Curtis makes it sound really impressive. But you can't give it back. Besides, Adriana already has a ton of jewelry. Next time you two are together you can compare."
After saying that, he sat back in his seat.
Having received such a valuable gift, Debbie looked uneasy. Carlos comforted her, "He was generous enough to buy it for you, what are you worried about?"
"It must have cost him a lot. How could anyone afford that? He can't be that calm about it," she said. The stone was priceless. It must have pained Damon to part with that kind of cash.
Carlos smiled. "If he didn't want to pay for it, he would have kept it for himself."
"Do rich people always buy such expensive gifts?" she asked Carlos quietly. "Several years ago, Uncle Curtis bought me a house. Now Damon has bought me an invaluable jade object. And you have bought me tons of expensive gifts. Should I get used to it?"
"Yes. And I've spent a lot on Damon, too."
"Oh, okay then." Carlos' words reassured her.
She decided to accept the gemstone and buy Damon's kids two gifts someday.
The dinner, on the other hand, was fantastic. Everyone got along well...okay, maybe not Damon and Jared. Debbie couldn't stop giggling when she heard the two trading insults.
If he could, Carlos would have taken the brothers home to keep Debbie happy.
When Colleen heard the group was already there, she rushed over and the place became livelier. Once there, she sat next to Debbie and placed her hand over her belly to feel the baby. No one could get her to leave Debbie alone.
Carlos stared daggers at her to show her his unhappiness. "I'm your aunt. I'm concerned about the baby," she said to him defensively.
After the big dinner, they went home. Debbie had new ideas about how to poke fun at Carlos.
She insisted Carlos wear the briefs she had bought him on his 32nd birthday.
"I bought that gift, not Ivan," she said. It had taken her a long time to decide what to buy him. Carlos didn't care about price. It had to be something special and interesting. She was sure she was the only one that dared to give him something like that. It would be eye-catching.
Hearing her request, Carlos felt helpless. "Honey, it's a little..."
"A little what?" She pulled her nightgown down a little, revealing even more of that heavenly body.
But Carlos didn't react. He had been suppressing his urges, worried that sex would hurt the baby.
His lack of enthusiasm made her anxious. She took her nightgown off and climbed into bed. Caressing his hand, she said amorously, "Come on, old man. It's late... we're alone. Why so shy?"
His Adam's apple bobbed, the look in his eyes intense.
"You know what I want," she reiterated.
"No," he refused firmly. It was simply an insult to her charms.
She decided to try harder. She put her hands on his shoulders, pushing him deeper into the bed. She met his gaze tenderly. "Do you want me to dress you?"
Her hand slid across his chest and then down his belly. Those hours at the gym paid off. His pecs and chocolate abs made him look so hot.
"Um....no..." Carlos urged gently, feeling embarrassed.
"Oh yes," she replied with a smile. Then she moved away from him and said, "Well, if you can't make me happy... pick a guest room and sleep there tonight."
To prove that he was unyielding, he clutched his pillow and walked out of the bedroom.
Debbie remained calmed. She stroked her swollen belly and whispered to it, "Baby, let's make a bet. I give him five minutes. What do you think?"
Then she took out her phone and loaded up Speed QQ. She had been racing on one particular circuit for awhile and had yet to beat it.
Four minutes later, the door to the bedroom creaked, Carlos walked over to the bed.
He was in his bathrobe, and looked down at Debbie, wrapped in a thin quilt. "Honey, I couldn't sleep without you."
Debbie let him back into the bed. Then she pulled the belt of his robe...
And as the two sides of the robe parted, she could see he was wearing the briefs underneath.
She giggled, "Even in this girly pair of briefs, you're so damn hot!"
The horny Carlos couldn't take it anymore. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately.
As he advanced, she pushed him away. "We can't do this. Won't it hurt the baby?"
It was such an effort to control himself. He was sweating profusely. What? She was stopping him now? "What does it care? It's just a dot."
Debbie winked at him. "It's been more than four months. The doctor says the baby is fully formed."