tw: ectopic pregnancy
[name_f]Julia[/name_f] " [name_u]Jules[/name_u] " [name_f]Brigitte[/name_f] [Odvark] Kowalski (49) is Tony’s younger sister and Grace’s aunt. In spite of being the baby of her family, [name_u]Jules[/name_u] was arguably always the level-headed child, frequently having been called ‘boring’ in her teenage years thanks to being far more interested in studies, exams and planning for the future than any of the fun [name_u]Tony[/name_u] involved himself in. Now working as a successful gastroenterologist, Jules’s mentality clearly paid off, although she was unable to escape stress due to the ongoing alcoholism her brother struggled with following the abandonment of his wife. Having always been a little severe as well as stoic, [name_u]Jules[/name_u] is much more unforgiving regarding what her sister-in-law did, opinions she tried her best to hide from her niece as she knows part of [name_f]Grace[/name_f] will always love her mother. Part of this stems from [name_u]Jules[/name_u] having gone through an ectopic pregnancy when she and her now-husband were engaged, resulting in a complicated surgery that left the likelihood of [name_u]Jules[/name_u] naturally conceiving highly unlikely. Seeing her former in-law walk away from her child, knowing full well what [name_u]Jules[/name_u] went through, left a deep resentment in her regarding the woman; especially as she found success after choosing this path.
Following [name_u]Tony[/name_u] getting his life back on track, [name_u]Jules[/name_u] and her husband decided to begin fostering, considering it important to give a home to children needing one. After several successful temporary placements, the couple took in a then twelve year old boy, who developed a profound bond with the couple; coming to share Jules’s love of scrapbooking and gardening, specifically growing her own vegetables which the family cook with. This connection was so important to him, social services eventually decided adoption would be the best decision for both parties - leading [name_u]Jules[/name_u] to become a mother later in life, but it’s something she absolutely loves and wouldn’t exchange for anything. It hasn’t dampened her closeness with [name_f]Grace[/name_f] though, regularly visiting her at the book shop and her cousin also now pops in - coming to share Gracen’s love of literature. She and her husband are also in the midst of planning a holiday for the whole family, with the exception of [name_u]Tony[/name_u], as [name_u]Jules[/name_u] wants to give her brother a chance to meet up with Jacqueline’s sister without the same anxiety weighing on his mind.