Back at the apartment, Jenna was still in dreamland.
Sophia was bustling around the kitchen, while Sherilyn, with a bag of tests in hand, made her way to the bathroom to conduct an all-important check.
She had purchased three different brands, each reputed for their accuracy.
After a nerve-wracking fifteen minutes, the results were unanimous… Within the tiny windows of each test, two lines appeared.
Sherilyn bit her lip, her heart racing a tad faster.
Given the false alarm last time, she was hesitant to revel in joy just yet.
Gently placing her hands on her abdomen, she whispered a silent prayer: “May the heavens bless us, Jenna’s future little brother or sister, may you already be nestled within Mommy’s womb…”
As she opened the bathroom door, Jenna’s voice filled the air.
“Mommy? Where’s Mommy?”
Sherilyn stepped out with a smile. “Jenna, Mommy’s here.”
“Mommy!” Jenna, clutching a red Minnie Mouse plush, her hair a tousled mess, ran towards her.
Bending down, Sherilyn scooped her up and planted a big kiss on her cheek.
“Shall Mommy do your hair?”
“Yes, please!” Jenna giggled, “I want pigtail buns!”
“You got it.”
Sherilyn carried Jenna back to her room, placed her on a chair, and began combing her hair, intending to tie it into two pigtail buns, much like a little warrior goddess. “Mommy?”
Hugging her Minnie Mouse, Jenna suddenly asked, “Are Mommy and Daddy not together anymore?”
Sherilyn paused, surprised and confused, “Why would you ask that, Jenna?”
She was so young; did she even grasp the meaning of her question?
“Daddy never comes to our house.” Jenna tilted her head, her little brows furrowed.
“Dawn said… that means Mommy and Daddy are separated.”
Dawn was Jenna’s playmate from the next block, a kind little boy who looked out for her.
The concept of ‘Daddy’ was something he had introduced to Jenna.
Sherilyn felt a pang of emotion; Jenna was growing up, and it was becoming harder to gloss over certain truths.
“Jenna.” Having secured the pigtail buns, Sherilyn held Jenna close. “Daddy and Mommy, for some
reasons… aren’t living tail
now.”
right
“And later?” Jenna looked up, her big eyes shimmering with curiosity.
Where did she get this cleverness from? Sherilyn was caught off guard, now having to carefully choose her words.
“Later…” Sherilyn weighed her response, “Mommy doesn’t know just yet. It’s not something Mommy can decide on her own.”
“Why?” Jenna’s eyes widened, “Does Daddy not want to?”
Sherilyn felt a cold sweat breaking out; this was tough.
“Mommy’s not sad.” Jenna immediately showed concern for her mother, “Mommy has Jenna, and Jenna will always be with Mommy!”
“Of course.”
Warmth flooded Sherilyn’s heart,
and she breathed a sigh of relief et
She picked up a Minnie Mouse hair clip and fastened one to each side of Jenna’s hair.
“Jenna looks so pretty.”
From the kitchen, Sophia called out, “Sherilyn! Jenna! Breakfast is ready!”
“Let’s go.” Sherilyn lifted Jenna, “Mommy’s tummy is rumbling. Are you hungry, Jenna?”
“Super hungry!”
After breakfast, Sherilyn and Sophia,
with Jenna in tow, headed to the
downtown shopping district, aiming straight for a children’s clothing store. . én.swnovels.net
Catching the holiday sales, they snagged quite a haul.
Sophia was impressed, “Kids’ clothes these days are of such good quality and so affordable. Children are truly blessed in this era.”
Instead of heading back, they opted for a restaurant in TeeMall for lunch.
Each chose a meal set, with Jenna getting a special kids’ meal.
While waiting for their order, Sherilyn stood up to go to the restroom, asking Jenna, “Want to come with Mommy?”
“Nope.”
“Then stay here with Sophia, okay?”
“Got it!”
Meanwhile, Gilbert was preparing to head to an upstairs Mexican restaurant with his business partners.