“…” Jenna gazed up with her big, doe-like eyes, a touch of confusion dancing in them.
She was still too young to grasp the meaning of those words.
“Together? Like with Sophia?” she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.
“No, not like that…” Gilbert paused, shaking his head slightly. “More like how it is with Mom.”
“But…” Jenna pouted, her little brows knitting together in confusion, “I already have a mom.”
You can’t have another mom.
And besides, “You are a boy, right? How can you be a mom?”
Gilbert couldn’t help but chuckle at her logic, gently pinching her nose. “Silly girl, I’m not trying to be your mom…”
He swallowed hard, a nervous edge creeping into his voice.
“Jenna, how about I be your dad, huh?”
“Dad…dad?” Jenna tilted her head, her expression clouding with thought.
What’s wrong?
Gilbert’s heart raced, fearing she might not be on board with the idea.
“Don’t you like me, Jenna?”
“I do like you…”
Jenna nodded, still wearing a troubled look. “But, this needs Mom’s approval, right?”
“Your mom, she…”
Just as Gilbert was about to reveal that her mom had already agreed, waiting only for Jenna’s nod…
Jenna’s voice, still soft and childlike, interrupted, “Mom’s waiting for Dad.”
What did she mean? Gilbert raised an eyebrow, “Waiting for Dad?”
“Yeah!”
Jenna nodded vigorously, throwing herself into Gilbert’s embrace, whispering close to him.
“Dad went to work, and Mom said we have to wait for him to come back.”
That was something Sherilyn had said to calm Jenna when she was fussing for her father, a lie she hadn’t expected Jenna to cling to so tightly.
Worried she might upset Gilbert, Jenna patted his chest, “Don’t be sad, Mr. Gilbert.”
“Heh.”
Gilbert let out a soft laugh, hugging the little girl closer. “Don’t worry, Jenna, I’m not sad.”
How could he be? He was overjoyed!
The door swung open, and Sherilyn stepped in, rolling up her sleeves as she walked. “Are you dressed yet? Why does it take so long to put on some clothes?”
Then, seeing Jenna already dressed and the two of them whispering together, she frowned slightly, urging, “What are you waiting for? Get up, wash up, and let’s have breakfast.” “Okay, Mom.”
“Yes, Mom!”
Jenna clutched her stomach, hurrying out. “Mom, I gotta go pee!”
“Go on then!” Sherilyn patted her daughter’s head, proud that Jenna was growing so independent.
“Mr. Gilbert, you’re coming too, right?”
“Sure.”
Gilbert promised, taking his time to follow, a smile playing on his lips as he lowered his gaze to Sherilyn. His eyes… they held a world of meaning.
Sherilyn, puzzled, asked, “Is there something on my face?”
“What exactly did you tell Jenna?” Gilbert, barely containing his laughter, posed the question instead of answering.
“About what?” Sherilyn looked genuinely confused.
“You said…”
Gilbert leaned in, his breath warm against her ear. “You said you’re waiting for Jenna’s dad to come back?”
Jenna’s dad, that’s him, right?
“…” Sherilyn froze, the memory hitting her. “That was just…”
“You’ve been waiting for me all these years?”
Gilbert’s smile widened, almost splitting his face. “Sherilyn, I get your message.”
“Don’t overthink it…” Sherilyn couldn’t help but laugh it off. “I only said that to calm Jenna down when she was crying for her dad.”
“It’s all the same.”
Gilbert stood tall, a hint of pride in his stance. “In the end, I am Jenna’s dad, and you were waiting for me.”
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