“These are my eyes! Daddy and Mommy Melissa said Jasmine’s eyes look the most like Mommy’s-so sparkly!” Jasmine blinked a few times, then pointed to her nose. “Jasmine’s nose looks like Daddy’s. My face shape is like Mommy’s! The top half of my mouth looks like Mommy’s, and the bottom half looks like Daddy’s.”
“I even have a little mole here! Mommy Melissa said it’s from the tears Mommy shed while missing me. Did you miss me a lot?”
Lillian kept smiling as she listened, the warmth in her eyes almost melting into tears. “Yes, Mommy missed Jasmine so much. Every year, year after year, I kept wondering what Jasmine looked like.”
“Then am I even prettier than you imagined? Cuter?” She wiggled around in her seat like a little monkey, scooting closer to Lillian.
“Even better than I imagined-so healthy and lively.”
“That’s because Daddy took good care of me!” Jasmine snuggled against her. “Mommy, do you know how hard it is to take care of a baby? When Jasmine was little, my health wasn’t good. Nancy said Daddy never slept through a whole night. I cried every hour, and the moment he put me down, I’d start crying again. I could only fall asleep lying on Daddy’s chest. Daddy took me to work-he was both my mommy and my daddy.”
Lillian had never taken care of a newborn, but she could imagine how hard it must have been, especially since Jasmine had barely survived.
Looking at her now, Lillian could tell just how much effort Conrad had put into raising her.
“What about you, Mommy? Were you doing well out there? Did you miss me and Daddy?”
A flash of pain crossed Lillian’s eyes. “Mommy didn’t know Jasmine existed.”
“Oh… I forgot.” The little girl lowered her eyes, hiding the disappointment in her heart.
But she quickly lifted her head again and said, “That’s okay! As long as Jasmine and Daddy remembered Mommy, that’s enough! We missed you so, so much, so we’ll just give you all of our love now!”
Conrad was shocked.
He knew this little girl was good with words, but this level of sweetness? Had she perfected it by practicing on him every day?
If he had even half her ability to express himself, maybe he wouldn’t have lost Lillian in the first place.
******
Meanwhile, when Ethan got home, he found the place completely empty.
He looked around, noticed the missing shoes, and immediately made a call.
At this time, Lillian had already taken Jasmine to play with Quincy, and Conrad wasn’t focused on work at all. The blinds in his office had been rolled up for a long time.
Every now and then, he couldn’t help but lift his head to check on her, as if making sure she was still there.
This feeling-being able to see her like this-was something he wouldn’t have even dared to dream of before.
When his phone buzzed, Conrad glanced around and noticed Lillian’s phone sitting on the coffee table.
He walked over and saw Ethan’s name flashing on the screen. Without much thought, he slid to answer.
“Lillian? Where did you and Quincy go? I got home and you weren’t there. Do you need me to come pick you up?”
Conrad frowned. Home?
To hell with your home.
“She’s with me.”
Silence fell on the other end of the line. After a moment, Ethan finally spoke. “Mr. Conrad?”
“It’s me.”
“Is Lillian there?”
“She’s busy.”
“Mr. Conrad, no offense, but given your current situation, it would be best if you handed the phone to Lillian. Otherwise, you might just ruin this hard-earned opportunity to see her again.”
Conrad nearly choked on his rage.
He swore he was this close to putting a bullet in this guy.
Every damn word of his hit a nerve.
Best if I hand over the phone? Hard-earned opportunity? Tch.
But… Conrad didn’t dare take the risk.
He stepped out to go find Lillian.
“Ethan is calling you.”
Lillian’s smile faded as she took the phone. “Hello?”
“Yeah, I’m at Brown Family Group. Ethan, I saw my daughter.”
Ethan sounded surprised. “That child is still alive?”
“Yes, she is. She’s alive, and she’s healthy and wonderful.” Lillian’s voice trembled slightly with excitement, as if she were sharing joy with an old friend.
“That’s amazing, Lillian. I’m really happy for you.”
Lillian glanced outside-it was already evening. “Sorry, did you get home and realize Quincy and I weren’t there? I… I wasn’t comfortable leaving him alone, so I brought him with me.”
On the other end, Ethan smiled slightly. “That’s okay. I always trust Quincy when he’s with you. I’ll come pick him up then. What about you?”
He gave her time to decide.
Conrad, standing a little too close, looked at Lillian and said, “If you want to go back, I’ll take Jasmine home for dinner first.”
Jasmine slid off the couch and clung to Lillian’s hand. “Mommy, I don’t want to be apart from you. If Mommy leaves… you won’t come back.”
Lillian couldn’t bear to leave her daughter.
Before she could say anything, Ethan made the decision for her.
“I’ll come pick up Quincy. It’s settled.” He hung up.
Jasmine looked up at Lillian, pouting. “Mommy, I want to have dinner with you tonight. I want to sleep with you too.”
Quincy glanced back and forth between them, his little mind struggling to process everything.
“…Mommy?” he asked in confusion.
“Quincy, be good. Daddy’s already on his way to pick you up. I’ll go downstairs with you, okay? Tonight, Mommy wants to stay with Jasmine.”
Quincy’s internal alert system went off. He hesitated, then asked cautiously, “Are you coming back?”
“I will.”
Conrad shot him a look. Jasmine glared at him too. Quincy scratched his head, not sure what he had said wrong.
Ethan arrived quickly, parking downstairs. Lillian insisted on taking Quincy down herself. Conrad wanted to follow but hesitated-he knew he’d feel awkward. Truthfully, he was just jealous, so jealous it made his stomach churn. He was afraid that if he went down, he wouldn’t be able to resist dragging Lillian back.
Jasmine, on the other hand, had no such hesitation-she was determined to go along and spy!
“Daddy, don’t worry! I’ll make sure to bring Mommy back. Also, you should really sign up for a communication skills class.”
Ugh! So inarticulate!
Jasmine scampered after them like a little shadow.
By the time they reached downstairs, Ethan’s car was already parked outside.
Lillian told Jasmine to wait at the entrance, promising to be right back.
“Mommy, hurry back, okay?”
Ethan rolled down the window, watching as Lillian approached. His gaze shifted to the little girl standing by the door-a beautiful child.
He smiled at Jasmine.
Jasmine felt an arrow pierce her heart. Ah, okay…
So this was Quincy’s dad?
Fine, he actually did have some charm.
Whatever.
Her mommy was so beautiful-it made sense that more than one man loved her.
It would be weird if no one did!
Jasmine comforted herself with that thought.
Ethan stepped out of the car and placed Quincy into his car seat.
“Ethan, tonight I…”
“It’s fine,” he interrupted. He glanced at the little girl watching from the entrance and smiled slightly. “She’s adorable-she looks a lot like you.”
He looked back at Lillian and said sincerely, “I understand how you feel. She’s a piece of you, Lillian. I’m happy for you.”
“So go,” he said. “Enjoy every second with her. Kids grow up in the blink of an eye. Before you know it, moments like these will be impossible to get back.”
“…Thank you, Ethan.”