(Jessamine’s POV)“Good job, Kyle,” Sasha chuckled when he burped. “Good job, Mommy.”I smiled gently, proud of my small achievement and glad I could do it without my Mom’s help. I rose from my seat, put Kyle in the crib, and for a second, I hesitated to leave him, wanting to carry him again.“It’s hard, I know,” Sasha muttered, smiling as she gazed at little Kyle. “Aaron and I were like this for the first few days. We’re anxious to leave our little Cara.” She chuckled as if remembering something funny.“Where’s Aiden? I haven’t seen him around,” I asked, concerned about not seeing him. “Working?” I sat on the edge of the bed, where I could still see my baby.Sasha nodded, but her eyes were on the screen of her smartphone.“Yeah, but his meeting will be over by -” She stopped talking and raised her head slowly. “You’re… You’re asking about Aaron, right?”Her face was as white as chalk, and for a few seconds, she confused me. I didn’t know why she looked shocked. Sasha stretched her li
(Jessamine’s POV)“Are you sure you’re okay with it?” I asked Colleen, glancing over my shoulder before I continued placing Aiden’s clothes in the closet.It was past eight in the evening, and her visit surprised me. Although we had a good relationship, I still found it unusual to see her in the doorway as this was the first time she had come here in the many years I lived in the apartment.Aiden walked Charlie to the park while Aaron and his family were in the living room, watching Encanto for the nth time from his laptop. If Colleen had not come, I would have sat with them because I had not watched it yet. My sister was sitting with crossed legs on the bed, eyeing Kyle. Her eyebrows knitted, and she wrinkled her nose, a habit we both have when confused.“You know, my son passed the newborn screening test with flying colors,” I joked, turning around. “Why are you looking at Kyle like he’s some subject in your anatomy class?”“Hey!” Colleen rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Be careful
(Jessamine’s POV)They found Rick…Rick and me… That night.I gasped, covering my mouth with two hands because I could recall walking toward Rick and talking to him, but nothing more. Everything else turned murky in my memory.Slowly, I turned my head to Kyle, my heart pounding in fear… Suddenly, I was afraid that my love for him would change, knowing Rick could be his father. It would be unfair for my son when he had nothing to do with my stupidity.“No!” The tears welled in my eyes. “Aiden, we can’t let him know about my son. He shouldn’t -”Aiden creased his forehead, confused at me. He cupped my face and shook his head.“What are you saying?” He asked, meeting my eyes with worry.My shoulders shook as sobs escaped my mouth. I could feel my muscles shivering from fear, and I had to wrap my arms around his neck, hoping my best friend would catch me if I ever fainted.“I… I remember talking to Rick -”“Wait!” Aiden grabbed my arms and moved back. “Don’t tell me you remember going wit
(Jessamine’s POV)“Give Mommy your beautiful smile,” I said, planting tiny kisses on Kyle’s tummy and grinning to make him smile.Kyle twitched his lips, ignoring me as I tried to take a picture from my phone, and instead of smiling for me, he groaned, his eyes gazing at me as he pooped. I wrinkled my nose, pressing the camera, taking that moment when he opened his mouth.“You looked adorable when you poop,” I smiled and sighed, placing my cell phone on the side table to clean him up.Kyle’s tiny body jerked, startled when Charlie barked as he entered the bedroom.“Charlie,” I widened my eyes, pretending to be mad. “What did I tell you? I told you to be quiet when you enter the room. You startled your little brother again,” I muttered softly while I cleaned my baby and changed his diaper.“Any progress? Changes?” Deborah entered the room excitedly.Deborah sat on the edge of the bed and smiled sweetly at her godchild, squealing as she took her cell phone, taking a photo of my little o
(Jessamine’s POV)“Are you sure that’s what Terrence said?” Aiden asked worriedly, his eyes wide, watching me as I brushed my hair. “He’s Kyle’s father?”I raised my eyebrows, looking at his reflection in the mirror. Kyle was awake, staring intently at Aiden’s face as if my son was trying to memorize him while Aiden swayed him gently from side to side. I was sure, though, that our little angel would fall asleep soon, the way his eyelids closed slowly. “I didn’t say he’s Kyle’s father, Aiden,” I muttered, putting the hairbrush on the dresser. “I said… he said he had a lot of explaining to do why he left. He didn’t say he’s the father. He doesn’t even know about Kyle.”“But you think he’s Kyle’s father,” he pursed his lips, glancing worriedly at my son. “You look like you believe he’s the one. Isn’t he gay?”“Gays have a penis,” I gritted my teeth, unexpecting Aiden to act weird. “We’re too drunk. He might have forgotten his preference.”“Does it happen?” His forehead creased, not bel
(Jessamine’s POV)My brain processed everything slowly, like it was obsolete, and could not comprehend what Terrence had told me. My heart ceased to beat as I tried to remember everything. That night was like a puzzle that I could not complete.“You’re gay,” I murmured, my knees weak, my legs wobbling. I was getting dizzy.I was glad we were sitting on the swing. I gripped the swing chain hard, wishing to break the tube chain. I tilted my head, pouting like a child, peering at Terrence on the other swing.“What?” He scoffed, shaking his head and laughing at my accusation.“What else is your reason for leaving me outside the bar? Drunk? Helpless?” I muttered, smiling sadly. “Helpless…” I sniffled. “Just because Brody’s your friend, you trusted him and left me with him.”“It’s not that I trust him,” he sighed, looking heavenward. “You’re right. You’re my responsibility.”“Or not,” I cut in, squinting at the sky. “I drank, danced like crazy, and… agreed to come with you. I was not your r
(Jessamine’s POV)“Are you sure?” Deborah asked, shaking her head while scooping Kyle from the crib. “Why are you still awake, little one?” she asked, her voice changing to gentle and soothing.I twisted my pursed lips, wanting to joke that my baby must be an owl or a bat, but I changed my mind as I realized this was not the best time to banter about my child. It was ten in the evening, and they were supposed to be in bed, resting after spending long hours at work. Yet, our two friends were here, deciding to stay for a while to ensure I was okay after Aiden called them as if there was an emergency, like the situation was a matter of life and death when I fainted in his arms.“He’s like Aiden, wide awake at night,” I answered instead, peering at the ajar door to see what Xavier and Aiden were doing in the living room. They seemed to have changed their topic because I overheard Xavier talking about the restaurant in passing.“So, it was James,” she whispered, afraid Kyle would hear him
(Jessamine’s POV)“Why?” I shook my head, realizing my question was not correct. “How?” I asked, suddenly hiccupping.I held my breath for a short time and was glad it worked. Like magic, I stopped hiccupping. I fixed my eyes on him, returning the document to him as if the few papers had burnt my hand.“W-Why?” He panicked, grabbing my wrist, not taking the envelope from me.“Why?” My eyes were wide in disbelief. “Aiden, do you know what you’re giving me?” I asked in a low voice, afraid somebody might hear us. I even glanced around to make sure no one was there. “This is Adilene’s.”My jaw clenched, and I had to puff in and out air, anger rising in my heart to my mother. Aiden must have been forced to do something to please my mother as if the wedding preparations were not enough.“You deserve to have this,” he answered, his eyebrows knitting confusedly at me. “You once told me… Umm… You said…” He paused, then curved his lips into a hopeful smile. “Jess, I want you to have this. The…