(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…
(Jessamine’s POV)What completes your life? For me, it’s Aiden, Kyle, and Charlie.A sweet smile carved into my lips as I rolled to my side. I did not know when Aiden went to bed, but when I opened my eyes, he was beside me, sleeping and snoring lightly while holding Kyle’s stuffed bunny rabbit.Charlie was not in the pull-out bed. Since the day we brought Kyle home, our dog would stay and sleep near the crib, attentively listening to his baby brother. He would get up immediately, wag his tail, and run to Aiden or me whenever Kyle cried.“Home sweet home,” I murmured, reaching for his cheek.I grazed my finger down, stopping at the corner of his mouth. A yelp escaped my mouth when Aiden opened his mouth, catching my finger and pressing his lips to imprison my index finger.“Hey! You startled me.” I chuckled, pulling my hand.Aiden laughed softly, opening his eyes and pulling me toward his chest. I snuggled closer, blocking up any gap between us.“Let’s not wait for six months, Jess. L
(Jessamine’s POV) The woman before me was an embodiment of a goddess only in a summer dress. She must be a model… or maybe a celebrity I didn’t know. She was strikingly beautiful, gently raising her hand to free the black hair her daughter clutched. I assumed the baby was hers because, aside from wearing matching dresses, the child looked like a mini version of the woman holding her. If I were not feeling threatened, I would love to utter a compliment, admiring them and thinking of buying matching clothes for Kyle and Aiden. Yet the words remained inside me, hiding somewhere in my brain while wondering why I felt terrorized when she was no one but a stranger. “How could he like you? You’re so ordinary,” she snorted, sneering at me. Ordinary? My eyebrows raised, thinking who the hell this woman was. “I’m sorry?” I narrowed my eyes as I tried to remember if we knew each other. “Do I know you?” Instead of answering me, she pursed her lips, sighing as she looked at me from head to to