"Jennie!" I heard a small voice emanating from the hallway, gradually drawing closer to my room as I lay still in bed, still half-asleep. "Jennie, wake up!" Adie hopped onto my bed and called out my name.
"Huh!" I muttered groggily without opening my eyes.
"It's already 7, Jennie," she said with a cute giggle, softly settling onto my belly and peering at my face. Normally an early riser, today I found myself completely exhausted from yesterday's ceremony, still stuck in bed until 7. I slowly opened my eyes to meet the gaze of the little girl, her bright eyes fixed on mine as she held my chin in her hands.
Her smile widened as soon as our eyes met. I couldn't help but chuckle softly, reaching out to gently tousle her hair.
"Hello, sunshine," I murmured softly, a small smile playing on my lips.
"Morning, Pretty Jennie," she giggled, leaning in to plant a quick kiss on my forehead. Before she could pull away, I swiftly pulled her into my embrace, rolling over and pulling the covers around us both.
"Let me sleep for a few more minutes, little girl," I added, hugging her tightly into my embrace, which elicited a burst of giggles from her.
"But, Jennie, I'm hungry," she said with a slight whine, looking up at me from within my embrace.
"Oh, really?" I asked softly, meeting her gaze. She nodded in agreement, prompting me to swiftly sit up in bed.
"What do you want for breakfast?" I inquired as I got up, stretching my arms overhead. She took a moment to ponder, tilting her head thoughtfully.
"I want pancakes with strawberries," she answered with a giggle.
"Right away, Miss," I said with a small grin before heading straight to the kitchen. As I prepared the pancake batter, I quickly checked my to-do list for the day and glanced at some emails. It dawned on me that since it was Sunday, I needed to replenish my painting supplies.
"Adie!" I called out softly from the kitchen. Soon, I heard the pitter-patter of small footsteps rushing toward me until I was met by the smiling face of the 5-year-old girl.
"Yeah?" she said.
"Well, today is refill day for our supplies. So, as always, we have to visit several stores. Would you like to join me, or would you prefer to spend the day with Lexa and Dan?" I asked her carefully. She furrowed her little eyebrows thoughtfully before responding.
"Can I join you?" she pleaded with her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Why not, sweetie," I replied with a wink and a grin, turning my attention back to the pancake batter on the stove. "We'll leave after breakfast," I announced as I placed the pan on the stove to cook.
"I'm going to take a shower then," she swiftly responded, darting back towards the hallway to prepare for her quick shower. I chuckled softly as I continued making pancakes for our breakfast. Adie and I shared so many interests and traits. We both enjoyed drawing and painting, loved outdoor activities, and had a shared passion for pancakes and dumplings. That's why Lexa had given her the nickname "mini Jennifer." Even though she wasn't biologically mine, she felt like my mini-me.
As I reached for the bottle of honey, a sharp pain shot through my back. I realized I must have strained it yesterday, and it had been bothering me all night. Taking a deep breath to ease the discomfort, I grabbed the honey bottle. It took a few minutes to finish preparing the pancakes. I made plain pancakes with oats and honey for myself and added honey and fruits for Adie's topping. Placing two plates on the table, I headed back to my room.
Pancakes for Adie:
"Adie! Breakfast is ready, and I've set it out on the table," I called out to her before heading into my room to prepare myself.
"Copy that, Jennie," she replied promptly from her room, already one step ahead. With her confirmation, I vanished into my own room to get ready. It took nearly an hour to complete my morning routine. I felt a slight chill, likely from the onset of a cold due to my backache. Opting for comfort, I threw on a jacket and kept my attire casual for the day.
Jennifer's Outfit:
Adie was already finishing up her breakfast pancakes by the time I stepped into the kitchen with my bag.
"Is it tasty?" I inquired with a smile as I reached for a mug on the counter to pour myself some water. With her mouth still full, she eagerly nodded, managing a thumbs-up, which amused me, prompting a chuckle. I quickly settled down to enjoy my breakfast in peace. Once done, I cleared both plates and began washing up while Adie prepared herself to join me for our shopping day.
Before diving into the energy-consuming excursion, I knew I needed to take a painkiller for my backache. I retrieved one from the drawer and washed it down with a gulp of water.
"I'm ready, Jennie," Adie declared before darting into the living room with her small bag. She looked adorable in her casual outfit for the day.
With a thumbs-up in acknowledgment, I smiled and grabbed my bag, ready to head out. "Shall we?" I asked as I set the mug back on the counter. Adie's bright smile and nod were all the confirmation I needed. With that, we swiftly left our apartment, ready for our day ahead.
Today, our itinerary involved visiting several shops along Market Lane, known for their assortment of painting tools and canvases. Together, Adie and I strolled along the lengthy road, steadily checking items off my list. It took us a couple of hours before we reached the quaint vintage shop where I often found unique books and assorted knick-knacks, which fueled my creative inspiration.
Softly taking Adie's hand, we ventured into the shop. The moment we crossed the threshold, the unmistakable vintage ambiance enveloped us, transporting us back through the centuries.
"Ah, hello there, Miss Alison, and little Miss Adeline," greeted Liam, the elderly shopkeeper, with a warm smile as we entered.
"Hello, Liam," I responded, returning his smile.
"Hello, Mr. Liam," Adie chimed in with a little bow, eliciting a hearty chuckle from the old man.
"It's been a while, Miss Alison," Liam remarked with a chuckle of his own.
"Yes, it has, Mr. Liam," I added, sharing in the laughter.
"There are already some items waiting for you," Liam informed us, gesturing towards the shelves. "Feel free to choose, Alison."
"Thank you, Liam," I replied with a wink and a smirk. Then, I gently guided Adie closer to me.
"I'll be browsing in this section, and you can explore freely, okay?" I said to Adie, making sure to meet her eyes. Without hesitation, she nodded in agreement before swiftly setting off to explore the shop.
As Adie immersed herself in the wonders of the shop, I began perusing the shelves, adding to my vintage collection. While scanning the shelves, something immediately caught my eye—a vintage notebook reminiscent of those used in the Air Force, affectionately dubbed the 'Maverick Notebook' after Tom Cruise's iconic character in Top Gun. It was not only a nod to one of my favorite movies but also embodied the vintage style that I adored.
No way," I murmured to myself, my hand reaching out instinctively to grab the vintage notebook from the shelf. However, before I could lay my fingers on it, another hand swooped in from beside me and snatched it up. Startled, I turned to face the woman who had beat me to it.
"Um, do you also want this?" she asked me, a nervous smile playing on her lips. Without uttering a word, I took a moment to observe her. She was a muscular woman with short blond hair, clad in a leather jacket and a cap. Her beauty was undeniable, with a muscular physique unlike any I'd seen before. Lost in my thoughts, she interrupted my reverie with another question.
"Hello there, lady?" she waved her hand in front of my face, snapping me back to reality.
"Um, I'm so sorry," I hastily apologized, shaking my head, which prompted a soft chuckle from her.
"Do you want this one?...I mean, if you do, I can always grab it another time," she offered with a smile.
"Oh, never mind. I already have four books like that," I replied swiftly, returning her smile.
"Damn! That's cool," she exclaimed, her eyes widening in surprise. "I never would've guessed this young lady was into these kinds of vibes," she added with a smirk, eliciting a laugh from me.
"Oh, trust me. I'm really into these things," I assured her, and we shared a laugh.
"By the way, I'm Lawrence," she introduced herself, extending her hand for a handshake.
"I'm Jennifer," I responded, shaking her hand.
"Wow, you have a beautiful name, just like you," she complimented with a wink.
"Oh God, I'm going to blush," I joked, giggling along with her. As we continued our lighthearted conversation, Adie suddenly appeared behind me by calling out my name.
"Jennie!" Adie called out, rushing towards me.
"Oh, hello there, Adie," I greeted her with a smile as she reached me.
"I'm done, Jennie," she said, gently taking my hand with hers.
"Oh, really? I'll be finished soon too, sweetie," I replied, giving her a small wink, which she returned with an agreeing nod before turning her attention to Lawrence, who was already watching us with a wide smile.
"And this is my little girl, Adeline," I said, directing my attention back to Lawrence.
"Wow, what a cute little one," Lawrence remarked with a beaming smile.
"Hello," Adie greeted her back with a small bow, earning a chuckle from Lawrence, who softly patted Adie's head. As we continued our conversation, my phone buzzed with an incoming call from Lexa. Quickly, I made an excuse to Lawrence and stepped aside to answer the call.
"Hello, Lexa," I answered.
"Where are you? Are you at home?" she inquired.
"No, actually, Adie and I are out shopping to restock some supplies," I replied. "Is there something you need, Lexa?" I asked, curious about the reason for her call. There was a brief silence before she spoke again.
"Nothing urgent, but there's a guest who wants to meet with you," she said cryptically. I furrowed my brow in confusion.
"Who?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"I'm not sure. She asked specifically for Jennifer Alison," Lexa added, her tone tinged with an unusual feeling that I couldn't quite decipher.
"Alright then. I'll be there in a minute," I said, and we ended the call. My mind buzzed with thoughts about the mysterious guest. Shaking myself out of my reverie and refocused on the present.
"Well, I think I have an emergency... that's why I have to go now," I explained to Lawrence with a small smile.
"Sure. Have a nice day, Jennifer," she waved us off as we swiftly exited the shop and made our way back to the car. During the drive, my mind was consumed with thoughts and nerves about the mysterious guest.
Who could it be...
An hour later, I parked the car in front of Lexa's Cafe and quickly took Adie's hand as we entered.
"Lexa!" I called out, heading straight for the counter without glancing around the cafe. As Lexa approached, I whispered to her, "Where?"
"There she is," Lexa whispered back, pointing behind me. As I turned to see a woman sitting at a table, watching us. Slowly, she rose from her seat and began to approach me. Instinctively, I took a step back of feeling a surge of uncertainty.
"Hello, Jennifer," she greeted me.
As her gaze shifting to Adie with small smirk. Adie, who was clinging to my hand while her expression one of confusion. Then, I instinctively moved to shield Adie with my body. The woman's eyes returned to me after a moment, and I met her gaze steadily, a protective instinct rising within me.
I know those eyes ...
I still remember everything about Her....about Us.
The coldness in her voice, the sharpness in her eyes, the crimson hue of her lips, and that smirk that seemed eternally present whenever she laid her hands on me. She was the architect of the monster that dwelled within me.
She created that monster when I was just a child, no older than Adie is now.
She wasn't anyone else—she was My mother.
"Hello, Mother," I greeted back, the words carrying a weight of history and pain, reminiscent of the encounters with the Devil I had faced in my childhood.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author Credit :
In this Episode, I will be describing Jennifer's Mother's appearance. However, it's important to note that Jennifer has significant unresolved issues regarding her family and parents from her childhood. Therefore, I'll describe her mother's appearance with sensitivity and respect, avoiding any language that could be perceived as rude or disrespectful."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~