Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“Yay!” Janey’s eyes Lit up, and she clapped her hands with excitement.
Taking the storybook from Annis’ hands, Audrey said softly, “But before that, let’s have a little chat, okay?”
Janey nodded obediently. “Sure. Mommy, what do you want to talk about?”
“Let’s talk about what happened at the hospital today. Is there something you’d like to share with me?” Audrey wanted to hear Janey’s perspective first before offering any guidance.
Janey squirmed nervously, her tiny hands entwining as she hesitated to speak.
Sensing her daughter’s unease, Audrey gently coaxed, “Janey, you know you can tell me anything.”
After a moment of hesitation, Janey finally said, “Mommy, at the hospital today, daddy…”
Janey began to say “Daddy” but swiftly corrected herself. “Cornell didn’t push me to the floor.”
Audrey inhaled sharply, taken aback by Janey’s revelation.
Swallowing hard, Janey continued, “Today, I was hitting Cornell when I lost my balance. I almost fell, and the sharp edge of the table was this close to my eye!”
Janey pinched her fingers together, illustrating how narrowly she had avoided injury.
Puckering her lips, Janey continued, “If Cornell hadn’t pushed me away, I would have hurt my eye. I only cried because I was scared. I wanted to tell you, but Victor said we should wait until we got home to talk about it.”
Frightened and confused, Janey hadn’t remembered to tell Audrey about the incident even after they returned home.
A mix of surprise and shock washed over Audrey. Back then, she had consumed by worries at the sight of Janey collapsing on the floor and crying, oblivious to what truly unfolded.
But in retrospect, Audrey realized that from where she stood then, she wouldn’t have been able to see the full picture. So, she had misunderstood Cornell.
Audrey wrestled with a surge of conflicting emotions. Believing that Cornell had hurt Janey, she had decided to sever ties with him. But now, it turned out to be a misunderstanding!
Unable to decipher Audrey’s expression, Janey thought Audrey was upset with her. She reached out, entwining her fingers with Audrey’s, and whispered, “Mommy, please don’t be mad at me, okay?”
Snapping out of her reverie, Audrey gently clasped Janey’s hand and murmured, “I’m not mad at you, sweetheart. I’m just thinking about how I mistakenly blamed Cornell.”
“Then will you say sorry to Cornell?” Janey asked innocently. Since childhood, she’d been taught the importance of apologizing when wrong.
Audrey nodded, though torn. “I’ll find the right time to apologize.”
“After you do that, I’ll join you in disliking Cornell,” Janey declared, her little fist clenched in solidarity. “After all, he just tossed your soup away like that.”
Audrey couldn’t help but be amused by Janey.
The chill that had settled over Audrey’s emotions all day began to thaw, stirred by Janey’s maturity beyond her years.
Audrey felt that it was the right time to have another serious conversation with Janey. “Janey, I have something to tell you.”
“What is it?”
“Well…” Audrey cleared her throat, feeling a hint of nerves creeping in. “I have two little babies growing in my tummy.”
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Janey looked puzzled. “In your tummy?” She was still too young to fully grasp the concept of pregnancy.
Suddenly, Janey sat up, lifted Audrey’s shirt, and began searching.
“Mommy, where’s the babies hiding? I can’t see them.”
Audrey chuckled, unable to contain her amusement. “Janey, the babies are still just tiny embryos, snug inside my tummy. That’s why you can’t see them.”
Janey blinked curiously. “Are they tiny, like I was when I was a baby?”
“Yes,” Audrey replied and then proceeded to describe the journey from pregnancy to birth.
Janey seemed to finally comprehend the concept. “So the babies are tiny right now, just the size of an egg.”
Audrey affirmed with a nod, “Exactly.”
Then, Audrey asked the most important question, “Janey, do you think you’ll like them?”
Janey pondered for a moment before cautiously asking, “Do you like them, mommy?”
Audrey paused, recalling her mixed feelings when she had first found out that she was pregnant. Yet, the joy was undeniable, much like when she was pregnant with Janey. Children were blessings. She nodded.
“I do.”
“Then, I Like them too! Thank you, mommy!” Janey cheered, clapping her hands with delight. “I really want siblings. Brothers or sisters will be okay with me. I promise to be very good to them.”
Audrey was touched by Janey’s thoughtfulness. It seemed that while she was considering Janey’s feelings, Janey was also considering hers.
Janey’s excitement bubbled over as she exclaimed, “Mommy, I’ll start learning to cook and do chores with Annis tomorrow, so when the babies arrive, I can take care of them!”
Audrey chuckled at Janey’s enthusiasm. “Sweetie, in the first few months, the babies can’t eat food. They can only drink mother’s milk.”
Janey’s upbeat mood faltered momentarily as a significant question crossed her mind. “Mommy, does Cornell know about the babies?”
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Janey’s innocent words left Audrey temporarily at a loss for words.
She hesitated before answering, “Well, that’s something Cornell doesn’t know yet.”
Janey looked confused and asked, “Mommy, why don’t you tell Cornell? What if he likes the babies just like me?”
“Well, we are having some problems right now. I really like the twins, but I’m not sure about some things,” Audrey replied.
“Twins, does that mean there are two?” Janey asked with excitement.
“Like Davey and Jackie in my class? They look exactly alike.”
Audrey nodded. “The doctor said so.”
“Mommy, that’s wonderful!” After a brief burst of joy, Janey’s face turned concerned at Audrey’s expression. “Mommy, what’s wrong? Do you not want the little babies?”
Audrey went quiet. It wasn’t that she didn’t want the babies, but the current circumstances made her hesitant. She was worried about Janey’s evident desire for a father figure. She didn’t want the twins in her belly to face the same issue of growing up without a father’s presence.
“Mommy, can I give you a suggestion?” Janey asked gently.
“Of course, my love, go ahead.”
“Even if Cornell doesn’t love the babies like we do, it’s okay,”
Janey said with a sweet voice. “We have Erick, my grandpa, Annis and Elin…”
Janey started counting on her little fingers, listing names until she ran out of fingers to count on. She lifted both her small hands to show Audrey and declared, “Mommy, look, so many people love me and will love the babies too. You don’t have to worry at all.”
Audrey couldn’t help but smile, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. Her primary concern had been that the twins might face challenges like Janey’s, but now she saw that Janey’s situation wasn’t so bad after all.
Janey was flourishing, surrounded by love and support, receiving the right guidance and education. She had grown into a compassionate little girl.
Audrey knelt down and hugged Janey tenderly, whispering, “Janey, you’re right. Thank you for reminding me of that.”
After Janey blinked her big eyes a couple of times, she said, “Mommy, you’re welcome.”
Audrey embraced Janey, and after a moment, she heard Janey’s soft voice asking. “Mommy, how is Luciana doing?”
Audrey went quiet. Janey had been worried about Luciana for a while.
Sadly, Janey still didn’t get to see Luciana today.
Audrey reassured Janey, “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’ve checked, and Luciana is doing well right now. Once her health gets a bit better, we’ll definitely go visit her.”
Janey confessed, “Mommy, it’s my fault. I shouldn’t have dragged Annis to help after seeing that man selling marshmallows fall. If I hadn’t done so, Luciana might not have hurt.”
“Sweetie, I told you before, what you did was kind. No one will blame you for that.” Audrey softly stroked Janey’s back, comforting her, “Remember, we shouldn’t blame ourselves for others’ mistakes. Your uncle, your grandpa and I all think you did the right thing trying to help. The fault lies with the bad person who took advantage of your kindness.”
Looking down at Janey with love, Audrey added, “Janey, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
Janey nodded, feeling much better. “Mommy, from now on, I’ll keep doing good things, but I’ll make sure I’m safe.”
Relieved that Janey understood, Audrey praised her, “Janey, you’re such an amazing little girl!”
After Janey fell asleep, Audrey gently closed the door behind her.
Once outside, her face grew serious.
That day, after Janey left kindergarten, she was fascinated by the man selling marshmallows in different shapes. The marshmallows were skillfully crafted, coming in a variety of designs like dolls and little animals.
Janey adored the marshmallows, but she was usually quite obedient and never ran around after school.