n

n

nJeremy kneeled on the floor as he couldn't control his happiness. Hugging the strips to his chest he couldn't stop chuckling. In the bathroom, his happy laugh echoed kicking away the lonely silence to oblivion.

nJeremy was happy but his dogs found his laugh weird. Earl was not happy his pretty and sensible mom is not home. Duke got worried about his dad acting weird. They are smart after all and they know what their dad feels.

nDuke was worried for Jeremy and he walked inside the bathroom.

n

"Duke!

" Jeremy hugged the dog making it whine.

"I am going to become a father!

" he kissed the dog.

"You're going to become a big brother!

"

nTears formed in his eyes out of happiness and hugging Duke he wiped the corners of his eyes and composed himself.

n

"Duke! I'm going to find her…

" He stood up and Duke wagged his tail and woofed.

nHis dad is in good mood and that's all he needed.

nJeremy ran down the wooden stairs. Throughout his way, he saw flowers blooming a little fairy lights glittering. He ran to his study and opened the drawer to get the picture of his mother. His eyes teared up once more looking at the smiling face of his mother.

n

"Mom, you are going to become a grandmother…

" he kissed her.

nHolding her picture to his chest, he took in a deep breath. He couldn't control his smile and he wanted to hold her close to his chest.

n

"Ah, mom… I'll find her first,

" he kept his mother's picture safely inside the drawer.

nHe saw the thick bunch of paper he had in an envelope. He wrote that letter to her before their wedding but he never gave it to her.

nHmm… what should I do with it?

nHe kept it safely in his pockets and walked to the door deciding to bring her back either by begging or by force.

nWell… by begging he was willing to go the whole nine yards. Like complete surrender. Lie flat on his belly by her feet and beg her to take him back.

nHe had a feeling that she would not let him go that far. If she wanted to truly hide she would have asked the help of her great-grandfather and disappeared from the face of the earth.

nBut she didn't (probably)!

nAnd with her being pregnant, she wouldn't leave him just like that. She is a good woman and she would give him a choice even if he screwed up.

nSo, he was not that worried.

nBut when he was about to close the door, her face when he last saw him came to his mind. That face filled with sadness and hurt, her eyes that were filled with exasperation.

nShe wanted to tell him something. It probably was about the pregnancy. But enrusted in guilt and shame to look at her, he ignored her.

nHe stopped and rubbed his chest.

nWith what face will I look at her again? With what right can I ask her to return?

nHis smile got wiped out like a layer of mist in the morning.

nHe went back into the house and closed the door.

nI cannot do this!

n-----

nJerlina woke up after napping for a while. She was so bored and didn't know what to do and so she slept. Also when she is awake she is thinking weird thoughts and she decided to just sleep it out.

nUncle Pat and Aunt Backy didn't ask her anything. They are elders and they understood that she is fighting with her husband but they refrained from asking her what the problem is.

nJerlina preferred it that way too as she was not willing to talk to them about it. She didn't know what Uncle Pat would do if she tells him about what Emma did.

nDid he not call me even once?

nShe thought as she couldn't hear any ringing sound. She didn't think that she slept that deep to miss her phone ringing.

n

"Does he not want me?

" she mumbled and pickedup her phone.

nIf he didn't call me, I am going to call him and make him know how he failed me. I am not going to back off!

nShe tried to unlock her phone but her phone didn't wake up.

nOops… Did my phone die?

nShe felt bad for arriving at conclusions before knowing the truths.

nDid he call me? Did he think that I am ignoring him on purpose?

nHer mind went through various scenarios and after a minute she decided not to dwell on it. She decided to charge her phone first and think about the next steps later.

nSince she doesn't carry her power bank and charger like most sensible adults, she didn't have her charger with her. She tried to find out of Uncle Pat's phone charger fir for her but it didn't. But Uncle Pat had a whole set of chargers that belonged tohis previous phones and still nothing set for Jerlina's phone.

nAs she was wondering what to do next, she heard the familiar sound.

nThe Porche? Is it Joel?

nJerlina ran down the stairs and to the window in the living room and took a peek.

nIt is Joel. He came for me!

n

"Missy, are you okay?

" Aunt Becky asked and she nodded.

n

"Don't tell him that I am here,

" she pointed at the door and ran up the stairs.

nPatrick who was sitting on the armchair got up raising his eyebrows. He watched his Missy grow up. Although she is not an open book, he could learn some of her thoughts.

nRight now, missy wants us to invite her husband in.

nBecause if she didn't want to hear from him, she'd ask them not to open the door.

nPatrick dind't know how severe the fight between the couple is. He heard some rumors from the town but the Missy hasn't said anything so he won't reach any hard conclusions for now.

nHe has to take responsibility as her father and make sure she ends up happy with no regrets. Because he knew it in his heart that there is no one more suited for the Missy than Jeremy. And he could say with utmost certainty that she loves him very much.

n

"Maybe we listen to him,

" Rebecca said.

nShe is married to Patrick for decades. She can understand his thoughts without him saying anything.

nJerlina hid on the stairs. She wanted to hear what Joel has to say. Patrick opened the door and her heart skipped a beat.

n

"Hello, Patrick, Rebecca…

" his voice was a little coarse and Jerlina had an urge to clear her throat. But she stopped herself.

nBut she couldn't help but take a peek of Jeremy. She was still hiding but she could see part of his shoulder and chin if he turned to face Aunt Becky.

nMove to your left, Joel… Let me see your face!

nJeremy cleared his throat and scoured through the house. It looked neat and cozy but his eyes ended up at the shoe rack. And seeing the black shoe on the rack, his lips curved.

nShe is here!

nHe looked further and took a glance at the house. If she is pregnant, she won't be hiding behind couches and the kitchen looked empty.

nThe stairs…

nHe carefully looked at the dim-lit stairs and he could see a piece of her red skirt. He let out a sigh of relief.

nThank goodness she is simple-minded at these things. Otherwise, I won't be able to survive.

nI don't deserve her!

nRebecca who was standing by the stairs could see that Jeremy figured out Jerlina is there. She looked at Jerlina and she was trying hard to have a good look at Jeremy. Her lips curved to a smile.

nHow adorable!

nShe was worried for a bit but Patrick assured her that nothing bad will happen. Missy never breaks Patrick's expectations.

n

"Emma's baby is fine,

" Jeremy said.

"The doctors saved her pregnancy.

"

nRebecca almost choked.

nDoes he really have to open with this considering everything happened?

nRebecca looked at Jerlina. Pressing her lips, she turned to get up the stairs.

nOh, no!

n