He nodded.
“I wanted it to be perfect for her.
A way to show her how much we care and that she’s part of our family now.” He smiled, appearing relieved. “I knew Jennifer might mention something, and I was worried she’d spoil the surprise.”
A wave of relief washed over me, though I also felt a twinge of guilt.
I had been imagining the worst-case scenario—well, I wasn’t even sure what I had been imagining. “Richard,” I whispered, lowering my head, “I’m so sorry.
I just… I thought something was wrong.”
He chuckled softly, stroking my hand with his thumb.
“It’s completely understandable. We are both adjusting.”
I nodded, making an effort to dispel my lingering doubts. “I think Jennifer is just… protective,” I explained.
“She’s unsure of what to expect, and when she told me not to trust you… it struck a chord with me.”
Richard nodded thoughtfully.
“She’s a sensitive girl. I think she’s still navigating her way through this.” He looked at me earnestly.
“We’ll just need to ensure she feels safe and loved— all three of us.”
The next morning, as I watched Richard gently guiding Jennifer in choosing her breakfast cereal, my heart felt a bit lighter.
He glanced at her with tremendous patience, and although she barely looked up, I could sense the trust slowly beginning to develop between them.
I joined them at the table, my hand resting on Jennifer’s shoulder.
She looked up at me, her eyes serene, and a small smile appeared on her face, as if acknowledging some newfound peace that had settled among us.
