They rented a small apartment near the shop, just a short walk away.
Yaya held both their hands, darting excitedly through the supermarket.
She insisted on exploring every single aisle.
When preparing dinner at home, Yaya suddenly pointed at the apron and told Margaret: “Auntie, can you make more
bacon?”
Margaret froze instantly, looking helplessly at Jack.
Jack tapped Yaya’s head lightly: “Mommy and Daddy should take care of you, but Margaret is our guest. We should take care of her.”
Yaya nodded thoughtfully before suddenly turning to Margaret: “Then will you be my mommy? Then I could eat your cooking every day.”
The air froze instantly.
Margaret didn’t know how to respond. She’d never set foot in a kitchen, her only culinary skill being the Chicken Noodle Comfort that Charles loved.
Jack quickly covered her mouth: “Yaya, don’t say nonsense.”
“I’m not talking nonsense.” Yaya struggled, her little face flushed bright red. “Why can’t I have a new mom if I have a new dad? I want Aunt Margaret as my new mom!”
Margaret stared at the child’s stubborn look, taken aback. Jack wasn’t Yaya’s father?
Suppressing her suspicion, she crouched down to reason with Yaya: “I can tell Yaya likes Auntie very much, and Auntie likes Yaya too. But a new mom should be someone Dad loves.”
Yaya didn’t quite understand love, just gazing blankly at her father. Jack then sent her to the living room to watch TV.
The dinner was lavish, this was also Barbara’s first time trying such spicy food. Seeing the little girl with tears and runny nose from the heat, yet still eating with relish, Margaret suddenly thought Charles probably wouldn’t approve.
That child had been taught by Charles since young to strictly observe etiquette and avoid rashness. Though more ma- ture and steady than ordinary children, he’d lost the natural spirit of his age.
When Jack took her back, Barbara was already asleep.
“Thank you today.”
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00:25
Chapter 14
Jack said softly, “Barbara hasn’t been this happy in ages.”
Margaret shook her head: “I’m the one who should be thanking you.”
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Night spread like ink. Margaret walked beside Jack, making idle conversation until they reached the neighborhood
entrance.
It turned out he was Yaya’s uncle. His brother had passed away from illness, and his sister–in–law abandoned young Yaya and ran off. This left Yaya with deep psychological trauma. As her uncle, he kept the child by his side. To avoid gossip and help Yaya forget that painful period, he’d been acting as her father.
After the Coconut Curry Chicken incident, the three grew closer.
When Margaret returned to the bakery on Wednesday, Jack approached her with three outfits.
“Yaya’s kindergarten has a parent–child event Friday,” he said, handing the clothes to Margaret. Softly adding, “Is it too forward to invite you now?”
Margaret took the T–shirt he offered, pausing before murmuring, “What should I prepare?”
Though already a mother to a six–year–old, this was Margaret’s first school event invitation.
Jack chuckled behind his hand, steadying himself before speaking gently: “Don’t be nervous. It’s just a campus brain teaser. I don’t have many friends here, so… feel free to decline if you’re busy.”
Margaret instinctively shook her head.
“Sorry, I took the liberty of arranging this.”
Jack watched her conflicted expression. “I don’t know what you’ve been through, but as a friend, I hope you’ll get out more.”
After a thoughtful silence, Margaret’s gaze drifted toward Yaya playing in the distance. She glanced at Jack and softly thanked him.
From then on, they developed an unspoken understanding and saw each other more often. Even without Yaya’s pres- ence, their conversations flowed into deeper territories.
The kindergarten event arrived soon.
That day, Margaret showed up in matching outfits, knocking on the Nguyen family’s door early.
Sunlight draped over her like a soft halo. Yaya, standing beside Jack, gasped: “Wow, Aunt Margaret is so pretty! She’ll definitely be the prettiest mom here today.”
“Sorry, did I come too early?”
