Chapter 45 His Strawberry Ice Cream Was Very Sweet
The next day, Saturday at noon, after lunch, Jennifer grabbed Juniper by the arm, and they headed out to the Golden Shopping Center. It housed a popular bookstore where Jennifer wanted to browse the comics. Without a second thought, Juniper took her daughter and went.
Inside the bookstore, Jennifer kept glancing at her watch. One moment she claimed to be hungry and asked for cake, the next she said she was thirsty and wanted ice cream.
While Juniper was queuing up to make purchases, Jennifer leaned over the railing, her gaze fixated on the ground floor of the hall. "Where is he?" she muttered, furrowing her brow in frustration. At that moment, her keen eyes caught sight of the familiar, upright figure entering the hall.
Overcome with excitement, she waved frantically and yelled, "Sir! I'm up here!"
Juniper, waiting in line for ice cream, was startled. "Jennifer, who are you calling out to?"
Jennifer's big eyes widened as she pointed to the ground floor. "Mom, the real reason I brought you here today was to meet my friend! He's super handsome, like, perfect for you!"
"Your friend? What friend?"
Since when had Jennifer befriended a stranger?
Following her daughter's pointing finger, Juniper's heart skipped a beat. Wasn't that Magnus?
Quickly averting her gaze, she gripped Jennifer's shoulder for confirmation. "Jennifer, is the friend you're talking about that tall, handsome man in the black shirt?"
"Yes! Mom, don't you think he's tall and handsome?"
"..."
For a moment, Juniper's mind went blank, her head spinning slightly.
"Does he know whose daughter you are?"
Jennifer shook her head, "I don't know. I was just about to introduce him to Mom. Mom, don't you want to meet him?"
Magnus was moments away from ascending the escalator.
Unbeknownst to him, Jennifer was his daughter.
In a flash of quick thinking, Juniper said, "Jennifer, wait here like a good girl. Mom needs to use the restroom. Don't wander off, and if anything comes up, call me right away."
"But Mom, he only has ten minutes. You have to hurry! If you're late, he'll be gone!"
"Alright, Mom knows. I'll try to be quick."
As Magnus made his way up the escalator, Juniper slipped into the restroom.
"Sir!"
Jennifer, smiling wide, trotted over.
Magnus ruffled her hair and asked, "Where's your mom?"
"She's using the restroom. She said she'll be here soon. Do you want an ice cream cone? I have my allowance; I can buy one for you."
Naturally, Magnus wasn't interested in an ice cream cone, let alone spending a six-year-old's pocket money.
"No, thank you."
"Oh."
Jennifer pouted and glanced longingly at the ice cream stand.
She obviously wanted some.
"Do you want ice cream?" asked Magnus.
"Yes!"
He stood up and joined the queue.
The little girl, with her donut-shaped backpack, stood next to his long legs, leaning against them occasionally when she got tired.
When it was their turn, Magnus asked her, "What flavor would you like?"
"Strawberry! Sir, can you get two? My mom loves strawberry ice cream too!"
The man paused for a moment.
Juniper also had a liking for strawberry ice cream.
Yet he thought it wasn't that unusual. Many people enjoy strawberry ice cream.
"Two strawberry ice creams, please”, Magnus said. “Thank you."
After purchasing them, he handed both cones to the little girl.
Jennifer took one in each hand, licked the one in her left hand, and said, "Thank you! This is the best strawberry ice cream I've ever had!"
From around a nearby corner, Juniper peeked out...
Juniper peeked out from behind a wall, like a thief in hiding, secretly watching the scene unfold.
She watched as Magnus graciously bent down to hand two ice cream cones to Jennifer.
She also saw how Magnus affectionately ruffled Jennifer's hair with his large hand.
He stood in line for ice cream with Jennifer. The way she leaned against his leg with her little donut backpack made it look like any regular dad taking his daughter out for a stroll.
She couldn't bring herself to go over; she feared that her presence would shatter that warm and beautiful scene into pieces.
If Magnus knew she was Jennifer's mother, would he acknowledge her?
Would he take Jennifer away, never to let her see her daughter again?
Juniper felt a sudden warmth around her eyes.
Magnus was usually reserved and exuded an aura that kept strangers at a distance.
But now, sitting on a bench in the rest area with Jennifer, who was messy from licking her ice cream, Magnus's gaze was soft and tender.
How long had it been since she'd seen Magnus so gentle?
So long that she had nearly forgotten what his tenderness looked like.
For six years, she had pondered the day Jennifer would meet Magnus.
Yet, the scene unfolding before her was even more beautiful than she had imagined.
Juniper covered her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes.
Magnus glanced at his watch.
“It's getting late, and I've got things to do. Sit here and enjoy your cone. Tell your mom when she gets out,” he said.
Jennifer's mouth was covered in cream as she looked up with wide eyes. “But you haven't met my mom.”
He ruffled her hair again, a habitual gesture. “Next time,” he promised.
“And when is that? You're fibbing.”
He pondered, finally promising, “When you can solve the problems I've given you, we'll meet again.”
Jennifer's little face fell slightly, but she reluctantly agreed.
“Okay then. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Magnus's figure receded into the distance, blurring through Juniper's tearful gaze until he vanished completely.
Juniper collected herself before returning to Jennifer's side.
“Jennifer.”
“Mom! What took you so long? He's already gone! Mom, did you have a stomach ache?”
Juniper shook her head, "The restroom was packed; I had to wait in line forever."
"Mom, I got you this strawberry ice cream, try it."
Juniper paused, rooted to the spot.
She didn't reach out for the strawberry ice cream until Jennifer called out again, "Mom?"
She loved strawberry ice cream since her college days.
But she had always struggled with painful periods, writhing in agony every month. Magnus would forbid her from eating it, yet after her relentless nagging, he'd give in and buy it for her.
Back then, Magnus had rented a tiny apartment with just enough space for about five hundred square feet, furnished with a mini-fridge from the landlord. The freezer compartment was so small, and the fridge was so ineffective, it couldn't store ice cream properly.
Magnus would hug her and say, "One day, when we move into a new house, I'll get us a big fridge and fill it with all the strawberry ice cream you love, okay?"
Juniper's throat tightened.
She tasted the ice cream; it was sweet.
Jennifer tilted her little head up and asked, "Mom, is it good?"
The moment Juniper nodded, hot tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Mom, why are you crying?"
Juniper forced a smile, "I haven't had anything this delicious in so long, it's just making me happy."
"Really?"
Jennifer sensed something was off.
Why did it feel like her mom was actually sad?
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
