Chapter 82 Your Dad Can't Comfort People
Magnus's gentle and patient deep voice came through the phone.
He said, "I have a video conference to attend tomorrow. You and your mommy go ahead, and I'll have Joseph take you there."
Jennifer pouted slightly, a touch of disappointment in her voice, but still said, "Alright, Daddy, but next time you have to come with us!"
The man responded in a low voice and fell silent.
Jennifer turned back to continue talking to Juniper, "Mommy, when are we meeting tomorrow?"
"Can you wake up early in the morning?"
Jennifer loved to sleep in and always dragged her feet when it came to going to school.
Even her Facebook name was "I don't want to go to school."
"I can't get up for school, but to go out with Mommy, I can wake up at eight in the morning!"
Juniper couldn't help laughing, "Okay then, we'll meet at eight am tomorrow."
"I get to see Mommy! Mommy, I have so, so much to tell you!"
As Juniper listened to her voice, warmth spread to her eyes.
"I have a lot of things, too, that I want to tell Jennifer."
After a long phone call, it took the little one on the other end quite a bit of reluctance to finally hang up.
Juniper listened to the busy signal of "beep beep beep" coming from the phone. Holding her cell, she didn't hang up for the longest time.
She wasn't attached to this world, but Jennifer was her greatest attachment to this world.
Juniper put down her phone and continued to lean over her desk to write her farewell letter.
But as she picked up the pen, she pondered and realized she had nothing much to say.
What was there to leave behind?
Tell Magnus to take good care of Jennifer and to spend more time with her.
These were all things Magnus would do without needing a reminder.
He was always a responsible man.
Suddenly realizing there wasn't much to write, Juniper decided that the idea of a farewell letter wasn't fitting for her.
Her only wish now was to come and go softly without alarming anyone.
The next morning, Joseph dropped Jennifer off at the place Juniper had designated.
Jennifer, with her little backpack on, ran towards Juniper and embraced her with open arms, "Mommy!"
They had been apart for a week.
At that moment of reunion, Juniper felt both joy and sorrow.
She touched the little one's face and asked, "Why do you seem thinner?"
Jennifer's eyes widened as she leaned in close to Juniper, "Really? Mommy, are you seeing things? I've actually gained weight! Three pounds!"
Juniper smiled weakly, "Well, that's good then."
Joseph spoke, "Juniper, I'm leaving Jennifer with you. Once you're done hanging out, just call me and drop me an address, and I'll come to pick her up."
"All right, thanks, Paul."
"Don't mention it. It's what I should do."
After Joseph left.
Juniper, holding Jennifer's hand, walked down the snack street, looking at the shops on either side, "What do you want for breakfast?"
"I want a Mexican chicken wrap! Mommy, I came with an empty stomach on purpose!"
Juniper chuckled, "So what else do you guys eat?"
"Well, we eat toast, sandwiches, eggs, drink milk, and we also eat grass..."
"Eat grass?"
Jennifer hung her head low, "It's vegetables, but there are so many I don't recognize, and they taste pretty much like grass! Mommy, I miss the food you cook. Can you make something for me?"
Juniper thought for a moment, "After we finish breakfast, we're heading to the amusement park, not sure what time we'll be done, but I'll make some of your favorite dishes tonight, you take them home to eat, and remember to keep them in the fridge, they'll last for a few meals."
"Okay! I'll take it home for Daddy to try, too! He probably has never tasted anything so delicious!"
"Sure."
A shadow passed through Juniper's eyes.
In fact, Magnus had been there before.
Jennifer probably inherited her palate from both her and Magnus. They both loved the food she made.
They walked into a Mexican restaurant.
Jennifer's little mouth was smeared with a ring of grease as she asked, "Mom, am I really his biological child?"
"Huh?" Juniper was startled, thinking something had happened.
"Dad can stay at home all day without saying much! Mom, is Dad not normal?"
Juniper laughed. "Your dad has always been reserved. When you're at home with him, and you feel bored, just go talk to him. He'll listen."
"Really? He seems like a huge iceberg when he sits there working in silence. He looks so fierce! Plus, he fires people! Mom, is he going to fire me too?"
Seeing Jennifer's exaggerated and innocent expression, Juniper couldn't help but laugh.
"How could he fire you? You're his daughter."
Jennifer frowned, crossing her little arms, and began to imitate Magnus: "You did this without considering the consequences? How come there's just one plan? Can you guarantee this plan is foolproof?"
The little one's impression was vivid and lively.
Juniper couldn't stop laughing, almost picturing Magnus working from home.
Then, Jennifer changed her expression and imitated how Magnus would talk to her.
"Jennifer, what are you standing there for? What do you want to eat tonight? A bedtime story? I can't do that. If you don't want to talk to me, wait until you do, and then we'll talk."
Juniper almost choked with laughter: "Your dad is not good at coaxing people."
The child sighed, slapping her forehead, "He only seems to know those few sentences, just like a robot! I can't figure him out!"
Juniper pulled out a tissue to wipe the little girl's mouth.
She comforted her, "It's not that you can't figure him out. Clearly, it's your dad who can't figure you out."
"Really? I hadn't noticed. He's always working. I wish he would come out and play with us and see the beautiful world outside! Mom, has Dad been deeply hurt?"
Jennifer always had a way of saying shocking things.
Juniper froze, "What happened to him?"
"Dad told me the world outside isn't all that great. He's seen the world outside and says he doesn't like it. He also told me not to trust people too easily, that trusting too quickly is like handing over a knife to them. I don't understand all he says, but I feel like Dad has deep feelings! So impressive!"
Magnus wasn't wrong.
Trusting someone too easily could indeed be like handing over a knife to them.
But sometimes, you have to take a risk.
"Your dad, he's just worried about you getting hurt. He means no harm. You might not understand what he said right now, maybe you will later," she mused, hoping that Jennifer would never comprehend the significance of Magnus's words.
Magnus had the means and the capability to keep Jennifer in the castle and the ivory tower for life. Adversity and injury were unfortunate facts of life, yet if one could spend their days in carefree joy, wouldn't that be a stroke of luck? Having tasted too much hardship herself, she understood its agonizing flavor and wished to spare Jennifer from similar experiences.
After breakfast, Juniper took Jennifer to the amusement park, where they made a beeline for the carousel. Jennifer mounted a tall, colorful wooden horse, and the carousel began to turn slowly. Juniper stood outside the railing, capturing the moment with her phone. She took several photos - Jennifer's smiles, flashing her tiny white teeth, and making funny faces.
She hoped Jennifer could always be this happy.
After two rounds on the carousel, Jennifer pulled Juniper towards the Ferris wheel. Pointing at it, she said, "Mom, I've heard that making a wish at the top of the Ferris wheel with someone you love is extra magical! Let's make a wish, too!"
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