A month after adopting Jennifer, she gazed at me with her big eyes and said, “Mommy, don’t trust Daddy.” Her words lingered in my mind, filling me with questions about what secrets my husband might be keeping.
I looked down at Jennifer’s small face, noticing her large, alert eyes and shy smile.
All those years of hoping and waiting, here she was: our little girl.
Richard was practically glowing. He couldn’t stop looking at her, as if committing every detail to memory.
“Look at her, Marla,” he whispered in awe. “She’s just perfect.”
We had come so far to reach this moment—doctor visits, lengthy discussions, and tons of paperwork for the adoption. When we finally met Jennifer, something inside me just… knew it was right. She was only four years old—so tiny and quiet—but she already felt like part of our family.
It had been a few weeks since we officially adopted Jennifer; we thought a short family outing would be nice. Richard bent down to her level with a smile. “Hey! How about some ice cream? Would you like that?”
She didn’t respond immediately but nodded gently while snuggling closer to me.
Richard chuckled softly. “Okay then! Ice cream it is! We’ll make it special.”
I watched Richard try to coax Jennifer out of her shell; however, every question he asked made her grip on my hand tighten as she looked back at me.
When we arrived at the ice cream shop, Richard asked excitedly, “How about chocolate? Or maybe strawberry?”
“Vanilla please.”
She ate quietly beside me, watching Richard carefully; I worried it all might be overwhelming for her.
That night when I tucked Jennifer into bed, she held my arm longer than I expected.
“Mommy?” she whispered hesitantly.
“Yes sweetie?”
She paused before meeting my gaze with her serious eyes. “Don’t trust Daddy.”
“Why do you say that, honey?”
“He’s acting strange… like he’s hiding something.”
I remained calm as I replied gently, “Jennifer! Daddy loves you very much! He just wants you to feel safe here with us!”
When I left her room, Richard was waiting by the door with a hopeful look. “How did she do?” he asked.
“She’s asleep,” I said softly, watching his expression subtly change.
“That’s good.” He seemed relieved, though his smile faded slightly afterward. “I know it’s new for all of us… But we’ll be okay, right?”
I nodded, but couldn’t shake off what Jennifer had said.
The next day, while stirring pasta on the stove, I heard Richard talking from the living room.
He was on the phone, sounding tense, so I paused, wiping my hands on a towel, listening closely as his voice echoed into the kitchen.
“It’s been harder than expected,” he murmured. “Jennifer’s sharp… she notices more than I’d thought… I’m scared she’ll tell Marla.”
Tell me what? My heart raced as I tried not to overthink, even though curiosity gnawed at me.
“It’s hard keeping things hidden,” Richard continued, “I don’t want Marla finding out until it’s ready.”
What could possibly be so important? I strained to hear him better, but his voice became too soft to understand before he hung up and walked toward the kitchen, looking cheerful again!
I stirred the noodles harder than needed, trying to act normal when Richard entered, smiling brightly!
Later that evening, after tucking Jennifer in bed, I couldn’t hold back anymore and needed answers. I found him in the living room, going over papers, sitting across from him, gripping my hands tightly together.
“Richard,” I started calmly, though nerves bubbled inside, “I overheard your phone call earlier.”
He raised an eyebrow, surprised yet curious, asking, “Oh? What did you hear?”
Choosing my words carefully, “You mentioned something about Jennifer possibly telling me things… and how hard keeping things ‘under wraps’ is. What are you hiding from me?”
He set down the papers, leaning forward and gently taking hold of my hand, saying, “Marla, I’m not hiding anything bad. I promise!”
“Then what’s going on? Why don’t you want Jen telling me?”
“I didn’t want you knowing because… I planned a surprise birthday party for Jen—with help from my brother.” His cheeks flushed slightly with embarrassment. “Wanted this first birthday celebration to be special, showing how much we care!”
“I wanted everything perfect to show she’s part of our family now!” He smiled, relieved, explaining further about his worry that she’d spoil the surprise!
Richard nodded thoughtfully, saying, “She’s sensitive and still figuring things out. We need to ensure she feels safe and loved—all three of us!”
The next morning, seeing him lovingly help her pick breakfast cereal lifted my spirits slightly. I moved to join them at the table, resting a hand on his shoulder. Jennifer looked up with a calm gaze and a faint grin on her face—it felt like hidden worries had lifted between us all somehow!