Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

In Crestwood, Gilbert found it odd how Jenna never stopped talking about her mom but never mentioned her dad. Today, she had asked such a peculiar question.

"Jenna..." Gilbert was about to delve deeper when suddenly, "Jenna!" The loud call startled them. It was Sophia!

She had been vigilantly watching over them, afraid to blink. Little did she expect a stranger to approach!

"Hey!" Panting from her run, Sophia scooped up Jenna and glared furiously at Gilbert.

"And who might you be? Chatting up someone else's kid? Got screws loose?"

Without waiting for Gilbert's explanation, Sophia turned on her heel and ran as if Gilbert were some sort of bogeyman.

Comforting Jenna, she said, "Don't be scared, love, Granny's here! Remember, we don't talk to strangers, alright? Lucky Granny's got quick feet. What would we do if you got snatched away? Losing my job would be the least of it; how could your mom cope..."

As she spoke, tears started to well up in Sophia's eyes.

"You, my dear, are your mother's whole world!"

"Sophia."

Jenna raised her chubby little hands to clean Sophia's tears, "Sophia, don't cry. The man, he's not a bad person. I have seen him before."

"You have?" Sophia was skeptical. "Where? What's his name?"

Jenna opened her mouth but realized she couldn't answer.

"Oh, you." Sophia was convinced Jenna was mistaken. "What do you know, you're just a little one. Never mind, I'll have to keep a closer eye on you from now on!"

Meanwhile, Gilbert was still standing there, bemused. Was he just mistaken for a child kidnapper?

But Jenna's words, what did they mean? Were her parents estranged?

Could it be that her father had abandoned them? To think, someone could abandon such an adorable daughter?

And now Jenna had left without him even getting the chance to buy her the strawberry milkshake she liked.

Back at the apartment, Sherilyn noticed Jenna seemed a bit down and out of sorts.

After checking her temperature and finding no fever, Sherilyn breathed a sigh of relief. Sophia pulled her aside to recount the incident with the strange man.

"I should have been more careful," Sophia apologized earnestly. "I promise, I won't take my eyes off Jenna again!"

Her words came from a place of genuine fear. Losing Jenna would be a disaster she couldn't bear.

"Sophia." Sherilyn felt awkward. "You can't blame yourself for this."

Accidents happen, after all.

"Besides, you handled it well, and Jenna's fine, isn't she?"

"What do you mean, fine?" Sophia pointed at Jenna, who wasn't her usual self. "She's not sick; she's been scared."

Seeing Sophia's red eyes, Sherilyn realized Sophia was the more frightened of the two.

"Sophia, why don't you take a break? I'll take care of Jenna. It'll give me a chance to comfort her."

"Alright," Sophia agreed, her head

nodding. "Jenna's closest to her

mom, A little cuddling should

her forget all the scary stuffAll text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

"Exactly."

That night as Sherilyn prepared a bath for Jenna, the bathroom was cozy and warm. She placed Jenna's favorite rubber ducky in the tub, expecting her usual giggles, but Jenna remained silent.

Sherilyn knew then something was seriously wrong.

"Sweetheart, is there something on your mind today?"

"Mommy." Jenna looked up, her big eyes shimmered with unshed tears, hesitating to speak.