Our Child

Chapter twelve

The greatest mistake anyone could ever make about Jennie was to assume she was stupid. It was often done. One would look at her chubby cheeks, or kind smile, and decide that there could not be a single thought behind those eyes. But, if you were to catch Jennie in thought, when she believed no one was looking, her look was sharp enough to cut.

That was how she knew something was terribly off. First, Lisa came to retrieve them instead of Jisoo. Even Rosie raised an eyebrow, but the ice cream lady remained quiet. When Jennie had asked why, she was meant with an uncomfortable silence Annie was forced to break. Secondly, Lisa barely looked Rosie in the eye, usually she would be chatting her ear off. Then, in the car, Lisa hardly said a word, different to her normal, carefree persona.

Rosie had told her to ignore it. Her gaze had turned warm as she reminded Jennie that we all have bad days. But Jennie could not.

Feel sorry for Rosie, not me. Never me.

Those words repeated over and over again in Jennie's mind. Lisa had the same look on her face as when she said it, the same guilt. She walked like a widow in mourning. A mother's concern overtook Jennie, wanting to comfort Lisa but unsure how to. No person is truly an island, but Lisa came close. It was simply another thing she had in common with Jisoo.

Speaking of the actress, Jennie watched as they passed yet another billboard with her image plastered on it. Every face contained a fake smile, one Jennie had endured on countless occasions, supporting Jisoo through auditions and call backs. It was still so strange to see it in practice.

Once Lisa parked the car, Jennie carefully removed herself. Naturally, the mother's first duty was to care for her daughter. The photographer stopped her as she tried to open Annie's door, "You shouldn't be leaning over with a bad stomach."

Caught off guard, All Jennie could do was nod. Once out, Annie grasped her mother's hand, confused by Lisa's chivalry. After the photographer retrieved Annie's birthday presents, the group made their way back to the apartment. The short, silent journey was only disturbed by the opening of the apartment door.

The first thing to greet the group was Jisoo curled up on the couch, watching TV. As Annie raced over, Jennie helped Lisa place their bags on the counter, counting to make sure none were forgotten. Both women were helpless as their eyes trailed to Jisoo, holding her daughter into her chest, clearly far gone.

"It's been a rough day," Lisa confessed.

Jennie felt her heart sink, worst fears now confirmed, "Why?"

The photographer did not answer, instead making her way towards the exit, "Just... be gentle. I know she hurt you, but please treat her well." Lisa's words greeted Jennie like a soft cotton blanket.

Simply nodding her head, Jennie listened as Lisa left, her eyes concentrated on the unopened presents. Who let you talk like that? Jennie thought. The calm, kindness, maturity in Lisa's voice differed greatly from the girl she once knew. Eight years had made her into a woman, Jennie supposed it was her fault for not noticing.

Picking up Annie's gifts, Jennie made her way over to her strange family. Her stomach growled in protest, hating any and all work she took part in, but she did her best to ignore it. Placing the presents on the ground, Jennie took her seat on the other couch. For a moment, she simply sat and watched Jisoo play with Annie's hair, her eyes like an unseeing ghost.

Gently, Jennie called out, "Annie, you didn't finish opening your birthday presents."

Looking up, the little girl's face lit up at the sight of the mysterious treasure. She clambered off of Jisoo and onto the floor, tearing into her first paper prize. Jisoo smiled for a moment, before she seemingly went away again. Jennie recognised her. It was quite like how she would behave after a bad day at work; if something had broken, or the director had yelled at her. But it had never been this extreme.