My Controversial Secret

Chapter 28: Strawberries and Blushes

Pulling her hair in a high ponytail, Jenna fixed her overall and brushed her eyelashes before popping her lips with her favorite gloss. She looked at herself in the mirror, satisfied with her day outfit, and left the room without her phone. 

Today she was helping her mother pick berries from their garden. It's a seasonal activity that happens mostly during May and June. Luckily for her, she is at the right place at the right time. Last year she missed berry picking since she came only for a few days and left before the berries could be ripe to perfection. 

This time, not only would she get to pick the berries, but she would also get to guide two newcomers with the task. Picking berries is her favorite activity on the farm right after feeding the livestock. If anything doesn't go according to her, there's a chance that she might end up throwing a tantrum. 

Farm Jenna is very strict and loud. Giving instructions, monitoring movements, and making sure each process of berry picking is done exactly how she explained is going to be tough but knowing David's gonna be there, watching her lead would be thrilling. 

Shutting her bedroom door, she makes her way to the kitchen and pours herself a glass of milk. "Hey Dad!" she says greeting her father on the kitchen stool and cutting a piece of bacon. 

"Hey, kiddo. You're going to the garden today?"

Jenna puts the empty by the sink and leans against it, "Yep. Mom said she wanted my help with the berries,"

"Right. She mentioned something like that,"

Jenna nodded excitedly, "Where are the others? I thought they were going with us,"

"With you, not us. I am not going berry picking," her father said over a bite of his breakfast. "Your mother is showing them around,"

"Why aren't you coming? I thought we were doing that family kind of thing." 

"Not today honey, Randy needs some care. The poor guy looks weak," Randy was the name of their farm pig. 

"Maybe he feels sick because you're eating one of his kind," Jenna points at the bacon. "I told you not to do it in front of him,"

"I am literally in the kitchen," her father opens his arm on both sides. 

"Right. Can you look to your left then?" 

"Oh man," Her father got up from the stool and closed the side door in the kitchen that shows the view of the outdoor fenced area from their house. A few of the pigs were inside the stand watching them through the opening. "Why'd you leave the door open?"

Jenna looked at him baffled. "I let the door open? I just came down."

Juan Salore shook his head disapprovingly and got back to his breakfast. "This is unacceptable," 

Jenna turned away from her dramatic father who is chained to his old habits of leaving the kitchen door open and then blaming the person in the room. It's so familiar that she didn't even try to listen to his monologue about betraying animals.

She simply ate her toast and drank some milk before patting her father's shoulder and making her way down to the garden where her mother was giving a tour to Del and David. Both of them looked like kids in an amusement park. Looking at rides with so much interest and excitement. It was nice.

Upon sensing her arrival, her mother halts and smiles. "Jenna darling. We were waiting for you. Come. I just showed them the garden."

Jenna walked up to them, her slender fingers holding her straw hat before she placed them on her head. She stood next to Del and secretly spared a glance at David. He nods at her with a light smile and then looks at her mother.