His Miracle

Forgotten Sibling.

"Little sister? How could I not know you have a little sister?" I question him with my mouth open in shock. Jake shushes me before leaning closer to lower his voice.

"She doesn't know she's my sister. Peggy adopted her when she was a baby... She doesn't want Jasmine to know we're related."

"What? Why?" I'm filled with so many questions.

"I don't know. It's one of her terms I have to follow if I want to keep seeing Jasmine. I'll explain everything to you, I just want you to see the life Jasmine lives." Jake glances around the bungalow with a wince on his face.

He looks physically uncomfortable at the thought of his little sister living in Peggy's humble abode.

"She doesn't have a good life, Wentworth. She's my little sister and I can't do anything by law to give her a better life... It kills me."

My heart aches for him. I intertwine our fingers together before swallowing the lump forming in the back of my throat. Jake turns to look at me and his blue eyes are covered with a glossy layer of tears.

"No matter how scared we feel or how young we are, we'd never abandon our child like my Mom abandoned Jasmine. I'm not freaking out over the baby because I know I won't mess up as badly as she messed up," Jake blinks to clear the tears filling his eyes.

I'm not accustomed to seeing him so choked up with his emotions. The story surrounding Jasmine must be heart-breaking to have him react like this. I fall silent and allow Jake to open up to me on his own accord.

We're going to do everything to be good parents, Emily. I know it." Hearing him sound so confident and secure of our abilities does help calm the anxiety bubbling in the center of my chest.

"Okay, Jake. I trust you," I say quietly.

Peggy stumbles into the living room holding a tray with three cups of tea. Her eyes flicker between Jake and I and she settles her lips into a thin line.

"Hmm. Did you come here to see Jasmine? Or is there another reason you're here?"

"I came to see Jasmine. Here's a Christmas present for her," Jake says before handing Peggy the shopping bag.

She peers inside before haphazardly dropping the bag to the armchair.

"It's a Barbie doll. It's the one you told me she wanted," Jake says quietly.

Peggy doesn't seem happy, thankful or excited at Jake's gift to his little sister. Her personality appears to switch up within a split second and she takes a seat while staring directly at me. Her eyes narrow into tiny slits and I squirm with discomfort. A bad feeling stirs inside my gut and I decide I don't like the aura surrounding her.

"So... You're pregnant?" Peggy asks me. I nod my head in response. She must have been eavesdropping on our conversation. How much of it did she hear?

"Are you keeping it?" Peggy asks me in a blunt and straightforward tone.

I blink in surprise and place a hand over my stomach. Why does everybody keep asking me that?

"Yes, I'm keeping the baby." I say with a hint of irritation lining my voice. Why is it anybody else's concern whether I keep my child or not? I would never think to question anyone on a decision regarding their body. I simply have no say in the matter.

"Can I see Jasmine? I'd love to get to know her," I say, partly to change the subject. I feel the desire to get to know her knowing Jasmine is Jake's sister... Even if she doesn't know who I am.

"No, dear. I don't think that's a good idea." Peggy says bluntly.

"Why not? You could give her Jake's present. I'm sure she'd like that." I hit back at her with a raised brow. Peggy shifts in her seat and doesn't appear to like my decision to confront her. She gives me a final hard look before turning her attention to Jake.