Chapter 111

Lisa was already tired before the crying even started.

It was one of those quiet nights—the kind where everything should have been peaceful. The lights were dim, the house was calm, and for a brief moment, it felt like they might finally get a full night’s sleep.

And then—

A sharp, tiny wail pierced through the silence.

Ruby.

Jennie groaned softly from the bed, pulling a pillow over her face. “Your turn…” she mumbled, voice thick with sleep.

Lisa didn’t even respond. She was already halfway out of bed, heart instinctively pulling her toward the nursery.

When she pushed the door open, the soft glow of the night lamp revealed their six-month-old daughter, face scrunched, cheeks flushed, tears streaming endlessly. Her tiny fists waved helplessly in the air as if she was fighting something invisible.

“Hey, hey… baby…” Lisa whispered, rushing over and scooping Ruby into her arms.

The crying didn’t stop.

If anything, it got louder.

Lisa swayed gently, patting Ruby’s back the way she always did. “Shhh… Mama’s here… it’s okay…”

But Ruby just cried harder, her small face pressing against Lisa’s shoulder, little body trembling.

That’s when Lisa noticed it—the way Ruby kept chewing on her own fingers, the slight swelling on her gums.

Teething.

“Oh no…” Lisa whispered.

She tried everything.

Rocking. Singing. Walking back and forth. Even making those silly noises that usually made Ruby giggle.

Nothing worked.

Ruby just cried and cried and cried.

And slowly… Lisa’s composure started to crack.

“Baby…” her voice wavered, panic creeping in. “Please… I don’t know what to do…”

Ruby whimpered loudly, her cries raw and desperate, and it hit Lisa all at once—the helplessness, the exhaustion, the overwhelming love that made it hurt to see her daughter like this.

Her eyes burned.

Her lips trembled.

And then—

Lisa started crying too.

Not loud. Not dramatic. Just soft, helpless tears slipping down her cheeks as she held Ruby close.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered, voice breaking. “I don’t know how to make it better…”

That was the exact moment Jennie walked in.

She froze at the doorway.

There, under the soft light, was Lisa—her strong, composed, usually unshakable wife—crying while holding their equally crying baby.

Jennie blinked.

Once.

Twice.

“…Are you seriously crying too?” she asked, completely baffled.

Lisa sniffled, looking at her with watery eyes. “She’s crying…”

Jennie stared at her like she had just said the most obvious thing in the world.

“Yes. She’s a baby. That’s what they do.”

“But she looks so sad!” Lisa cried softly, hugging Ruby tighter. “And I can’t fix it—Jennie, I can’t fix it!”

Ruby let out another loud wail, as if agreeing.

Jennie rubbed her temple, trying very hard not to laugh.

This was… ridiculous.

And also the cutest thing she had ever seen.

She walked over, gently placing a hand on Lisa’s arm. “Okay, first of all—only one baby is allowed to cry at a time.”

Lisa sniffed. “I can’t help it…”

Jennie sighed, but her expression softened. She reached out, carefully taking Ruby from Lisa’s arms.

“Come here, drama queen number one,” Jennie muttered lovingly, bouncing Ruby slightly.

Ruby continued crying—but it softened just a little.

Then Jennie looked back at Lisa, who was still teary-eyed and pouting.

“Seriously,” Jennie said, half amused, half exasperated. “I leave you alone for five minutes and suddenly I have two crying babies?”

Lisa wiped her cheeks. “Don’t make fun of me…”

“I’m not,” Jennie said, though the smile tugging at her lips said otherwise. “I’m just… impressed.”

Lisa frowned. “Impressed?”

“Yeah,” Jennie nodded. “Our daughter cries, and you immediately match her energy. That’s commitment.”

Lisa let out a small, shaky laugh despite herself.

Jennie softened completely at that.

She shifted Ruby in one arm and reached out with her free hand, gently wiping the remaining tears from Lisa’s cheeks.

“Hey…” Jennie murmured. “You’re doing fine.”

Lisa’s lips trembled again, but this time it wasn’t from panic.

“She’s just in pain…” Lisa whispered.

“I know,” Jennie said gently. “Teething sucks. But it passes.”

Ruby whimpered again, smaller this time, her cries slowly turning into tired sniffles.

Jennie swayed gently, humming under her breath.

Lisa watched closely, stepping nearer, resting her head lightly on Jennie’s shoulder.

“…Teach me,” she mumbled.

Jennie smiled faintly. “Step one: don’t cry with the baby.”

Lisa huffed softly. “No promises.”

Jennie laughed quietly, pressing a quick kiss to Lisa’s forehead.

“Hopeless,” she teased.

But the way she leaned into Lisa, the way she let her stay close as they both focused on calming Ruby—it said everything.

A few minutes later, Ruby’s cries finally faded into soft, sleepy breaths.

Silence returned.

Lisa peeked at her daughter, eyes still slightly red. “…She stopped…”

“Yeah,” Jennie whispered. “Because she has the better parent now.”

Lisa gasped softly. “Excuse me—”

Jennie grinned, leaning in to kiss her cheek this time. “Kidding. You’re just… a little too soft.”

Lisa pouted—but then smiled, wrapping her arms around both of them.

“…She gets it from you,” Lisa said quietly.

Jennie raised a brow. “Oh really?”

“Yeah,” Lisa nodded, kissing Ruby’s tiny head. “Being dramatic.”

Jennie scoffed.

But she didn’t argue.

Because honestly?

Looking at her crying wife earlier…

Lisa might have been right.