Chapter 176

Lisa had known from the very beginning.

Not when Ruby learned to walk.

Not when Ruby learned to talk.

Not even when Ruby started calling Jennie “Mommy” twenty-seven times every hour.

No.

Lisa knew the moment Ruby was born.

The nurse had barely finished cleaning the tiny newborn when they placed her into Jennie’s arms.

Ruby had been crying.

Loudly.

Dramatically.

Like the entire world had personally offended her.

Then Jennie held her.

Silence.

Complete silence.

The newborn blinked her little eyes open, stared directly at Jennie, and immediately relaxed.

Lisa had stood beside the hospital bed, watching in disbelief.

“Seriously?” Lisa complained.

The baby wasn’t even ten minutes old.

Ruby ignored her.

Jennie laughed softly.

“Maybe she knows I’m her mommy.”

“Oh, come on. She’s literally a potato.”

The potato then grabbed Jennie’s finger and refused to let go.

Lisa narrowed her eyes.

“Traitor.”

Things only got worse after that.

Or better.

Depending on who you asked.

By the time Ruby was three months old, everyone already knew one important fact.

Ruby belonged to Jennie.

If Jennie was nearby, nobody else mattered.

Not the grandparents.

Not their friends.

Not the babysitters.

Nobody.

One afternoon, Lisa witnessed something hilarious.

Jisoo arrived carrying gifts for Ruby.

The moment she entered the house, she immediately reached for the baby.

“Auntie Jisoo missed you!”

Ruby looked at her.

Looked at Jennie.

Then looked back at Jisoo.

The tiny baby narrowed her eyes.

Actually narrowed them.

Lisa nearly dropped her phone.

“Did our child just judge someone?”

Jisoo gasped.

“She did!”

Ruby continued glaring.

Her tiny arms stretched toward Jennie.

Demanding rescue.

Jennie took her.

Ruby instantly smiled.

A huge gummy smile.

The glare disappeared.

Jisoo looked betrayed.

“Wow.”

Lisa laughed so hard she nearly fell off the couch.

It became a common occurrence.

Every visitor wanted to carry Ruby.

Every visitor was judged.

Rosé tried.

Ruby frowned.

Jisoo tried.

Ruby frowned harder.

Even Jennie’s own mother got suspicious looks.

The only exception?

Lisa.

For some reason, Ruby accepted Lisa.

Not happily.

Not enthusiastically.

But accepted.

Like Ruby had personally reviewed Lisa’s application and reluctantly approved it.

One day Lisa tested her theory.

Jennie was cooking lunch while Ruby sat in her highchair.

Lisa picked her up.

Ruby blinked.

No complaints.

No tears.

No dramatic betrayal.

“See?” Lisa announced proudly.

“She likes me.”

Jennie looked over.

“You’re her other parent.”

“Still counts.”

Ruby placed her tiny hand on Lisa’s cheek.

Lisa immediately melted.

“Awwww.”

Then Jennie walked into the room.

Ruby instantly abandoned Lisa.

Both arms stretched toward Jennie.

“MAMAMAMAMA!”

Lisa froze.

Jennie burst out laughing.

“You were saying?”

Lisa looked down at the baby.

“You used me.”

Ruby showed absolutely no remorse.

When Ruby started crawling, the favoritism somehow became even more obvious.

Jennie would sit on one side of the room.

Lisa on the other.

Ruby always crawled to Jennie.

Always.

Every single time.

Lisa tried bribery.

Toys.

Snacks.

Stuffed animals.

Nothing worked.

Ruby would crawl halfway toward Lisa.

Notice Jennie.

Turn around.

And continue toward Mommy.

Lisa stared in disbelief.

“That’s rude.”

Jennie couldn’t stop laughing.

The funniest incident happened during a family gathering.

Ruby was around one year old.

Everyone wanted to hold her.

One by one they tried.

One by one they failed.

Ruby tolerated exactly three people.

Jennie.

Lisa.

And herself.

That was the list.

An aunt picked her up.

Ruby glared.

Another relative picked her up.

Ruby glared harder.

A cousin tried.

Ruby looked personally offended.

Finally Jennie took her back.

Ruby immediately buried her face into Jennie’s shoulder.

Satisfied.

Safe.

Home.

The room erupted with laughter.

Lisa shook her head.

“I told you all.”

“What?”

Lisa pointed dramatically.

“That child is a Mommy’s baby.”

Years later, not much changed.

Five-year-old Ruby was still attached to Jennie.

If Jennie went to work, Ruby became dramatic.

If Jennie went shopping, Ruby wanted updates.

If Jennie went upstairs for ten minutes, Ruby somehow acted like it had been ten years.

One evening Lisa found Ruby sleeping.

Or at least trying to.

The little girl was sprawled across the giant bed.

One hand gripping Jennie’s sleeve.

The other hand gripping Jennie’s finger.

Just in case Mommy somehow escaped.

Lisa sat beside them and laughed quietly.

Jennie looked over.

“What?”

“You know.”

“What?”

Lisa smiled.

“I knew.”

“Knew what?”

Lisa pointed at the sleeping dumpling.

“That she’d become your shadow.”

Jennie looked down at Ruby.

Their daughter had somehow rolled herself halfway onto Jennie’s stomach during sleep.

Neither of them knew how.

Jennie smiled softly.

“She’s our shadow.”

“Mostly yours.”

“She’s still your baby too.”

Lisa leaned over and kissed Ruby’s forehead.

The little girl immediately grabbed Lisa’s finger in her sleep.

Without waking up.

Without opening her eyes.

Just making sure Mama was there too.

Lisa’s heart melted.

Completely.

Instantly.

“Oh.”

Jennie grinned.

“What?”

Lisa smiled as she looked at their sleeping daughter.

“Maybe she’s Mommy’s baby.”

Ruby’s tiny hand tightened around Lisa’s finger.

“But she’s Mama’s baby too.”

And for once, Lisa didn’t mind sharing.