Chapter 167

Ruby was only one year old when she accidentally discovered a phrase that would completely change the atmosphere of their home.

At first, her vocabulary was very limited.

“Mommy.”

“Mama.”

“Mochi.”

And a collection of adorable baby gibberish that somehow only Jennie and Lisa could understand.

Every day, Jennie patiently read picture books to her while Lisa dramatically narrated everything happening around the house.

“The mighty Baby Dumpling is crawling toward the forbidden cabinet!”

“The mighty Baby Dumpling has stolen Mama’s sock!”

“The mighty Baby Dumpling has fallen on her fluffy butt!”

Ruby loved every second of it.

One afternoon, Jennie was cuddling Ruby on the couch while watching a children’s program. The cartoon characters hugged each other and said three simple words.

“I love you.”

Ruby blinked.

The little dumpling stared at the television.

“I…”

She pointed.

“Luh…”

Jennie looked down.

“Oh?”

Ruby slapped her tiny hand against the screen.

“Wuuuu.”

Jennie laughed.

“Love you?”

Ruby gasped as if she had just unlocked a secret achievement.

“WUV YUUUU!”

Jennie’s eyes widened.

“Lisa!”

Lisa came running from the kitchen.

“What happened? Did she eat something? Did she climb something? Did she—”

“Wuv yuuuu!”

Ruby announced proudly.

Silence.

Then both mothers froze.

“Did…”

Lisa looked at Jennie.

“Did she just say—”

“I think she did.”

Ruby bounced happily on Jennie’s lap.

“Wuv yuu!”

Jennie immediately scooped her up and covered her face with kisses.

“Oh my goodness!”

Ruby squealed.

“WUV YUU!”

Lisa nearly cried.

“My baby is growing up!”

From that day onward, Ruby became obsessed with her new phrase.

Especially toward one specific person.

Jennie.

The next morning, Jennie walked into Ruby’s nursery.

“Good morning, baby.”

Ruby immediately sat up.

Her messy baby hair pointed in every direction.

Her cheeks were impossibly squishy.

Her sleep sack was halfway twisted.

She looked directly at Jennie.

Then smiled.

“I wuv u.”

Jennie melted instantly.

“Oh, I love you too.”

Lisa watched from the doorway.

“…Excuse me.”

Nobody paid attention to her.

Later during breakfast—

Jennie handed Ruby her banana slices.

“I wuv u.”

“Thank you, baby.”

While Lisa carefully prepared her oatmeal.

Nothing.

Not a single “I love you.”

Lisa narrowed her eyes.

Interesting.

Very interesting.

During playtime—

Jennie helped stack blocks.

“I wuv u.”

During story time—

Jennie turned the page.

“I wuv u.”

During diaper changes—

“I wuv u.”

Bath time?

“I WUV U.”

Naptime?

“I wuv u.”

Every single time Jennie appeared, Ruby immediately deployed her newest phrase.

Meanwhile Lisa was suffering.

“Why does she only say it to you?”

Jennie laughed.

“Maybe because I’m her favorite.”

Lisa gasped dramatically.

“You take that back.”

Jennie grinned.

“No.”

Lisa pointed accusingly.

“You’re encouraging this.”

Ruby was sitting in her high chair watching the conversation.

She looked at Jennie.

“I wuv u.”

Jennie smiled proudly.

Lisa clutched her chest.

“See?!”

A week later, the jealousy had reached critical levels.

Lisa sat beside Ruby on the floor while Jennie was grocery shopping.

This was her chance.

Just her and her daughter.

No competition.

Lisa picked up Ruby and placed her on her lap.

“Ruby.”

The baby stared at her.

“Mama loves you.”

Ruby blinked.

Lisa smiled hopefully.

“Can you say it to Mama?”

Ruby shoved a toy block into her mouth.

“No, no, sweetheart.”

Lisa gently removed it.

“Can you say ‘I love you’?”

Ruby stared.

Lisa pointed to herself.

“Mama.”

Nothing.

Lisa tried again.

“Mama.”

Ruby poked her nose.

“Mama.”

“Yes!”

“Mama.”

“YES!”

Ruby grinned.

“Mama.”

Lisa nearly celebrated.

Then Ruby suddenly pointed toward the front door.

“Mommy!”

The door had just opened.

Jennie was home.

Ruby immediately transformed into a tiny excited missile.

“Mommy!”

She crawled at top speed.

Jennie barely had time to put down the groceries before Ruby crashed into her legs.

Jennie picked her up.

Ruby grabbed both of her cheeks.

“I WUV U!”

Jennie laughed.

“I love you too.”

Lisa stared in horror.

“UNBELIEVABLE.”

Jennie was practically glowing.

“I can’t help being loved.”

“You absolutely can.”

“No.”

That evening, Lisa decided enough was enough.

She sat with Ruby in the living room while Jennie folded laundry.

“Mama deserves love too.”

Ruby was chewing on a stuffed bunny.

Lisa gently pointed at herself.

“Mama.”

Ruby giggled.

“Mama.”

Lisa nodded.

“That’s right.”

Then she pointed to Jennie.

“Mommy.”

Ruby immediately smiled.

“Mommy!”

Lisa sighed.

“Now say ‘I love you, Mama.'”

Ruby stared thoughtfully.

For a moment, Lisa felt hopeful.

Very hopeful.

Then Ruby looked straight past her.

At Jennie.

“I WUV U MOMMY!”

Jennie burst out laughing.

Lisa fell backward onto the carpet dramatically.

“I have been defeated.”

Ruby laughed too, not understanding anything.

A few days later, however, something unexpected happened.

The family was having a lazy afternoon.

Jennie was reading a magazine.

Mochi was sleeping.

Ruby was waddling around the living room with her tiny, unsteady steps.

Lisa sat on the floor building block towers.

Ruby suddenly stopped walking.

She looked at Lisa.

Then she toddled over.

Lisa smiled.

“Hello, Dumpling.”

Ruby climbed into her lap.

Lisa kissed her forehead.

The little girl reached up and squished Lisa’s cheeks between her tiny hands.

Just like she always did with Jennie.

Lisa froze.

Ruby looked directly into her eyes.

Then in the cutest, most broken baby voice imaginable—

“I… wuv… u…”

Lisa stopped breathing.

Ruby giggled.

“I wuv u Mama.”

Silence.

Jennie looked up from her magazine.

Lisa’s eyes instantly filled with tears.

“Oh.”

Ruby patted her face.

“I wuv u.”

Lisa hugged her so carefully.

“My baby.”

Ruby squealed happily.

Lisa buried her face in Ruby’s fluffy hair.

“I love you too.”

Jennie smiled softly from across the room.

Finally.

Peace had been restored.

Well…

For about three minutes.

Because Ruby suddenly twisted around, pointed at Jennie, and loudly announced—

“I WUV U MOMMY TOO!”

Jennie laughed.

Lisa groaned.

“Never mind.”

And just like that, their tiny one-year-old dumpling continued spreading “I wuv u” throughout the house, making both of her mothers fall in love with her a little more every single day.