Chapter 186

Requested by: @EG0427I4

•
•
•
•
•

In one universe, Ruby was absolutely, unquestionably, undeniably a Mommy’s girl.

In another universe?

Ruby was a full-blown Mama’s girl.

And that was exactly why Lisa was suffering.

—

“Ruby.”

“No.”

“Baby.”

“No.”

“Can Mama have her arm back?”

“No.”

Lisa sighed.

It was only seven in the morning.

Four-year-old Ruby sat on Lisa’s lap like a tiny guard dog, her chubby arms wrapped around Lisa’s waist while glaring suspiciously at the toddler waddling across the living room.

That toddler was Jane.

Two years old.

Tiny.

Cute.

And unfortunately for Ruby…

Also Lisa’s baby.

Jane looked exactly like Jennie.

Round cheeks.

Big eyes.

Tiny pout.

Even the way she walked was basically a miniature Jennie wobbling around the house.

Lisa often complained about it.

“Aren’t children supposed to resemble both parents?”

Jennie would laugh every single time.

Meanwhile Ruby looked exactly like Jennie too.

Lisa sometimes felt like she was raising three Jennies.

A big Jennie.

A small Jennie.

And a pocket-sized angry Jennie.

—

Jane spotted Lisa.

“Mama!”

Uh oh.

Lisa knew that tone.

Jane lifted both arms.

“Up!”

Ruby immediately tightened her grip.

“No.”

Jane blinked.

“Up.”

“No.”

“UP!”

“NO!”

Lisa looked toward the kitchen.

“Jennie.”

Her wife didn’t even look up from making breakfast.

“You created this.”

“I sure did.”

“Help me.”

“Nope.”

—

Jane toddled closer.

Ruby’s eyes narrowed.

Jane’s eyes narrowed.

The sisters stared at each other.

Jennie peeked around the corner.

“Oh good. Morning duel started early today.”

—

Ruby wasn’t mean to Jane.

Not really.

She loved her little sister.

If anyone made Jane cry, Ruby would immediately become a tiny bodyguard.

If Jane fell down, Ruby would help her up.

If Jane lost her favorite duck plushie, Ruby would search the entire house.

The problem was…

Ruby still wasn’t completely used to sharing Lisa.

For four whole years, Mama belonged to Ruby.

Then suddenly a tiny duckling appeared.

And everyone expected Ruby to share.

The audacity.

—

Jane climbed onto Lisa’s leg.

Ruby climbed higher.

Jane leaned against Lisa.

Ruby practically became a backpack.

Jane kissed Lisa’s cheek.

Ruby kissed the other cheek.

Jane giggled.

Ruby huffed.

Lisa looked exhausted.

“Jennie.”

“Yes, honey?”

“I have two daughters fighting over me.”

Jennie took a picture.

“This is adorable.”

“It is not adorable.”

“It absolutely is.”

—

Things became worse later that afternoon.

Lisa was reading a storybook.

Jane sat on one side.

Ruby sat on the other.

Everything was peaceful.

For exactly twelve seconds.

Then Jane crawled into Lisa’s lap.

Ruby froze.

Lisa froze.

Jennie, watching from the couch, immediately grabbed popcorn.

—

Ruby’s lower lip trembled.

“No.”

Jane blinked.

“Huh?”

“That’s my spot.”

Jane looked down.

Looked at Lisa.

Then happily settled deeper into Lisa’s lap.

Ruby gasped like she’d witnessed a betrayal.

“MAAAAMA!”

Lisa immediately knew she was doomed.

—

Ruby stomped away.

Straight to her room.

The bedroom door closed dramatically.

Very dramatically.

Four-year-old levels of dramatic.

—

Lisa followed.

Of course she followed.

Because Ruby was her baby.

Even if she was currently acting like a tiny jealous princess.

Lisa knocked softly.

“Can Mama come in?”

“No.”

Lisa opened the door anyway.

Ruby sat on her bed with crossed arms.

Pouting.

Sulking.

Looking exactly like Jennie when Jennie got jealous.

Lisa sat beside her.

Ruby scooted away.

Lisa scooted closer.

Ruby scooted farther.

Lisa scooted again.

Eventually Ruby ran out of bed space.

—

“Baby.”

Silence.

“Ruby.”

Silence.

“Mandu.”

A tiny glance.

Progress.

—

Lisa gently brushed Ruby’s hair.

“Are you upset because Mama was holding Jane?”

“No.”

“Really?”

“…yes.”

“You are a terrible liar.”

Ruby pouted harder.

—

Finally the little girl whispered,

“Jane always gets Mama.”

Lisa’s heart melted instantly.

Oh.

So that was it.

—

Lisa pulled Ruby onto her lap.

The four-year-old resisted for approximately three seconds before cuddling into her Mama’s chest.

“I know it’s hard.”

Ruby sniffled.

“I had Mama first.”

“You did.”

“And then Jane came.”

“She did.”

“And now I gotta share.”

“Unfortunately, yes.”

Ruby groaned dramatically.

“That’s terrible.”

Lisa laughed.

“It is very tragic.”

—

Ruby buried her face into Lisa’s shoulder.

“Do you love Jane more?”

The question came out so quietly.

So softly.

That Lisa’s heart nearly shattered.

—

Immediately Lisa hugged her tighter.

“No.”

Ruby looked up.

“No?”

“No.”

Lisa kissed her forehead.

“I love Jane.”

Another kiss.

“And I love Ruby.”

Another kiss.

“My first baby.”

Another kiss.

“My little mandu.”

Another kiss.

“My Mama’s girl.”

Ruby’s eyes started watering.

—

“Really?”

“Really.”

“But Jane is little.”

“So?”

“She’s cute.”

“So?”

“She waddles.”

Lisa laughed.

“Baby, you used to waddle too.”

“I did?”

“You still do sometimes.”

“I do not.”

“You absolutely do.”

—

Ruby finally giggled.

Victory.

Lisa thought she had successfully solved the problem.

She was wrong.

Very wrong.

Because at that exact moment-

“MAMA!”

Jane appeared at the doorway.

—

Lisa nearly cried.

Not again.

—

Jane waddled inside carrying a duck plushie.

Then she climbed onto the bed.

Then onto Lisa.

Then onto Ruby.

—

“JANE!”

Ruby squeaked.

Jane ignored her.

The toddler simply shoved the duck plushie into Ruby’s hands.

—

Ruby blinked.

“What?”

Jane pointed.

“Ducky.”

“Mine?”

Jane nodded.

Then she wrapped both arms around Ruby.

—

The room became silent.

Lisa watched carefully.

Ruby looked shocked.

Like her brain had completely stopped working.

—

Then Jane mumbled,

“Love Bubba.”

Ruby froze.

Lisa froze.

Even Jennie, who had quietly appeared in the doorway, froze.

—

Jane smiled.

“Love Bubba.”

And kissed Ruby’s cheek.

—

Ruby’s face immediately turned red.

“Oh.”

Jane hugged her tighter.

“Love Bubba.”

—

The jealousy evaporated instantly.

Because how could Ruby compete with that?

Her little sister loved her.

A lot.

—

A few minutes later, Lisa found herself trapped once again.

Ruby cuddled against her left side.

Jane cuddled against her right side.

Neither child had any intention of moving.

—

Lisa looked toward Jennie.

“Help.”

Jennie took another picture.

“No.”

“Please.”

“Nope.”

“I can’t feel my legs.”

“That’s the price of being the favorite parent.”

—

Lisa groaned.

Meanwhile Ruby smiled proudly.

Jane smiled proudly.

Both daughters looked exactly like Jennie.

—

Lisa stared at the three identical faces in front of her.

Her wife.

Her four-year-old.

Her two-year-old.

All carbon copies.

All adorable.

All impossible.

—

“You know what?”

“What?” Jennie asked.

Lisa sighed dramatically.

“I live with three Jennies.”

Ruby giggled.

Jane giggled.

Jennie giggled.

And somehow that made Lisa smile too.

Because even if her daughters fought over her attention every single day…

Being loved this much wasn’t the worst problem in the world.