The next day, while cooking, I overheard Richard on the phone. “She’s sharper than I thought… I’m worried she might tell Marla,” he said.
My heart raced. What was he hiding?
When Richard entered the kitchen moments later, I forced myself to act normal. That evening, I couldn’t hold back. “I overheard you on the phone,” I said, my voice trembling.
He looked surprised. “What did you hear?”
“You said Jennifer might tell me something… What is it, Richard?”
He paused, his expression tense. Then, he sighed. “It’s nothing bad, I promise. I’ve been planning a surprise for Jennifer’s birthday. I wanted it to be special—her first one with us.”
I blinked, relief flooding through me. “A surprise party?”
He nodded. “I didn’t want her to spoil the surprise. My brother’s been helping with the details.”
Guilt washed over me as I realized my mistake. “I’m so sorry. I let my imagination run wild.”
“It’s okay,” he said, squeezing my hands. “We’ve all been through a lot.”
The next morning, I watched Richard patiently help Jennifer with her breakfast. Though she remained cautious, I saw a flicker of trust in her eyes. Sitting at the table, I placed my hand on her shoulder, and she smiled up at me, as if sensing the peace that had settled between us.
And for the first time, I felt like we were finally becoming a family.