Chapter 79: Chapter 79

Stealthily, Missy looked through the window.

Inside, in the huge classroom, several children seemed to be copying something into their notebooks while chatting animatedly. And, of course, it wasn't hard for her to find her children, as usual, sitting in the chairs at the corner of the wall, not too close and also not far from the teacher, where she remembered also liking to be, when she was in the 4th grade. year, like them. Jonathan had his back turned in his chair, looking at his brother in the back seat, while Tristan was showing him something that looked very interesting on the portable video game he was holding. With an amused sigh, Missy tried to convince herself that at least they were doing that after they had finished their homework, as the open pages of their notebooks were visibly written all over the desks.

In fact, she truly took pride in the fact that they were only ten years old and yet they were centered and obedient enough to keep up well in school, despite all the love they had for their games, especially Tristan, who, always cheerful and curious, as time went by he had been asking her more and more about programming, just to understand how her video game worked. Which often resulted in long hours of fun technology talk between her and her son. And whenever he came running to her on the four afternoons a week she was ready to go to his office and work on her new software projects, with the small, talented team she had assembled over the years, just to ask that she take it with her so he can help her work, Missy's heart melted. Just as it had also melted when the twins had gone running, weeks ago, showing the whole school, full of pride, her photo on the cover of the technology magazine in which she had been the main article, due to the record sale of the youngest your team's software.

However, when it came to personal interests, Missy knew that while Jonathan enjoyed playing games with his younger brother as much as any other little boy his age, Missy's true passion was, and probably always would be, music. Especially the piano. And, of course, there was no denying that Logan had a big influence on that, always encouraging his son to keep practicing, even in the face of a very complicated score or even after a mistake. Besides, of course, taking Jonathan personally to the music classes he took three times a week at the same music school that, all those years ago, Missy herself had attended with her husband. Not that either of them needed those lessons anymore these days: Missy had simply accepted that pianos didn't like to be played by her and Logan had already become a skilled and self-taught pianist enough to now practice alone on the piano they had at home. , in which Jonathan usually accompanied him.

And whenever she saw them sitting on the piano bench, with Jonathan sitting on Logan's lap so he could reach the keys properly, Missy knew, in her heart of hearts, as she saw her husband's eyes gleam, that this was the kind of moment that he felt blessed to be able to be with his son, since he couldn't be with his grandfather.

Missy was still a little immersed in her thoughts, when Jonathan lifted his head towards the window, waving excitedly when he saw her, which also caught Tristan's attention, who opened a huge smile when he saw his mother. Smiling lovingly back and blowing silent kisses to them, Missy held up the small lunch box she was carrying at window level so they could understand why she was there. And, with a last wave to her babies, Missy stepped out of their sight, knowing they were probably getting to the age where having Mom come into the classroom to kiss them and ask how their day was going wouldn't be nothing but a shame. Even though she knew her children would never be ashamed of her, Missy wanted to spare them any teasing. Children could be cruel sometimes, she well knew.

Advancing down the corridor to the younger children's rooms, Missy wondered if her poor Eleanor must still be very nervous about the mock test she would have that day or if the test was already over and she had finally realized that, even with only 17 years old, she was one of the smartest and most capable students in that entire school to get into whatever college she wanted. She just didn't want to think about how heartbroken Diana and Paul would be if she chose to attend university somewhere far away, as Derek, even at just 12 years old, had already made it clear that she wanted to. Not that Missy could blame them. When the time came to start separating from her babies, she also doubted she'd know what to do.

The sound of the melodious, determined voice coming from one of the classrooms of the 1st year made Missy smile automatically, knowing that this was probably her chick that would leave the nest early. Looking discreetly into the window of that room decorated with lyrics and productions by the children themselves, Missy saw her little daughter Gwyneth, a small female copy of her father, with black hair and intense green eyes, just 07 years old, in the center of a circle with other children, with a colored book in their hands, seeming to be telling some kind of stories to them, while moving as if giving a solemn speech. Smiling fondly, she just spent a moment there, admiring her little baby, brave and determined to speak, as always bringing all the attention in the environment to her. And Missy knew it would always be like that when it came to Gwyneth. Especially after she, after considering becoming president or an astronaut when she grew up, had finally decided, after an amusing visit to Dad's work with her brothers, that although she "didn't like to pose for pictures like Dad did when he was a kid, .”, she would become the head of the agency someday, as well as the man she most admired in the world.

And, obviously, she decided that she would do it with her beloved mother “working on the computers for her” and her best friend Lindsey, the youngest daughter of Paul and Diana, also 07 years old, sharing the presidency with her, as well as “Dad did it with Uncle and Aunt”. And Missy had no doubts that things would turn out exactly like this in the future. After all, she pitied anyone who wanted to come between her little girl and her goals.

Smiling, proud of her baby girl who always knew very well what she wanted, Missy wasn't even surprised when Gwyneth, extremely focused on what she was doing, didn't even notice her arrival or else leave, going further along the long corridors, until finally spotting the colorful room he was looking for, to be able to deliver that fluffy My Little Pony lunch box, which was in his hands, to the owner: Hope, his youngest daughter, just 04 years old. It was also the last baby she and Logan would ever have, since, after the most complicated of all three births she'd gone through, they'd decided their family was finally complete.

But it wasn't just because Hope was her youngest that Missy had come that day. Even the lunchbox she'd left in her room that morning had just been an excuse. All Missy wanted was to check that her little angel with the dark hair and big blue eyes, which she had inherited from Daniel, was okay. Because even though Jonathan, Tristan, and Gwyneth each had their weaknesses as well as their insecurities, even though they were so young, it was Hope who most resembled her in personality matters. For good and for bad.

Because Missy was exactly like her when she was that age. Shy, sweet and with a very loving little heart, but also very vulnerable. And that sometimes had even taken her sleep, just because of the fear that her little girl would go through what she had gone through during school. After all, Hope had already had some adjustment problems when she started school last year and the other children started teasing her about her glasses, which she had to wear regularly since she was two years old because of an intense astigmatism that it prevented her from seeing things clearly, regularly tripping when her lenses were off.

Fortunately, the teachers had managed to handle the whole situation flawlessly and now all was well between Hope and her classmates. Or so Missy had believed, until the teachers had asked the children to create a story together with their parents as a homework activity and then tell it to the class. It had been a long time since Missy had seen Hope so excited about anything regarding school, even asking to call Aunt Megan, who was doing another of her famous travel video series, this time in Asia, just to ask that she tell him some stories about where he was, so he could get ideas for his own little story. And the whole family had helped her compose her little story so she could present it that day: Missy had helped her organize her thoughts, Jonathan and Tristan had organized a set of book-like sheets so she could write her story, Logan had helped her throughout this writing process and Gwyneth had spent hours lying with her sister on the floor of the toy library they had at home, helping her paint and color her story.

But the previous afternoon, when the kids had come home from school, Missy had immediately noticed that there was something wrong with Hope. She no longer looked excited or anxious for when she could show her story to the class the next day, but rather quiet and downcast.

Like Missy also used to get when someone teased her when she was a kid.

But, as much as she was sure that something had happened and had tried to convince her little girl to tell her what was wrong, Hope had continued to try to convince her, always with her sweet little face trying to disguise the obvious sadness in her eyes. blues, that everything was fine. But Missy knew damn well she wasn't.

And so she just wanted to check that her little girl was all right. Maybe even talk to the teachers and find out if anything had happened that past week...

That's when, finally getting close enough to the living room door, Missy caught sight of the small figure huddled beside one of the huge potted plants nearby, barely visible beneath the tall, broad leaves that drooped downwards.

- Hope?! – Missy gasped, running to her daughter to hug her small, trembling body, getting even more worried when she realized that she was crying – What happened?

Once in her arms, Hope lifted her tear-stained little face to look at her, initially looking surprised to see her mother there, but then her expression distorted into a sad sob and she buried her head against Missy's chest, panting.

-Mommy... – her little baby wailed, making Missy's heart sink even more – Mommy... Mommy...

- It's okay, my sweetheart. – Missy tried to console her, running her hands through her soft hair, while she continued to say, in a low and gentle voice, almost as if she were singing a lullaby to her, as she did every night – Mommy is here, don't worry. It's going to be okay... - she waited until Hope's cries went from copious to just a few sad sobs, before finally asking - Hope, what happened? – she caressed her cheek until she convinced her to look up – Why are you crying, little angel?

Hope's little mouth quivered a few times before she finally sniffled, her little blue eyes filled with such sadness that Missy found herself kissing her little cheek over and over in an unconscious effort to make her feel better.

- I tried to tell my little story today... - her daughter finally revealed, in an almost inaudible voice - But... Everyone was looking at me and I... I couldn't speak, mom... - Hope still teared up more, clearly embarrassed – Then everyone started laughing at me and I… I ran away. – Her little girl admitted, hiding her face between her knees.

- Oh, dear... - Missy sighed, feeling her heart break when imagining how bad her little one must have felt - It's okay, my baby. I know how you feel. – She gently kissed her hair – But it's okay now. Mom is here.

- You... You're not mad at me? Hope asked hesitantly, almost as if she was afraid of the answer.

- But of course not, my love. How could I be mad at you when you've done nothing wrong? – Missy asked, confused – Why did you think I would be mad at you?

- Because yesterday, before Dad came to pick me up, Debbie's mom greeted me and I was embarrassed, so I just waved. – Hope said, her head down – Then she said I was rude, and that moms like children who talk, like her daughter. Not the ones who are rude and don't talk well.

-Oh, dear ... - Missy sighed, trying to hide the revolt she felt for someone having said that to her daughter, even though she had no idea who that woman was - That's not true. Mommy loves you exactly the way you are. – Missy covered her sweet little face with kisses, while continuing to affirm – And what Debbie's mom said to you was a bad thing, to make you feel bad. The kind of thing Mom always says to tell me when it happens, remember?

- The kind of thing Scar from the Lion King says to Simba? Hope's eyes widened, trying to understand.

- That's right. – Missy smiled – I know they are ugly and hurtful things, but they are not true. – Putting her hands around her daughter's, she kissed her forehead once more – And, about what happened today, don't feel bad, baby. It's normal to be nervous from time to time. Mom was nervous and didn't know what to say all the time when she was her age. And even when she was much older. – Missy smiled sadly at the memory – In fact, even nowadays, I'm still quite shy.

- Serious? - Hope gasped - But... You know how to do everything, Mom. She placed her little hands on Missy's cheeks, stunned.

- Oh, dear... Nobody knows how to do everything. – Missy explained gently, smiling at her daughter – And, even the things I know how to do, I learned little by little. You know, when I was your age, I just couldn't speak in public... And a lot of times, people laughed at me too. Missy said, making her daughter's eyes widen even further – Do you know why they did that?

- Why? – Hope sniffled, seeming afraid to know what the answer would be.

- Because they didn't realize that it's normal for a person to be shy, like you and me. And so they thought it was okay to laugh at us, instead of trying to support us and help us have the courage to say what we wanted. – After a heavy sigh, Missy continued – But that's not true, dear. It's not right for people to laugh at you. Or that make you feel bad, simply because she was nervous for a moment and couldn't do something. Because being nervous is normal sometimes, honey. – Missy ran her fingers over her daughter's cheeks still wet with tears – That's why you don't have to cry, my little angel. You do not do anything wrong. Can you understand this? Missy asked softly, praying her daughter understood the depth of truth in her words.

Sniffling again, Hope shook her head hard, looking like she was trying to fight back a fresh wave of tears.

- And I'm sorry that this happened to you, my love. I promise I'll talk to Mrs. Blackwell and Stra. Smith, are you all right? – Missy tried to console her, while lovingly rocking her against her chest, as she had done since she was a baby – I'm sure that, after we talk to them, her little friends will apologize and everything will be fine.

Seeing Hope's scared little eyes widen more than ever, Missy realized that maybe the time wasn't right for this yet.

- But, you know… - Missy smiled excitedly at her baby – I can do all that tomorrow. Why don't we both go out earlier today and get some ice cream before your dad and brothers get home for lunch? Do you think that would put a smile on that pretty face of yours? – Missy tickled her belly, making Hope giggle happily, which was only interrupted when a flustered voice approached the two.

- Mrs. Knight! Hope! – Missy saw Sarah Blackwell, the teacher of Hope's Kindergarten class, run towards them, completely out of breath – Mrs. Knight, I'm sorry! But something happened, Hope ran away really fast and I just couldn't find her until now...

- It's okay, Mrs. Blackwell. – Missy calmed her down – I know it wasn't anyone's fault. Hope is great at hide and seek, isn't she, my love? – Missy laughed, kissing her daughter's cheek, who had her face hidden in her shoulder, looking too embarrassed to look at the teacher – But we can talk more about this tomorrow, okay? She gave Mrs. Blackwell, who seemed to understand immediately what she was referring to - For today, would you mind bringing Hope's backpack over here? We're leaving a little early today. – Missy asked, knowing that Hope probably wouldn't feel comfortable leaving her lap and certainly wouldn't want to go into the classroom again to get her backpack.

- But of course, I understand. - Mrs. Blackwell gave an apologetic smile before heading to the living room, returning a few moments later with Hope's backpack in hand. Knight. And until tomorrow, Hope. – The teacher nodded, seeking the little girl's gaze, while she smiled sweetly – Your friends asked me to apologize to you and also ask if you could tell us your story tomorrow. We were all looking forward to hearing it and were very saddened by everything that happened.

- What do you think, my love? – Missy questioned her daughter gently, knowing that she would accept her answer, whatever it was.

A long moment passed, as Hope tightened her fists around the fabric of Missy's blouse, before finally nodding once, burying her face in her mother's neck afterward.

- Excellent! - Mrs. Blackwell celebrated – See you tomorrow then.

Saying goodbye to the teacher, Missy followed her little girl to the car, packing her backpack and tucking her in the car seat before starting to drive to the Steven Universe-themed ice cream parlor that she knew was Hope's favorite. But every second of the way, Missy couldn't stop worrying about her daughter, who remained quiet and head down in her car seat, wringing her tiny hands in her lap, while responding to Missy's attempts at conversation only with grunts and whimpers. Finally, when the two finally stopped in front of the ice cream shop and Missy sent Logan a message saying that she had taken Hope earlier and that she would explain the reason to him later, – also making it clear that it was nothing very serious, to avoid that her poor overprotective husband had a heart attack when he read that – Missy's mind was already working frantically, concocting what she could do so that Hope would understand that she was perfectly capable of speaking in class the next day, without getting upset.

However, when entering the ice cream parlor, again with her daughter snuggled in her arms, and spotting the nice old man behind the counter full of ice cream options, an idea suddenly flashed in Missy's mind, making her smile. However, before Hope could realize it, she masked her reaction with a desolate expression, while heaving a long, crestfallen sigh, which quickly caught her daughter's attention.

- What is it, Mom? Hope touched her cheek with her small hand, innocently worried.

"I... I'm a little embarrassed to order an ice cream..." Missy swallowed hard, batting her eyes in a way that she knew went straight to the heart of not only her husband, but everyone else's. your children - Could it be... That the two of us could ask together? she asked gently, truly hopeful.

Bewildered, Hope gasped, her little blue eyes completely in shock for a second, before finally becoming thoughtful, furrowing her dark brows in a way that made her look exactly like her father, which made Missy smile inwardly, knowing that she was probably completely torn between helping her mother and facing her fear of talking to anyone after everything that's happened.

- Are you ashamed to talk...? - Hope murmured, fearful - Like me?

- Yes I am. – Missy confirmed, smiling shyly – But, I know that if you're with me, then I'll have the courage to talk to anyone. Can you help me, my baby? Missy asked gently, making Hope's face become concentrated.

Finally, after a long moment of silence and much thought, her little girl finally sighed, before humming, making Missy's chest swell with pride.

- All right, Mom. – Hope bit her lip, uncertain – But… If I can't… – she tightened her little arms even more around her mother's neck, as if she was afraid she would disappear – You'll stay here with me, Mom ? - Although the hug of the two indicated that she was talking about her mother continuing to hold her, something in her tone made Missy realize that she was also afraid of disappointing her or giving reasons for her not to remain there by her side, supporting her. -The.

- I will always be with you, my baby. – Missy vehemently assured, while lovingly kissing her cheek, still a little flushed from crying – It doesn't matter what happens.