Whispers Turn to Whimpers: Could He Ever Change?

Suddenly, his gaze halted, and there she was, a familiar face - Sophia, Jenna's babysitter!

"Sophia!"

Gilbert immediately dashed towards her.

"Mr. Johnson?" Sophia, who was sitting on a park bench knitting a sweater, stood up in surprise upon seeing him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Where's Jenna?"

He paused, then added, "And Jenna's mom?"

"Huh?" Sophia wasn't sure why he was asking but pointed in a direction anyway.

"Jenna's mom took her to the ice cream parlor over there for some milkshakes."

"Got it! Thanks!"

After thanking her, Gilbert turned and hurried towards the ice cream parlor.

As he reached the street across, he stopped.

The door of the ice cream parlor swung open, and out came a little boy, followed by a young woman carrying a cuddly doll.

It was Jenna! Jenna snuggled into the young woman's neck, planting a shy kiss on her cheek before whispering something in her ear.

laughter, gently patting Jenna's back.

in

the woman's face,

wasn't the face he

Jenna's mom. And Jenna's mom wasn't

was he thinking? That Jenna could

the young woman, Gilbert walked back to his car

into the car, his

It was Charles.

Gilbert, about the

aside from you,

two other buyers. their information

11

"Alright."

Gilbert checked the message from

information about the other buyers... completely unfamiliar names,

wondering where Sherilyn got that hair clip

was about to start the car,

the ice cream parlor opened once

it was the face he

her hair loosely tied in a low

Osely tied in

"Thanks so much, Auntie Dawn." "No

The Jenna,