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.

into laughter, gently patting Jenna's back. Leaning over to Jenna's ear, she whispered something

of them, wrapped in each other's

fixed on the woman's face, a face completely unknown

face he

Jenna's mom. And Jenna's mom

was he thinking? That Jenna

from the young woman, Gilbert walked back to his car parked

settled into

It was Charles.

about the

inquiry, aside from you,

two other buyers. their information to

11

"Alright."

up, Gilbert checked the message from

other buyers... completely unfamiliar names,

wondering where Sherilyn got that hair

as he was about to start the

ice cream

time, it was the face he

a her hair loosely tied in a

Osely tied in a low

the woman holding Jenna, "Thanks so much,

The Jenna,