Chapter 9
Jennifer arrived in Nimbus City. It was an unfamiliar city, yet it brought her an unexpected sense of safety.
After carefully scouting around for half a month, she opened a small old bookstore named Jen’s on a quiet street in an old district.
The store wasn’t big, but it had beautiful natural light.
She spent three months renovating it, transforming the once shabby space into a warm and cozy reading corner.
Nimbus City’s rainy season was long, Jennifer stood by the glass door of her bookstore, staring blankly at the gentle curtain of rain outside. Suddenly, the wind chime at the door gave a jingle.
“Welcome,” she said out of habit as she turned, only to freeze slightly when she saw who had come in.
A tall man stood at the entrance, holding a long black umbrella. Raindrops trickled from the edges of the canopy onto the floor.
In his arms was a little girl at about five or six years of age. Her hair was in two braids, and she timidly curled up in his embrace. “Do you have any picture books suitable for her age?” The man closed his umbrella and asked in a gentle tone.
Only then did Jennifer get a clear look at his face.
The man had sharp features, with a pair of gold–rimmed glasses resting on his nose. The eyes behind the lenses held a soft smile.
She was stunned. “Kevin?”
The man visibly froze for a second too. He examined her more closely before a look of realization dawned on his face. “Jennifer?”
Memories came rushing back like a tide.
Kevin Gordon had been one of the most popular figures at medical school. He was two years ahead of her and had been recognized for both his outstanding academic achievements and his exceptional piano skills. He had been the dream man of countless ladies back then.
“What a coincidence.” She smiled, pointing at the little girl in his arms. “And this is?”
“My niece, Clara Lynn,” Kevin gently patted the little girl’s back. “Clara, say hello.”
The little girl lifted her head, revealing a cute face as she shyly said, “Hello, Ms. Jennifer.”
Her voice was as soft and sweet as cotton candy, and Jennifer could feel her heart melting.
She squatted down to meet Clara at eye level. “Hello, Clara. What kind of books do you want to read? I can help you pick one, okay?”
Clara blinked and suddenly reached out her hand to lightly touch Jennifer’s cheek.
“You’re so pretty, just like my mommy,” she said softly.
The air around them froze for a second.
Kevin’s expression changed as he squatted down and held Clara a little closer. “Sorry, her mom passed away a few years ago from illness.”
A tightness gripped Jennifer’s heart.
Looking at this little girl who had lost her mother, Jennifer suddenly thought of Yvonne and Yannick. But they still had Samantha, while this little girl had no one. “It’s okay,” Jennifer said gently, reaching out to softly stroke Clara’s hair. “Do you like fairy tales? I have lots of beautiful picture books here.”
Clara nodded as her eyes lit up.
Over the next hour, Jennifer patiently introduced Clara to all sorts of picture books.
The little girl gradually relaxed and even took the initiative to hold Jennifer’s hand and ask her to read a story.
Kevin stood nearby, watching the scene with a gentle look in his eyes.
As Jennifer read the story, Clara curled up into Jennifer’s arms, completely captivated.
As Kevin paid at the counter, he said, “You have a special way of telling stories. Clara is usually very shy around strangers, but she took to you so quickly.”
Jennifer smiled, handing the wrapped picture books to Clara. “I felt close to her too. I even wished that Clara were my daughter.”
As soon as those words left her mouth, she regretted them. But Kevin merely nodded thoughtfully and didn’t press further.
“Can we come again?” As they were about to leave, Clara tugged at Jennifer’s sleeve and looked up at her.
Jennifer squatted down and playfully pinched Clara’s little nose. “Of course, I’ll always welcome you here.”
Kevin opened the umbrella and carried Clara out into the rain. Clara lay on his shoulder, waving back at the bookstore until they turned the corner and disappeared from sight.
Jennifer stood at the door, watching their figures vanish into the rain.
In her heart, a warmth that she hadn’t felt in a long time bloomed.
