As Serena’s parents-in-law, they had never rushed Serena because the young couple did not even have a wedding reception yet. Tania and Liam did not feel the need to jump through the steps.
“Alright now. It’s a matter between you two, so you should take care of it. I can promise you that I won’t rush you into starting a family in ten years. You can decide when you’re ready.”
With Zack’s facial lines softening, he said to his mother, “Thanks, Mom.”
“Don’t mention it. Hurry up and apologize to Serena. Don’t just walk away every time you have a fit. You go nuts when Serena does it to you. You’re lucky Serena is nice and tolerates you,” Tania peevishly remarked.
Zack uttered, “I got to go.”
Liam asked, “Are you going to stay for dinner?”
Tania jumped in. “Dinner? He can forget it and leave hungry. All he needs to do is bend over and cry out in pain when Seren won’t give him time of the day. Seren will feel bad for him.”
Zack blushed.
“Mom, I never pretended to be sick or poorly.”
He was really sick the last time he had a stomach ache.
Tania glanced at her husband before replying, “You have a lifetime to spend with each other. Are you going to guarantee that you’re never going to pretend to be sick or poorly for the rest of your life?”
Zack could say nothing.
With her mother urging him, he turned on his heel and took strides out of the dining room.
As his son’s footsteps faded away, Liam asked his wife, “Tania, what was with the look just now?”
“It means what you think it means.”
“It’s been years now.”
“I’ll always remember no matter how many years have passed.”
Liam chuckled. “Come on. I’ll take you out on a stroll.”
Tania did not refuse.
Out of Wildridge Manor, Zack gave Serena a call. The call was connected, but Serena would not take the call.
Serena did not reply to his text messages either.
She was presently at the Soxes’ residence.
The Soxes had just had their dinner. Since Serena was not in the best of moods, Jasmine had a walk with her nearby after dinner.
“Seren, I remember you saying that your in-laws didn’t pressure you to have children. Why are you taking in all the stress?”
The pair were best friends who could pass as sisters. Jasmine had been there throughout Serena and Zack’s journey together. She had never heard about the York family rushing Serena to have a baby.
“They did not pressure me, but I’m worried I might be the problem that I’m not expecting yet.”
Serena sighed and added, “No one is giving me pressure, but I can’t help putting the strain on myself. Even if my in-laws are from an ordinary family, I would be worried about not getting pregnant despite being married for a while. I won’t feel much of it if we have been using protection.”
Jasmine’s mind flew to the families she knew. The women usually got pregnant soon after the wedding, but most of them had a shotgun wedding now. A woman who had been married for more than six months and trying without protection would stir people to talk behind her back.
She could understand what her best friend was going through.
“Seren, I haven’t been married. I’ve never experienced this, but I know you can’t put the pressure on yourself. It’s harder to get pregnant if you can’t stop thinking about it. I believe you’re fine. Just free your mind. Dwelling on it isn’t good for you.”
Serena let out another sigh.
“Jasmine, I’m not upset that I’m not expecting. We fought, and Zack just left me. The face and tone he gave me really hurt.”
Wrapping her arm around her best friend’s shoulder, Jasmine gave her assurance. “It’s frustrating and infuriating that Mr. York did that. I’m furious for you. You should stay with me tonight. Don’t go with him right away if he comes to pick you up. Let him feel the anxiety. I’ll let my parents know to ignore any commotion out there.”
“He loves brushing me off when he throws a tantrum. He might be back at the manor now. I don’t expect him to come for me since he’s giving me the cold shoulder,” Serena said tauntingly.
“Maybe it’s a good thing. We can cool our heads. I need to reflect to stop being so hard on myself. Come what may. Let’s check out our farming fields tomorrow.”
Jasmine said with a smile, “Sure. I’ll go with you wherever you want to go.”
“I’ll only take a day out of your busy schedule. Your engagement with Mr. Bucham is up. You won’t have much time. Jasmine, things are going well for you and Mr. Bucham. You might not have a whirlwind romance, but you have realness in the mundane.”
Jasmine and Josh never had a fight.
Josh had a high EQ.
He had a good temper, unlike Zack who was used to the compliance of others. Zack had tried his best to change for Serena, but there were times his arrogance as an heir took over.
“Seren, your relationship with Mr. York is strong too. It’s just an occasional squabble. It won’t change the way you feel about each other. You can only grow from here.”
Serena fell silent for a while before uttering, “Let’s head back. I had a bit too much to drink last night. My head is hurting since I hadn’t caught up on sleep today.”
“Sure.”
Jasmine walked home with her best friend and even told her parents to enjoy their sleep in dreamland without bothering about what would happen tonight.
“Dad, should we release the hounds tonight?”
Mr. Sox replied, “I don’t keep them on the leash at night.”
Serena followed Jasmine upstairs and to Jasmine’s room.
“Wear my clothes, Seren. I have a lot of new clothes I haven’t worn. We’re about the same size. My clothes will fit you.”
Jasmine went to her closet to bring out her new clothes for Serena.
Seeing that Serena drew close to the window and pulled the curtain to look down, Jasmine peeked downstairs and said, “My dogs will bark when he arrives.”
“Will your dogs bite if they’re not on a leash?”
Jasmine answered with a grin, “We lock the gate at night, so the dogs won’t get out to bite anyone. The most they do is bark. Well, it’s a different story if Mr. York decides to climb the fence.” Would Zack climb over the fence?
Ring, ring, ring…
Jasmine’s phone rang.
She looked at the caller on the display screen before telling her best friend, “It’s Josh. I think your man might have sought help from Josh. Josh must be calling to ask where you are.”
Serena faintly uttered, “Just ignore him. Does he think he’s the only one with a temper? I have a temper too.”
Always having Serena’s back, Jasmine believed her best friend was not in the wrong.
Serena was a confident and cheerful person, but for her to be worried about not being pregnant, the pressure had to somehow come from her man, Zack.
Jasmine felt sorry for her best friend.
She wanted to help her best friend give Zack a taste of his own medicine.
Ring, ring, ring…
With the phone ringing endlessly, Jasmine had to pick up the call.
“What are you busy with, Jasmine? Don’t you miss me? It took you a long time to pick up. I miss you so much. I thought about driving to your place to check on you if you take any longer to take my call.”
The perkiness in Josh’s tone was the most moving sweet nothing Jasmine had ever heard.
Josh was good to her, and the pair got along well. There had never been a disagreement since they went on a blind date until now.
Sometimes, Jasmine thought her love life was going on too smoothly. Now that she had seen the fights her best friend and Zack got into, and Serena feeling down and hurt, Jasmine believed it was not a bad idea that she had a plain romance with Josh.
“I didn’t have my phone with me. I was getting ready to shower when you called. I ran out of the bathroom to take your call. That was why it took some time,” Jasmine lied.
She added with a smile, “I miss you. I miss you every second of the day. I see you in my dreams every time I go to bed.”
Josh broke into a smile on the other end of the line.
Serena learned something from listening to the conversation between her best friend and Josh.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.