After hanging up on Tarquin, Elysia just couldn’t shake her worry. So, she headed over to Tanhe Manor.
She packed the self-defense gadget Walter had made—his own take on pepper spray—and some ointment for injuries.
The pepper spray was for Winona.
The ointment was for Keaton.
When the doorbell rang, Winona answered, surprised to see Elysia standing there.
“Hey! What are you doing here? You didn’t even text before coming over!”
Before Elysia could reply, she caught sight of Jessamine Huber sitting on the couch.
Jessamine spotted her too, immediately jumping up, both surprised and delighted.
“Elysia!”
Elysia blinked. “Jess? What are you doing here?”
Jessamine wiped her eyes, still a little teary. “I came to check on Keaton! And I wanted to thank Winona for looking after him these past few days.”
Elysia remembered Jessamine was pregnant with her second child and quickly helped her sit back down.
“Take a seat—did you just get back from Border City?”
Jessamine nodded. “Yeah, I got to Jindale City at dawn, stopped by my parents’ place first, and came here as soon as it was light.”
Elysia said, “Honestly, I thought you’d just settle down in the States for a while, maybe come back after the holidays.”
Jessamine shook her head, smiling. “No way. You know, you said something that really stuck with me—no one cares for your own kids like you do!”
“Why hand my own kid off to a stepmom when I’m right here?”
“I even canceled the fancy maternity clinic I booked in Alerasia. I want my baby to be born right here in Zhinora, to be a true local.”
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