He pointed to them, “That there is Jasmine…” He then motioned towards the stroller, “…and this one is Simon Jr.” he said with a proud smile.
Looking at Jasmine and Cherish, Susan then turned her attention to Simon and made her way in front of the stroller. Seeing it was a double, and that this woman had another child, made her think differently about Simon in that moment. She thought exactly what everyone else did when Cherish was first introduced.
Looking into the stroller, Susan tilted her head to the side and smiled, “He’s handsome. Just like you.” She said with a smile that never reached her eyes. How could she? This woman, who more than likely his mistress, had been moved in and she was far from happy.
Like clockwork, once one started, the other began. Jr. opened both eyes and began to fuss. Cherish looked over to Simon as she wiped Jasmine up, “Not him too.”
Simon unbuckled Jr., picked him up, and checked his diaper. It was clean. Holding him close to his chest, Simon patted against his small back and noticed that his son’s mouth was open, and he leaned in for a nipple. Jr. smeared a small mark of saliva on his father’s suit, “He’s hungry.” Simon said.
How informally Cherish spoke to Simon about his son bothered Susan to her core, “You said Charity was a friend, right?” she asked. Clearing her throat, she gripped the end of her shirt and blew out, “I wish you’d told me that she was coming, I would have made arrangements for her.” She stated while her blue eyes met with Simon’s.
He listened to Susan as he tried his best to comfort his son, “Cherish didn’t know. This was somewhat last minute.” He said shrugging a shoulder and holding Susan’s gaze. He wondered if Cherish was really such an inconvenience, “I hope that’s alright. Especially for the baby shower.” He added.
Susan turned her attention to Cherish once more and looked down at her, “Oh. I’m sure we can find a way to squeeze her into the seating arrangements.” She said in a far-off tone.
Simon gave Cherish a sympathetic look and pointed out what they both knew, “I’m pretty sure he wants to be fed. Who would have guessed.” He said with a smirk.
Cherish held her hands out and took Jr. into her embrace, “Ready yourself for even more screaming.” She said smiling down at his little red face. “Are you hungry? Yes, you are.” She said to Jr. with a grin.
He wet his lips before he looked to Susan, “We’ll be down soon. Just give us a bit to feed the kids. We won’t be long.” He said.
Susan sucked her cheeks in and rolled her jaw from side to side, “Oh, I guess you would need some quiet time and privacy to feed the kids. I’ll …see you there.” She said in an unsure tone before she backed away and let herself out.
Cherish watched after Susan before she sighed and pushed herself from the floor. Susan didn’t like her, and she could tell.
Simon went and picked Jasmine up from the ground to console her. Rubbing on her back with a hum, he knew that she too needed to eat when she wouldn’t quiet down. He searched the baby bag for a bottle of water and formula. He prepped her meal with one arm; a skilled father now. Cherish already propped herself up as best as she could on one of the chairs and fed Jr who latched on with strong pulls. Simon watched her for a quiet moment as he set the bottle along Jasmine’s lips. Simon was aware of how Susan tended to be with people he first introduced to her. He didn’t want Cherish to think too much about it, “I know how she seems. She’s nicer the more you get to know her.” He said..
She looked up from staring down in Jr.’s big, blue eyes and paused. He really and truly believed Susan was going to be nicer to her. That’s not the world she grew up in and she was fine with the fact that not everyone was going to accept her. Like it or not, it was the way the world turned. But if Simon wanted to believe that one day Susan would come around, who was she to correct him? She gave him a soft smile and a light shrug, “It’s fine. I’m okay.” She said.
Taking about twenty minutes to give Jr. a quick feed and have the babies content, Cherish fixed herself. Simon loaded them into the stroller, and they left the office. His brow dipped in confusion as his grip on the stroller tightened once they arrived back to the main hall, “Susan, weren’t you going downstairs?” he asked.
Susan stood and approached them once more, “Oh no, Simon I said I was going to escort you…both and I am a woman of my word. I hope everything has been taken care of with the…children.” She said while following both he and Cherish to the elevator.
Simon stopped at the elevator, pressed the button, and nodded, “Well in that case thank you.” He said.
Cherish gave a slight nod, “They’re all topped off and ready to go.” She said leaning over and brushing against Jasmine’s cheek.
Susan arched an eyebrow as she gave Cherish a long glance, “How…quaint.”
Simon caught the way Susan looked at Cherish with a cliché, mean response. He decided to give her a gentle warning, though the tone was stern, “Susan, be nice.” He said as the elevator doors opened.
Cherish felt on edge the entire time. The fact that Simon had to warn this woman to use manners around her already told Cherish he didn't even believe what he tried to appeal to her moments before. Susan pursed her lips together before she forced them into
