Dylan took over the album and began flipping through the pages seriously. "Not bad, Alice. It's a nice present from you as the aunt. I'll gladly receive it as the father. If Kendall did not give birth to a niece for you, it's your fault."
Alice's eyes widened. "How is that my fault? The baby comes out from her belly and it was you who make it a boy or a girl. How can you blame me when your wish doesn't come true?"
"Oh, you know that too? Since it's up to me, why give Kendall this album? You should give it to me. It'll work more that way."
"I-I heard that in passing. They said that a couple will welcome an adorable baby if they look at cute babies all day long. There are only baby girls in this album. They're cute and lovely, aren't they? I'm sure Kendall will give me a cute niece next year if she looks at the photos every single day."
"All I can say is the money we spent on your education has gone down the drain."
Alice parted her lips but dared not protest further.
"Whether it's a boy or a girl, it's determined from the very start. No way we can change that if she's already pregnant. Those things you heard, it's either a coincidence or a bluff. I mean, it'll be believable if the woman focuses on prenatal care before she gets pregnant. But if we could do something to change the baby's gender during pregnancy, you wouldn't have fifteen brothers today."
She pursed her lips, for she did not have the nerves to say anything more.
"Honey, it's her token of affection. Who in your family doesn't wish it to be a baby girl?" Kendall put in good words for Alice. "There's nothing we can do about it, but these pictures are pleasing to the eyes. They're adorable."
She quickly grabbed the album before facing Alice. "Ally, don't care about what he said. I love it! Thank you so much. I'll make something delicious for you one day."
"Oh yes! It's been ages since I had snacks! The last time I had them was the day Yoseph visited Jane." Alice deemed her family's homemade meals as snacks.
"Sweetie, look at ourselves. I'm sure our baby won't be hideous," Dylan chimed in with certainty, assuring that there was no need for Kendall to look at other babies every day.
Kendall shut him up by shooting a glare at Dylan. He shrugged it off, thinking nothing else mattered as long as she loved it. On top of that, he could never trample his sister's token of affection, could he?
However, he could not relent on the promise Kendall made. "Kendall is pregnant and physical labors are off-limits. I'll personally make you a feast some other day."
"Really? Awesome!" Alice was over the moon as she held high expectations for Dylan's cooking. She could not remember the last time she tasted his cooking.
"I'll be off, then. Bye!" She left in contentment.
Emma arrived the moment Alice left. After Amos led her into the residence, she informed that Laura had sent over the remaining clothes.
Kendall thought, Thank God Dylan bought me extra clothes. Otherwise, what should I wear before the clothes arrive?
Laura would've been frustrated if she had an insight into Kendall's mind, for Laura handmade those forty sets of outfits for every season single-handedly.
Not to mention that she had to assist other clients next. To be able to finish the forty sets today was her fastest possible speed, in her opinion.
"Are you on your way to elsewhere, Young Mistress Coleman?" She noticed Kendall's working attire.
"Yes. Have a seat, Miss Evans." Since Laura was here, Kendall figured that it was fine to take up some time to fulfill her responsibilities as the lady of the house.
Laura came alongside her two assistants, who brought in Kendall's clothes. After they set the packages down, they hurriedly made their way out because Dylan's expressionless face scared them.
Laura seated herself while Amos poured her tea. She gazed at Dylan. "Master Dylan, here are the thirty-eight attires for Young Mistress Coleman aside from the two sets we sent over before this."
He gave a plain response as he held up one of them to take a look at it. As he expected, Laura never disappointed him.
Laura took a winter outfit while speaking to Kendall, "Young Mistress Coleman, look at the winter outfit. We used only the best materials. Feel it. They'll keep you warm and cozy. You can even count the number of threads."
Kendall glanced at her, trying to read between the lines. Dylan had high expectations when they first made an order from Laura.
Judging from Laura's capability and reputation, she would never do something that brought disgrace to her brand.
But she said you can count the threads just by touching the fabric. Does someone intend to harm me by putting something harmful in the garment?
Kendall recalled her imprisonment in Whittle Residence during her previous life. Back then, she killed time by reading web novels.
One of the reincarnation stories revolved around the female lead whose stepsister fell in love with her husband and intended to take over her place with a murder. Once the stepsister found out about her pregnancy, she and the stepmother hid musk in the clothes belonging to the female lead's son.
He was only three years old at that time. A mama boy. Since the female lead spent almost every day with her son, she would breathe in the musk which could result in her miscarriage.
Based on that story, it was possible to hide something in thick winter clothes without getting caught.
Fortunately, the female lead did not get along with her stepsister, hence the foreboding in her when her stepsister gifted her son something. She rejected the present and ended up giving birth to her second child without implications.
As an afterthought, Kendall assumed that Laura was giving a heads-up that someone might hide something in her clothes like what happened in that story.
However, she did not inform her biological parents regarding her pregnancy yet. Aside from her adoptive family and the Coleman Family, no one knew of it.
These two families won't harm me. Oh, Roger mentioned that Kelly saw us during a checkup at the hospital. Dylan and I were there for the test results. She tried to get information from Roger because she suspected that I'm pregnant. Is Kelly scheming on something by joining hands with Laura? I think Laura's hinting that she refused Kelly. Kelly knows that I won't return the clothes if Laura personally sends them over. That's why Kelly chose Laura.
Only after giving it some thought did Kendall smile as if nothing happened. "I love every piece of them you made, Miss Evans."
She took over the winter outfit from Laura, feeling the warmth from the garment. Its thickness was just right. Winter in Orapolis had always been bearable. Winter outfits here could not be mentioned in the same breath as the ones from the North.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Love Knows No Bounds novel (Kendall and Dylan)
Beautiful story....