Chapter 739 Stuffed Panda
As Tom and Lucy walked out of the restaurant after their dinner, Tom noticed the way Lucy was looking around as if she was trying to find something, and he raised a brow.
"What are you searching for?" He asked curiously.
"Uhm, I'm trying to see if I can find a shop to get something for the kids," Lucy said and Tom raised a brow.
"Jamal and Dawn?"
"Of course. Or do you know any other kids I don't know about? Sonia's bump isn't even out yet," Lucy said distractedly as she continued looking around and Tom watched in amusement.
"Should you be buying them stuff when they are grounded from seeing you?" Tom asked and Lucy shrugged.
"They won't be grounded forever. Let's go to the first floor. I think I caught glimpse of a kiddies shop there when we were coming in," Lucy said and Tom followed without saying anything seeing how determined she was.
They didn't need to look around much before finding a shop where they could get toys for the kids, and as Lucy moved around the shop after buying a transformer toy car for Jamal, Tom raised a brow.
"What exactly are you searching for?" He asked curiously.
"A suitable gift for Dawn," she said with a thoughtful expression on her face.
Seeing how devoted she was to her self assigned task, Tom couldn't help but wonder if she was going to pay any attention to him when they had kids.
"I noticed that she doesn't have toys. A kid her age should travel with teddies and dolls and not just a tablet or an iPad to monitor stocks…"
"You are not her mom," Tom reminded her softly.
"I know. I'm her friend, and that's why I want to get her a suitable gift. Little girls like her love things like this," Lucy said as she finally settled for a stuffed pink and white colored panda.
"What do you think?" Lucy asked with a grin as she picked the panda from the shelf and held it up for Tom to see.
"It's pretty," Tom said and she flashed him a smile.
"I thought so too," Lucy said as she took the toys to the counter to make the payment.
Twenty minutes later they both stepped out of the mall, and while Tom carried the bag which contained the clothes they had worn when leaving the house, Lucy carried the bag that contained the gifts and lollipops for the kids.
Seated in a cab on their way home, Tom turned to Lucy with a loving smile as he took her hands, "Thank you so much for today, Jewel," Tom said and Lucy waved his gratitude off with a smile.
"We both know you deserve more than this. You've been such a wonderful boyfriend, and even though I don't like the means by which you came into my life, I'm very glad you did. You've exposed me to a whole new world. One I didn't think I needed. I've been happier since I met you than I've been in a really long time. So, thank you for today, and everyday," Lucy said and Tom smiled as he kissed her forehead and she rested her head on his shoulder while their hands remained linked.
A couple of minutes later, they walked into the house and when they didn't see anyone in the living room, but could hear voices coming from the Den, they headed for the Den.
"Look who finally decided to come back from their date," Jade said the moment Lucy and Tom walked into the Den, and everyone turned to them.
"Lucy!" Jamal and Dawn called in unison as they ran to her.
Tom scowled, "I thought they were grounded?" He asked as he watched Lucy crouch down to embrace them.
"They made up, so we forgave them," Evelyn said and Tom looked at her with disapproval.
"I don't remember you being so forgiving with us when we were young," he said and Jade and Bryan nodded in agreement.
"I said the same thing," Bryan said, and then grinned when he noticed their outfit.
"You're now wearing matching outfits?" Bryan asked in amusement, and Desmond, who first noticed that Lucy and Tom were dressed in matching outfits, chuckled when Tom scowled at Bryan.
"Couple goals. You both look good together," Sonia said with a grin as she gave Lucy a thumbs up.
"How did your date go?" Evelyn asked and Tom smiled.
"It was perfect," Tom said, and seeing the happy smile on his face, Evelyn smiled too.
"Harry, when are you going to dress this way with Jade?" Aaron asked and Jade shook her head.
"Like high school students?" Harry asked in a mocking tone as he eyed Tom, and Tom glared at him while Jade giggled.
"You're just jealous because you can't pull of such a look," Tom sneered at him.
"Did you get a haircut?" Desmond asked and Tom nodded.
"It looks good. Where did you get this haircut? I need a haircut myself," Bryan asked with interest.
"Uncle Brown?" Sonia asked Lucy and she nodded.
"I guess your non-biological uncle Brown just got himself a celebrity client," Tom said to Lucy, who was grinning at him.
"I told you he was that good," she said before looking down at the kids.
"I guess since you are no longer grounded, I can give you the gifts I got you," Lucy said and they both looked at her with expectant eyes.
"You got me a gift?" Dawn asked with a awe-filled expression as she was both surprised and pleased to hear that.
"What did you get me?" Jamal asked happily as he tried to look through the bag she was holding to see if could see the gift.
"Am I allowed to give them the gifts?" Lucy asked Evelyn and Candace.
"You already got the gifts so what is the point of asking?" Sonia asked dryly.
"You are trying to make the rest of us adults here look bad by trying so hard to be the best adult, right?" Jade asked and Lucy giggled.
"I'm not trying at all. It comes naturally to me. Who is your favorite adult between Jade, Sonia, and I?" Lucy asked, looking from Dawn to Jamal.
"You!" They said in unison and Lucy flashed Jade a smug smile while the others laughed.
"Why just the females? Why didn't you include the guys? I'm sure I come a close second," Jade said but Jamal shook his head.
"Not for me," he said, not forgetting how she and Sonia had taken Dawn's side.
"I didn't ask you," Jade said with a scowl while everyone laughed.
"The gift, please?" Dawn asked with eyes gleaming with excitement and Lucy smiled at her as she opened the bag while everyone watched.
"This is for you, Jam," Lucy said giving him the car, and Jamal screeched happily as he ran to his mother with the car before running back to embrace Lucy and thank her.
"This is for you, Dawn," Lucy said as she took out the stuffed panda.
"For me?" She asked as she took it from Lucy with her gaze fixed on it.
"Yeah," Lucy said and her heart melted when Dawn embraced her.
"Thank you, Lucy. I will take good care of her," Dawn promised, figuring the panda was female because of the color.
"I'm sure you will," Lucy said as she straightened up.
"Rachel and her dad were on the news today," Sonia informed Lucy.
"Yeah, we saw that," Lucy said and Jade raised a brow.
"How? Don't tell me your date was so boring you decided to check for news on the internet so you could find something to talk about?" Jade asked and everyone laughed.
"We stopped by to see my parents and we saw the news while we were there," Lucy explained.
"Oh! That's nice. How are they doing?" Evelyn asked with a smile and before Lucy could respond, Desmond's phone began to ring and Evelyn who was closest to the table picked it up and she exchanged a look with Desmond as she handed the phone to him.
"It's Kimberly," Evelyn said and Candace rose.
"It's time for the kids to go to bed," Candace said and Dawn looked up at Lucy.
"Will you tuck me in?" She asked and Lucy nodded.
Although she wanted to know what Kimberly was calling to say since she knew it had to do with the ultimatum which Desmond had given her, but she didn't want Dawn to hear any of it.
"Sure. Let's go," Lucy said as she took Dawn's hand and then kissed Jamal's temple.
"Good night, Jam," Lucy said as Candace took Jamal to his room.
Tom who didn't want to have anything to do with his father's conversation with Kimberly turned to leave with Lucy, but Harry stopped him.
"Tom, let's have a word before you go in," Harry said and Tom gave him a nod as they walked out of the Den together.
"Hello! This is Kimberly's mom," she said the moment Desmond received the call.
"Oh!" Desmond said as he waited to hear what she had to say.
"First of all, I want to apologize on my daughter's behalf for everything that has happened these past couple of days. Please forgive her," she pleaded.
"I have nothing against her. All I want is for her to come pick up her daughter…"
"Yes. That is the second reason I called. Dawn's governess will be coming to pick Dawn up tomorrow. She left here already so she should be there before noon tomorrow," Kimberly's mom said and Desmond frowned.
Why were they sending a governess over to pick Dawn instead of Kimberly?
"Why a governess? Is your husband still bent on not accepting Dawn?" Desmond asked curiously.
"I don't think you should concern yourself with our business. Thanks for taking care of her. Please she should be ready before her governess arrives," Kimberly's mom said and Desmond nodded.
"She doesn't have to leave tomorrow. She can leave on Monday after attending her father's funeral," Desmond said reasonably.
"There won't be any need for that. You do not acknowledge her as a part of your family. If you did, you wouldn't have made such a threat about sending her down alone…"
"And you consider her family when you allowed your daughter abandon her here with strangers?" Evelyn cut in since she was seated close enough to Desmond to hear the conversation.
"I won't exchange words with you. I have apologized for my daughter's behavior and all the mess she had caused. Thank you for having Dawn these past few days. Her governess will be there to get her tomorrow," Kimberly's mom said before hanging up.
"What was that about?" Jade asked curiously and Evelyn told them what Kimberly's mom had said.
"I should probably go let Lucy know that Dawn is leaving tomorrow," Sonia said as she excused herself from there.
Sonia stood by Dawn's half-open door, and watched as Lucy read Dawn a bedtime story.
"Lucy?" Dawn called, interrupting Lucy.
"Can I call her Lucy?" Dawn asked as she cuddled her stuffed panda.
Lucy giggled, "Why Lucy? Do we look alike?" Lucy joked and Dawn smiled.
"Because you are my best friend and I like your name. She will be my second best friend," Dawn said and Lucy smiled.
"Alright. That's fine. I know you must miss your mom. You might be going back soon," Lucy said, and Dawn nodded.
"Will you come to visit me?" Dawn asked hopefully.
"If I travel down there for any reason, I will definitely see you," Lucy promised and Dawn smiled.
"Can I visit you?" She asked sleepily.
"Sure, you can. Best friends should always keep in touch no matter what," Lucy said as she patted Dawn's hair, and Dawn smiled as she slowly drifted off to sleep.
Lucy remained where she sat, patting Dawn's hair and watching the kid as she slept, until Sonia cleared her throat.
"Feeling motherly towards her?" Sonia asked as Lucy turned to her.
"How long have you been standing there?" Lucy asked as she kept patting Dawn's hair.
"Long enough to know that you're cheating on me with a three years old," Sonia said and Lucy grinned.
"Good thing she is leaving soon. Her governess is coming to get her tomorrow," Sonia said and Lucy raised a brow but said nothing as she tucked Dawn in properly before walking out of the room with Sonia.
As much as she was glad that someone was coming down to pick the child, she wanted to know why Kimberly wasn't coming down herself.
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