Chapter 26
Jalen looked over at the twins to ensure they were okay as they bounced in the blow-up house. The park was filled with laughs and screams of joy, and Jalen was making sure that was exactly what it was when she heard a scream come from any direction.
Kodi was manning the photo area where kids could get their pictures taken in their costumes.
Vivian had a Polaroid camera she’d brought as a backup in case Mikal wanted to use hers to take pictures as she played.
About half an hour into the party, Landon started doing caricature drawings of a few people.
Trenton was supervising kids on the jump swing, ensuring they were strapped in correctly and taking turns. Vivian was manning the food table, serving the kids as they decided they wanted to eat. Maria was helping with an obstacle course that they’d rented.
Vega had also returned to town for the party and was helping.
Jalen had simply introduced him as a friend.
She hadn’t told her sisters, aside from Kodi, who knew he was her father, that he might be their father.
They planned on having the conversation the following evening at dinner, and she knew that he and Kodi were communicating.
Jalen and Rohan were moving about the park, monitoring all the kids that had been invited.
There was a turnout of fifteen kids from school along with Alynn, and Maria’s kids.
Some parents had stayed for a bit, stating they’d be back when the party was over, but then there were some that didn’t even try to pretend they weren’t getting a free babysitter.
Jalen hadn’t expected it to be much different.
They’d decided they would let the kids eat whenever they felt like it, but they would do the cake and gifts in the last forty-five minutes of the party.
That way, the kids had ample time to play, and if some didn’t want to eat, they didn’t have to and could play the entire time without having to wait on everyone else.
Mikal was doing a good job of playing the perfect little hostess and splitting her time evenly among the kids in attendance. They were an hour and a half in and had another hour for the kids to play before they would cut the cake and open presents.
Jalen went over to where Vivian was sitting. The older woman smiled at her when she saw her approaching.
“Hey, are you finally ready for some food?” Vivian questioned.
“I am. I think most of the kids have eaten at this point.”
She made herself a cheeseburger. They’d rented two separate warmers to keep the patties and wieners warm and another one for the cookies she’d made. Grabbing a bag of chips, she sat down beside Vivian and watched Mikal run over to Trent with a few kids behind her.
“I can’t thank you and Trent enough for helping.”
“It’s no problem at all. You don’t have to thank us,” Vivian responded.
“No, I do. I know this isn’t what you came for, but I appreciate it.”
Vivian rubbed Jalen’s arm comfortingly. “I’m more than happy to help whenever you need me to. Even if it’s just taking the girls for a few hours so you can rest.”
“Rohan’s been telling on me?” Jalen asked with a smile.
Vivian chuckled. “Not really, but you told on yourself with all the yawning you’ve been doing today, and you’ve got bags under your eyes.”
She laughed lightly. “I’m just having a hard time sleeping. That’s all. I have this weird feeling.”
Vivian turned her body to face Jalen on the bench they were seated on. “Weird how?”
“I guess unsettling is the best way to describe it.”
“You have midterms coming up, right?” Vivian asked. “Maybe you’re feeling a bit stressed about them.”
Jalen swallowed the bite she’d taken. “You may be right. I’m close to taking the next step in my career, so it’s exciting and stressful all at the same time.”
The two spoke for several minutes before Maria came over and joined them. Rohan had gone over to the obstacle course to give her a break. Maria made herself some food, and the three women talked about how much fun the kids were having.
Jalen had been grateful that the day was warm and, with them running around, none of the children would get cold.
When it was time for cake, all the children gathered around, and Rohan brought the cake over. They placed two number one candles in the middle with eleven small candles around them and sang happy birthday before Mikal blew the candles out.
She was cutting and handing out slices when a car pulling into the parking lot caught her attention.
They’d reserved the spot they were in, but it didn’t mean people couldn’t park in the area to walk the trail that started down the way.
So, she paid little attention to it. She was about to turn away when the person stepped out of the car, and Jalen momentarily forgot how to breathe.
She looked around quickly at her little sisters gathered for cake, and it seemed they hadn’t seen what she did. Jalen passed the plate in her hand to Rohan and mumbled she’d be back before taking off towards the newcomer. She wanted to meet them well before they got to the party group.
“You need to leave.” Were the first words that came out of her mouth.
“Hello to you too, Jalen.”
“Leave,” Jalen repeated.
“Now, why would I do that? I’m here to celebrate my daughter’s birthday with her like a good parent.”
Jalen gritted her teeth. “The same parent who missed every single one of your daughters’ birthdays last year?”
“I was busy. I’m starting the year off fresh,” Valerie responded with a smile.
“No.” She shook her head. “You need to leave, because every time you come around, when you disappear, I’m left to pick up the pieces. I will not let you do that to them again. You disappeared for more than a year. Stay gone.”
“Jalen, that’s no way for a child to speak to their mother,” Valerie chastised, and Jalen folded her arms over her chest.
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had one of those,” she shot back.
She saw the exact moment that Valerie dropped the facade Jalen hadn’t been buying and had stopped doing so when she was a child.
“I was hoping we could sit down and discuss this like two mature adults, but since you want to make that impossible, I guess I’ll tell you now. I’ve come to get my girls.”
“What?” Jalen asked in confusion.
“You know I don’t enjoy repeating myself. I appreciate you watching them for me while I found myself, but I’ll be taking them.”
“You are not doing that,” Jalen told her. “I wasn’t watching them while you found yourself. I’ve been raising them for years.”
“Look,” Valerie started. “I recently got married, and my new husband wants children. I would prefer not to push out another one of those...lovely little humans, and why should I have to when I have five I can take home?”
Jalen gritted her teeth. “They aren’t puppies. You can’t just come around when you feel like it. Get them when you decide you’re ready to be a parent. It’s not happening. Besides, I did this the right way. I have legal custody.”
Valerie smirked at Jalen. “And I’m their biological mother. A court’s goal is always to reunite with the biological parent.”
Jalen felt her anger rise. She was always pissed off when she saw her egg donor.
Especially because she popped up at the most inopportune times.
She always left her younger sisters shattered when she disappeared again.
Aside from Kodi, who, like Jalen, had gotten used to it and the disappointment had turned to relief over the years whenever she left.
“A court will look at your absentee parenting style and rule against you.”
“I know you’d like to believe that, but they’ll give me my kids back.”
“Those are my kids!” Jalen told her before lowering her voice. “They’re my kids. I’ve raised them, taken care of them. I’ve been there at every milestone. It will be a cold day in hell before I let you have them.”
“You’re right,” Valerie responded. “Kodi and Landon are a bit old for the family I’m wanting to form for my husband. On top of that, they’re at the age where they can choose where they want to stay. Mikal and the twins, however, are not.” Valerie smiled, and Jalen’s heart sank into her stomach.
“You can’t do that.”
“I can because I have a wealthy man who loves me and wants me to be happy and will get me the best lawyer money can buy to do so.”
“So does she.” Jalen heard, and a second later Rohan stepped beside her. “And I don’t take well to her being threatened. Mother or not, I’d be careful if I were you.”
“You should leave, Valerie.” Jalen glanced to her left as Vega arrived.
“Vega, what are you doing here?” Valerie asked in surprise.
“I’m celebrating my potential child’s birthday,” he told her. “I’m trying to be the parent you never allowed me the chance to be.”
“None of the girls are yours,” Valerie lied.
Vega chuckled. “I’ll let you live in that delusion, but you should know, if you pursue this, if you try to take Jalen to court, you’ll be fighting us both. So, I suggest you leave...now.”
She watched as Valerie glared at Vega before turning and going back to her vehicle, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll see you later.”
“Don’t let her get to you,” Vega stated, placing his hand on her shoulder. “You know how she is.” With that, he walked away, leaving her and Rohan alone.
Rohan pulled her into his arms, and she wrapped hers around his waist, breathing in the scent of his cologne. She felt drained. She always did when dealing with her egg donor. Jalen didn’t even know how Valerie knew where they were.
“You’re shaking, baby,” Rohan said.
“She just has this effect. She puts me in a place I never want to be, but I always end up there.” She paused. “You…heard everything she said before you came up, right?”
“I did, and in case you were wondering. I love you, Jalen.”
She felt as if butterflies had taken flight in her stomach, and her heartbeat picked up. “I love you too.”