Chapter 4
Seth was frozen in shock for a long time.
His hands trembled as he lifted Luke into his arms.
[Daddy.] It was Luke's thoughts.
Even though he couldn't talk yet, deep down, he knew Seth was his dad.
I leaned against the doorframe, staying silent.
Seth stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, holding Luke close. His figure was as steady as a mountain.
At that moment, he didn't seem like a ruthless businessman at all.
He was a father, finally able to embrace his child.
At the end of the month, a group of guests arrived at the Turner residence.
Betty's birthday banquet was held at home.
I was supposed to stay upstairs with Luke, but Betty said, "Why don't you carry Luke down? Let everyone see what he looks like now."
I carried Luke downstairs.
The living room was filled with over twenty people, men and women alike, all dressed to the nines and dripping in jewelry, clearly from high society.
"Oh, this is Luke? He's gotten so big!"
"Didn't they say he was always crying? He seems like a good kid."
Luke nestled in my arms, his big eyes scanning the room, taking in all the unfamiliar faces.
[There are so many people. I'm a little scared, but with you here, I'm not scared.]
I gently patted him.
Fiona stepped out from the crowd.
She wore a wine-red evening gown, and her diamond necklace sparkled under the lights, almost blinding.
Walking beside her was a woman in her early thirties, dressed in professional attire with gold-rimmed glasses, her expression aloof and indifferent.
"Mrs. Turner, this is Jenna, the baby expert I mentioned. She's a certified childcare consultant from Amroka and has been working in Losvagios for six years," Fiona said.
Betty looked a bit embarrassed. "Fiona, didn't I tell you? Luke is..."
"I know, but Jenna is a pro. Maybe she could check Luke out and give him an evaluation," Fiona suggested.
She smiled with perfect manners.
"Just in case there are any hidden issues. After all, the person looking after Luke is just a high school graduate," Fiona added.
She didn't raise her voice, but everyone in the room caught what she said.
The women's eyes shifted to me.
I wore a simple cotton shirt and jeans. Standing among them, I felt like a plain stone tossed into a jewelry box.
Jenna May adjusted her glasses. "Hello, I'm Jenna May."
"Hello," I replied.
"So, you only finished high school?" Jenna asked, her tone flat.
"Yeah," I answered, keeping my voice steady.
"No credentials or certifications at all?" she continued, not bothering to hide her doubt.
"No," I admitted.
She shook her head slightly.
"With all due respect, for a family like the Turners, letting someone with no professional qualifications take care of a baby is irresponsible," Jenna said.
Some people in the room nodded in agreement.
"A baby's growth and development cover nutrition, psychology, sensory training, early education... all of which need real expertise," Jenna said, her tone matter-of-fact.
She looked at Luke in my arms.
"Can I take a look at the baby?" she asked.
I glanced at Betty.
Betty nodded hesitantly.
I handed Luke over to Jenna.
The moment Jenna took Luke in her arms, his whole body went rigid.
[No, I don't like this. I want to go back. I want Hailey.]
But he didn't cry.
He was learning to endure it.
An eight-month-old baby, he was already learning to endure.
My heart ached a little.
Jenna set Luke down on the sofa and checked him over with practiced hands.
"Well, he's a bit underweight, muscle tone's average, and he follows things with his eyes well," she said, sounding all business.
She glanced through her notes. "I recommend setting up a full sensory integration training plan, three times a day, plus imported DHA supplements..."
"He doesn't need DHA supplements," I cut in.
Jenna paused, a little taken aback. "What did you say?"
"His formula has enough DHA in it. If you add more, it'll make his liver work harder," I said.
"I'm following the Amrokan Academy of Pediatrics guidelines..." Jenna started.
"Those guidelines are for formulas with less than 0.32% DHA. The hydrolyzed protein formula the Turners are using now has 0.36% DHA," I said.
Jenna's expression shifted. "How do you know that?"
"It's right there on the can," I replied.
Someone stifled a laugh.
Jenna's face turned a bit red. "That's a little detail. But for a baby's early development, what matters is a comprehensive approach..."
"Let me ask you a question," I interrupted her.
"Have you noticed that Luke's left hand has been clenched the whole time?" I asked.
Jenna glanced down.
Luke's left hand was indeed clenched tight.
"That's the normal grasp reflex," Jenna explained.
"No, that's not it. The grasp reflex usually fades by four months. If he's still clenching his hand like this at eight months, it means he's nervous," I said.
I walked over and pulled Luke back into my arms.
Then I gently tapped the center of his left palm with my index finger.
Luke slowly relaxed his grip and let his hand open.
Luke: [You're back. You're back.]