Chapter Text
Jennie's POV
"I do so like green eggs and ham! Thank you! Thank you, Sam I Am."
I finished the story I was telling to my sons.
"Again mommy, again." My eldest son Zachary said.
I smiled at him. "I already read it two times buddy, it's time to go to sleep." I said to him.
He whined with his lip poking out a bit. "But I don't want to go to sleep."
"I know that you don't but you have to." I said being firm with the little one.
"Mommy I don't want to go to sleep." He persisted.
Why must I always give in. "Okay Zach how about I put Skylar in his crib and I'll come back to read you one last story then you have to go to bed." I said, giving him his ultimatum.
"Okay." He said with a smile.
"Good, now tell your little brother goodnight." I said to him.
"Goodnight Sky, love you sweet dreams." He said giving his little brother a kiss on the forehead.
I smiled at the warm gesture. "Get into the bed Zach I will be right back." Zach jumps into his bed shaped like a racecar and gets under the covers.
I walked out of the room with Skylar on my hip and I walked to the kitchen to get his bottle.
If you didn't know already, I have two sons. My eldest is three and my youngest is nine months.
I am a single mom as of recently when I decided to leave my husband.
I stayed with him as long as I could for our boys but I didn't think it would be fair for them to see their mother so unhappy because I was.
My husband wasn't a bad man at all. I just needed more than what he could give me, because of his job I never saw him and I was so extremely lonely.
When we were first married and decided to start a family together he was always there. He made amazing money at his old job and I did really decent too with my job so we didn't need anything else.
When he was presented with another job that brought in a lot more money he jumped on it regardless of my protest.
He was gone so much that I was surprised when we managed to get pregnant a second time because we hardly had sex.
I wish things turned out differently because my sons deserve their parents together but they deserve parents that also had a healthy relationship which we didn't have.
After collecting Skylar's bottle I take him to his room and I walked over to his crib,
I looked down at my youngest and a smile played on my lips.
If I wasn't sure about anything I was sure that I loved my kids more than anything. They were all I needed right now.
"I love you Sky. I'll see you in the morning or most likely in the middle of the night when you wake me." I joked and kissed him on the forehead.
I placed him in his crib and I handed him his bottle which he took. I made sure his nightlight and monitor was on before walking out, closing the door behind me.
I made my way back to Zach's room to find him already asleep like I presumed he had a busy day. I knew he wouldn't be able to stay up long.
I walked over to his bed and leaned down; I ran my hand over his dark curly hair that stopped at his neck. I pulled the covers up on him and I kissed him gently on the forehead.
"I love you baby." I whispered
I turned on his dreamlite that decorated his room with stars before cutting off the light and leaving his room, closing the door behind me.
I was so exhausted it wasn't easy being the mother of two little ones. It took a toll on me on top of that I had a business to run.
So it was not easy being me but to say I didn't enjoy every minute I had with my sons would be a bold face lie and plus I gotta do what I loved I couldn't wish for anything more.
Well maybe someone I could share my day with someone that would hold me tightly at night, that's the one thing that I longed for.
I walked downstairs to clean up the living room where my children's toys were scattered.
I opened the toy chest and started putting toys in it. they managed to take everything out.
Toys cover nearly every inch of the floor.
I quietly put the toys in the chest trying not to make too much noise.
Once I was done I cleaned up the kitchen. It was always easier to clean when the boys were asleep so I took advantage.
When I was done I was about to go back upstairs when I heard a knock on my front door. It was ten at night and everyone I know knows my kids are asleep by now so they don't dare come over.
I looked through the peephole to see who it was and when I did I rolled my eyes, I opened the door reluctantly to see my children's father standing there.
He had that signature smirk on his face, the same one that I fell in love with but wasn't very fond of at the moment.
"What do you want, Kookie (Jungkook)?" I asked him.
"I want to see my sons." He said.
"They are sleeping Kookie, you need to call next time you want to see them." I said to him.
"I would but you know that my schedule is hectic. I never know when I'm going to be off." He explained.
"Kookie, I of all people know how hectic your schedule is." I said snidely.
He had a regretful look on his face. "I know Jennie, I'm sorry okay, can I come in? We can at least talk for a little bit." He says.
I relented. "Sure, come in, I'll make coffee." I stepped aside so that he could come in and he did and I shut the door and locked it.
We go into the kitchen and I made us coffee. Things between Kookie and I were civil. He understood why I didn't want to be with him anymore.
Although he didn't want to break up our family and he couldn't stand to see me unhappy so he agreed to the divorce.
I sipped on my coffee while Kookie looked at me. "So how are the boys, I feel like I haven't seen them in forever." He said.
He hasn't seen them in two weeks but who's counting. "They're great Zach asks about you a lot he really misses you." I said to him.
"Really? What about Sky, how's he doing?" He asked.
"He's trying to walk. He hasn't gotten there yet but any day now he'll have it down." I said smiling at my son's attempts to walk.
"I really hate that I'm missing it all." He admits.
"Well that's the choice you made Kookie there's no one to blame but yourself." I spit out I couldn't help it I don't understand why he would sacrifice being with his kids over a fucking job.
"I know Jennie; you made it abundantly clear how you feel okay. But it's not right to make me feel like shit for wanting to provide for my family." He said with a little anger but he never raises his voice.
"But at what cost, your children's life is going to flash before your eyes.
You're missing the most precious times in their life they want you now, but after a while it'll be too late. Zach remembers you because he's older but you're becoming a stranger to Skylar, he doesn't know you. So you tell me Kookie is your job fucking worth it."
I was getting angry now and tears fell from my eyes. My children deserved better than what he was giving them.
Kookie sat back in his chair and looked defeated. "All I ever wanted to do was make you happy, to give you anything your heart desired but I fucked all of that up. I'll try to do better Jennie. I promise you and my sons mean everything to me so I'm going to do better."
He promised but I didn't believe him since I’ve heard it all before.
"Yeah okay." I said plainly because I didn't want to fight anymore.
He moves his chair closer to me and he puts his hand up to my face wiping my tears away.
"I know you think I don't mean it because I know you inside and out, but I'm going to change Jennie I promise this time." He said sincerely, his eyes holding mine.
"Prove it to me okay don't just say it." I said to him.
"I will, I promise I love you Jennie still, and I love the sons that you gave to me." He said his eyes still holding mine strong.
"I know Kookie, and I love you too despite everything." I said truthfully.
Kookie un-expectantly places a tender kiss on my cheek and my breathing catches, his strong hand trails down my neck lightly causing me to shiver.
I haven't been touched in months so my body was responding to his touches without any permission from me.
My body welcomed the familiarity of his touch and it craves release so badly I needed release so badly.
Our eyes met again and his eyes darted down to my lips then back up to my eyes looking for permission and I gave it to him. He pulls me to him for a passionate kiss that we have shared time and time again. He pulls me up from his chair and lifts me off the ground, his strong arms holding me tightly. He takes me upstairs. Soon we landed on my bed and we ridded each other of our clothes.
Maybe it wasn't the wisest idea to sleep with my husband when our divorce could be finalized any day but I was lonely and he was here right now, and I needed this if just for one night.
Kookie collapsed on the bed beside me for the fourth time that night. I was beyond exhausted now. I turned from him to go to sleep and I felt his arms around me and his lips kissing my shoulders.
"Jennie, no one is ever going to compare to you." Jungkook whispers.
I bit my lip to keep tears from falling out of my eyes. This was a mistake.
"Kookie, can you go please?" I said to him my voice cracking a little.
I could feel him lifting his head to look at me, his hand caressing my arm. "Did I do something wrong baby?" He says.
"We shouldn't have done this Kookie, it was a mistake." I said.
"No it wasn't baby, I love you Jennie we are meant to be together can't you see that." I could tell he was getting emotional.
"That's the problem, I can't see that, I love you Kookie I really do but I'm not in-love with you anymore. All those nights I went to bed alone made me see that clearly, whatever we had together it isn't there anymore. I haven't felt it in a long time." I confessed.
I could feel him moving from beside me. "So what was this Jennie a pity fuck, you're not the only one feeling something right now."
He said his emotions scrambled in his voice
Tears ran down my face now. "I don't know what this was Jungkook but it can't happen again, I'm sorry for making this harder. I don't want any bad blood between us because we have children together and I will always have respect for you as my children's father but there can't be anything more between us." I said without once turning to look at him.
"You already know that I'd give you anything you want, this won't happen again. I love you Jennie and I always will." He said placing a kiss on my cheek and I felt one of his tears drop to my face.
The bed shifts as he gets out of it putting his clothes on. "Call me if you need me Jennie." He says before he leaves and the moment he left I broke down shedding every last one of my tears on my pillow.
I will always hold a certain amount of love for him because he's the father of my children but tonight I realized that I wasn't in-love with him anymore.
But I still cried for the loss of something that was once beautiful Jungkook and I could have had a wonderful life together but things don't always work out the way you want them to.
...
The next morning I didn't feel any better but I still got up to get ready for my day.
I got my sons ready and packed Zach's lunch and Sky's diaper bag.
Zach was sitting in his booster seat while Sky was in his highchair. Both of my boys loved fruits so that's what they ate for breakfast.
I finished what I was doing while they ate, in my rush I didn't notice an envelope sitting on the counter.
I picked it up to see Kookie's handwriting on it. I opened it and pulled out the paper.
He wrote me a note so he didn’t leave right away, so I started to read it.
'Jennie I'm sorry about last night things shouldn't have gone that far. The thought of hurting you anymore than I already have sickens me. Just so you know last night didn't change what I promised to you, I'm going to make an effort to be more involved in my kid's life. Tell them that I love them please and that I will see them soon. I left a check with you also the money I make it's for you guys anyway so you might as well have it. I love you Jennie forever, Kookie.'
He was a nice guy and I couldn't believe how lucky I got with him. This could have easily gone a different way but he's being good with everything and I was grateful for that. I pulled the check out of the envelope and my eyes stretched. Surely he didn't mean to write that much.
I decided I would talk to him about it later as it was more money than what I know what to do with.
"Mommy I'm all done." Zach said, grabbing my attention.
"Okay honey, do you want more?" I asked.
"No, I'm all full." He said.
"Okay." I walked over to him, helping him out of his seat. He ran to go play with his toys until it was time to go.
I grabbed his bowl and cup off the table and on the way to the sink I stepped on something, looking down I saw a bunch of fruit on the floor. I looked at my youngest who had a smile on his face with four little teeth showing.
"You love leaving a mess for mommy don't you?" I said to him and he laughed. I kiss him on the forehead and proceed to put Zach's bowl in the sink.
I grabbed the broom to sweep up Sky's mess. Once I was done, I took him out of his highchair, and grabbed all of our things so that we could leave.
"It's time to go, Zach." I said to the little guy and he followed me out towards my car and I locked up the house.
After putting them in the car I take the drive to Zach's daycare. I take him out of the car and he stands beside me while I take his brother out. I grabbed his backpack and we made our way towards the daycare.
I held Zach's little hand in mine leading him to the entrance. I opened the door and was immediately greeted by one of his teachers.
"Good morning Jennie, how are you?" Grace, one of the workers asked.
"I'm good, what about you?" I replied.
"Fine, thank you. How are you doing Zach?" She directed towards my son.
He hid behind my leg shyly. This was only his second week here and he still wasn't used to it. "I have to go now buddy I'll be back in a little bit to pick you up okay." I said to him.
"No mommy I don't want to stay here I want to go with you." He whined.
"It's going to be okay. They have cool toys you can play with and you can make new friends." I said.
"I don't wanna stay mommy please." He started crying now.
God that broke my heart he does this every time and it doesn't get better for me I cannot stand to see him upset.
I get down to his level balancing Sky on my thigh and he throws himself into my arms immediately. "Calm down baby, be a big boy for mommy." I said stroking his curly locks.
"It'll get better Jennie, I'll take him, he'll scream and holler at first but he'll be alright." Grace says.
I nodded my head then I kissed my son on the forehead. "I love you Zachary, I'll be back I promise."
I looked at Grace and she took that as a cue to get him. He held on tightly but she managed to pry him off of me.
"Mommy!" He screamed crying hysterically
I had to get out of there because I felt myself tearing up. I placed his bag down and I left with Skylar.
I felt a tear roll down my cheek and I wiped it away when will it easier.
I don't think I will ever get over my child crying after me, he'll be fine in a minute or so I told myself.
I put Skylar in his car seat then I drove us to my bakery where my mother will be picking him up.
I parked my car in the back and took the back entrance that led right to the kitchen; where one of my bakers and good friend Rose was preparing some pastries. "Good morning Rose." I said to her.
"Good morning Jennie, how's your morning going?" She asked.
"Okay, Zach had another fit when I left him at daycare this-morning." I said to her.
"He's still doing that?"
"Yeah and it's really hard. I might have to go back to my mom watching him because I don't know if I can handle it." I said honestly.
"He needs daycare Jannie that way when he starts school he'll be used to it, he's just really attached to you and he just really wants his mama. It'll get better, it's only been two weeks." She said reassuringly.
"Thanks Rose is Jisoo in the front." I asked her.
"Yeah and Sana should be here soon. We are really busy this morning." She said.
"Okay, I'll help as soon as my mom comes for Sky." I told her making my way to the front and we were indeed busy but Jisoo was doing well. "Hi Jisoo." I said.
"Hey Jennie, hi Skylar my little buddy." She said and he laughs.
I hear the little bell to the door and I see my mom walking in. I walk up to her with my baby boy. "Hi mom."
"Hi sweetie." She said giving me a kiss on the cheek.
"You don't know how much I appreciate you watching him for me." I said to her.
"Jennie it's no problem at all I love keeping my grandkids, I wish I was still watching Zach also." She stated.
"I already told you mom it was Jungkook and I's decision to put him in daycare, it was time." I said to her.
"Okay, go ahead and get to work, give me my grandbaby." She said grabbing for Sky.
"Wait, can I say bye first." I say handing her his diaper bag, I hold my son in front of me so that we were looking right at each other.
"Bye baby I love you, be good for your grandma okay. Give me kisses."
I said to him and he gave me a sloppy kiss on the lips, I run my hand over the curly hair identical to his brothers but just shorter.
"Okay mom here you go." I said handing over my youngest reluctantly.
"Make sure you put that diaper cream on his butt he has a bit of a diaper rash." I said to her.
"Okay, love you sweetheart see you later." She said heading towards the door.
"Love you too." I said walking back towards the kitchen.
...
Today was very hectic but it was always really busy. I jumped from the kitchen to the front all day. I really needed to hire a new baker.
It was starting to slow down at around three and I was finally able to sit for five seconds. I sat at one of the tables in the front of the shop. Jisoo, Sana and Rose joined me.
"How's being a single mom Jennie?" Jisoo asked.
"Well it's not a big difference because I always felt like a single mom Jungkook was never around." I said honestly.
"So the divorce is a sure thing, there's no salvaging it." Rose asked.
"No there isn't, it's over between us. The divorce should be finalized in a week or so." I said.
"You two have been together forever. I can't believe it's about to end." Sana said.
"I don't think things are really going to change. I mean he's still one of my closest friends. He gets me like no one else. I'm just not in-love with him anymore. I told him so last night." That last part slipped.
"Last night?" Jisoo inquired. "Did he actually come to see the boys?"
"He said he was but the boys were already in bed when he came." I said.
"So did you two talk?" Sana asked.
"Yeah a bit." I said not wanting them to know the extent of last night.
"You fucking hooked up with him." Jisoo blurted. I turned red.
"Jisoo geez tell the whole fucking world." I said sarcastically
"Jennie, why are you sleeping with Jungkook?" Sana asked.
"I had a momentary act of weakness, there was an itch that needed to be scratched and he was there but it isn't going to happen again. It really shouldn't have happened, feelings are still very high and it was a terrible mistake." I explained.
"As long as it doesn't happen again." Rose said.
"Yeah Jennie I know Jungkook is hot as fuck and all but you two are getting divorced, you can't scratch and sniff anymore." Sana said.
I just shook my head. They are insane.
"So how was the last time you will ever have sex with your husband?" Jisoo asked.
"Amazing, we did it about four times. He's always been great in bed." I said.
"Good so it wasn't awful you'll have something to remember him by." She said.
"You guys are insane." I said laughing at her comment.
"Moving on, Jennie I think I found you another baker her name is Lalisa Manoban but you can call her Lisa tho, We went to pastry school together. She just recently moved here and she's looking for a job. I told her to stop by so that she could speak with you." Jisoo relayed.
"Oh really that's great thanks Jisoo, do you know if she's any good?" I asked.
"She has a way with sweets; she blew all of our teachers away." She said.
"Well if she's as good as you say she is I can't wait to meet her." I said honestly, and relieved that I didn't have to go hunting for someone to work here.
I hear the bell ringing signaling customers. "Alright back to work." I said and we all got up from our seats to get back to it.
...
It was nearing the end of the day and Jisoo's friend hadn't shown up yet. I was in my office doing the books for the store, checking today's profit which was very good. The store was doing better than I ever imagined and I couldn't be happier about it.
There was a knock on my door and I saw Jisoo standing there with someone I hadn't seen before.
"Hey Jennie, this is my friend I was telling you about, Lisa." Jisoo said.
I smile at her. "Hi Lisa, I'm Jennie the owner of the bakery."
"It's really nice to meet you." She said with a genuine smile on her face.
"You too, so Jisoo tells me you want a job?" I asked.
"Yes I would love one!" She looked really excited.
"I have to go Jennie but I'll see you tomorrow." Jisoo said.
"Okay bye J" I said.
She walks off and I look at Lisa who was still standing in my doorway.
"Come in and sit, so that we can talk." She did as I said and she took a seat in front of my desk.
"So you went to school with Jisoo?" I asked.
"Yes I was the top of my class." She said.
"That's impressive Lisa, do you specialize in anything?"
"I have several things that I like to make but my specialty definitely has to be Cinnamon Buns." She answered.
I smiled at her then looked at the clock. "I have about an hour and a half. Do you think you can fix me your specialty."
I needed to see if she was good enough to work here.
"Sure that wouldn't be a problem." She said with an excited smile.
I led her to our top of the line kitchen and showed her where all of the ingredients are. I gave her an apron and I put one on as well. We washed our hands and got started. I decided to stay and help her.
"Do you need a recipe?" I asked her
"No, I know it by heart." She said.
We got started and she moved around the kitchen effortlessly and I helped her when she needed it but for the most part I watched her do her thing.
When the buns were in the oven she prepared a glaze for them then we just waited for them to be done.
"Clever name for the bakery by the way, 'Dulces'." Lisa says. I smiled.
"Thanks my grandma used to always call me that when she died I decided to call the store that, I mean it fits since it means sweets." I said to her.
"I really like it." She said.
"Thank you." She regards me kindly. "No problem, so do you bake as well or do you just run things?" She said attempting conversation.
"I do bake, like you I was the first of my class; I took business as well because I always knew I wanted my own store. So after I got married to my husband my father gave me the startup money to open this place, that was almost five years ago." I said.
"So you're married?" She asked.
"Yeah I am currently, but we're going through a divorce so I guess not for long." I answered.
"I didn't mean to be intrusive, that's really none of my business I just met you." She said apologetically.
I shake it off. "It's really okay Lisa, you seem like good people." I gave her a reassuring smile.
"You seem like a really nice person as well, Jennie." She said almost like she was afraid to say it.
"You say that because you just met me, you'll hate me like the rest of them soon enough." I joked.
She let out a genuine laugh and she had a really nice contagious laugh causing me to laugh as well.
"You can't be that bad." She says
"I guess it depends on whether my son decided to sleep the whole night or not."
"You have a son?" She asked.
"I have two actually, a three year old and a nine month old."
"I want kids someday, I just have to find the right person." She shared.
I smiled and looked at her. "You'll find them, there is someone for everyone."
"You really believe that?" She asked.
I thought about it. "I guess, I thought that my husband was forever but I was wrong.
He obviously wasn't the one for me. I'm grateful however for my children but I'm holding out hope for that person who was meant just for me."
She nods simply. "That makes sense there was a purpose for being with your husband and that was to have your sons."
"Yes they are everything to me and I'm really thankful to him for giving me my beautiful boys."
I had no idea how we even got on this subject but I was already so comfortable talking to her.
The kitchen became enveloped with the smell of her cinnamon buns. They smelt heavenly.
Lisa went to take them out of the oven and she put the glaze on them immediately and moved them to a cooling tray.
"So are you ready to send your taste buds on the ride of their life?" She said jokingly after they cooled off some.
I giggled. "Sure why not." I said.
She picks one up and puts it on a plate and hands it to me. I picked the large pastry up from the plate and I took a bite and swore this was the best thing I have ever tasted.
"Fuck that's good, you're fucking hired." I said not even finished with the first bite.
She looked excited. "Are you serious?" She said.
"Yes, this is like heaven."
"I told you Cinnamon Buns are my specialty." She said with a smirk.
"Well cinnamon buns are now my favorite."