365 The Wise Woman (Winona)
Hugo hesitates, but under the weight of everyone''s expectations, he finally sits down, the beer still in hand. He takes a sip, and I swear I see him wince. He swallows like it has razor des in it.
The whole scene isical-Hugo, ever the formal assistant, sitting here with us, trying to look like this isn''t the most ufortable situation he''s been in.
Everyone else raises their sses and goes back to their conversations. I separate a little from the women and stay close to Jayden for now.
Jayden chuckles softly. "Now that you''re settled, how are the nsing along for the wee party i promised Abby and Winona?"
Hugo stiffens again, clearing his throat. "The wee party, monsieur?"
Jayden raises an eyebrow. "You do remember the family party I promised Abby over the phone at my wee dinner, right? I asked you to look into organizing it."
Hugo''s face pales slightly. "... may have overlooked that particr detail. There were pressing matters. concerning the London sector that demanded attention."
Jayden''s expression hardens, though his tone remains calm. "Well, let me be clear, Hugo. That party is happening, and I expect you to make it a priority. It''s important to Abby-and to me." Hugo nods stiffly. "I''ll see to it right away."
Satisfied, Jayden turns back to the grill, flipping another batch of burgers. "Good. Now rx, Hugo. You''re among friends. Viktor, get him another beer. Actually no, he''ll just waste it. What do you drink, Hugo?" "Champagne, but no matter. I finish the beer."
"I have some Champagne in the other cooler."
"Thanks, Viktor," Jayden says.
One of the chefs stands up, raising his ss.
"To the Brennan family," he says in thickly ented English, "for bringing us all together like this. To Mr. Brennan, for showing ''ow to correctly flip ''otdog. Now, my training..plete. Merci beaucoup." Everyoneughs and joins in the toast. Thedies I''m now seated with all raise their sses to me and the kids are being hugged and kissed on both cheeks by anyone they go close too. I watch Bobby wiping his cheeks andugh.
A few of the older women approach me, their faces warm and friendly as they gesture to the kids running around.
Viktor steps in, his deep voice tranting effortlessly. They''re saying how nice it is to see the children ying. They all have raised kids at home and are happy to see a family here finally."
One of them, very much older, steps forward andys a hand on my abdomen and smiles. Okay, that is a bit weird. I step back and she nods and steps away. The others all start chatting about their families. 365 The Wise Woman
I smile, feeling a connection with them that goes beyond words. "Tell them thank you," I say, my voice. soft. "We''re grateful for everything they do here as working moms."
Viktor rys the message, and the women beam.
"Do most of the local schools teach in multiplenguages?" I ask, curious now.
Viktor trantes, and the women all nod. One of the younger staff members chimes in, her English more fluent. "Yes, some schools here teach in French, Dutch, Flemish, and also English."
"Really? I''ve been worried about the kids adjusting, especially with thenguage barrier. But if there are schools that use English..."
The woman smiles. "There are. And even if not, children learn fast. They pick upnguages quickly when they''re surrounded by them."
I nod. "Alright. I''ll check some out. We can use tutors as some extra help too."
As the conversation flows, I''m struck by how different this moment feelspared to earlier in the day. At Nexus Global, I felt like an outsider, trying to navigate a world that didn''t fit. But here, surrounded by the staff, talking about family and kids and life, I feel connected.
I move away from the group to take it all in. Sipping my soda.
I feel a presence beside me. It''s the older woman again. My heart pounds faster. There''s just something about her that gives me the heebie jeebies.
She touches my arm and speaks in Flemish. Nodding and looking serious. I have no clue what she''s saying, and I feel a little unsafe right now.
As if by magic, Viktor is beside us. "Everything okay?"
"I feel silly, Viktor but she just makes me uneasy. Who is she?"
The woman doesn''t move away, she''s just staring at me with her dark eyes.
Viktor speaks Flemish to her. She answers.
"She asks if her daughter cane to trante for you?"
"Yes, I mean, I guess. If she has something to say to me."
"She means you no harm. She''s De Wijze Vrouw. A wise woman. They see things, like, the future. So, they
say.
"Wow. I mean, that is a little freaky."
"She means well. Her daughter you were talking with earlier, about the cow I believe. I''ll go get her."
"Okay."
I nce at the older woman, her face is etched with lines and her eyes are still locked on me. Boy, this is spooky. Her daughter arrives and she kisses her mother. The older woman speaks. "She say, she no mean to scare you."
365 The Wise Woman
"It''s okay. It''s been a long day."
The woman reaches out and touches my abdomen again. I meet her eyes. She says something in Flemish
again.
"Mrs. Brennan, Mama say your baby is safe."
I look over and see Jayden holding Henry and all the men acting like big softies over him.
"Yes, yes he is. Henry is doing so well."
"Non, non. This one, in here." The daughter touches my belly. "Your secret is our secret."
"Oh, no. That''s not possible. I can''t have more babies." I say with a smile.
The woman speaks again.
Her daughter says, "Mama says."
"Your mother is wrong."
The womanughs. "Mama is never wrong about this. She''s De Wijze Vrouw. Wise woman.
"Like a... a witch?" I stammer.
Then the older woman smiles and walks away into the darkness like she hasn''t just put my world off its axis.N?velDrama.Org holds this content.
Her daughter touches my arm and goes back to the group.
It''s just not possible. No way am I pregnant.
366 I Can''t Be Pregnant!