Her eyes sparkled when she mentioned the snacks.


    "Is that so?” Shanley squeezed her fingers, a slight smile on his face, finally feeling at ease. "It''s not every day you meet a woman who loves snacks as much as you do."


    Oh, right. His mother, Miranda, was also a huge fan of all kinds of snacks. She and Juniper... were practically two peas in a pod. That meant they would definitely get along when they finally met. While other mothers- and daughters-inw discussed bags, shoes, and makeup, Juniper and his mother would be debating which snack tasted best.


    He chuckled at the thought. How amusing.


    "I''m going to take a shower," Juniper said, pushing Shanley away and heading upstairs.


    "Go ahead."


    Shanley remained in the living room, carefully inspecting the snacks in her bag. The dates were fresh, the packaging was intact, and the quality was excellent. They were safe to eat.


    “Dana, please put these away for Juniper," Shanley instructed.


    "Of course," Dana replied as she gathered the items. "Sir, Ms. Payne got into a fight at the bar. Shouldn''t you look into it?"


    "No need,” Shanley said, shaking his head. He picked up an apple and began peeling it methodically, a small smile ying on his lips. "Juniper doesn''t like people interfering in her affairs. She can handle something minor like this on her own.”


    "Very well." Hearing Shanley''s confidence, Dana felt reassured.


    ...


    After peeling the apple, Shanley picked up his phone and opened WhatsApp to his mother''s chat.


    By this time, she should be awake from her beauty sleep.


    Shanley: [Mom, do you and Dad have any ns after you get back on Monday?]


    Miranda: [?]


    Shanley: [I want you to meet your future daughter-inw.]


    Miranda: [I thought you were gay.]


    Shanley''s face darkened instantly at her reply. It was one thing for strangers to


    specte, but for his own parents to be so ridiculous?


    Shanley: [Your son''s sexual orientation is perfectly normal, okay?]


    Miranda was skeptical. [Really? Because if you''re lying and you break some poor


    girl''s heart, your father and I will break your legs.]


    Shanley: [It''s real. We''ve been together for almost a year.]


    Miranda stared at the message, lost in thought. If Shanley was straight, it meant he liked girls. In that case.. could the adorable Juniper officially be her daughter-inw?


    Miranda: [Shanley, do you like her a lot?]


    Shanley: [She''s the only one I''ll ever marry!]


    The only one he''ll ever marry? Miranda frowned. She''d never seen her son soresolute about anything in his entire life. The girl who had Captured his art must be truly exceptional. If they were genuinely in love, she would, of course, give them her blessing.


    Miranda: [Alright, we''ll meet her then.]


    After sending the message, Miranda quickly typed another one. [Shanley, there''s


    something you need to be prepared for.]


    Shanley: [?]


    Miranda: [In the near future, you might have a little sister.]


    A sister? Shanley was in the middle of sipping his coffee and nearly choked, his face


    a mask of disbelief.


    Was his mother pregnant? Seriously? At her age, what was she thinking?


    [Shanley, let me tell you...]


    Miranda''s fingers flew across the keyboard, ready to tell Shanley all about its wonderful "future sist


    before she could hit send her phone died.


    Oh well. Miranda sighed. It wasn''t a done deal yet anyway. It could wait until after


    she sessfully “adopted” her new daughter.


    Putting her phone down, Miranda drifted off into a blissful sleep.


    Poor Shanley, however, was so rattled by his mother''s "future sister" bombshell that


    he tossed and turned all night.


    Finally, Juniper couldn''t take it anymore. "If you move one more time, you''re sleeping on the couch!"


    "Juniper..." Shanley wrapped his arms around her, his voice weak and raspy. "I''m going to have a sister."