Instant Parents with My Enemy

Chapter 07

Jasmine's POV

We could have continued arguing for another hour—probably five—without ever resolving. But the cheerful sound of a cartoon playing downstairs suddenly sliced through the heavy tension, reminding us both that we weren't alone.

I huffed loudly, throwing my hands up, and turned away from him toward the closet.

“Whatever,” I muttered under my breath.

I grabbed a handful of my clothes from the suitcase and started violently shoving them onto the empty clothes hangers, slamming each plastic loop onto the metal bar much harder than necessary.

Behind me, I heard Nate mutter something soft under his breath.

“What?” I barked, turning my head slightly without stopping my hands.

“I said you're going to break the closet.”

“Good!” I snapped, hanging another top with an aggressive clack.

He let out a low chuckle, his tense posture relaxing just a fraction. “You're such a brat.”

I spun around on my heel, pointing a wooden hanger directly at his chest. “And you're a grown man who argues over pillows with a woman!”

He stared at me for a beat, processing the sentence, before nodding slowly. “Fair point.”

I blinked, momentarily stunned into silence. Was that... an actual admission of guilt from Nate Davis?

Before I could formulate a witty comeback, he scooped up his bag and walked smoothly toward the hallway.

“Enjoy the couch, then,” he called out over his shoulder, his tone dripping with mock sweetness.

I smiled bitterly, calling back after his retreating figure. “Enjoy your terrible life decisions!”

He stopped at the doorway, turning his head back to throw a killer grin over his shoulder. “See you tonight, princess.”

I glared, my voice dropping an octave. “Go to hell, Davis.”

“After you, Jones,” he winked, finally disappearing down the hall.

I stood there alone for a long moment, staring blankly at the empty doorway, my chest heaving.

Three years.

I was going to have to live with this insufferable man for three whole years. I wasn't sure whether to burst into tears or burst out laughing.

Probably both.

After ten solid minutes of aggressive unpacking, I finally finished organizing my clothes and marched downstairs. The moment I stepped into the bright living room, the tight knot in my chest loosened.

Keith and Kitty were curled up together on the soft rug, happily engrossed in an animated movie with a giant bowl of buttery popcorn resting between them.

My posture softened instantly, all my anger evaporating into thin air.

I walked over, sat down beside them on the floor, and pulled both of my godchildren tightly against my sides.

“Hey, babies,” I murmured, kissing the tops of their heads.

Kitty blinked up at me, her big brown eyes shining. “Where's Papa Nate?”

I glanced toward the staircase with an exasperated sigh. “Probably fighting with the closet doors.”

Keith let out a tiny giggle, covering his mouth with a popcorn-dusted hand. “Why?”

“Because he's inherently annoying, baby,” I answered plainly.

From somewhere directly upstairs, Nate's deep voice boomed through the wooden ceiling planks.

“I HEARD THAT!”

I bit my lower lip hard to suppress the sudden urge to burst out laughing.

Kitty looked up at me with absolute innocence, her brow furrowed slightly. “Mama Jas, are you and Papa fighting again?”

I looked down at her tiny, worried face. Then I looked up toward the ceiling. Then I looked back down at her.

“No, baby,” I lied smoothly, smoothing down her messy pigtails.

A short pause filled the room.

“We're just... talking loudly,” I clarified softly.

From the top of the stairs, Nate's immediate shouting response echoed down the hallway.

“We're not talking!”

I threw my head back and shouted toward the stairs at the top of my lungs.

“Then stop listening!”

“I LIVE HERE!” he yelled back instantly.

“SO DO I!” I screamed right back.

Keith immediately covered both of his ears with his tiny hands, while Kitty erupted into a fit of adorable, breathless giggling.

And despite everything, the fresh grief, the terrifying responsibility, and the overwhelming uncertainty of our future, her bright laughter filled every quiet corner of the house.

For a brief moment, a real, genuine smile touched my lips.

Maybe this co-parenting arrangement was going to be completely impossible. Maybe spending three long years with Nate Davis under the same roof would drive me entirely out of my mind.

But if it meant keeping these two little angels safe, happy, and loved… I supposed I could survive him.

Probably.

***

Nate ended up leaving shortly after finishing unpacking his clothes, after receiving an urgent call from his office. I didn't bother asking what happened.

For once, I wasn't interested in prying into his work life. Besides, I had already cleared my schedule for the entire day. I'd instructed my secretary to handle all my pending tasks and reschedule anything that required my personal attention.

I figured I had bigger things to worry about now. Like figuring out how to keep two four-year-olds alive.

“Are you going to spend the whole day with us, Mama Jas?” Kitty asked while we cleaned the kitchen.

I looked over my shoulder at her.

“Yes, Kitty.”

Her entire face immediately brightened.

“Really?”

“Really.”

“Yay!”

She threw her little arms into the air before grabbing the cloth again and continuing to wipe the table. Even Keith, who had been quietly helping me wipe the floor, looked up with a small smile.

“It feels so nice to be home again,” Kitty murmured happily.

I paused.

Home.

That one word tugged painfully at my heart. This was their home.

The place where they'd grown up with their parents. Where Karen probably chased them around the living room. Where Jerry taught Keith how to kick a ball. Where countless birthday mornings and bedtime stories had happened.

And now…

Their parents were no longer here.

I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced myself to smile.

“Of course it does, baby.”

We continued cleaning. I couldn't just sit around and do nothing when the entire house looked like it had been frozen in time since the accident.

There were toys scattered across the living room, dishes left in the sink, laundry that needed to be sorted, and dust gathering in places no one had bothered to clean.

The refrigerator was an entirely different disaster. I opened it and immediately regretted it. Some of the food had already spoiled, and the smell nearly knocked me backward.

“Oh, God.”

I quickly grabbed a trash bag.

“What's wrong, Mama?” Keith asked.

“Nothing, baby. Just... a science experiment in the refrigerator.”

Kitty giggled. I threw out everything that had gone bad, wiped down the shelves, organized the pantry, and made a mental list of everything we needed.

“Mama?”

I looked down. Kitty was staring up at me.

“Yes?”

“You know how to cook, right?”

I froze. Of all the questions she could have asked… I slowly put down the sponge.

“Of course I know how to cook.”

Keith raised an eyebrow. I pointed at him.

“Don't look at me like that.”

He giggled. I sighed.

“Okay. I know how to cook some things.”

“How many things?” Kitty asked.

I thought about it.

“Eggs.”

Keith giggled.

“That's one.”

“Pasta.”

“Two.”

“Salad.”

Kitty tilted her head.

“That's not cooking.”

I gasped dramatically. “Excuse me? I can cook.”

She giggled. “Can you make pancakes?”

I immediately relaxed.

Finally. Something I could handle.

“Of course.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Promise?”

I smiled and reached over to gently pinch her chubby cheek.

“I promise, baby. I'll make you the best pancakes tomorrow morning.”

Kitty squealed. “Yay!”

She hugged my waist. I laughed softly and wrapped an arm around her.

“Then we'll have to go grocery shopping later.”

“Can we come?”

“Of course.”

“Can we buy chocolate?” Kitty suggested happily.

I looked at her. “Maybe.”

“Strawberries?”

“Maybe.”

“Cookies?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Definitely not.”

She pouted. “But, Mama...”

“No.”

“Please?”

Her eyes were like begging for me to say yes.

“No.”

“Pretty please?”

I sighed. “Fine. One box.”

She immediately cheered. Keith laughed beside us. I shook my head.

“You two are going to be the death of me.”

But as I watched them laugh, something warm settled in my chest. For the first time since Karen's death, the house didn't feel quite as empty.

Maybe I wasn't ready to be their mother. Maybe I didn't even know how. But as Kitty held onto my hand and Keith quietly followed beside us, I realized something terrifying.

I was already beginning to think like one.