Mary. Kent's head was buzzing.

"But I've never heard of any of these things," she said, hearing a cacophony of voices bobbing back and forth between the cold glass and wood, "the doctor hasn't said it, and I haven't seen it in the magazine." "Her children don't have any problems at all! She never missed a check-up three months ago, four weeks after three months, two weeks after seven months, and once a week nine months later—breathing movements, muscle tone, fetal heartbeat, fetal movements, amniotic fluid volume...... Maybe some of the numbers aren't so good...... But it's just not as good as it could be!

"Not surprisingly, this is something that few people pay attention to in the first place, and as I said before, it must be taken in 'large doses'...... You really don't feel sick about anything? Streiff didn't seem to notice how rude her words were, he stood up, leaned forward slightly, his dark gray-blue eyes slightly downward, Mary reached out to cover her abdomen, but she could still feel the gaze passing through her palms, skin, fat, and muscles...... It pierced straight into her sub. Palace, that feeling of substance made Mary tremble, "It's rude," and seeing her unconsciously clinging to her chair, Steff blinked, "Alright, alright," he comforted softly, before he was still Anthony. When Dr. Hopkins was a doctor, he often spoke in this tone, and it was a tone that soothed the restlessness very well, like stroking the hand of a little rabbit, warmly, broadly, softly...... Gently stroked it: "Are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?" ”

"No!" Mary. Kent was startled, ashamed of the rudeness and irritability contained in this answer.

"Alright, it's all right, Mary, how about a black Maria (coffee, brandy, rum, syrup)?" We can ask him to add less wine and ice and more syrup. ”

Mary wanted to refuse, but the neat waiter had already taken Striff's orders. In just three to five minutes, the jet-black liquid was served, along with a free small piece of chocolate. "It's for Mom." The waiter said that his face had quite distinct Caucasian features.

"Italians love their mothers." Stryff made a gesture: "Drink, it will make you better." ”

***

Mary. Kent didn't make it to the hospital after all, and she stuffed her doubts and uneasiness into her stomach along with coffee and chocolate...... Maybe too much, her stomach became heavy and oppressive. Palace.

She tried with all her heart to forget everything she had just heard, but they were always mixed with ominous imaginations, and she couldn't help but think of the fennel, cinnamon, star anise, pepper, peppercorns...... and the appetizing delicacies that were concocted from them, and Anne, who was the first to provide her with this recipe...... She almost laughed at her thoughts, how could she think that Anne had a heart? Anne was only a child, a child not yet ten years old. It was only today that Kent learned that spices and spinach juice should not be on a pregnant woman's menu too often, and how could Anne know...... Even if she knew, why would she do that? It wouldn't do her any good at all to let herself abort, yes, Mary almost thought about it and didn't come up with a reason.

Anne would not do that, she knew that she was an adopted child, and that Mary and her husband would certainly raise her and take care of her, but they would never love her as they loved her own flesh and blood, it was an immutable fact, it was human nature and instinct; Not to mention that without a baby, they also have Dolores.

"Dolores is a good boy." Striff said, starting the car.

Mary was at first at a loss, but it dawned on her that she might have inadvertently uttered Dolores' name.

"It's strange," said the mother, who smiled reluctantly, "Mr. Humbert always complained that Dolores was too naughty to control, and that he preferred Anne." ”

"Anne is a good boy too," Stryff agreed, "and you are a wonderful mother, and you have raised two wonderful children." ”

"Thank you." Mary shook her head wearily, and her mood became better at the mention of her two daughters, "No, you can't say two, you see, Anne is not Dolores...... You should have seen Anne's resume, we adopted this little angel more than a year ago, she had very little to worry about, I couldn't teach her anything, she didn't need to, she could make her own bed, do personal hygiene, comb her braids, match clothes, do homework, and help me with a lot of household chores......"

"Ah, that's not what I mean." Streiff stopped at a red light, "I want to say that Anne's state of mind...... Very good. "You know, when an older child enters an adoptive family, he puts the best of himself, and everyone behaves the best for him, and everyone is in the same room, and there are no quarrels, no indifference and no cold reception – a veritable 'honeymoon period' built by both parties, very wonderful, isn't it?" But beware, this perfect and fragile glass paradise can instead become a kind of stress, and they will develop a sense of fear, they are afraid that they will break this beautiful thing...... They are terrified, cautious, trembling, and they don't trust others to allow them to make mistakes, fail, or show negative emotions such as melancholy, jealousy, hatred, etc...... Because of this, it is difficult for them to integrate into another family, school, community, and they are always out of place. ”

“…… I think I'm a little impressed with that. Mary said as the car started again, rubbing her temples, "I remember taking this course before applying to adopt Anne. She had almost forgotten that Anne was as quick and fluid as milk was to coffee.

Striff's little fingers tapped lightly on the steering wheel, beating a track in his head: "Yes, most of the older orphans who have been adopted have this problem, but as far as I can see, Anne doesn't. She acts like a real Kent child, and although she is very good at schoolwork and work, she can be coquettish, angry, proud, compete with Dolores, quarrel with her, and even play a little conspiracy or something...... If it weren't on her resume, I don't think anyone would have thought she would have been in Kent for less than a year. That's why I'm going to say, Mrs. Kent, you've done a great job with that, very well. ”

"Have a ...... What little conspiracy? Mary sighed, "Dolores is in trouble again?" ”

"It's just the kind of pet competition that kids usually have." Stryff replied lightly, "Speaking of which, Mrs. Kent, if you will, you might as well pay more attention to Dolores than Anne—she once complained to me that she suspected that you and Mr. Kent no longer loved her, and instead loved Anne. Kent too. ”

Mary's eyes widened in disbelief, "She said that?" After waiting for an affirmative answer, she pursed her lips in exasperation: "It's hopelessly stupid!" She commented.

"I'm her mother!"

***

Anne was reading in her room, not forgetting to hang one of her ears outside the window.

As the garage door rumbled up, she dropped her books, put on her shoes, and descended the stairs in a light and quiet manner. Kent, her adoptive mother was struggling to open the refrigerator, holding a carton of eggs in her other hand.

Anne ran over, her hands outstretched, silently expressing her desire to help.

Mary mouthed thank you, smiled, and handed the egg to Anne—she inadvertently touched the child's hand, which was hot and wet, and a sudden wave of nausea rushed down her throat.

Mary. Kent abruptly withdrew his hand.

The carton overturned, the eggs fell to the ground, shattered, and the apricot-colored embryos and watery nutrient solution slipped out of the pink eggshells and flowed everywhere.

(To be continued)