Kapitel 441: Happiness that you deserve!

Upon the little girls persistent appeal, Giselle, Melissa, Isobel, and Jolina all took their daughters to the nearby Ice cream parlor, Sundaes & Cones. This hotspot delivers delicious flavors of ice creams that come in soft serves and exclusive sundaes. Located at a walkable distance from the Edwin Harris Elementary School, this noted ice cream outlet is known to attract the kids and the family crowd. Frequently, the parents drop by with their kids to have a treat or celebrate a victory, or even just to hang out as a family together.

Reaching the destination, the girls all shared an excitement altogether. They couldn't contain themselves as the four little girls rushed upon opening the door to the land of deliciousness. As soon as they entered, they all eyed at their moms desperately, signaling them to hurry up.

While the kids got their soft cones served with each different flavor, the moms decided to get one for themselves. Together, the kids chose a table, and the parents settled next to them.

"They just need any excuse to get what they want, right?" Isobel remarked with a chuckle. The bright eyes of the little girls warmed their mothers as they admired the joyful moment.

"Well, it's just an ice cream!" Melissa teased.

"Not for them. Still, it's not even Spring yet."

Isobel couldn't help but worry as her daughter Stephanie was prone to catching a cold easily.

"Oh, Isobel, you're worrying too much. She can have ice cream once in a while. Just relax and eat your butterscotch. It's really divine."

Despite Melissa's consoling, Isobel continued to look concerned until Jessica's mom pointed her out the last time Stephanie had a treat. Since the little girl is known to catch a cold easily, Isobel strictly prohibited frozen treats at home. Even if they go out, Stephanie is rarely given a choice to get ice cream.

"Look at how happy she is! She's a little girl, Isobel! Let her have an ice cream today," Giselle added to end the mother's worries.

"Well, it's a rare occasion, so let's just have fun!" Melissa declared to put an end at last.

Together, they've agreed to go along with the kids, just for today. Melissa's reference to Lia's suspension as a rare occasion became a topic for the ladies to discuss.

"We heard about it, Giselle!" Isobel addressed.

"Oh-" Giselle gaped, speechless as to what to say to them.

"Well, it's not Lia's fault. People have connections with big names. Even if Giselle's relationship with Lillian isn't what they gossip about, it doesn't give the right to bully someone," Jolina candidly reasoned her view on the subject.

"Let alone a kid!"

Over time, the ladies kept pointing out how Giselle and Lillian's relationship wasn't true to what everyone kept whispering about. Giselle hoped that these people would have at least given her the benefit of the doubt. However, seeing the ongoing misunderstanding, Giselle didn't wish to stir new trouble within this circle. It was better to tell them honestly and be direct about it.

"But it's true!" Giselle admitted out of nowhere.

"What?"

"It's true! Me and Lillian. We live together now. Actually, I moved in with her before leaving for the book tour. That's why she was in charge of taking care of Lia."

Shocked, the three pairs of eyes stared at each other and then at Giselle.

"Is it true that you are in a romantic relationship with Lillian Grey?" Isobel asked again in awe to confirm.

"Yes. On that same note, I'll admit that I'm a lesbian! I don't want you guys to get confused or think that I lied."

"You're gay, Giselle?" Melissa openly confronted.

"Yeah, no matter how many times you ask me, the answer will be the same!" Giselle chuckled.

Giselle admitted the truth in public, and she didn't even feel a moment of guilt from it. Moreover, she was being honest with herself, and that didn't let her take pity on herself for being so-called different from society's standards.

There was a moment of silence to digest the news, but soon, the silence broke to cheers of joy. The ladies were surprised to hear that Giselle was in a relationship. Besides, they never really judged her being gay since it wasn't their right to do so.

"That calls for a celebration! Kids, go- get another ice cream. It's my treat! Oh- but only one, no more than that," Melissa precisely declared, triggering another round of enthusiasm from the kids.

"Woah, really?" Andy burst into a bubble of excitement.

"Stephanie, you shouldn't have more."

"Isobel!" Jolina called out.

"What, she already had one."

"So, you want her to sit alone when others are enjoying their ice cream."

"But-"

Meanwhile, Lia volunteered to request if she could share her second treat with Stephanie since the little girl admitted not being able to finish another ice cream by herself. Isobel took long to consider while the others forced her to give up. Eventually, upon peer pressure, Isobel agreed to Lia's request and asked her to share it with her daughter. That way, she could at least be at ease.

"Why don't you share with Jessica, Andy?" Melissa invited her daughter.

"But- mom, I can easily finish another ice cream by myself."

Melissa dubiously stared at her daughter before looking at Jessica for her opinion on this idea.

Jessica knew she had two people with different opinions peering for her attention.

"I- I have no problem having one more!"

Melissa gave up on the thought and asked the kids to get another serving of their choice.

Andy and Jessica went to get a second serve of the same flavors they had before. The two had already picked their favorite ones; Andy chose strawberry, and Jessica went with classic vanilla and chocolate together. Meanwhile, Lia was willing to let Stephanie choose since she didn't mind going along with her pick. Stephanie had no idea what to choose from the display.

Being a rare visitor of the Ice cream parlor, Stephanie stood clueless, staring at the variety of tubs displayed in her sight. She quickly admitted her lack of preference and asked Lia to decide. Andy and Jessica counseled them to try their favorites, but Lia refused to suggest that they could use this chance to test out something new.

Lia looked keenly into the glass box and pronounced a few names that she found interesting.

"Coconut?"

"Hmm…."

"How about Lavender and Peach?"

"I'm not sure if we could enjoy it since we don't know how it would taste together."

"Hmm….. then, how about- what's this called… Kulfi?" Lia paused to ask the nice lady.

"What is Ku- Kulfi?"

"Oh, that's like a frozen custard with nuts and fruits. Right now, we only have pistachio and strawberry flavors. Would you like to pick that one?"

Lia glanced at Stephanie for her approval, but having heard that it's a frozen custard type of ice cream, she wasn't sure if she could handle it, especially under her mom's radar.

"So, that's a no," Lia replied to return going through the display, and soon to her spark, she found one which could please the two. She signaled the lady at the counter again to place her order.

"Lia, what did you choose?" Stephanie asked.

"Peanut butter and Jelly flavor!" Lia replied in confidence. She knew she picked it right since Stephanie's face revealed a lot of interest. By the time Lia chose hers, the ladies had arrived to place their orders. Unlike the kids, the women agreed to get sundaes, and all had quickly picked their flavor pairings.

Andy and Jessica seemed a little envious when they heard Lia picked a new flavor. Andy begged her to share some, but Lia refused. The girls playfully bickered and ate their second round of ice cream.

Isobel called out to Melissa for spoiling the kids, especially hers. Now that Lia was willing to share with Stephanie, there seemed to be no problem anymore, and that gave Melissa a solid defense to convince the anxious mother. Besides, the motive was purely for the sake of celebrating Giselle and her love, not the kids. The kids deserved the first round, and that was it.

"She is in a relationship now. How long we had wanted to tell her to go on blind dates! Thankfully, you informed us, or we would have introduced some of our male friends to you," Melissa disclosed.

As soon as she did, Isobel and Jolina gave her a nasty glare for blowing their cover shamelessly.

"What? I'm being honest. Didn't we have such a plan?" Melissa retorted.

Since the three ladies had a mute staring contest, Giselle had to step in to resolve the unsettling dispute. She appreciated their intent and admitted how she was already happy right now.

Whenever Giselle said she was fine, it still somehow looked like she was holding on to the frail thread of hope. And that's how these three assumed it would be good for her to have a support system in her life. Seeing her radiate such a glow, the ladies felt relieved. They may not know all the necessary details, but just from looking at her face and that beaming smile, their worries were put to rest.

"Does Lia know all this?" Jolina asked out of interest.

"Surprisingly, she knows about her mother being a lesbian."

The ladies sure looked surprised, but they couldn't verbally express it, which pushed Giselle to make an effort to explain herself clearly.

"I was surprised myself to see how she could understand just like that. But, I- Her father is a good man, and he helped me. Actually, he was the one who sat down with her and explained everything about me. I was still a coward. In the past, I would rather run away than face things boldly."

"No, Giselle, you are not a coward. You raised a child, and Lia turned out to be such a sweet girl. Call it a weakling or not, but I think you proved that you're strong already."

The heartfelt words touched her sentimentally. The comfort it gave was enough, and Giselle simply smiled in return. Just as Giselle was getting comforted by her gal pals, Lia approached to ask if she could buy some ice cream for Lillian Grey.

Everyone was shocked to see Lia casually talk about Lillian.

"It will melt, right? We can buy some later," Giselle replied to send her back.

Lia pouted as she returned to join her friends.

"Looks like she already accepted your girlfriend? Giselle?"

"They've become close, especially these few weeks, so that makes me really happy."

"Oooh, someone is blushing," Isobel noticed the glee in Giselle's face.

"We need pictures."

"Ladies, calm down, Giselle. Now that we know that it's true, I think we owe you an apology."

"For what?" Giselle questioned.

Isobel, Melissa, and Jolina exchanged glances into realization.

It was regarding Lia's suspension and how despite being the little girl's friend's parents, they still couldn't be there for her.

"We knew you'd be away for work, and still, we couldn't do anything about the bullying."

"It's got nothing to do with you guys," Giselle quickly interrupted to stop making them take the blame unnecessarily.

"Yeah, when Jessica came up to her father and asked about being gay or so, we got shocked. But then I did hear about the gossip going around the school. I thought it was fake and that people were just trying to cook up something."

"I couldn't believe it either, so we had no idea Lia was getting bullied at school by her classmate."

"I think even our girls kept quiet about it, which was why we told them to speak out in the future," Melissa raged to burst out. She admitted being aware of bullying in schools but witnessing someone close falling to a victim made her realize how scary it could be. This recent event had indeed messed up their peace.

"And that's exactly why we should celebrate and look forward to the future!" Jolina remarked.

"That's absolutely right, so don't worry. This was not your fault, and I- understand how you feel. But right now, I'm just more grateful that Lia could have such good friends and people caring about her. So, that thought is enough to fill me with joy. I'm feeling so happy right now that I think if I deserve it!" Giselle uttered in doubt.

"Shut up! You deserve it!"

Giselle laughed at Melissa's comment.

"What's done is done, and it's in the past. So, there is no need to ask for my forgiveness. You guys did nothing wrong. Besides, I should have done something already. But it took me so long to be brave and try to face things upfront. I couldn't do it before, but now, I have Lillian by my side. so, I'm willing to face things."

"We will support you always."

"Yeah, let's have Lillian join our group, uh? Giselle?"

"Well, not so fast, Melissa," Isobel stopped the excitement.

"What? Why?"

"Mom, can I get another one, pleaseeeeeeeee?" Andy cried from the next table since Lia didn't share even a bit of her peanut butter and jelly ice cream.

"No."

Melissa's strict turndown heard loud inside the parlor that it ended up receiving attention. Some laughed while some ignored it. Andy wanted to ask again so badly, but she couldn't after getting yelled at like that. Plus, Jessica shared her vanilla and chocolate for the sake of consoling her poor friend. Meanwhile, Lia and Stephanie finished their ice cream with a lot of teasing.

Seeing Lia play silly and act like kids her age made Giselle pleased because the little girl had often impressed her mother with a grown-up level of maturity and understanding. Shortly after, everyone was getting ready to leave as it became dark early that evening, and the street lights spread around the city to ignite the night.

The group disbanded from the ice cream parlor. Melissa convinced her sad daughter by revealing tonight's special dinner, which was going to be her favorite spaghetti and meatballs. That worked because Andy's sad little face lightened up immediately, and the girls bid goodbye along with their moms.

Giselle and Lia said their goodbyes before leaving the place.