"Are you here to buy dresses for your daughter?" Isabella asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"That's right," Joi replied with a warm smile, her gaze softening.
"You have a child?!" Isabella gasped, her voice filled with surprise.
Joi chuckled. "Yes, and her name is… well, I'll tell you after we finish shopping." She teased, pinching Isabella's cheek playfully.
"That's not fair! I'm jealous!" Isabella pouted, crossing her arms dramatically.
Joi laughed at her antics before signaling a sales attendant. Moments later, she guided Isabella to a cozy sofa, lifting her gently onto her lap as the attendant returned with an array of clothing—casual dresses, trendy jeans, colorful tops, hair bows, and various footwear. Each item was carefully chosen to match Isabella's size and packed neatly into paper bags.
The attendant then presented a stunning red gown adorned with black-and-white patterns, paired with elegant black sandals. She held it out for Isabella, whose eyes blinked in confusion as she glanced between the gown and Joi.
"It's okay, wrap it up. We'll take it home so she can freshen up," Joi said, rising to her feet to pay the cashier.
The attendant nodded, quickly adding the gown and sandals to the growing collection of packages. After settling the bill, Joi left the boutique with Debbie and Mayra following close behind.
In the car, the atmosphere shifted. Mayra sat quietly, her face red, and silent tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Mayra, is everything okay?" Joi asked gently, her voice full of concern.
"I'm fine!" Mayra snapped, her tone sharp and defensive.
Joi remained calm. "You're upset because I didn't buy the heels you wanted, aren't you?"
"I said I'm fine!" Mayra repeated, glaring out of the window.
"Mayra!" Debbie nudged her lightly, trying to diffuse the tension.
"What?!" Mayra retorted, clearly annoyed.
Joi sighed and opened one of the bags, pulling out the very heels Mayra had admired earlier. "These were for you," she said, her voice measured, "but your behavior today made me think twice. I'm giving them to Isabella instead."
Mayra's eyes widened in disbelief. "You bought them for me?" Her voice softened as she stretched her hand out to touch them.
"Yes, but bad manners have consequences," Joi said firmly, placing the heels back in the bag. "Isabella deserves them for being polite and kind."
Mayra's face crumpled, and tears welled up in her eyes again. "You've already bought so much for Isabella!" she protested, her voice trembling.
"That's because Isabella knows how to treat people with respect," Joi replied, her tone unwavering.
Mayra cried harder, her sobs filling the car. Debbie leaned over to console her, rubbing her back and whispering words of comfort, but Mayra's cries only grew louder.
"I'll tell my daddy to buy me better shoes!" Mayra shouted between sobs.
"Go ahead," Joi said with a shrug, "but I doubt you'll find anything like these." She smirked, knowing her words would sting.
Mayra's sobs faltered, and she bit her lip, contemplating. Finally, she muttered, "I'm sorry."
Joi pretended not to hear her. Mayra clenched her fists in frustration. "Joi, I said I'm sorry!" she shouted.
"You don't apologize by yelling," Joi said sharply, turning to look at her. "Is that how you talk to your mother?"
The mention of her mother made Mayra freeze. Her demeanor softened instantly.
Debbie rubbed her back again and whispered, "Joi, Mayra doesn't get to see her mom."
Joi sighed, her gaze softening. "That doesn't mean you have an excuse to be rude," she said gently. "You're a young girl, Mayra. How you treat people will shape your future."
Mayra lowered her gaze, her voice small. "Do you know what it's like to grow up without your mom?"
"I do," Joi admitted after a pause. She reached into her purse and pulled out a lollipop, holding it just out of Mayra's reach. "But being angry won't make things better."
Mayra sniffled. "I'm very sorry if I was rude to you."
Joi finally smiled. "It's okay, Mayra. Just try to do better."
When the car pulled up to Mayra's house, Debbie helped her out. Joi stepped out as well, handing Mayra the bag with the heels and the lollipop.
"Mayra," she said, squatting to meet her eye level, "because you apologized and learned from your mistake, these are yours. Be a good girl, okay?"
Mayra's face lit up as she clutched the bag and lollipop. "Thank you so much, Joi!"
Joi patted her head. "Show your dad the shoes and tell him your new friend got them for you, alright?"
"I will! Thank you!" Mayra grinned and gave Joi a high-five.
Joi watched as Debbie and Mayra walked inside, her smile fading slightly. She turned to Isabella, who had been quiet throughout the exchange. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Yes," Isabella replied with a soft smile. "Mayra must be going through a lot. I think I'll try harder to be her friend."
Joi smiled, her heart warming at Isabella's kindness. "That's very thoughtful of you."
The car stopped in front of Joi's house, and she paid the driver before carrying the bags inside. Isabella followed, carrying Joi's purse and her own backpack. Once inside, Joi gestured to the couch.
"Sit here while I prepare your bath, okay?" she said.
Isabella nodded and sat down, her legs swinging over the edge of the couch. Joi quickly unpacked Isabella's clothes, placing them neatly in a corner of her wardrobe, then headed to the bathroom to prepare a warm bath. As she returned to call Isabella, she bumped into Mrs. Catlin in the hallway.
"Joi, who is she?" Mrs. Catlin asked, her tone curious as she pointed to Isabella.
"Oh, she's my daughter," Joi said casually, flashing a sly smile.
"Daughter?!" Both Mrs. Catlin and Isabella gasped in unison.
"Does Adrian know about this?" Mrs. Catlin pressed.
"He doesn't," Joi replied nonchalantly.
"And the father?" Mrs. Catlin probed further.
Before Joi could answer, Isabella interjected, "My mom says my dad can't protect me, so she ran away to keep me safe."
Joi's heart skipped a beat, and she gently squeezed Isabella's hand. "Mrs. Catlin," Joi said, "you ask a lot of questions."
Joi led Isabella to the bathroom to wash her.
"She doesn't even resemble you slightly, and the hair color is very different too." Mrs Catlin pressed on.
Joi looked at Mrs Catlin and gave up on lying. Let me explain everything.
After recounting the day's events, Joi added, "Her mom will pick her up by 9 PM every night."
Mrs. Catlin nodded. "Don't worry; I'll take care of her while you heat up some food."
"Just that she looks exactly like... nevermind, I'm just blabbing." Mrs Catlin smiled.
Joi nodded and headed to the kitchen to prepare lunch. She served a hearty plate of macaroni and cheese on the dining table, joining Mrs. Catlin and Isabella as they chatted and laughed together.