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"Yes, I want to hear it too," Evangeline backed up.

Eve narrowed her gaze at them openly, including at her mother. Was she a reality show they were watching? Their investment in her love life seemed unhealthy. Just because she wasn't eager to date, it didn't mean she had no interest.

"There is nothing to tell," Eve eventually told them. "He left as soon as I rejected him."

"You mean, when you were in the middle of it. He didn't even let you finish," Andie corrected. She stood up to grab some water in the fridge for them to drink.

"Are boys suddenly different in Cornelia High from when I attended it?" Evangeline wondered out loud, glancing up the ceiling with knitted eyebrows. "Why else would my daughter not be interested in anyone?"

Rose pursed her lips. "I think they're just not Noah who I never met."

"It's not even about Noah!" Eve protested. Would they ever drop him as a topic? They hadn't seen him in years. Andie wasn't fond of him either but she seemed to use every chance to bring him up. 

Evangeline turned off the stove and picked up the plate of food. Her daughter rose up from the table to help out but she told Eve to fetch clean plates instead. "Noah was a good kid. I wonder how he's doing now?"

"I still can't believe his real parents found him. Wasn't he abandoned?" Andie recalled, pouring water into drinking glasses. As much as that brat annoyed her, she did wish him well enough. "Why would he want to go back?"

"I'm sure he's happy to meet them. Not everyone gets that chance," Evangeline pointed out. She had seen enough cases on TV. They always made her tear up. She set down the food she prepared in the middle of the dining table. "Anyway, I made pancakes."

Eight pieces of pancakes stacked on the plate. Each fluffy goodness had the perfect golden color. Rose got up to fetch the maple syrup and butter while Andie a jar of strawberry jam and a can of whipped cream for Eve. 

Evangeline pulled out a chair and sat with them. Eve had given her a plate but she refused.

"Breakfast food before dinner is always the best." Rose moaned. She had a classic butter and syrup topping. The butter melted easily when she spread it over the pancake. "Thank you, Aunt Evangeline."

"Yes, thank you for your wonderful presence and your excellent cooking," Andie raised a fork that had a slice of plain pancake towards Evangeline. Then, she ate it in one bite. "If only Eve is half as good as you are."

Eve looked up, still holding the can of whipped cream. She had outlined halfway around her pancake when Andie made the comment. "I won't even get offended because we'll be rooming in the same dorm someday. And you promised to do the cooking. Getting free food is always a good thing."

"So that's the way, huh?" Rose chuckled. "The guy has to be good at cooking to win you over?"

"Can we stop talking about boys?" Eve groaned. 

Her mother stuck her bottom lip out. "But I want to talk about boys."

"Gross. I don't want to hear about you and dad. Or that baby-faced good friend of yours who still silently likes you after all this time—which you deny wholeheartedly no matter how many times I've pointed it out."

"Madison is just a good friend," Evangeline said.

Eve resisted to roll her eyes, only because the other party was her mother. She wanted to believe that but there were too many signs. Any time they were in trouble, he would be the first person to help. He also sent presents for every occasion possible—that always cater to her mom's likes.

There was also the look on her dad's face when those presents arrived.

Except, he'd cave into mom's smiling face and let her accept them.

The girls finished their pancakes and stayed at the dining table. While some friend groups liked to keep to themselves when coming over, the girls liked talking to Evangeline. It might be because she was younger than most moms. 

"It's getting late," Evangeline observed when she glimpsed at the clock. "And you're still minors so you have to go home. I don't want your parents being worried."

Andie made a face when she saw the clock. She couldn't wait until she was 18 and living in the dorm. That would be the day she could call the shots. No more curfew. She already looked forward to visiting a convenience store just because she got hungry in the middle of the night.

"Can we stay over next weekend?" Rose suddenly asked. "We'll bring snacks."

"Yes, please!" Andie added.

It had been a while since their last sleepover. She needed more time to unwind. This visit was too short to relieve her worries about grades.

"You're welcome anytime you know that," Evangeline reminded her. "But your parents should agree first. No sneaking around. They'll be calling me and I don't want to break that trust of one mother to another."

"Yes, ma'am!" Andie and Rose replied. Eve escorted them to the door. They had a small chat before Rose pulled Andie away. They made quick plans to go to the park. 

Little did they know, it would have to wait.

Eve scowled at the open bathroom door. Her heart pounded in her ears. Dashing to the bathroom, she stuck her head inside. "Mom?"

Evangeline sat on the toilet. The floor around her feet had become wet. When she stood up, Eve was quick to help her out. Then, she uttered words her daughter feared. "My water broke."

"WHAT?!" Eve quickly helped her to a nearby chair. Panic rushed into her veins. She paced in front of her mother, trying to remember those self-help books they had lying around. "Oh, oh, oh—what should I do? Maybe I should call Andie and Rose back."

Grabbing her daughter, Evangeline got back on her feet. "It's fine, Eve."

"Mom, what are you doing?! Go sit down. You're about to give birth!"

Evangeline chuckled and ignored her. The stuff they needed had been prepared for over two weeks now. Still, they had other things to pack up. "Not yet. There's still time."

"But your water broke!"

"And I'm in labor but it will be a while before your sisters pop out. Don't panic." Evangeline cupped both of her daughter's cheeks. Her hazel eyes stared into brown ones that inherited her round shape. "Relax, Eve. Relax. Call for a taxi. Your father used the car so we can't get to the hospital on our own. You have to be calm or—your sisters will come out just to slap you in the face."

"Really?" Eve breathed out, blinking several times. "Because I love them already."

She slowly got her bearings back. She was here to support her mother. A support should be as solid as a pillar, as swift as a coursing river, as strong as a great typhoon with all the strength of a raging fire. Her heartbeat receded back to a steady rhythm.

She could also see more clearly. 

Anything before this moment seemed like a haze.

"That's my girl." Evangeline smiled as soon as she noticed that Eve had relaxed. She left a peck on the latter's forehead. "Now, go. I'll call your father while you get the taxi."

Every now and then, Eve would feel a sudden burst of panic. It would fade away again whenever she glimpsed at her mother's calm state. She heard the contractions should hurt a lot in class but not once had Evangeline hinted a sign of pain.

'Was it for my sake?' Eve wondered. She bit her thumb while she crossed and uncrossed her legs. It sounded like what her mom would do. Should she say something about it? Or maybe she was wrong about the whole thing?

When the nurse came, Eve practically jumped off the bench. 

"Hello, Evangeline." The nurse smiled warmly.

"Been a while, Ingrid." Evangeline returned the gesture. She lied on the hospital bed, waiting for her cervix to open enough for the birth process.

"That is true. Look at how much Eve had grown." Ingrid shifted her attention at Eve who pressed her lips together and nodded in greeting. "I held you when you popped out of your mom's womb. One of the easiest baby deliveries we ever had. One of the prettiest ones too."

"Well, she's about to get competition," Evangeline teased. She rubbed her stomach on both sides. "Because I have a strong feeling these babies have taken the best of the best when it comes to genes. They're smart cookies."

"Have you named them?"

At Ingrid's question, Evangeline grinned. "Erin and Eden. Eri and Ede for short. I heard three is a lucky number. So I could resist and have my three girls be called: Eve, Eri and Ede." 

Ingrid lowered her head from the foot of the bed. "No more babies after this then?" 

"We're having two at once. Russell should be sick of babies once we're taking turns to look after them."

"They all say that until the little ones have kids of their own. Then, the grandparents fight over the babies along with the parents." Ingrid folded back the blanket and removed her gloves. "Does Eve have any plans of getting married soon?"

"Oh, please. I'm still trying to get her a boyfriend."

Ingrid arched an eyebrow, hardly believing her ears. She turned to Eve and said, "I know someone who is available. Got that tall, dark and handsome vibe the girls swoon over."

Eve opened her mouth and closed it again. How could she say this in the politest way?

"I'll have to pass." 

Her mother shrugged. "See? I told you."