Phoebe Zhao

Phoebe Zhao 36 Married Mother of One

[montgomery-obsessions]

Gemma Chan – InStyle (May 2020)

[zhao-phoebe]

kiraxtaylor‌:

“I’ll have to text, don’t think the schedule’s been posted for shifts yet” and she had put her name down for as many as possible. She spent more time at the bakery then anywhere else at this point, least it felt like it. But it was all for money, and all for Belle. “I get them, but I like work. Besides, Belle’s birthday is coming up, and want to buy her something good”.

“ Just let me know, dear. ” Phoebe gave a soft smile and placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “ We’ll make it work- that’s what being a parent is all about. ” Taking a moment to let her support sink in, Phoebe decided to change the subject. “ What are you thinking of getting her? ”

[zhao-phoebe]

zhao-david‌:

He takes her to his side, pressing a firm kiss to her temple. “Wǒ de ài”, he affectionately calls her. He shuffles the three of them past a few of the lingering customers, and to a small booth towards the back of the diner. “I’m glad you decided to come by.” David admits, scooting in next to her, while Logan sits in his lap. He drapes one arm around his waist, as his free hand goes to rest on Phoebe’s knee, squeezing it gently. “I’m glad you’re back, Pheebs.”

“ I’m glad to be back- I think that hotel bed was the hardest thing I’ve ever slept on. ” Not true, but it always seemed to set David at ease to hear just how much she didn’t enjoy her time away from home. “ And good lord, they were so uncooperative this time- but, I’m home with my boys, and that’s all that matters. ” She placed her hand over David’s, looking at him with all of the adoration she felt in her body. “ How was your week? ”

[zhao-phoebe]

kenzietxylor‌:

                  MACKENZIE shook her head softly, “We all deserve a night off, you know.” She acknowledged, knowing it was more than true. She’d almost run herself into the ground in her desperation to get back to work after her accident, to get back to normality. “We all work hard. Working, being parents, everything else that life has to throw at us - I feel selfish a lot of the time, too but… Feelings aren’t facts.”

“ No, but it would be so much better if they were. ” Emotions were always the wild card in her life. Jealousy, anger, greed- all emotions she’d felt at one times or another, or been a victim of at other times. “ Enough with this depressing topic- let’s go get drunk. ”

[jamiexmills]

“Yeah, and I think you’re missing the point, there is not a lot I can do with these… well they’re a load of crap and no one is going to buy them… yeah you do that” Jamie said into the phone, just about managing to avoid rolling his eyes. Hearing someone come in, he just about managed to avoid rolling his eyes, so much for sorting the lock, he’d have to call someone. “We’re closed”. @zhao-phoebe​

[zhao-phoebe]

The Corner was a cute place with an atmosphere that seemed to just invite a warm feeling of cozy safety. Ironic considering the true nature of it’s proprietor. “ Oh, I saw the sign. ” She removed her sunglasses, tucking them into her Armani suit. “ But you and I need to have a talk. ”

[zhao-phoebe]

zhao-david‌:

He’s at the register juggling the phone, jotting down a takeout order when Logan bursts through the double doors. His face lights up instantly when he sees him, and he quickly thanks the customer on the phone and hangs up. David bends down and quickly scoops him up, tickling him to elicit giggles from him. “Hǔ zǐ,!!” He exclaims, pressing kisses to his head and beaming. He is surprised, to say the least. He wasn’t expecting to see him at all today, as he was working later than usual and by the time he would be home, Logan would already be asleep. 

He puts him down, rustling his hair as he looks past the doors. “Where’s your māmā?” David asks, pushing the double doors open to look out.

As the double doors opened, Phoebe held out her arms, presenting herself to the love of her life. “ Hello qīn ài de. ” She moved forwards, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek as she brushed past him. “ We thought we’d come and have lunch with you today. ” Once inside, she nodded at the few employees around. “ I know you’ve been catching up on things now that I’m back, but we should still have at least one meal together a day. ”

[zhao-phoebe]

ecloments‌:

She watches silently as the woman scolds the child, disapproval shown in the way her teeth meet her bottom lip. She takes a sip of her coffee, about to turn on her heel and make a quick exit when the woman speaks to her. Nora feels like a deer in the headlights, and she can feel her throat tightening at the question. Her mouth falls open, but no words find their way out. She does it again, before clearing her throat and squeezing her eyes shut. “No. No, I don’t.” A small shake of her head, and her eyes open.

“ A pity. ” Phoebe gave the woman a patronizing look. “ Having a child is a very fulfilling thing. But, if it’s not for you, then it’s not for you. ” She shrugged, raising an eyebrow as Logan tried to carefully target the moles.

[zhao-phoebe]

with: @jayclcrk​ location: the zhao house

“ So I was talking with the kindergarten teacher, and she mentioned something about a trip to the zoo coming up. ” Phoebe sipped at the wine in her hand, carefully listening to the joyous laughter of Logan and Grace in the backyard. “ She said they’d need chaperones, so I know either David or myself will be going. ”

[zhao-phoebe]

with: @niko-valentine​ location: eden’s bay

“ So, how was David while I was gone? ” Phoebe rest her chin on the palm of her hand, looking at Niko with a singular focus. “ I was worried about how he’d fair since this job took a little longer than I thought it would. ” David, as always, said that he was okay- and that everything went fine. But I worry. ”

[zhao-phoebe]

with: @vasilisaxvolkova​ location: the gym

The gym was quiet in the early morning light, exactly how Phoebe preferred it. Moving with a quiet grace, she shed her outer layer, moving towards the punching bag in her leggings and tank top. It only took her a moment to wrap her hands, and then Phoebe took her stance. She fell into a steady rhythm- strike, kick, block, move. It was a familiar and comfortable dance, and one she didn’t pause when she sensed a watcher off to the side. As she spun into a round house kick, she locked eyes with her watcher. No other movement was made as her foot rest against the bag and Phoebe just quirked an eyebrow at the woman.

[zhao-phoebe]

michaelharlow‌:

Noting the customer’s order, he reached for a notepad and pen and began to make notes of what she was asking for, pricing up as he went. “Gotcha,” he said, “twelve chocolate, twelve vanilla,” he muttered.

Glancing up at the other, he smiled. “Monday, that won’t be a problem at all,” he said, “are they for a special occasion?” 

“ My son’s kindergarten class has decided to hold a party to celebrate May. ” Phoebe snorted, her distaste for the flimsy excuse clear on her face. “ As, a show of helpfulness, my son kindly volunteered me to be in charge of the cupcakes. ” And she was not going to be baking cupcakes any time soon. If they wanted steamed custard buns, Phoebe would gladly take the excuse to teach her child more of their culture. But no. They wanted chocolate and vanilla cupcakes.

[zhao-phoebe]

kenzietxylor‌:

                “BUT it’s fun!” Mackenzie insisted, shaking her head softly. “Besides, how long has it been since either of us had an actual, no holds barred girls night? We all got too busy with jobs and motherhood we never get the time to enjoy ourselves,” She added, a light laugh echoing from her lips, “Although I can guarantee I’ve never made a fool of myself on karaoke.”

“ Goodness, I don’t even know how long. I always feel awful when I go out so soon after returning home. ” She sighed, placing her lipstick in her purse. “ David works so hard, running Mallorey’s, caring for Logan, and even caring for the house. ” She turned to Kenzie, feeling a vulnerability that she wouldn’t allow herself to show. “ I feel selfish for taking these nights off. ”

[zhao-phoebe]

quinnreynclds‌:

                  “OH, no, I know,” Quinn replied, nodding softly. She’d had the same experience after Dallas’ cochlear implant surgery, and although she knew it wasn’t quite the same circumstance, she could relate to the sentiment. “We both are,” She added, shaking her head softly, “I think we all doubt our own abilities too often, to be honest with you.”

“ jiātíng bù shì yī jiàn chóng yào de shìqing , tā shì suǒyǒu de yīqiè. ” Phoebe took a sip of her coffee, looking contemplatively out of the cafe window. “ Family is not an important thing. It's everything. ” She translated the old saying a moment later, giving Quinn a soft smile. “ It is hard to not doubt our own abilities when so much rides on us doing better than our best. ”

[zhao-phoebe]

michaelharlow‌:

Michael was still adjusting to the bakery owner lifestyle. He very much had been a man of his own rules at the best of times but, now he was presented with the opportunity to set his own rules, he wished he had someone to tell him what to do. It seemed, Michael had learned, he just had a case of ‘the grass is greener’. 

Smiling from behind the counter as the other entered, he nodded, brushing down his apron, “what can I do you for?”

“ Ah, I’m looking to order two dozen cupcakes for pick up on Monday morning. ” Phoebe stepped further into the warmth of the bakery, smiling with fondness at the smell of fresh baked bread. “ I need a dozen of them to be chocolate, and a dozen of them to be vanilla. ”

[zhao-phoebe]

ecloments‌:

Nora isn’t sure just how she ended up on this side of the carnival, but there is popcorn being spilled and stuffed animals being dragged by children, and another local being hospitable. Eleanor looks between her and the children, and she isn’t sure if there’s anything she can do but nod. She isn’t a mother, and probably never will be, it’s a realization that cuts to her core, and she winces, but then quickly offers the woman a smile. 

The woman seemed uncomfortable, something Phoebe clocked in on immediately. One hand shot out to the left, grabbing the wrist of a small child who had managed to steal away with one of the mallets. “ Sweetie, put that back. ” She wasn’t sure if it was the mom in her or the promise of punishment in her voice that had the kid dropping the mallet like it wad molten hot. “ Do you have kids? ” Phoebe turned her head and looked at the woman, her expression betraying none of the venom she’d had in her voice just moments ago.

[zhao-phoebe]

kenzietxylor‌:

               MACKENZIE arched an eyebrow, perching a hand on her hip gently, “Come on, you know tipsy karaoke is like, my best talent,” Kenzie replied, a soft tease in her tone. “We could definitely do a damn good duet, give half this bar a run for their money.”

“ And it is definitely not my talent. ” Phoebe had never done karaoke, and she had absolutely no desire to do so at any time in the future. “ I will just hold the phone and film you making an utter fool of yourself. ”

[zhao-phoebe]

fairfionasawyer‌:

“Oh, it’s really no problem,” Fiona said, accepting the money and pocketing it. Logan wasn’t that much of a problem. He was a clever kid, more clever than Fiona had been, but unfortunately a touch too sweet to pull off Fiona’s classic mischief. Would he think to unscrew the safety gears off a child’s bike? To thin the rope of a front yard swing? Likely not.

“How was the trip?” she asked. “I bet it couldn’t be all bad.”

“ Oh the trip was fine. Each one has its ups and downs. ” Her high this time had been that moment of quiet certainty as she’d completed her task. Her low had been the moment she’d fallen through the rotten floorboards of the warehouse. Thankfully she hadn’t broken anything, though she had a fading bruise on the outside of her thigh from where she’d landed. “ And it pays well, so I can’t really complain. ”