Chapter 05—Day of operation.

    "YOU CAN'T HURT HER, AUSTIN!" Leo sounded cold, grabbing Austin's attention.

Leo is looking so serious, and Austin has never seen Leo take his name so seriously.

    "I knew Jenny the moment she started working in your house as a caretaker of your kids."

     "She is a kind and sensitive person." He moved his hand.

    "I won't agree to this marriage if you're marrying Jenny just for your sake." Leo showed his finger.

    "Marry Jenny if you can give her the happiness of a husband." 

    "Just don't marry her if you are just planning to make her the mother of your kids but not your wife." Leo moved his fingers through his hair.

Austin is not saying a word but listening to Leo place his hands in his pocket.

    "If you just want her to be the mother of your children, then she's fine as a caretaker, and you don't need to marry her!"

    "Girls only prefer their husband's love after marriage and nothing else!" Leo said everything in one breath.

Austin can't help but think about his feelings for Jenny.

    "I don't want you to hurt her or yourself."

Austin looked at Leo, finally parting his lips while smiling.

    "I didn't realise that my friend had become so mature." Austin caressed Leo's hair while making him calm.

    "Oh, c'mon, don't treat me like your kid!" Leo said, shaking his head.

Austin scoffed while turning back to the window, hiding his feelings from Leo.

He knew he couldn't love anyone again in his life, both sexually and mentally, after the disaster that happened in his life.

He is also scared, thinking that he might hurt Jenny by making her his wife.

He is not sure he can love Jenny, but he has respect for her in his heart and mind enough to take care of her.

The rest of the time passed into thin air.

Jenny called Austin millions of times while remembering to pick up the kids from school.

She was with her mother but thinking about the kids—this thought gave Austin good vibes, making him attracted to her.

Finally, Austin picked up the kids and came back to the house, leaving the rest of the work to Leo.

Ryan had already eaten his dinner and fallen asleep.

Austin is trying his best to put Anna to sleep.

If Jenny was there, she would put Anna to sleep in her arms, telling stories to her, but Austin doesn't know any stories.

So Austin played with Anna for some time and bathed her.

Now he is drying her hair.

Austin is a lovable father; he knows very well how to take care of a baby girl.

He learned how to make a girl's hairstyle for only Anna.

He combs her hair so softly while Anna is playing with her doll.

Finally, Austin makes a ponytail of Anna and kisses her on the head.

   "BABY!" He muttered, looking at her through the mirror.

    "Yes, Daddy!" Anna sounded cute.

     "Who do you love more, the mother you don't know and have never seen, or Jenny?" He hugged her from behind while taking her in his arms.

Anna hears the question, makes a bunny face, and looks at Austin in the mirror.

On the other hand, Austin is waiting for her reply.

    "IT'S JENNY!" Anna sounded while grabbing his attention.

   "Yes, Daddy, I love Jenny more!"

    "When I cry, she kisses me on the forehead and makes me happy!" She pouted her lips.

    "When I'm hungry, she feeds me!"

   "When I don't feel well, she takes me in her arms and plays with me!" She said everything in one breath.

    "She is always with me and takes great care of me. I love her so much, Dad; she is the best."

A smile appears on Austin's parted lips as he listens to the impression about Jenny.

   "But Daddy, where is Jenny?" Anna inquired.

    "Why didn't she come tonight?"

It is very difficult for Austin to explain things to Anna because she is very sensitive.

    "Is she quitting the job?"

   "Have you accepted her resignation letter?" The tears rolled down her cheeks.

Austin's heart aches while seeing Anna cry.

    "No, I have not accepted her resignation letter!" He wiped her tears before cupping her cheeks.

     

    "Please, stop crying!" He nodded her head.

    "If she didn't quit the job, then why didn't she pick me up from school, and why isn't she even in the house?" She sobbed while questioning Austin about Jenny.

    "Did Daddy ever lie to you?" He grabbed her shoulders, taking her into his arms, and Anna nodded her head in a denied way.

    "Then trust me, she didn't quit the job but was busy with some things, so I gave her leave for the rest of the day!"

   "I want to talk with her!" She pouted her lips.

Austin thinks about her request twice before answering the phone.

   "Okay you promise, you sleep after talking to her!" He moved his finger.

    "I promise!" She crossed her fingers and laughed while blinking her eyes, acting cute.

He smiled, caressing her hair with his one hand and dialling Jenny's number on the phone.

Austin hands over the phone to Anna as the call rings.

    "Hello!" Jenny muttered as soon as she received the call.

    "Jenny!" Anna said.

  "Anna!" Jenny sounded so happy.

   "Doll, you haven't slept yet?" She inquired while watching the time on her watch.

   "I am not sleepy, so I am playing with my father!" Anna smiled while looking at Austin.

    "This is not good; you are not following the time sense. Very bad!" Jenny came out of the cabin, closing the door behind her.

    "I can't sleep because I'm missing you!" Anna sounded sad while rolling her eyes.

Austin caressed her hair, trying to comfort her.

On the other hand, Jenny shut her mouth, feeling emotional, leaning against the wall.

    "I am sorry. I wanted to be with you right now and put you to sleep, but, baby, I was busy now and could not contact you."

    "It's okay, Jenny; Daddy said you're busy, so I don't have any complaints for you!" Anna sounded cute.

Austin smiled, showing his thumb to Anna, telling her he was proud of her.

On the other hand, Jenny chuckled.

    "You know, I love you!"

    "I love you too!" Anna laughed while Austin looked at her while being curious—what are they talking about?

    "I will come very soon, but till then you should take care of yourself and don't disturb Daddy."

   "If you behave like a good baby, then I'll take you to a picnic this weekend!" Jenny tried to convince Anna to sleep immediately.

   "Okay, I will take care of myself and come soon; I'll wait for you!" Anna replied.

   "That's like my good baby; now sleep well and goodnight. I love you!" Jenny kissed her on the phone while Anna blushed in response.

Anna jumped on the bed while giving the phone to Austin, wrapping the blanket around her, and sleeping.

Austin scoffed in response; he had been trying to put her to sleep for an hour, but she didn't hear him and Jenny did it in a second.

He stepped close and planted a kiss on each of his kid's foreheads, wrapping them together in the blanket.

When he checks the phone, he notices that Jenny is still on call.

    "Hello!"

Jenny's heart skipped a beat while her heart started pounding into her ear, making her body shiver under his husky voice.

    "Are you there?" He muttered, walking towards the window.

She sounded, "HMM!"

    "Do you want me to come home and put Anna to sleep?" Jenny asked.

   "No need!" He turned back and looked at Anna.

   "I am not sure what you said, but she went to sleep!" He smiled, turning back to the window and looking at the moon in the sky.

   "How is your mother?" He inquired.

    "She is fine; the doctor has just done all the check-ups for tomorrow's operation!" She sighed. She is fucking scared for tomorrow and about the operation.

The thoughts running through her mind were: What happens if the operation fails?

She doesn't want to lose her mom.

If something happens to her mother, she can't live anymore.

The bad ideas are smacking at her head.

She was taking rapid breaths while biting her lips, not saying anything to Austin.

Austin cleared his throat while caressing his hair.

    "Nothing will happen; your mom is gonna be fine!"

Jenny moved her eyes as soon as his reply echoed in her ears.

    

    "After the operation, you will again spend time with your mother like before."

A smile appears on Jenny's aroused lips; he just reads her thoughts and gives her encouragement.

    "Jenny!" He sounded, and she shivered, nodding her head.

    "Take care of yourself!" He muttered, biting his lips: He is just comforting someone after a long time.

~Next day~

Austin dropped the kids off at school and went straight to the hospital.

Jenny's mother has already stepped into the operating theatre.

Jenny is walking here and there in tension outside of the operating theatre; she is even unable to take a breath.

She is mashing her hands together and biting her lips while Austin sits in the chair and watches her, crossing his arms around his chest.

    "If you walk like this, the operation of one hour will not happen in one minute!" Austin said while grabbing her attention and making her stop in the place—she looked at him in response.

    "Take a breath!" He sighed while moving his hand, and she followed him, taking a deep breath.

    "Firstly, take care of yourself!" Austin moved his finger, nodding his head.

    "Come and sit here!" He patterned his hand next to his seat.

She looked inside the operating theatre before walking close and taking a seat.

Jenny takes a seat and sits on the chair— there is one empty chair between Jenny and Austin.

   "Are you scared?" He looked at her, running her fingers through his hair.

She nodded her head in response while lowering her eyes and looking down.

    "My mother never used to go to the hospital even after having a fever because she was afraid of injections."

    "But today many injections are being given to her, and machines have been connected!" 

    "Mom must be in pain!" She sobbed, and the tears started rolling down her cheeks.

Austin doesn't understand how to comfort and take care of her. 

He had no idea about words to comfort but he wanted to stop her from crying.

He shifted to the next seat, moving his body and sitting next to her.

She is sobbing and crying, closing her eyes.

He raised his hand while wrapping her shoulder and taking her in his arms.

She can't think of anything; just her mother is running through her mind. She keeps her face against his chest while sobbing like a baby.

He takes one minute to pat his hand on her hair while caressing her shoulder.

   "You are a brave girl."

She sobbed, clutching his collar while he caressed her head like a baby.

To Be Continued.