Substitute Mother
Chapters 139. The Good Side's
It's been almost a week since Jeanno left Aera at Mark's parents' house. The man had no choice, the onslaught of the crazy work made him almost get home on time. Plus the boy who kept whining asking his mother, ended up with Aera who gave him ‘silent treatment’ because there was only the father who came to the mother's day event at his school three days ago.
Oh, don't associate Mark and Jeanno's quarrel with Maria's willingness to take care of Aera. Because as much as Jeanno hated, Mark still loved Aera and asked her mother to hold the little one there, at least until Jeanno's emotions stabilized. While Maria and Jose also chose not to interfere with the conflict of the two adult men. They did not know what was behind the two of them having to fight both verbally and physically. But with Judith gone, Maria believes it has something to do with her.
“Aera dear, what are you doing hm?”
The little girl looked up for a while, then continued her coloring session on the floor. “Coloring, grandma”
“Oh. This grandma brings Aera's favorite cookies. Eaten yes?” after putting down a tray containing a mouth-watering snack, Maria's hand rested on Aera's soft hair.
“Grandma, why is mama leaving again? Is Aera naughty? but Aera is not naughty. Not fighting either. Aera always works on her own PR”
Whose heart was not sliced to hear the painful statement from this almost 7-year-old boy. “Not really, Aera has been a very good boy. Mama is having important business, so have to go for a while”
“First mom ever left long enough. Until Aera likes to dream of meeting mama. Is mom sick again? Aera doesn't want mommy sick.”
“Try grandma ask papa huh? now Aera eat first. Don't think about anything that doesn't happen to you, okay?”
Aera just nodded. The little girl rarely cried, but anyone could see there was sadness in the pair of rabbit eyeballs. To make Mary inexhaustible, how can these people today be so willing to involve a soul as pure as Aera in their problems. Hurting Aera, ignoring Aera's school is heartless.
Mark said Judith was sick because her son and daughter-in-law were in the hospital for a few days. But Mark didn't say what hurt. Mary did not dare to ask either.
“Aera misses mom Judith”
Few of the adults realized that Aera was a smart little girl. Which is able to distinguish that the woman who has been accompanying him at home and called mama, is not the same woman as the woman who gave birth to him first. Aera knew, because she accidentally caught the adults calling the name ‘mama’ Judith, not Nayara.
**
“Slightly difficult, Mark. Johan's family is very closed. There is not much information to be learned about their children. His wife gave birth to him, not in the hospital. So there is no medical record as to how many children Maharani born”
*
Mark sighed faintly, hung up his phone after thanking Haris, the confidant.
“How?”
The man shook his head, twitching his temple slowly. “No bright spot” yet
“Go home, Mark. You look so tired. Go home and rest, you're okay here”
Again, Mark nodded. “How could I leave you and Judith alone”
“Nothing will happen with us. This is a hospital anyway, Mark. Who wants to make a mess here?”
“Your eye bags are blackened. And don't you dare lie to me by saying you're comfortable sleeping on the couch. I saw your body wriggling a few times and your forehead frowning in sleep”
“Really?”
Hannah pinched her man's nose slowly. “According to me, go home and rest as much as possible. That way you have the energy to keep us”
Hannah was right, a few nights passed and did not provide the maximum quality of sleep for Mark. Not to argue, Mark nodded. “Betul is okay?”
“Hm-hm, there go home”
“If anything happens, call me, home, mom or dad, okay?”
Hannah chuckles. “Iya, darling”
**
“Marco Sebastian”
His mother rarely called him by full name. And if that means something serious is following it. “Ya?”
“What is it possible to bring Aera to visit Judith?”
Mark pecked for a moment, before shrugging his shoulders. “Jeanno will be furious if you find out, bu”
And Mark doesn't want to add to Judith's list of ‘errors that will further make the girl suffer.
“He's entitled to see his mother. Whatever Jeanno's problem with Judith” was
Maria served a bowl of ginseng chicken soup whose smoke was still billowing. Makes Mark's stomach crowded with voices. Without waiting for time, Mark grabbed the plate for the rice scoop.
“Mothers pity to see such a small child fall victim to her parents' problems”
“Judith is not his parent, bu”
“But Aera already thinks of it as her mama”
“Yes, because his face is similar to Nayara”
Mary took a seat in front of Mark. Sitting across from the son who was eating. “So you don't know?”
“Know what, Bu?”
“Aera. He could realize that the woman who had been accompanying him was not his birth mother”
Just like that, Mark's spoon fell. It makes a loud enough sound. “What?”
**
Judith should have been allowed to go home, but because her body was still weak due to the absence of nutrients that entered, forced the woman had to delay her return. The only thing that can be expected is intravenous fluids.
Hannah did her usual routine, wiping, talking, combing her hair. No topic can reach Judith's attention. The doctor said Judith was just in shock, huh...who is not hit to lose her baby? If Hannah had been in Judith's position, she would probably have been just as hurt.
Hannah's attention goes down to the message Mark just sent. These are photos of Aera studying at home. Her husband did say to go home to his mother, because he missed Maria's cooking.
Aera. The little girl's name appeared like a lamp coming out of Hannah's head. Why not think about it?
“Judith, see? Mark sent me pictures of Aera studying. Said he was working on Indonesian” PR
Hannah shows her cell phone still showing photos of Aera. And it was a success that Judith responded. His sight was no longer empty.
“He's at Mark's house. He said it's been the last three nights Aera asked to read the frog prince's fairy tale before sleeping”
The eyes that were once lifeless are now watering. Judith's hand was raised, touching Hannah's cell phone screen as if she was touching Aera.
“Aera. child mama”
“Mark says Aera misses you. But we can't bring him here yet, baby. We will try it?”
As if remembering something, Judith turned to Hannah. “Hannah”
“Ya?”
“What date is it now?”
“Eum.. dated 26, why?”
There was no cue from Judith to give Hannah time to prevent her from rising suddenly, and to remove the infusion. Hannah panicked to death, especially when Judith jumped from her bed, which of course made her fall because of her limp body.
“Jeez, Judith!”
Judith's hand refused when Hannah was about to give her help, as vigorously as the frail body tried to get up though it trembled.
“Mother's day. It was a few days ago. I promised I'd come, I can't let Aera down, Hannah”
Again, Judith who staggered back collapsed. Blood droplets due to forced-replanted infusion into ‘jejak’ his meager steps on the floor.
“I have to see him, he must be sad. She must have thought I didn't love her”
Hannah crouched down, helping Judith to stand up even though she was tired. I don't know where to get the energy from that makes the woman able to rebel. As if it didn't accept being prevented by Hannah.
“I know, I know baby. But not now. You are still not strong”
Judith nodded loudly. “I've lost my fetus, I don't want to lose Aera also”
One hard push that made Hannah's body stagger back, made it an opportunity for Judith to ‘pass’ away from Hannah's ambush. But unfortunately, because he was just about to open the door, he passed the doctor and two nurses who would do regular check-ups.
“Please, hold him doctor”
Without needing to be asked twice, the medics swiftly ambushed Judith. His rebellion was nothing compared to the energy of two healthy adults. The doctor went away for a moment, before returning with an injection for some reason. Hannah thinks it's a sedative, because Judith's body relaxes and she's unconscious.
**
