Substitute Mother

Chapters 146. Mary's House

Jeanno was not blind to see the missing rays of his daughter's face. In the past, Aera was always excited to spend time with her. Take him here and there, persuade Jeanno to buy him a sweet treat, laughing at his father's crunchy prank. Even whine when Jeanno takes her home. Aera was her little daughter. A princess who always made her father her first love, her hero.

Now, Aera does look happy, but her smile is not as wide as it used to be. The sparkle of his eyes is not as bright as before, it is empty and sad there. Aera didn't ask for a toy or ice cream, only nodding when Jeanno offered her his favorite chocolate cake. Aera kept laughing at Jeanno's jokes, but there were times when the laughter came too late. As if the mind of his little girl was wandering somewhere, until he realized he had to respond to the joke of the father. When it was time to go home, Aera simply nodded obediently. Without spoiled whining drama, as before.

Is it because he has grown up? It doesn't feel possible. His daughter Aera is only 7 years old. It is still a long journey to be in the stage of ‘adult’, or teenagers.

“Aera? Aera doesn't like to go with papa?”

Deep down, Jeanno knew the answer. But he wants his daughter to be honest and used to expressing her feelings to him as his father. No matter how bad he is, Jeanno still wants to be the closest person and the first person Aera looks for when a haze strikes.

“Aera likes kok”

Jeanno smiled, rubbing the mane of the little gentle. A little disappointed in Aera's answer which is still a little slip a lie. “Before we go home, does Aera want to stop by somewhere?”

Quote that seems interesting, because Jeanno can see the typical twinkle again adorn the eyeballs of his rabbit son. “Can?”

“Sure. Aera where are you going?”

“Eum.. Uncle Mark”'s home

**

Judith stepped out of the kitchen when she heard the doorbell ring. Mark and his father had not yet returned home from work, while Mary was accompanying Hannah to the obstetrician because her best friend had been feeling nauseous since morning. Honestly, she wanted to accompany him, but Judith felt that Mary was more appropriate for Hannah to witness a happy moment, if indeed Hannah was positive to be pregnant. Be Judith prefers to stay, as well as preparing dinner for the extraordinarily kind hearted family who have been helping her.

“Iya briefly”

Regretting. Judith always lamented her hasty self in almost every way. It's as simple as opening the door. Mary warned her to be careful of everyone who came to the bell. Judith can see first who the person is, if it is not known, do not love to come in, said Maria.

Judith should have followed Mary's advice, for the next. Because the door he opened this time was for the figure he avoided, as well as he missed.

Jeanno Alexander's.

He had not had time to react to anything, his body staggered backwards by Aera's sudden movements that hugged his waist tightly. Judith looked up, confirming Jeanno's reaction. But the man smiled, not towards her but fixed on Aera.

Jeanno was not angry and instead drove Aera to meet him, does that mean?

**

“Mama know no? earlier Aera bought a pack of grains for pigeon” food

“Oh yes? Aera scared no?”

The little guy shook his head. “No. Even the frightened papa. But papa fad once put some seeds on Aera's head, so the birds came to take it”

Judith chuckled, tidying up Aera's head to make sure there were no food crumbs. “Aera is great, Aera has dared to feed the birds. Mama certainly not brave”

The little guy's eyes looked at Judith's goal. Hearing Judith's praise made her chest flowery and wanted to hear it again and again.

“Mama, Aera bought her own balloon. Although papa saw from far”

“Wah, Aera great. That means Aera is a brave and independent boy. Because Aera's age alone mama has not dared to interact with strangers. But Aera did what you couldn't do just yet. Aera is great! But remember, still have to be careful and do not want to be invited to go by people who do not Aera know, understand?”

The interaction between a pair of different generation women was heard faintly by Jeanno who chose to sit away from them. Every now and then there was a tucked-away laugh, one Judith laugh, the next Aera laugh. The two share a carefree liking, as the existence of each other makes everything sad and troubled that previously felt, evaporate out of nowhere.

Jeanno threw away his face. Seeing Aera sitting on Judith's lap while seriously listening to Aera's story today, a simple scene that seemed like a slap to her. How he made the woman who was praising Aera, cry without pause. How he hurt her, raped her and extorted her. Jeanno hardens his jaw. How wicked is it. Was Judith's mistake so fatal that she pushed her into the abyss of torture without pause?

But, doesn't Judith deserve it? Ah no, does Judith really deserve it?

So solemn was Jeanno's daydream that he was unaware of Judith and Aera's presence before him. I don't know since when their conversation has stopped.

“Master, dinner is ripe. Can I get ready now?”

After degrading, harassing, treating him so cruelly, even Judith still had her heartfelt favor to offer Jeanno dinner? Ah, maybe because there was Aera, Jeanno thought.

“Papa, let's eat. Aera misses mama” cuisine

Yes, he missed Judith's cooking. Especially when the cooking steam that was in the kitchen with his brazen touch his sense of smell, making his stomach that has not been filled rang, making him have to bury shame.

“Ya”

Only that short answer came out. Brief, but able to restore Aeranya ‘dulu’. The journey from the living room to the kitchen is not how far, followed by a side road. Making Aera as a running liaison in the middle, by hand holding papa fingers and ‘mama’nya.

**

Hannah is shocked to see Jeanno in Mark's living room. Likewise with Maria, although the woman was much more able to control the look of her face. Not yet he asked, already greeted with footsteps Aera who hugged him and Hannah. The appearance of Aera, which is the answer to why Jeanno is here.

Hannah melengos, bidding farewell to Maria who was having a light conversation with Jeanno, just asked when she had come and had eaten yet. Hannah, don't ask. He was very reluctant to linger in the face of the man who made his friend suffer. And again, swearing is not good for pregnant women, right?

**

“You, tell me honestly. What did he do to you?”

Judith grimaced as Hannah pulled her arm. Making the woman beraras sweet was muttering the word ‘maaf’ and lifting her nails from the skin of Judith's arm.

“Aera here after the streets bersa—“

“Not Aera, you know who I mean, Judith” Hannah turned a pushy eyeball. He was reluctant to mention Jeanno's name directly. It was as if the man's efforts in helping him shake Victoire had never happened.

“Oh.. sir did nothing. He just drove Aera to meet me, then we had dinner with”

“Eat night?” netra Hannah perfectly rounded. “How can you take her to dinner?”

“Eum..maybe because the food is ripe? And there's no way I'd eat alone with Aera without offering her, dear”

Hannah threw a pissed face. She wanted to blame Judith for her decision, but again, swearing was not good for pregnant women.

“We talk tomorrow, when my emotions are more stable”

Judith just shook her head to see how Hannah, the first time she seemed to lose control of her emotions.

**