Brandon
I sighed as I packed my things. The patient took longer than I accepted. Jane must be waiting for me.
I quickly made my way to my office only to see Jane with her eyes closed, lying comfortably on my chair. I was not surprised to see her fast asleep, with her delivery date coming close and no one by her side looking for her, taking care of her. It’s already very tough for a woman to give birth to a life, but in Jane’s case, things are intense.
She has to do everything on her own with no one around her, to care for her. I do my best to help her, but Jane is such an independent woman. She never asks for anyone’s help, even when needed, and that’s what worries me the most. Even more when she is not around me, like times when I’m at work or when she is alone at her home, mostly at night, and I don’t know why, but around Jane; I feel so protective like she is someone too precious to me, but the thing is, I can’t even tell Jane about how I feel about her. Jane has already faced so much in her life. I don’t want to burden her more, at the cost of ruining our friendship with my stupidity.
“Jane,” I mumbled, trying to wake her up.
“Let me sleep,” she mumbled in her sleep. “A few more minutes…, Jared.”
‘Jared’ the name is enough for me to stop thinking about anything else. Jane loves the person so much that she can let no one take his place in her life.
Taking a deep breath and controlling the emotions in my heart, I tried to wake her up again. “Jane, it’s Brandon. Get up….,.”
The name stuck in her mind because she opened her eyes quickly, scanning her surroundings from left to right. Shaking her head, she stands up but loses her balance. I quickly wrapped my arms around her waist to prevent her from falling to the floor.
“You okay?” she nodded her head. “Let me see.” I checked, noticing that her feet were badly swollen. I touched her feet and she cried in pain.
“I’m okay, Brandon,” Jane said, hiding her pain with a smile.
“No, you’re not. Why didn’t you say anything about your feet earlier? I could have done something. It won’t be so bad.”
“It’s nothing, I look fine,” she added, trying to stand up again but seized by pain in her attempt.
“I can see that,” I replied, helping her stand, but her face looked hurt with every step she took. I don’t think she will reach the parking lot with so much pain. It’s surprising how she came here for her check-up. “Can you walk…? I’m both your doctor and a friend. You can share your pain with me. Now say do you want me to carry you……,” I asked, waiting for her answer.
Jane hesitated but nodded her head quietly in the end.
I wrapped my arms around her waist with my other hand holding her shoulder, carrying her. Jane’s headrests are just a bit above my heart. It’s just a simple act of kindness, but being so close to her makes my heart pound like a teenager’s.
I don’t why, but I hope we meet under normal circumstances. Things would have been so different, the clumsiness and the hesitation about not trying to express the way I feel about her wouldn’t have existed if we had met like any other people, but I am happy to meet someone like Jane.
Jane has changed little since the first time I met her. The first time I met Jane there was despair in her eyes, pain that was fighting its way out in the form of emotions, but things change a bit as time passes, the hollowness still exists. And I wish to see her happy again and live her life to the fullest. Maybe her child will bring her happiness, and her smile back. I just hope to see her happy all her life.
Our ride home was not long enough and, within half an hour, we were both standing at the front door of my house.
“I should go,” Jane said as I was about to open the door.
“But why? What about our dinner plans?” I questioned.
“I don’t want to bother you,”
“Jane..,” I said. “You’re never bothering me, and by the way, Marlene is also waiting for you.” Calling out Marlene’s name always works. Jane loved her, and not once did she say no to Marlene. I might be selfish because of using my daughter as an excuse to spend time with Jane, but it is what it is, and I don’t mind.
Jane nodded with a smile, following me inside the house. Someone heard the door opening because Marlene came running fast, jumping right into my arms. “Daddy,”
“How are you, munchkin?” I said, kissing both of her cheeks before placing her on the ground.
“Good… you know we played a new game today,” I nodded as she continued talking about her day. “But I miss you,”
“I missed you too.” I kissed her forehead. “And look who’s here,” I mentioned, pointing my finger at Jane.
“Jane…, Baby..,” She jumped cheerfully, hugging Jane and caressing her belly with her tiny hand.
“Gently,” I said as we made our way inside the living room.
“Thank God, you’re back. I have a date and I’m almost late,” Rachel said, who was sitting on the couch with her phone. “Hi, Jane… good to see you. Sorry, I have to run, but tomorrow I have something very important to say to you. Bye, or I will miss my hot date today.” Rachel picked up her purse, and ran but revered her way back, kissing Marlene’s cheeks and hugging Jane.
“What’s a hot date, Daddy?” Marlene asked innocently, making Jane smile but me nervous. God, why did I keep Rachel babysitting Marlene? She is not a good influence on Marlene. All she talks about is guys, thinks about dating, and tells stories about how she was on a date, and more and more… But honestly, she is the best I can find. She loves kids and handles them very well, and Rachel is someone I can trust blindly, but I have talked to her not to mention her dates or about her dates in front of my daughter.
“Marlene, why don’t you play with the baby and Jane while I cook dinner,” I said, trying to divert her attention. “Or why don’t you talk to the baby?”
“But Daddy, it’s inside the belly.”
“Yes, but you can hear everything you say,” I mentioned.
“Really,” I nodded. Jane smiled, looking at our interaction as Marlene put her mouth on her belly, saying something. “Look, it kicked,” Marlene said, jumping with joy. “Jane, what’s the name of the baby?”
“I don’t know yet, but I want his name after my brother Liam,”
“Oh, when Liam comes out of your belly, I will be his big sister, right?” Marlene asked.
“Yes, if you want to,” Jane said. I smiled hearing her conversation from the kitchen; I never thought Marlene would be so excited about the baby.
“Yeah, I’ll be a big sister,” she cheered happily.
“What are you guys talking about?” I asked, holding plates of food in my hand.
“Daddy, I’m going to be big sister,”
“You’re,” I said, taking a sip of water.
Marlene nodded, “Yes.., and you’ll be daddy to Jane’s baby,”
The words made me choke on the water, making me cough hard. “What?”