Chapter 53 Read me stories for goodnight
Jake had released on the next day.
Jess and Rory took him home with the new prescription from the doctor. Jake looked better than the moment he had entered into the Hospital. His face was not pale anymore and he looked fully awake. The day he came back home was Ayn's birthday. Jess and Rory remembered that on time and bought a nice book with poetry to their daughter. However, Ayn was happier to see her brother in home than any presents. She was smiley from the moment Jess and Rory walked into the house with the little Jake in Jess arms.
Luke and Lorelai were there too. Luke had prepared a festive dinner and they all sat and talked around the table. Ayn smiled all the time, but Jess could not been fooled so easily. She walked into the kitchen for something and Jess followed her.
'Okay, what is the problem now?' He asked his daughter.
'Nothing.' She shrugged and took the tray with the glasses. 'I'm fine!'
'Hey, put the tray down and look at me!' Jess frowned and placed hands on her small shoulders. Ayn did what he asked from her, but she lowered her eyes. 'This is me princess.' He took her chin and forced her to look at him. 'You can't fool me!'
'I'm fine daddy.' Ayn smiled and Jess frowned even more. 'Really!'
'You are not fine and I want to know why. Is there any problem and I do not know about it?'
'No.' Ayn shook her head. 'I'm really fine.'
'Okay… Let me guess.' Jess squeezed her shoulders. 'Um… Is it about Jake? He is alright and you know that.' Ayn frowned. 'Okay, it's not him.' Jess looked at her eyes and saw her lowered her look again. 'Ah, I think I know.' His voice changed. 'It's because of me, right?'
'Daddy…'
'Last year?' Jess rose up his eyebrows. 'You remember the last year, right? My crash?'
'I just don't want to talk about that.' Ayn clenched her jaw, but Jess did not stop.
'You are scared about me?' Jess tilted his head. 'Is that it? You are scared that something might happen, just because is your birthday?'
'I hated it!' Ayn snapped angrily and Jess looked at her with surprise. 'I hated that day since the moment they took you into the hospital the first time. It was my fifth birthday and granny told me that you and mom were on a vacation. Then I found out about you being in the hospital and it happens just around my birthday! The last year was the crash and I am so afraid now! I hate that day!'
'I know what you are feeling Ayn!' She tried to hide her face from him, but Jess held her tight. 'I know that feeling of being powerless to change things! But this is your birthday and it's not only you here!'
'What?' Ayn frowned.
'It's your mother's day too.' He stared at her. 'She gave you birth on this day. She was in pain for so long just to have you, so please try to be happy for her.'
'This is not the point…'
'It is!' Jess snapped. 'You do know that your mother's pregnancy was hard. She had not complained at all! Se told me how happy she was when you came into her life. She did not tell me about her pains. She told me only about how happy she was!'
'I know, but I can't feel happy!'
'You have to try!' Jess released her shoulders and took the tray. 'Your mother suffered enough in the hospital now and I want to see her happy just for a moment this evening!'
'But…'
'Try to pretend at least!' Jess hissed. 'I know that it might take great efforts from you, but you have to make it, okay? Do it for her!'
'Fine!' Ayn murmured and they got out of the kitchen.
Rory threw them a strange look. Jess looked upset and Ayn was with smile on her face. She looked happy, but she was not that good as Jess. He could lie about his emotions any time. He could even hide it behind his eyes. Ayn could not. She looked sad and angry in spite the smile on her face.
'Hey sis, you want our present?' Jane squealed and ran to her sister.
'Sure.' Ayn nodded and Jane grabbed her hand, dragging her to the table. Jess Jr. handed her a drawing, made by them. It was sloppy and colorful, but Ayn smiled and kissed her twin brother and sister. 'Thank you guys. I'm going to put it on my desk.'
'Yay!' Jess Jr. and Jane squealed.
'Can I give our present, mommy?' Jake whispered in her ear and Rory smiled. He was sitting on her lap and now smiled at her.
'Sure.' Rory nodded and put her son on the ground. 'Go get it, but be careful honey. Don't run.'
'Okay mommy.' Jake nodded and went to take the small package, left on the table. Jess sat close to Rory and smiled to her. She took the opportunity and asked him.
'What happened in the kitchen?'
'Huh?' He avoided her eyes and poured himself some water.
'Don't play dumb, I know you aren't!' Rory frowned. 'Ayn looks upset!'
'Ayn has to learn few lessons.' Jess frowned. 'Don't worry. Just my daughter and I had a little chat about what is important for the family!'
Rory crooked her face, but did not ask more. She was sure that he would not tell her. Jake brought the present to Ayn and she smiled, hugging him. Just then, she looked at her parents.
'I have a surprise for you too.' She smiled and this time her smile reached to her face. 'Wait here!'
Jess looked at Rory, but she just shrugged. They both looked at Luke and Lorelai.
'Someone knows something?' Rory asked them.
'I have no idea.' Lorelai shrugged.
'Same here.' Luke crooked his face.
'Here!' Ayn came back from the upstairs. She was holding a notebook and handed it to her father. 'I wrote you something and I want you to read it when you have time.' She blushed.
'You wrote something?' Jess felt proud of his daughter, but narrowed his eyes. 'Please just tell me that it's not a poem!'
'Nope – it's a small story actually.' Ayn smiled nervously. 'They are three of them actually – you'll see.'
'Okay.' Jess took the notebook and hugged his daughter. 'I can't wait to see it!'
'It's nothing, but I want your opinion.' Ayn nodded at her parents.
'Okay honey.' Rory nodded too.
'Great!' Lorelai rolled her eyes. 'You see Nikki?' She looked at her son, sitting close to her. 'We have another writer in the family!'
'We'll see.' Ayn shrugged and sat back on her chair.
It was later the same evening when Luke and Lorelai went away along with their son. Jess and Rory took care of their children and then went into their bedroom. Jess sighed when his head touched the pillow. He looked tired and he felt in this way. Rory just looked at him, but he kept silence. She lay close to him and Jess wrapped arm around her, placing the notebook in her hands.
'Read.' He whispered and his lips touched her temple. 'Let's see what our daughter prepared for us.'
Rory opened the notebook.
