25. Chapter Twenty-Four
Janie felt a soft small hand land on her face. She opened her eyes and cringed. They felt so heavy and grimy. She was absolutely exhausted.
“Hi, baby,” she whispered as she stared at Eleanor.
She gently kissed her forehead and frowned. Eleanor still felt a little hot, but it was definitely better than before. Janie looked over at her clock on her desk and realized it was only eight in the morning. Less than four hours of sleep.
“Let’s go get you in a lukewarm bath,” Janie whispered. “You can’t have medicine for another seven hours. Michael said to put you in a lukewarm bath, so that’s what we’ll do.”
She just wished it would go away now. She hated that Eleanor was sick and suffering while she couldn’t do much. How much longer was she going to be sick?
“Come on,” she whispered. “Let’s go get you in the bath.”
Janie yawned as she sat up. Her whole body ached and was moving so slowly. This was going to be a very long day. Maybe Eleanor would go down for a nap later.
She picked Eleanor up and slowly carried her to the bathroom out in the hall. Janie turned the water on and waited for it to get lukewarm before she stopped it up.
“Such a good girl,” Janie whispered as she put Eleanor in the bathtub.
She held onto Eleanor as she sat her down in the bathtub before she lowered herself on the ground. She laid her head on the side of the tub and tiredly watched as Eleanor played in the water.
“Really need to invest in something smaller so she can’t drown,” Janie whispered to herself. “So mama doesn’t have to hold you all the time.”
She didn’t mind, but for situations like this, it would be nice not to have to hold her the whole time.
“Or maybe mama can come in the bath with you next time. Hold you against my body as you play,” she said. “I think I’ll do that next time. But I would be worried about falling asleep.”
Janie closed her eyes for a second as she took a deep breath in. Everything was going to work out right now. She was going to get through all of this. Maybe she’ll ask her sister to watch Eleanor when she’s all better so she can sleep for over twelve hours. Though, Janie didn’t think it would help that much.
She needed to be better at getting to sleep on time and actually sleeping. She liked to read before she went to bed, most nights. Sometimes she was so exhausted she just fell asleep, but she normally read before.
“Are you talking to yourself?” Mac asked.
Janie let out a little scream, turned her head with wide eyes. Her heart started racing as she stared at him. She had completely forgotten that he was downstairs sleeping on her couch. Had she woken him up?
“I’m sorry if I woke you up,” she said. “You can go back to bed. I’ll just be in here. And if you need to go to the bathroom, you can use the one in my room.”
“I was slowly starting to wake up. You didn’t wake me up,” he said. “How about you go back to sleep and I’ll take care of Eleanor?”
She shook her head and looked back at Eleanor playing in the water. She was enjoying herself and Janie was happy. It was better than her screaming and crying.
“I’m okay right here,” she whispered. “Just need the lukewarm water to cool her body down some.”
“Does she have a fever?” He asked.
“Maybe. I didn’t actually check her temperature, but her forehead wasn’t as hot as it was this morning. So I guess that’s a win. But I wanted to get ahead of it.”
She would do anything to get ahead of it. Normally fevers came back with a vengeance in the afternoon. Hopefully, it wont happen today.
Mac walked up, turned off the water, and sat down behind her. “Lean into my body. I’ll hold you up while you hold her.”
Janie hesitated. She didn’t know if that was a good idea or not.
“Nothing is going to happen. I just want to help you out. I bet it would feel better than having your face up against the cold bathtub. I’m warm.”
She had to agree with him on that. While the cold of the bathtub was nice, she also didn’t want to get too cold. Janie could never hold her heat in. She leaned back into his chest and let out a sigh. She could already feel the heat from him, warming her up.
“Such a good girl,” he said. “I’m proud of you.”
Her heart fluttered. He was proud of her? For what?
“I know it’s not easy being a single mom but you’re doing amazing. I know it’s not easy leaning on people and allowing them to help you out when you need it, but you did in the past twenty-four hours and I’m proud of you,” he gently said as he ran his hands through her hair. “And know that I’ll always be here for you. Whatever you need, I’ll help and provide for you.”
“I don’t need anything,” she whispered. “We’re doing just fine.”
“I know you are. I know that you work and make enough money to support both of you. I don’t want to take that away, but I still want to help you and provide for you two,” he gently said. “You can still work and spend that money on things you want to do. Take a girls trip? Yeah, go ahead. Get your nails done? Done. And I’ll pay for the necessities.”
It was tempting to do that. Sure, she had money that she could go get her nails done, but she also was putting that money in her savings and towards a college and wedding fund for Eleanor.
“I don’t want you to have to worry about anything. I want to be part of your lives, you and Eleanor. I want to be your Daddy and when you want to be Little, I’ll be there for you,” Mac said. “I’ll give you rules, structure, comfort, discipline, happiness, and love in your life. But also in Eleanor’s.”
Janie stayed silent as he continued to talk.
“I have been interested in you for years. When you were married, I was interested but held myself back. I didn’t want you to cheat and I didn’t want to be the reason you got a divorce. So, I stayed away and didn’t talk to you. But then you did get a divorce and I gave you time to heal from that. It was a change and I didn’t want to just butt myself into your life. But now, I want to pursue you. Show you that I’m here for the both of you.”
“I don’t know what to say,” she whispered.
She really didn’t. Everything sounded nice, but what about in five years? Would he still want all of that or would he just want her? Taking on someone elses kid as their own was difficult and she didn’t want Mac to have any bad feelings towards Eleanor later on. But she didn’t know how to ask that and him be honest.
“You don’t need to say anything right now. Just think about it. I needed to let you know and let my intentions be known,” Mac replied. “Just, please, think about it.”
Janie nodded her head. She could do that, but the question still was in her mind. Would she have to give it a chance and see if he acted that way in a couple of years? Would she have to leave if he did? She didn’t know if she wanted to do that again.
It was exhausting, but Eleanor was also getting older. What was she going to tell her if Mac was in their lives for five years? She would be so used to him. They both would be.
There was so much to think about. She really wanted to be with him, but she needed to think about everything. She couldn’t just willy nilly say yes to him and be in a relationship. Janie did trust him, she trusted him a lot, but she needed to think about every possibility.
“I think Ellie has been in there long enough. How about I take her and give her something to eat and drink?” Mac asked.
“It’s okay, I can do that,” she said.
“I would like to do it if I can, but if you want to do it, then I won’t get in your way.”
She sighed and nodded her head.
“Just,” she started to say.
“Just a little juice and put water in it?” he said.
She nodded her head. She had forgotten that he took care of his sisters kids sometimes. Though, every parent was different in what they did with their kids. But she wanted to make sure Mac knew.
“I’ve got this,” he gave her a smile. “Are the bananas and apples okay for her to eat? Maybe an egg as well? All of it will be cut up so she can’t choke on it but I wanted to make sure I wasn’t giving her something she wasn’t allowed.”
“All of that is good.”
“You take your time getting up. I’ll be taking care of her.” He kissed the side of her head. “I’m here for you two. I want both of you guys. To be in both of your lives, see Eleanor grow up into a young beautiful lady. Be a father figure for her.”
Tears pooled into her eyes and she looked down at her lap. She was so tired and didn’t know how much more she would be able to handle if he continued to say stuff like that. He had already made her cry once the other day by saying things.
“Is it okay if she just sits in a towel?” Mac asked.
“Yeah, she likes doing that when she eats breakfast. Also easier to clean her up when she gets all messy,” she replied.
“Do you ever get messy when you eat in Littlespace?”
She shrugged her shoulders. She had never fully gone into Littlespace as she was eating. There was no one to look after Eleanor and herself. She didn’t want to risk doing something and Eleanor getting hurt. What if she didn’t catch it in time?
“Maybe we’ll find out soon,” he gently said. “But only when you’re ready.”
Mac got up from behind her, grabbed a towel, and got Eleanor out of the bathtub. Once he had her dried off and wrapped up, he held her close to his chest. Eleanor looked all comfortable leaning her head on his chest.
“Best cuddles,” she whispered before she could stop herself.
“If you ever need a cuddle or a hug, you let me know,” he said. “I’ll gladly give you all that you need.”
Her face got bright red and he chuckled.
“We’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready. Take your time and if you end up wanting to go to sleep, you do that. I’ll watch over Ellie while you do.”
She shook her head. “I’ll be down in a second.”
“You’ll be taking a nap later.”
She stayed silent. Right now it didn’t seem like a bad idea to take a nap. Hopefully, Eleanor would also take a little nap with her. Mac walked out of the bathroom and down towards the kitchen.
Janie sighed and put her head on the bathtub again. She could make it through this. Mac was helping her, but even after he left she would make it through it. She slowly got off of the ground and unplugged the bathtub. Taking a bath would feel so good right now, but it was a sure way for her to go to sleep immediately.
She walked out of the bathroom and towards the kitchen. She could hear Mac talking to Eleanor. Janie stopped and watched as Mac gently talked to Eleanor as he pointed to things. She could see how much he cared for her at that moment.
But would it last for several years or wear off after a while?