Chapter 12 I LOVE YOU BABY ANNIE

"I promise to you, Baby Annie. This time, I will take care of your mommy and I will never leave her anymore. No matter what." He hugged the picture frame and while saying, " I love you, Baby Annie," repeatedly. He is saying this until he falls asleep with the frame inside his arms. He doesn't know how to start his promise but only one thing he knows, he will do whatever he needs to do to take care of Mary Ann.

John woke up because of the sound of the car outside of the house. He slowly opened his eyes with his body bent over the bed.

He didn't have a blanket to cover his body. His hands were still on his chest and he is still holding the frame where his daughter's photo is. He stared at it and began to speak again like he did last night.

"Good morning, baby Annie." He said to the photo and smiled. "Don't worry, baby. This time, I will take good care of your mother and I will not leave her anymore. Daddy promised that to you. I will do everything to win her heart so she will trust me again. " He was already teary-eyed as he talked to the picture of his daughter. He kissed the photo before he gently put it back to where it was before.

John got up from lying on the bed and went to the bathroom.

He saw an unused toothbrush so he took it and brushed his teeth. After that, he fixed himself and walked his way out.

He walked towards the door of the room and he stood there for a while.

He looked around and his gaze stopped on the part where his daughter's photo is displayed.

He stared intently at the smiling picture of his daughter.

He saw that her smile signifies hope. He believed that his daughter was hoping for what he had promised. He smiled and opened the door.

To his surprise, no one was in the living room so he went straight to the kitchen where he saw Auntie Carla busy cooking.

He can smell the fried eggs.

"Good morning, Auntie."

Auntie Carla had glanced at him, "Good morning." The woman smiled at her.

"Go and sit in the dining room. I will make you a coffee after I finish this one." Auntie Carla said one after the other as she continued to cook the breakfast.

"Is there anything that I can be of help?" he asked the woman.

"No, dear. Just go and sit there. I will bring the food once I am finished." Auntie Carla said to him while pointing at the dining room.

Suddenly Mary Ann came in, "Good morning everyone," she greeted with a smile.

"Good morning to you as well," John replied who was standing next to Mary Ann.

She could smell his fresh breath.

"Ann, since you are already here, is it okay if you make coffee for John?" Auntie Carla asked Mary Ann.

"Alright, Auntie." She looked at John," Sir, please go to the dining room. I will just make coffee for us." She smiled.

He nodded, "Alright, then." He said and turned around walking towards the dining table.

Mary Ann was looking at the broad rear of the man who is still wearing the t-shirt she gave to him last night.

He is still wearing the same pants he wore yesterday.

She doesn't have any extra clothes for men in the house. That's obviously because they are all women in the house. Also, she never thought that there will be a man that will be spending a night with them.

She continues walking inside the kitchen to make three cups of coffee.

Coffee for her, Auntie Carla, and John. She hasn't seen her grandmother yet. Maybe she is still asleep.

She is sure that when the old woman wakes up, she won't come outside but she will have her novena prayers first before getting off the bed. So, she will just make her coffee once she is in the dining room.

She put all the coffee in a tray and went to the dining table.

She put it down on the table. Then, she gave one cup to John.

"Here's your coffee." She said and smiled at him, "If you like creamer or sugar, just add." She said and pointed to the creamer and sugar container."

"Thank you." He uttered as he took the coffee from Mary Ann.

Mary Ann suddenly felt a bit conscious of herself. She could feel that John was staring at her.

She carefully took a glance at him to check if he was looking at her.

And, she's right. The man is looking at her. She smirked, "How's your night? I hope you were able to sleep well."

John took a sip of coffee before answering her, "Yes, I did. This coffee is the most delicious coffee that I have ever tasted."

She smiles at him and then puts one cup of coffee on the other side for Aunty Carla and one for her.

Aunty Carla smiled at what she heard.

"I am sorry, Sir. I hate to leave you alone here but I have to go and help Aunty Carla in the kitchen in preparing our breakfast."

"That's okay. Do you need any help from me?" John asked her.

"No, sir. We should be able to manage." She said to him and then turned her back and walked in the kitchen's direction.

Just after a couple of minutes of waiting, John saw Auntie Carla and Mary Ann walking out from the kitchen.

They already have the food with them.

Fried egg, hotdogs, fried rice, and warm bread covered with fabric in a basket.

After putting down the food, Auntie Carla went back to the kitchen to get some jam in the cabinet and cheese cream in the fridge.

Mary Ann pulled a chair beside John and sat down.

"Wow, this smells good."

"Let's go and start eating." Auntie Carla said.

"How about grandma?" John asked.

"She usually doesn't eat breakfast with us. She might be still in her novena prayers." Auntie Carla answered his question.

"Oh, I see."

"So, go get your food and start eating."

"Okay, Auntie. Thank you for making me feel at home."

"Don't mention it, Sir. We are thankful that Mary Ann was able to go home last night safely despite the bad weather."

John wanted to put some food on Mary Ann's plate but he didn't know what she liked. He also doesn't want the woman to wonder why he is doing that.

He just held himself and just quietly took a piece of bread and stuffed it with jam.

He took a bite.

John's eyes looked in a different direction away from everyone.

He stared at the corner as if he could see the photo of his daughter. Up to now, he cannot imagine that what happened between him and Mary Ann that night resulted in the woman getting pregnant.

There are a lot of questions in his head that he knows only Mary Ann can answer. But, the major question that he has for himself is how could he ask her?

If he asks, will she answer? With what happened to Baby Annie, is she even ready to discuss it?

What would she feel if she learned that he is the man who grabbed her arms that night? What would be his explanation to her?

For sure, Mary Ann might get mad at him for leaving her hanging in the air.

John has a lot of things that are running in his mind. He never thought that the woman he saw at Adrian's office and the woman he got laid with five years ago are the same people.

He never thought that all this time, he had already become a father. A father to a child he never got the chance to see or carry in his arms because of their situation.

John felt as if a needle was pinned in his heart. He wasn't able to do anything to save his little child.

"I am so sorry, Baby. I know I made a promise to you but I cannot do it now but don't worry. I will do it next time when your mom is ready. Let's take things one step at a time." He is speaking in his mind with Baby Annie. He will surely do whatever it takes to win Mary Ann's heart. He knows that this may be a difficult thing to do because her wound after losing Baby Annie isn't yet healed but he is willing to take the risk.

He likes to be the man who will take good care of her like what he promised to their baby in heaven.

"Do you also like bread stuffed with jam for breakfast?" Mary Ann asked him that made him back to his senses.

"Yes, how about you?" He asked while staring back at the woman.