I built this Home for me, for you

Chapter 14

Waking up early the next morning, Jennie went downstairs and started making pancakes, hoping that it would be some small comfort to Lisa. There wasn't much she could do, and she hated feeling useless; she was a genius businesswoman, scientist and engineer, and she always had the answers and solution for everything, except this. It was dark outside, and she angrily mixed the batter in a large bowl, blinking back tears as a feeling of frustration threatened to overwhelm her. She couldn't afford to fall apart; she was the only one who could look after everyone, and they needed her, which meant that she couldn't fall apart. Bracing her hands on the edge of the kitchen counter, she took a couple of deep breaths, before standing up properly again, and carried on mixing.

Lisa rarely slept late, what with work, kids and bad dreams, and Jennie wanted her to stay in bed as long as possible, hoping that some rest would help her mind relax, just a little. It wouldn't make things easier, or better, but it was something. Her wife didn't have the same idea though, because it wasn't long before she was shuffling into the kitchen, bleary eyed and wild haired.

"Morning," Lisa mumbled, leaning down to give Jennie a quick kiss on the cheek.

Reaching up to cup her cheek, Jennie took in the dark circles under Lisa's eyes, knowing that she looked similar. They hadn't slept well last night, despite the exhausting day, but Jennie was worried about Lisa more than herself. "You should've stayed in bed longer."

"I can't," Lisa said, stifling a yawn as she turned on the coffee machine, "I've got to get ready for work."

"Hey, hey, no," Jennie quickly said, "no, no, no work today. Today, you're staying home, and you're staying in bed until we go to your appointment. It's at eleven o'clock; we can get lunch afterwards if you're feeling up for it, but you're not going to work."

Frowning slightly, Lisa pulled two mugs out of the cupboard, "I have a job to do, Jennie. Your mom's not at work, so I have to do what she normally does too. I can't afford a day off work."

"Well tough," Jennie gently told her, "I can't afford time off work either, but here I am, at home every day, because I have people I love that need to be looked after. Whether they want to admit it or not."

"Well I have to drive the girls to school anyway," Lisa tried to reason with her, "It's far too icy on the roads for me to be okay with Seolhyun driving them."

A small laugh of surprise fell past Jennie's lips before she could stop it, and she gave Lisa an incredulous look. "You're not driving yourself - let alone our kids - until you sort this out. I trust my seventeen-year-old daughter on the road more than I trust you driving right now. The last thing I need is a call that you've been in an accident."

A flicker of hurt crossed Lisa's face at Jennie's words, but she knew that she was right. It didn't hurt any less though, being treated like a child, and she judged her empty mug away from her, "you know what, I think I will go back to bed, actually."

Sighing, Jennie watched as Lisa walked out of the kitchen, and ran a hand over her weary face, muttering curses to herself. She just wanted to keep everyone safe. It wasn't a punishment, it was just her trying to make Lisa take some time for herself, and she wished that she would see it that way. At least Lisa hadn't argued her point though, because she could easily have insisted that she was going to work, and just gone, but she'd resigned herself to the fact that she was staying home today, which meant that deep down, she knew Jennie was right. The coffee pot finished filling, making the whole room smell like coffee and snapping Jennie out of her thoughts, and she miserably poured herself a cup and started to make breakfast for herself.