ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
"When you've got nowhere to go,
I'll be your home"
photographer ⧠#228B22 ⧠outfit
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
"I have the best dad in the entire world"
pre-schooler ⧠#00FF00 ⧠outfit
ââââââââââââââââââââââââ
"Izzy, you hungry?" he asked, eyes flicking over tot he toddler who was sprawled out on the hospital bed playing some sort of game on Jacob's phone. She nodded enthusiastically before sitting up. "Let's get McDonald's!" Jake chuckled, pulling out a new pair of clothes for her to wear after her bath. "McDonald's? We can eat that at home. Don't you wanna try something else?" the girl brought a small hand to her chin as if pondering his offer, a frown very visible on her face. "But...what f it makes my tummy hurt like last time?" Jake's lips pressed into a thin line, a small lump forming in his throat as he recalled the terrible night they had just a week or so ago when Autumn woke up crying in pain. How was he to explain to her that her stomach ache wasn't because of something she ate? There was really no point. "I'll find you something good, I promise." he responded with a somewhat forced smile before handing her the clean clothes. "Now hurry up, the water is going to get cold!" he watched her take off towards the bathroom, reminding her to call for him when she was finished. Once she was out of sight, Jake sat on the bed, PC in his lap and pulled up every search engine he could think of.
He had a name, Benjamin Chapman. And somewhat of an idea of what this man was supposed to look like. Perhaps if he just type in his name in every search engine and hoped for the best, something would come up. And the man came up indeed, except not with the information she needed to know. All articles talked about how this doctor had vanished into thin air, so to speak. There were many that claimed he had died, but the family member Jake spoke to assured him that he was very much still alive. Time and time again, the same information came up. Jake could feel his resolve slowly crumbling to nothing as he stared at the articles. There was a high possibility that he would never find this man, and that alone made his insides turn in fear. Just as he was about to give up, he come across a local news page. There was some sort of book launching party for a children's book at a store about an hour away from their hotel. But that's not what caught his attention, it was a picture of the bookstore employees. One in particular stood out. "No way..." a huge part of him told him not to get his hopes up. As much as the man matched the description he had been given, it was also a bit of a stretch and there was no way in hell he had found the doctor that easily. Still, the optimist in him lead him to look up cab fairs and possible ubers that would be willing to take him that far.
"Appa, I'm done!" Jake quickly took down the bookstore address and shut the laptop before rushing over to get Autumn dressed. He decided to skip his shower all together. If he wanted to make it to the place before it closed, he would need to hurry. He just hoped he didn't look too rumpled from the flight. The last thing he needed was to scare off this man that could possibly be his little's girl's saving grace.
In the end, they stopped to get McDonald's on their drive over. Needless to say, Autumn was thrilled. She ate her meal in a happy bliss and spent the rest of the time playing "I Spy" with the cab driver. The young dad kept his gaze glued on the passing scenery. Every mile adding more to his doubts and fears, until eventually they made it. The cab parked across the street, where Jake could see the book store and the bustle of the parents and their children. At least he'd be fitting right in. He helped Autumn out of the car, payed his fees, and immediately made his way over to the place. He continued to tell himself not to get his hopes up, but that didn't do much good. The moment they stepped inside, Autumn gave a little gasp as she took in the scene. If the doctor wasn't here, at the very least Autumn would have something nice to remember.