Page 11 of Broad Shoulders

When we pull into my driveway, I spot my mother’s red sedan parked beside Jackson’s rental car. My stomach tightens. Mom often drops by unannounced, but I have a feeling this visit is deliberate. I mentioned I was looking at rentals with Jackson today, and she’s been suspiciously quiet about his sudden reappearance.

“Looks like my mom is here.” I turn off the engine and glance at Jackson. “Do you want to come in and meet her?”

“Of course,” he says without hesitation. “I’d love to meet your mom.”

Inside, we find my mother rearranging my kitchen cabinets, a dish towel over her shoulder. She turns at the sound of the door, her eyes immediately finding Jackson, assessing him up and down.

“Mom, this is Jackson,” I say, taking Kai from him. “Jackson, this is my mother, Nani.”

“It’s great to meet you, Nani,” Jackson says, extending his hand.

Mom shakes his hand briefly. “How was house hunting?” she asks, turning back to the cabinets. “Find anything suitable?”

Jackson shakes his head. “Not yet. The first place had serious mold issues, and the second?—”

“Mold is common here,” Mom interrupts, her back still turned. “It’s the humidity. All you need to do is clean it regularly.”

Jackson looks slightly taken aback by her defensiveness. “Sure, but this was black mold in the walls. Not something you want to expose a baby to.”

Mom turns around, her eyebrows raised. “You’re worried about exposing the baby to things?”

I wince at her tone. “Mom.”

She ignores my warning. “So, Jackson. You’re planning to stay on the island long-term?”

“That’s the plan,” he says calmly.

“And what do you plan on doing for work?”

I bounce Kai gently, hoping he doesn’t pick up on the tension filling the room. “Mom, Jackson just found out about Kai. He’s making adjustments.”

“Have you ever taken care of a baby before yesterday?” she asks, ignoring me.

“No,” he admits. “But I’m learning quickly.”

“Babies need stability. Consistency. They need parents they can count on, every day, not just when it’s convenient.”

I can see Jackson’s jaw tighten, but his voice remains even. “I agree completely. That’s why I’m here.”

“And how long will you stay when things get difficult? Parenting isn’t all smiles and sunshine.”

“Mom,” I interject forcefully. “That’s enough.”

“It’s fine,” Jackson says to me before addressing my mother. “I understand your concern. I know I’ve missed the first two months of Kai’s life, and I can’t get that time back. But I’m here now, and I plan to be here for all the rest of it—both the good parts and the hard parts.”

My mother crosses her arms. “And what about my daughter? What are your intentions toward Alana?”

The bluntness of the question makes me want to sink into the floor. “Mom! That’s not?—”

“I care about your daughter very much,” Jackson interrupts, his eyes flickering to me before returning to my mother. “Right now, I’m focused on being a good father to Kai.”

“I’ve heard that kind of talk before. From Alana’s father, in fact. He had big plans too, until things got complicated.”

The mention of my father—who left when I was four—hangs heavy in the air. Jackson's expression hardens, his jaw tightening as he finally reaches his breaking point with my mother's relentless questioning.

“I should go,” he says, his voice tight but controlled. “Thank you for coming with me today, Alana.”

“Jackson—” I start to say, but he shakes his head.

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